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More Sandy Than Benny!

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Mon, 27/11/2023 - 10:34

There has been a 'sudden' media spotlight thrown on Saïd Benrahma's future at West Ham, with news that his recently appointed agent who has strong connnnections with the Saudi Pro League is pushing for a January exit for his client.

'Benny' finds himself in the unenviable position of being well down the pecking order of Hammers' creative midfielders and when given the odd chance to shine has fallen well short of expectations, however just like Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson, the Algerian has had the creative life sucked out of his game by David Moyes ever since his £25 Million transfer from Brentford.

Some players CAN just come off the bench and perform, others can't. A quick look at how outward bound Pablo Fornals has performed since being ostracised by Moyes is a classic example. Some players need a kick up the backside to get the best out of them, some DO NOT!

Realistically the only reason the Irons hierarchy would countenance selling Benrahma is to raise much needed funds to acquire a striker and a covering left back during the January transfer window. With the sceptre of a UEFA FFP investigation hovering over the club there needs to be some VERY creative accounting involved to avoid punitive sanctions.

Unfortunately the gross waste of money spent during the last January transfer window on bringing Danny Ings to the club, which was rubber stamped by David Moyes has come back to bite the club in the proverbial. Imagine what Tim Steidten would have done with a £15 Million lump sum payment and wages of over £100,000 per week available to sign a striker?

The fact is there is a small escape clause known as player amortisation and IF it can be proved that Danny Ings is a massive loss leader, as his stats clearly bear out, there is a vague possibility that some of the extreme costs involved in his pointless transfer can be written off!

Villa must still be laughing that they managed to fleece West Ham for such a massive amount of money, as they stare down on Hammers from their lofty Champions League spot they must be chortling as they see 'Uncle' Ingy flummox around the pitch. Crikey Mikey, even Joe from Family Guy ( The modern day equivalent to Sandy from Crossroads) exhibits more mobility than Ings, perhaps there might be some club that is in need of an immobile past it overpaid has been, but even the most crazy of clubs wouldn't pay even a fraction of Hammers wasted outlay.

When it come to the club's January transfer dealings, Moyes needs to be locked in a secure room and told comprehensively to STAY AWAY from any of the decision making! - Ed

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Soucek

mcbikeman's picture
Submitted by mcbikeman on Sat, 25/11/2023 - 22:50

Back amongst the goals and doing what he does best.....Moyes meddling turned Soucek into a Pariah figure with fans wanting him out but with Rice gone Alvarez playing the role Soucek had last year and now given the freedom to get into the box and do what he is good at and scoring vital goals........Look what happens when you play players in there best positions instead of Mogadons square peg syndrome....could not be happier for the player as he was dug out a lot last season by me and others over his passing and being a passenger in nearly every game but the one thing you could say about him is his attitude and commitment to the club never wavers.

Have Hammers Missed A Trick (or two)?

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 25/11/2023 - 20:39

Most media operators look to find the best and most reliable information with regards to Premier League clubs comings and goings, such is the global interest in the 'brand', some sources of course are more 'honest' than others! However, there does appear to be one interesting anomaly and that is that 'youth' players seem to be far higher valued away from England than they are 'at home'.

In Europe it is NOT uncommon to see clubs vying for the services of 17 year olds, these sought after players are generally snapped up by a 'big team' and then have a ludicrous sell-out clause inserted into their contracts. Many of these starlets eventually arrive on these shores on massive wages and for huge transfer fees!

So when David Moyes elected to start 'Uncle' Danny Ings against Burnley this afternoon ahead of young Divin Mubama it came as NO surprise to many Hammers fans, Moyes persisted with the hopelessly off the pace Ings until 'Moysie' time (always the 65th minute) when he finally unleashed Divin Mubama on to the Turf Moor pitch.

Instantly the tempo changed and the Burnley defence knew that they were going to be in a game until the final whistle and they certainly were!The soporific 'fodder' that had been on view suddenly changed, the entire Irons team got an extra spring in their step knowing that the through balls and cross field balls they played would actually have a recipient who would burst their lungs to reach the pass.

Mubama made life an absolute misery for the Clarets' defenders which ultimately lead to Mubama's goal although it has now been deemed an 'OGGY', nevertheless it was the young striker's persistent badgering of the opposition that eventually paid off.

Then of course Kudus, another player Moyes seemed to think incapable of starting matches, provided his 2nd assist in a matter of minutes, his lovely ball was met by a Tomy Soucek half volley that made the score a respectable 2-1 and three points to boot. Soucek is starting to resemble the player he once was before being sacrificed by Moyes in the managers' attempts to keep Declan Rice for one more season.

Kudus did blot his copybook by conceding an early 2nd half penalty, but he made up for it and then some. Incidentally such was the poor showing of the 1st half that a Hammers 'celebrity' fan was seen to nod off in the 'executive' wine and dine suite! WE are reliably informed he was NOT drunk, just bored witless.

Just as Moyes now acknowledges the important part Kuudus plays for the team, there is a vague possibility he might 'climb down' regarding Mubama, Mubama as opposed to Ings? No question to answer. - Ed

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Live Now Burnley v West Ham Line Ups

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 25/11/2023 - 14:00

Burnley: Trafford, Vitinho, O'Shea, Beyer, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Koleosho, Amdouni, Rodriguez. Subs: Vigouroux, Roberts, Redmond, Ekdal, Zaroury, Ramsey, Cullen, Bruun Larsen, Obafemi.
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Soucek, Paqueta, Ings. Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Fornals, Mavropanos, Cornet, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama

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Callum Marshall & Divin Mubama Set To Soar?

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 21/11/2023 - 18:07

Normally such a headline would be viewed as a naive and ill-informed belief that David Moyes' had changed the colour of his spots, however Hammers sudden injury crisis might just have been the trigger to make the one who is 'not for turning' turn!

With a game every three days for nearly six weeks to navigate, the Hammers manager finds himself with only ONE recognised forward, unfortunately that forward is 'Uncle' Ingy-AKA Danny Ings who is so ill suited to Moyesball that whoever sanctioned the signing would have been found hanging under Blackfriars bridge during the eighties!

The January transfer window is still an age away so Moyes will HAVE to promote players from the youth set up to the 1st team. Fortunately there are two prime candidates who score goals for fun, Callum Marshall and Divin Mubama. Both are revered youngsters, both might want to leave the club unless they get 'meaningful' game time and both are full of confidence, what more is there to like?

IF Moyes persists with his youth denial then Hammers will get well and truly 'Gurted' durng the next few games, relying on Uncle Ingy CANNOT be a serious option, but you kind of know Moyes WILL TRY to get Ings firing on all cylinders, the problem is most of the 31 year old's dont work anymore!

Moyes will probably try Ings and when that option fails, which it will, he will probably try and convert Tomy Soucek into a 'false' number nine, watch and see. News that Mo Kudus has also picked up an injury, albeit a minor one merely exasperates the situation and exposes the price the club is going to have to pay for Moyes' sheer bloody mindedness!

You never know, perhaps Moyes will elevate Callum Marshall and Divin Mubama to the first team? Hang on a minute, we just saw a Claret & Blue pig fly past the window so Moyes might relent, you never know, sadly the never part will most likely be the adjective used to describe Moyes' 'stricking plaster' application! - Ed

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I want a Date

hammergirl's picture
Submitted by hammergirl on Mon, 20/11/2023 - 12:45

Calm down boys i'm talking about a football date as in change the start of the season to say start of October that way you get shot of two International breaks before the season starts and only have two disruptions to the premier league until March and finish the season say mid June we can all go away on our hols and not worry till October again.

Bare Bones..It Was Coming!

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Mon, 20/11/2023 - 07:38

There was a certain inevitability that sooner or later Hammers lack of forward recruitments was going to 'bite' the club and it has now done so in a 'Massive' way!

Hot on the heels of injuries to Mikey Antonio and Tomy Soucek, JARROD BOWEN HAS NOW JOINED THE 'CROCK' LIST! Should anyone be surprised? "down to the bare bones" was a favourite expression of 'Arry Redknapp, he used it to 'remind' the board of the paucity of his squad and constantly wheeled and dealed in order to be able to put a consistent team out.

Unfortunately there appears to have been NO plan B in place for Hammers current potential emergency. Tim Steidten CAN work wonders, but he is alongside the epitome of a football Luddite in David Moyes. Moves were made but knocked back by Moyes for a plethora of players, NONE were deemed 'good enough' for the 60 year old Scot!

Does Moyes have a 'glass ceiling' that players cannot reach? If so he needs to adjust his criteria by aquiescing to those who are in the know....an accident waiting to happen? You betcha! - Ed

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