Sam(e) Old Story
Those West Ham fans hoping to see Nene make the squad for Sunday's match against Tottenham would do well to consider these comments by the erstwhile Mr Allardyce in his Evening Standard column "We have signed Brazilian offensive player Nene on an initial short-term contract. Now we have to get him fit as quickly as we can, his scoring record at PSG was impressive and we looked at him a year ago before he moved to Qatar. As soon as he’s fit, he’ll be in the squad and hopefully he will have an impact for us."
"As soon as he's fit"….. Sounds familiar? It should do, this is the bog standard reply Big Sam trots out each time an 'exotic' player is hoisted upon him by those dreadful owners who actually want a say about player recruitment. Expect to see Nene put through a gruelling 'fitness' regime, at the end of which, if he avoids injury during the process, he will be 'benched'. This time frame will mean that the player will miss those very hard matches that he was brought in to help in!
With Elliot Lee being loaned out to Luton Town, there is a paucity of striking options for West Ham, essentially Sakho, Valencia and Carlton, that's it! Vaz Te was allowed to move on and Zarate was appallingly treated prior to his farcical loan move to Q.P.R . Reports that Zarate was unfit merely illustrate the lack of joined up thought relating to his move, he is a player who needs to PLAY, his fitness comes to him that way. Who would most fans have preferred to see against W.B.A, Carlton Cole or an unfit Mauro Zarate?
The eyes of the Media will be on the 'ear cupper' today, there will be the usual, small squad and tired players excuses rolled out. Wouldn't it be refreshing if Big Sam just said "We were beaten by the better team on the day, they thoroughly out thought and out fought us, mea culpa". OK so the "mea culpa" is pushing it a bit, but it would definitely get a good laugh from the Press boys, Latin from the mouth of 'Allerdici', copy from heaven! -Ed
West Ham have announced the signing of former Paris St Germain striker Nene until the end of the season, subject to international clearance. This is a David Sullivan signing that should make those who confronted him after the Baggies Cup defeat feel even more ashamed than they should be. In a clear move away from the Allardyce agenda, Co owner and majority shareholder has shown, despite family issues ,that he is prepared to move boldly forward , with or without the support of David Gold and Karren Brady. Mauro Zarate was a Sullivan arranged player already in situ, ,but Allardyce's luddite recruitment view saw a champions league player almost reduced to playing in the championship!.
