Forum | Non-Football Related

Now how long is it since we ran out the Ian Dury influenced banner "reasons to be cheerful" when referencing West Ham? Well if you look through our ridiculously comprehensive archives, you will see it was way back in 2015, when Dimitri Payet grabbed hold of the club and catapulted it into the limelight for the first time since the Di Canio and Cole era.

There are PLENTY of reasons to be cheerful for David Moyes and West Ham at the moment, having navigated their way through the 'murder month' of December, which involved operating WITHOUT ANY of the established back four for a whole sequence of games, the troubled waters seem to have rested in a pool of tranquility.

Last night against a relegation destined Norwich SOME players looked as if they had played a tough FA Cup cup game just three days before, whereas others like the diminutive Jarrod Bowen are causing serious concern at Duracell HQ, where they are worried that Bowen AND Pablo Fornals are in danger of usurping their 'bunny' as a demonstration of lasting longer and being stronger!

Bowen's performance will have added a few Million to his already rising value, as he scored two goals but could have had FIVE on a different night as Hammers put the visitors to the sword, although there were some nervy times during the match when the score was just 1-0. The Norwich goal seemed to be covered in cling film as the ball refused to end up in the back of the net without VAR interfering.

Hammers profligacy almost came back to bite their proverbial, however in the end Hammers were just too much for the visitors who were beguiled by the quality of Aaron Cresswell who played as if he had never been away. Returning for his first game since getting injured in the narrow defeat by Man City at the Etihad, Cresswell showed just how very important he is to the club as he proceeded to ping the ball around with aplomb.

After a shaky first half, Issa Diop 'suddenly' became the player he always has been but has hidden for far too long. Who knows what was said to him or how the message was delivered, but whatever was done needs to be repeated because in the 2nd half Diop was dominant and confident, he was even playing the ball out of defence AND making intelligent long range passes, an element of his game that had almost disappeared during his 'wilderness' times.

Last night was NOT an epic performance, but it WAS professional, it was the sort of game the team HAD to win in order to maintain its unlikely pursuit of the heady heights at the top of the Premier League. The 2-0 victory over Norwich also confirms West Ham will NOT be getting relegated this season, what would Newcastle give to be in the same position? They would LOVE to have so many 'reasons to be cheerful'. - Ed

Darren Randolph was wanted ON LOAN by Steven Gerrard as his back up keeper at Aston Villa for the rest of the season, however David Moyes has apparently pulled the plug on any potential deal, now why is that? Randolph hasn't started a single game in any competition and on paper has very little chance of doing so in the future, Alphonse Areola is Lukasz Fabianski's heir apparent, so the best Randolph can hope for is to be the number two keeper next season, or the season after, if Fabianski has 'secretly' signed a new contract as has been rumoured.

Hammers have David Martin as their 'training' goalkeeper and have recently recalled Joseph Anang from his loan spell, so retaining Randolph is rather a strange one considering there was an ongoing offer. Perhaps Moyes is mindful of a Villa resurgence and doesn't want to help them in any way due to some past 'indiscretion' committed by Gerrard while he was playing for Liverpool?

We cannot see how having Randolph on their books would catapult Villa up the Premier League table, but if Moyes doesn't want to let Randolph go the so be it, it is the manager's prerogative, it still seems strange though unless there is another interested party about to be involved. - Ed

West Ham United are usually one of the most talked about Premier League teams during the transfer window, due to the glaringly obvious need for an additional striker to replace record signing Sebastien Haller, a situation that has been in the public domain longer than a Downing Street drinks party!

Newcastle United are now the club that everyone is looking at, as a result of their 'stonewall' take over by that ever so caring and sharing 'liberal' outpost in the middle east, Saudi Arabia, a place where being given a 'heads up' has an entirely different meaning than it does here in the UK!

Now that ALL the media attention is focused on the Toon, perhaps David Moyes will be able to go about his PLANNED recruitment without such intense scrutiny. Moyes had a set of targets in various areas at the beginning of the season, and as is common knowledge, he is a man who will NOT be swayed when it comes to player acquisitions.

One of David Moyes's principal striker targets, Andrea Belotti, has recently snubbed 'money bags' offers from BOTH Newcastle and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Whether Belotti's decision is based on footballing principals, or on wider human rights issues is currently unclear, but either way he appears to tick ALL the right boxes for Moyes.

YOUNG, HUNGRY and LEAN is Moyes's transfer mantra, Belotti fits right into that mould and he even looks a bit like Tony Cottee as well! Belotti's club Torino, are reported by Sky Sport Italia to have accepted an offer from Al Hilal but the reports claim Belotti said no and wants to end the season with them before picking his next destination. Al Hilal AND Newcastle have both offered Belotti north of £6.25 Million per year on four year deals, but it appears that the 25 year old Italy International is more interested in playing football than lining his already deep pockets.

Hammers wouldn't be able to sign Belotti during this window, but WOULD be able to sign a pre-contract deal so that he could join on a free transfer when the summer window opens. Apparently Belotti is seeking guaranteed game time, which is the only fly in the ointment, ironically Hammers results between now and the END of the window will more than likely dictate the players destination.

IF Hammers are still fighting on THREE fronts AND are able to maintain their position in and around the top four to top six of the Premier League, then there is NO reason Belotti shouldn't come to the East of London. What a signing Belotti would be? Some might question when and how he could be integrated into the tight ship that Moyes runs, the injuries sustained by Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna AND Kurt Zouma are classic examples of why a club needs strength in depth.

Belotti back on track? You betcha, if you ask David Moyes and Rob Newman they would say he never left the runners and riders! - LN