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  • French TV Fall Out Suits Hammers Pursuit Of Dia

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 19/01/2021 - 13:05

    Some Barclays Premier League fans in this country, particularly those of West Ham, are unhappy with the lack of transfer activity being conducted by their clubs, the Hammers board appear to be adopting their usual 'scatter shot' approach to signing the forward everyone knows the club needs.

    The list of supposed 'targets' gets longer by the day as closure of the transfer window looms, there are so many 'candidates' it is difficult to keep up, the need to get a 'good deal' is paramount due to the chronic lack of finances at the London Stadium.

    However fans who feel hard done by might wish to cast an eye across the Channel and see what is going on in France at the moment. Teams in England have been 'whacked' by the fiscal fall out of the Covid pandemic, but have been cushioned by their largely untouched TV revenue, the same cannot be said for the teams in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.

    Catastrophic failure of the 'new' TV deal in France that was due to be up and running through Media Pro and which was partly financed by the controversial Bein Sports organisation, has left in excess of a dozen clubs teetering on the brink of Bankruptcy. So extreme is the situation that talks have already been held with regards to SUSPENDING the remaining fixtures of their season!

    As things stand from February 7th, French football will have no TV rights coming in, leaving a gaping hole in club's finances, which, added to the continued absence of full stadiums, leaves clubs in a highly perilous state, consequently no income and talks held over halting the season mean French clubs are ripe for the picking. In the past clubs like PSG, Marseille and even Monaco have used their financial muscle to acquire players 'on the cheap' from teams that were having financial difficulties within the Uk, so in many ways the recent turn of events is rather karmic.

    The upshot is that the various targets West Ham are supposed to be looking at who currently ply their trade in Ligue 1 will be easier to do deals for, despite hardly having a pot to urinate in the Irons do actually have a few quid available to eek out, it may not be much, but it will be a hell of a lot more than the funds French teams now find themselves having to work with which probably explains Hammers opening low bid for Dia from Reims . - Ed

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  • Signing Dawson Would Be Curtains For Reid!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 19/01/2021 - 11:33

    Craig Dawson's elevation to first team starter came as a complete surprise to most fans who were underwhelmed at best by his arrival from relegated Watford on loan, known as the 'Relegator', Dawson had previously played for and got relegated with this evening's visitors to the London Stadium, West Brom, who he left to join Watford following the Baggies relegation!

    Dawson has defied logic and slotted in as part of defence that has been tighter than a Duck's proverbial to breach, West Ham have not conceded a goal in four games since Dawson came into the team three weeks ago as a result of mainstay Fabian Balbuena's unavailability due to Covid, and he has impressed alongside Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of the defence.

    Recent results against Southampton, Everton and Burnley have helped lift West Ham to within five points of the top four ahead of this evening's game, the club looked to have saved a basket load of money by going for Dawson as opposed to Burnley's James Tarkowski, the Clarets rejected a £30 Million bid from the Irons for the England Centre back in the Summer.

    Activating the option to make Dawson's loan move permanent would cost around £2 Million, that action had been meant to happen in the summer but, if Dawson’s fine displays continue, it may be brought forward to this month if the Hammers need to free up a loan spot in the squad.
    If Dawson IS signed on a permanent basis, his arrival will almost definitely signal the departure of the long serving Winston Reid who has now returned to the club following his loan spell in America. Reid still has two years left on his £70,000 per week contract and as such will prove rather difficult to move on unless the club supplement his wages. It's a real shame, because prior to his freak injury sustained nearly three years ago he was one of the first names on the team sheet, unfortunately it is highly unlikely that the Kiwi's national captain will not have enough 'zip' about him to be included in the 'Moyes Love Machine'.

    In a similar way to Mark Noble, Reid's time has come and gone, at least he was rewarded admirably for his services, unlike many players before him. In a way it is testimony as to how far David Moyes has taken the club in what has essentially been very little time, that players of Noble and Reid's ilk are not part of the programme, now if they were both in their twenties that would be a different story, but time waits for no man, even warriors like Reid and Noble. - Ed

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  • Antonio To Escape FA Punishment For 'Swimming' Celebration!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Mon, 18/01/2021 - 12:13

    When questioned as to the reasons behind his 'swimmingly' humorous goal celebration, Hammer's forward and talisman, Michail Antonio, adroitly told the Amazon media team that he had adopted the 'swimmer' celebration as a forfeit because he had lost a game of Call of Duty against Hammers captain Declan Rice.

    Cue much amusement, and the trade mark huge smile, however the REAL reason for the celebration is far more sanguine, and currently much more pertinent. In the image below you can see what Antonio actually meant!

    Normally such an 'outcry' would be met with an FA sanction of a fine and even a possible suspension for bringing the game in to disrepute, fortunately as the 'comments' were said to a third party, and more importantly because the comments were about other players NOT match officials or any of the regulatory bodies, Big Mich is likely to avoid punishment, although he might get a 'ticking off' in the post!

    Unless you are a supporter of Palace, Villa, Liverpool or the other United, you will probaly agree with Antonio, hell, even if you are a supporter of one of those clubs, surely you must be embarrassed by some of your player's antics? Foe example, Villa were once many people's 'favourite other club', not any more, not since the very talented but incredibly annoying Jack Grealish took 'diving' to 'another level! - Ed

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  • West Ham Are The Better United!

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Mon, 18/01/2021 - 11:48


    One by one little records are being broken by a West Ham side that has been rejeuvinated by a rejeuvinated David Moyes. The Hammers manager looks like an entirely different person now from the cadava like image of 'ghostliness' that first turned up at the London Stadium, the 57 year old Scot has the air about him of someone who knows exactly what he is trying to achieve and precisely where he is trying to take his players.

    Having benefitted from the remarkable performances of new arrivals Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Jarrod Bowen and more recently Said Benrahma, Moyes is pushing on with trying to build the team according to a similar blue print to that he used when he managed and sustained Everton on a shoe stringed budget.

    Apart from inspired recruitment, one of the key areas Moyes has worked on is 'team ethic', where no one is bigger than the rest of the team and everyone works for each other, it is therefore unsurprising to see the 'zip' in the team's step following the departure of 'Le Sulk' to Ajax. It is as if lead has been removed from the player's boots, as everyone seems at least a yard faster, there is a genuine buzz about the team's potential that is founded on a solid defence that belies the flaky hammers moniker.

    Team spirit is what Moyes has been trying to invoke, and it looks as if he has achieved just that judging by the affection there is among the squad, there are no bad apples! It seems quite extraordinary to consider that less than one year ago the squad included Jack Wilshere, Sebastien Haller and of course Roberto!

    Next up is the visit of Big Sam's Baggies, he will be doing his upmost to put one over on David Moyes and will have prepped his team accordingly, however at the Org we were discussing what 'insider' knowledge Allardyce would have at his disposal, how many players would he know properly?

    The answer is NOT many, of the current first team, only Aaron Cresswell has played under Sam and as such the Baggies manager will be relying on 'agent' Snodgrass to give him the inside info, and you can probably bet your house on the very likeable Scot scoring against his former club.

    The games come thick and fast from now on, with challenging games against Doncaster in the FA Cup on Saturday swiftly followed by the Barclays Premier League fixture away to Palace only three days later, but judging by our NOT socially distanced image, the team are United, they are 'The Better United'. - Ed

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  • Live West Ham v Burnley Line Ups

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 16/01/2021 - 14:01

    West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Randolph (GK), Fredericks, Johnson, Alves, Diop, Noble, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Odubeko
    Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee (c), Pieters, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Brownhill, Brady, Wood, Barnes Subs: Norris (GK), Cork, McNeil, Stephens, Rodriguez, Bardsley, Vydra, Long, Benson

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  • Fabianski Fitness Fight Goes To Wire

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 16/01/2021 - 13:11

    Hammers goal keeper Lukasz Fabianski is going to have a late fitness test just before the home tie against Burnley at the London Stadium this afternoon. Fabianski has missed the last two games with a thigh injury that threatens to de-rail a very stable defensive unit. Darren Randolph has deputised for Fabianski and looks likely to continue this afternoon.

    The general concencus from the club's medical department is that playing 'Fab' would be an unnecessary risk, especially given the current fixture glut. David Moyes has to set his team up for the visit of Sam Allaryce's West Brom on Tuesday, so he has to juggle with his player's fitness levels.

    Fabianski has been in fine form recently, and looked to be like his old self following his hip operation last season, but with any injury that threatens to recur caution is the byword. The Polish international came back too soon following his operation, and was further sidelined.

    Darren Randolph deputised well against Everton and Stockport, however he was fortunate to not be tested to any real extent in either match, today's visitors, Burnley, will prove a much sterner test, Chris Wood just loves scoring against West Ham, as does his colleague Ashley Barnes.

    Hammers have 'limped' through matches recently, unfortunately Sean Dyche's team play in a similar manner to their manager's voice, gruff and tough, they also possess considerable talent throughout their team, so today's game will be a real test for David Moyes and his players, particularly Darren Randolph if he is selected to start the game. - Ed

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  • Burnley

    Dartford Bhoy's picture
    Submitted by Dartford Bhoy on Thu, 14/01/2021 - 12:48

    Forums:

    So thoughts for Saturday folks?

    For these guys I would like to see The Beast rested, I dont think he is fully fit and I wouldn't risk him. I would love to see Benny and Bowen up front, I think their skill and pace would frighten the life out of the defense.... Cottee and Super Mac!

    Yarmo to drop to the bench and bring back Foreskins.

    Prediction ... on that basis 3 - 0

    Cant see Bugeyes playing two up front even at home to a side struggling for form :o)

  • Three In To Two Won't Go-Loan Conundrum

    nevillenixon's picture
    Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 14/01/2021 - 11:49

    The Barclays Premier League’s domestic rules currently only cover the top tier, stating that clubs may not have more than two players on loan at any one time, a total of only four loans in the season and not more than one player from the same club at any given time, there are no restrictions on how many players can be sent out on loan.

    This edict especially has an impact on a West Ham squad that is being reshaped bit by bit by current manager David Moyes, Moyes as most people are aware is operating with one hand tied behind his back as he attempts to correct the transfer failures of the past while trying to ensure there is not a repeat of the 'Pellegrini profligacy' in the future.

    Well, on one count the situation is set in stone, David Moyes does not have, and will not have even a fraction of the funds that were made available to his predecessor for 'marquee' signings, Moyes will be lucky to end up with a two man tent! However as has been seen by the signings that Moyes has been involved in, there is light at the end of the tunnel, unfortunately the light is only vague and is dependent on 'variables'. None more so than the club's ability to shift players around in order to get the overall best for the club and it's players.

    The loan market is an area that Hammers majority shareholder David Sullivan prefers to do his shopping in, and to that effect the signings of Tomas Soucek, Said Benrahma and quite remarkably Craig Dawson have all proved to be superb. Regrettably the restriction on the number of loan players puts David Moyes in an awkward position, he has to somehow shuffle the pack in order to make room for 'fresh blood'. Speaking of blood, the easiest way out of the loan situation would be to turn Dawson's loan in to a permanent deal, he is available for around £1 Million and given how well he has performed in the last few matches would appear to be an adroit purchase, the only problem is the player's propensity for collapsing during the early part of the games he is playing in.

    David Moyes rather sheepishly 'fended off' questions about Dawson's tendency to collapse by saying that it was "a blood sugar thing", it is to be hoped that these 'intermissions' are as a result of not having played a full game for months since his arrival on loan from relegated Watford, but the conventional wisdom regarding 'blood sugar issues' is that such things are invariably a portent of impending Diabetes.

    Diabetes does not mean a player's career is over, back in the day, Gary mabbut was a high profile sufferer of Diabetes, but managed to play at the top level for years, however given Hammers' atrocious list of 'medical liability signings', there is an obvious note of caution emanating from the club with regards to making Dawson's loan permanent.

    Beggars can't be choosers, and currently West Ham are in the beggars camp, there is no point in embarking on the 'blame game', what has happened to West Ham has happened, the club is not alone in making wildly over priced acquisitions, it is just that those mistakes have exponentially affected owners who are incredibly 'poor' compared with the owners of other top flight clubs, the vast majority of which are 'ersatz' vanity projects for despots or whitewash attempts by dictatorial nations.

    The only way West Ham will ever be able to compete at the very top is if the current owners sell up, and that is NOT going to happen any time soon. -Ed

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