Forum | Non-Football Related

The Oxford to leave West Ham story has been doing the rounds just ahead of the January transfer window opening, it is widely believed that Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini doesn't 'fancy' the 6'3" midfielder and has given his verdict on the once incredibly coveted youngster. The Oxford situation is a strange one, essentially the club, especially Slaven Billic, thought that Oxford was going to be the next Rio Ferdinand and therefore cosseted him and gave him a very substantial £20,000 per week contract in order to head off interest from a whole host of top clubs.

Things just haven't worked out for Oxford and nobody really knows the reason why, there are sugestions that he has become another Ravel Morrison, massively gifted but such a bunch of trouble off the pitch that the 'aggro' isn't worth it for any manager. even one so cool as Manuel Pellegrini. Some observers say that Oxford was treated badly by constantly being sent out on loan as opposed to featuring for the club itself and that he became increasingly frustrated at his lack of opportunities, whereas others mention that he just had too much too soon and that his presence had a disturbing effect on both the youth players and several of the senior players.

Whatever the circumstances it now appears that the situation has become a fait accomplie, and that Reece Oxford, or more likely his agent has engineered the players departure, these things happen and perhaps it is best for all parties that the promising youngster does leave the club. However here in lies the issue, the talk on various media platforms of a £5 Million fee is ridiculous, he will have been paid nearly that in wages by the time he goes! Anthing less than £15 million and a sell on fee would be a folley on the club's behalf, and in today's climate with the need for quality home grown talent that price is cheap.

Having sold numerous players too cheaply and without sell on fees Hammers have had their fingers burned severely in the past and only recently let Domingos Quina go to Watford for a song! Players move on, but the club should at least get every single penny they can for the services of a player who will go on to shine in the future, it is just that his future will not be at West Ham United. - Ed

West Ham have been considering a January loan move for Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira, the midfielder has been used sparingly by Jose Mourinho this season and has rejected the club's offer of a new three-year contract. United do have an option to extend it by a further year, which they are set to take up although apparently only to avoid losing him on a free transfer. The 22-year-old has made just six appearances, four in the Barclays Premier League and two in the Champions League, his relationship with manager Mourinho is said to be fractious at best and is the main reason he wants to leave.

The planned loan move was at a fairly advanced stage, unfortunately it appears that the Manchester United hierarchy have developed cold feet over the arrangement due to Hammers recent impressive run of form that has seen them race up the Barclays Premier League table. Not loaning or selling to a direct rival is common business practice, what is uncommon is that Hammers are so close to Manchester United that they may not even be direct rivals by the end of the season, the boot is on the other foot!

We'll have more on this and other transfer issues later, but for now it is time for long suffering Hammers fans to enjoy the moment. - Ed

Fulham FC: Rico, Odoi, Mawson, Chambers, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Schurrle, Cairney, Kamara, Mitrovic.Subs: Bettinelli, Kebano, Johansen, Ayite, Vietto, Christie, Cisse.
West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Anderson, Hernandez, Antonio. Subs: Adrian, Cresswell, Carroll, Obiang, Ogbonna, Costa Silva, Diangana.

Reading and listening to some of the 'gungho' comments made ahead of West Ham's match against Fulham you would think the game had already been won! How very far from the truth can that be? Just because Hammers have managed to win three matches on the spin why on earth do fans and pundits think Craven Cottage is going to be an easy place to play at? Fulham, like West Ham, spent big in the summer and then endured a truly miserable start to the season, unlike West Ham Fulham panicked and decided to part company with their manager replacing him with a steady pair of hands in the form of Claudio Ranieri.

Both Ranieri and Pellegrini have both won the Premier League albeit in entirely different circumstances, since arriving at the Cottage Ranieri has overseen a mini revival particularly at home where they have achieved a win and a draw since he took over. Pellegrini of course has overseen a dramatic turn of fortune at West Ham, but traditionally this is the point where the club falls at the first hurdle of realistic achievement as another false dawn emerges. however Manuel Pellegrini, despite his age, is a proper manager not a chancer from the lowe divisions or an inherrant wheeker dealer risk taker, he is an old school officienado who has been there and done it.

Manuel Pellegrini will in no way underestimate the 'boomerang effect' that a new manager can have when arriving at a club, and in Claudio Ranieri he has a fellow 'old school warrior'. This match is crucial for both clubs for different reasons, Fulham have the chance to build upon a solid start for the 'Tinkerman', West Ham have the chance to 'aim for the stars instead of the moon'. Caution must be the order of the day, as Ranieri pointed out, Hammers last three victories were 3-0, 3-1, and 3-2, so the differential is there for him to motivate his team with, as he inferred during his pre-match pressie.

Will Hammers crash and burn? If the team can avoid complacency there is every chance of progressing further up the table, but this is West Ham after all. -Ed