Forum | Non-Football Related

It is not just the Brentwood Gazette that seems to have had their water supply 'infected' with powerful hallucinogens, The Independent and of course those bastions of truth the Daily Mail have also got in on the act! First there was the insane Balotelli to the Boleyn rumour, there are probably very few players on the planet who are so not suited to Slaven Billic's West Ham United side, Balotelli is the epitome of everything that is wrong with the modern day footballer and his presence in the dressing room would be extremely counter productive to team spirit, not to mention that The Road Runner, Chek Kayoute, is hanging out with Balotelli's ex-girl friend! (memories of Bish!)
Next to the equally ludicrous but even more preposterous Daniel Sturridge Liverpool to West Ham move, why on earth would the two David's sanction the purchase of a player from Liverpool with a terrible injury record when they have already had their fingers well and truly burnt by the Andy Carroll transfer? The answer is quite simply they would not sanction such a move through hell or high water, once is enough!
There will be all sorts of ludicrous rumours floating around during the next ten days, and we trust that the BG and others will keep everyone amused. - Ed

As the news broke of West Ham United's potential signing of the Thurrock born 22 year old right back Sam Byram from Leeds United, senior members of the Everton hierarchy will have been reaching for their hip flasks in order to numb the reality that they are facing since the departure of main scout Tony Henry to West Ham United. The Byram Leeds to Everton deal was all done and dusted, but local influence AND Tony Henry put an end to all that! Since Henry's arrival at the Boleyn, the club's recruitment policy can only be described as stratospheric compared with the previous Allardyce ,and his scout Martin Glover, ruled policy. Players like Dimitri Payet would definitely have been on Everton's shopping list, as was Byram, but Tony Henry has gravitas when it comes to player recruitment, he is a friend and associate of super agent Jorge Mendes, who among others represents Ronaldo, Falcao and Di Maria. We are not suggesting that players of that calibre will be rocking up at the Olympic stadium, but Mendes' closeness with all the top teams in Europe means that Hammers have access, and will gain even more access, to a stream of young players on the books of the larger clubs. One of the reasons Everton did so well last season, and why they are doing quite well this season is as a result of the players that Henry helped bring to the club.
Byram has cost West Ham United a paltry (at least in this day and age) £3.75 Million, and will be loaned back to Leeds United for the rest of the season, his signing virtually confirms the departure, back to his Parent club Arsenal ,of Carl Jenkinson at the end of the season. - Ed