Forum | Non-Football Related

West Ham make the top 20 of Deloitte's Football Money League 2014/15 for the first time since 2005-06 with revenues of 160.9m euro (£122.4m), more than Turkey's top club, Galatasaray. Not since the 'phoney money' of the Icelandic biscuit barons have West Ham United had such revenue streams running through the club, of course the 'streams' from iceland were in fact volcanic based debt, whereas now, under the ownership of the two Davids, Sullivan and Gold, six years into their tenure, are healthy and well founded. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that the mighty irons could have done a ....Leeds, Bolton, Pompey, Coventry, Blackburn, Luton or any number of clubs that became financially over burdened and could not climb back up to the top table and all it's incumbent riches, and while fans may bemoan limited transfer activity by the West Ham board during this window, they should bear in mind the consequence of profligate over spending and the collateral effect it can have on a club's long term future and even existence! Next season all the Barclays Premier League clubs will receive massive payments, which they will receive one month earlier than had been scheduled in order for funds to be available during the summer transfer window, essentially all of those who 'survived' the drop will climb up the global rich list, and West Ham United, with the Olympic Stadium move and a potential sixth place in the League heralding european football will add significantly to the club's revenue stream. For once in it's history West Ham United can really start to mix it with the Elite, and on a sure footing that does not look like imploding! - Ed

If the rumour mill is to be believed, which it should not! West Ham United are reported to be interested in signing Alexandre Pato, yet another injury prone striker, although the player is supposed to be signing for Chelsea imminently. You couldn't make it up could you? Well actually you can if you write fro the Daily Mail, apparently Hammers are lining up moves for Pato, that old chestnut Demba Ba as well as Emmanuel Emenike. Of that trio, only Nigerian forward Emenike in any way fits the bill, the 28 year old was on loan from Fenerbache at Al Ain in Dubai but has been recalled ahead of a move away to Europe. Eminike's agent has been in London to discuss a potential move to West Ham United on an initial loan until the end of the season with an option to buy for €10 Million, there are other clubs interested in Emenike but apparently Hammers have the edge in getting his signature because of Slaven Billic's knowledge of the player from his time as manager in Turkey. If Emenike does arrive at the Boleyn, it will herald the departure of Mauro Zarate and possibly Nikita Jelavic as well, both players are on other team's radars, with Jelavic in particular being offered a very lucrative contract in China, Zarate is rumoured to be on his way to Fiorentina for around € 3 Million as he is apparently unhappy at being so low down in the pecking order at the Boleyn despite the injuries to the main strikers Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll. Some fans may question the wisdom of signing Emmanuel Emenike as an additional striker when the club already has Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll, but if nothing else this season's crippling injury list shows just how quickly, to use an 'arryism', a team can get 'down to it's bare bones'. - Ed