Forum | Non-Football Related

Well, it had to happen didn't it? While all others were dropping like flies around him, West Ham United's most expensive signing Andy Carroll seemed to thrive and NOT get injured, as he had previously done throughout his Hammer's career. However the striker who had recently been 'bigging up' his claim for a place in the England squad whilst at the same time 'trolling' Chelsea's now ousted manager Jose Mourinho, has succumbed to a slight niggle. Strange term slight niggle, one man's niggle can seem like a total war to an observer, it will be interesting to see how slight a niggle a slight niggle really is!
Whatever the outcome, Hammers are going to be light up top for the next few crucial games during the Christmas period, Jelavic and the recently returned Enner Valencia aren't really going to strike fear in to the opposition, and that is assuming both of them can stay fit! It is a pity that Big Andy won't be able to face Swansea, because he always had quite a good game against them. (cheato flores incident aside). - Ed

Informed rumour has it that Sam Allardyce's Sunderland are contemplating a massive £8.5 Million bid for West Ham defender James Tomkins when the January transfer window opens. Allardyce has long been an admirer of Tomkins and feels that the 'Toon' can offer the Hammers Academy graduate a lucrative role that includes the Sunderland captaincy, such is his appraisal and admiration of the Clark Gable look alike, that in fact after the Hammers victorious play off final at Wembley against Blackpool FC, Allardyce declared " This is the most handsome centre back you will ever see!" They were all supposed to look like Steve Bruce!
But what value can be placed on an Academy graduate who has come through the ranks and ticks all the right boxes for an inspirational home grown English player? Priceless! Tell Big Sam and the Mackams to sling their hook with their cash! - Ed

Ex - Hammers manager Sam Allardyce, now holding the reigns at Sunderland, has earmarked James Collins as a main signing when the January transfer window opens. Collins' contract expires at the end of the season , and as such West Ham might possibly recoup £2.5 Million at the absolute max in exchange for his services and think that it might be a good bit of business, in the short term! It is well known that the 'Ginger Pele' needs game time ahead of the Wales European Championship campaign in order to cement his place in Chris Coleman's Squad, and that was a situation that seemed to warrant the combative centre back's departure from the Boleyn, however fate has dictated that Collins presence in the West Ham United squad is essential following Winston Reid's untimely hamstring injury, sustained while playing on the 'dinosaur' training pitches at Chadwell Heath.
Collins may not be an elitist managers cup of tea, but he is a player prepared to put his head on the line, literally! In today's ridiculously inflated market for players, Collins' possible exit value of around £2.5 Million is small potatoes, his services for the rest of the season warrant the club allowing 'Ginge' to run down his contract and then join another club on a lucrative free, it's the least he deserves for the stalwart performances he has put in both his tenures at the Boleyn.
Who knows, he might even be offered another year, which would of course see him stepping out a the Olympic Stadium, not a bad send off to a player's career. - Ed