Blame Game: Zouma & Antonio Fitness

Even Doris the Tea Lady has come in for a battering because of West Ham's dreadful January transfer window, and she retired FIVE years ago! The club's lack of any successful transfer activity has made it a laughing stock as it approaches the 2nd part of the season, the "we tried but ultimately failed" message received is being treated with the absolute contempt it deserves.

Two elements DID actually hinder the club's transfer window, firstly other club's 'fear of trading with West Ham who they now see as serious rivals, not only Manchester United but also LIVERPOOL, who we have learned REFUSED outright to sanction ANY deals with the Irons for Nat Phillips OR Divock Origi.

The 2nd element is paradoxical in that Kurt Zouma's recovery from injury WAY ahead of schedule, negated the urgent need for a replacement, hence the cooling of interest in bringing Caleta-Car from Marseille during the January window. Then there is Mikey Antonio's new fitness and diet regime that has seen him somehow manage to avoid his perennial hamstring issues, so far. Three ultimately pointless games, played across the other side of the World for Jamaica in only SEVEN DAYS, will see just how well his new regime has helped on his eventual return!

However it is an absolutely outrageous risk going into the remainder of the season without sufficient backup for either player, Hammers seriously run the risk of becoming a busted flush if EITHER player picks up a long term injury. Hopefully David Moyes has been able to tear himself away from the Agent e-mails and video clips that blight the transfer window, in order to work with the payers he DOES have at his disposal, including as we have been banging on about, the Youth players who are itching to replace the likes of Yarmolenko, they are the future whereas he is the past and a very expensive one at that! - LN