Mexican striker Guillermo (known as Guille) Franco flies in to London today to sign for West Ham according to sources. Franco is a 32 year old 6’1 striker who has been a prolific scorer for Monterrey in the Mexican league, and he is being signed as backup for Carlton Cole. He is an out and out striker who can hold the ball up. West Ham have pinched him from under the noses of the Argentinian champions Estudientes.
Franco scored for Mexico at the weekend in a World Cup qualifier and has notched 6 goals in his 18 international appearances. Although he plays for Mexico he was actually born an Argentinian, but has since become a naturalised Mexican.
His previous stint in Europe didn’t go that well. He scored 14 goals in 81 games. In his career he has notched 100 goals in 296 games.
Franco’s Wikipedia page says he has already signed for West Ham, but I understand the final touches to the deal have still to be done.
He also has his own website HERE. I don’t speak Spanish… There is more about him in a profile HERE.
Doesnt sound like you need reminding. lol Let’s just hope Macaroni gets it right from now on. Im with you on all points.
We’ll probably get the Bologna offcuts knowing our luck.
Everyone has been slagging off the current kit makers Umbro and what they have done to the kit and before Macron can even get their needle and thread out they are now getting ripped to pieces as well.
The important thing from todays announcement is that the SBOBet deal is worth over £10M over 3 years to the club and is by my reckoning the biggest shirts sponsorship deal we have ever signed (am not counting the XL deal as it collapse but even had it not I think it was for £2.5M a year which is still less).
SBOBet have shown themselves to be decent sponsors, they paid early to help us land Diamanti and they allow The Bobby Moore Fund to advertise on the junior replica shirts for free.
Celts..I don’t give a monkey’s who makes our kit, although it is clear the bottom line is very important.
I am a fan with a pretty simple approach. I will like or dislike the manager and players and comment accordingly. I will try and uphold the traditions of the club and pee on those who do not.
What I am not is an amateur accountant who is either capable or interested in running the finances of the club. Should the day arrive when I cannot slag of any part of the team I love, then I’ll call it a day and give up football and head for White Hart Pain.
Forgive me Lord, for I have sinned.
Horters I am not going to try and stop people posting an opinion anymore than I am going to stop posting my opinion of their opinion.
Oh and for the record I am not an accountant but there is nothing amature about my posts about the clubs finances.
One more thing dont even joke about going to support the spuds! even if we are in a relegation scrap in the Blue Square Premier it can be that bad that you would buy a spuds shirt mate!
Celts…The day I wear a Spuds shirt is the day I am dragged screaming into hell. Hopefully never. Mind you, I like your vision of them in the Blue Square.
For clarity, comments about amateur accountancy were about me, not you. It’s a topic that leaves me cold, but each to his own.
Children! Stop it!
Say sorry and make up!
I put a single bet of 200 pounds at 9/4 on West Ham to win at Wigan.Last time I backed them George Parris scored a 90th minute screamer to beat Watford so hopefully 20 years on Diamante if needed will get me home.Like all students of the turf it was our win there a few months ago but I think they have weakened some what compared to then,here is hoping!
who is this muppet that has the “the games gone crazy” web site.he seriously needs to be shut up asap .he is a allways having a pop and calls himself a hammers fan.anyway of sorting this prat out?
Aussie – last season the scene of the goal of the season – lets hope more of the same
Yeah I know Jon, it seems to be just Spuds fans writting on the forum there, oh well they need an outlet to vent. As for the guy who runs it, he just types any old waffle. Leave him to it, it just spurs (no pun intended) all real Hammers fans onto THIS great site.
yer van ,but it only takes one person and the media will pick it up,blow it out of all proportion and the next thing its headline news…..from a complete (swear word)..the next thig is greeny wont be englands no1 just because of this muppet
It’s Hammersfan Jon, he writes s**t like that ALL THE TIME and thinks he’s funny! lol
Never has ANYTHING good to say about the team he supposedly ‘supports’.
Jon, you don’t have to worry about that mate! He has been around for ages! And the ONLY People that post are the peopel that slag him off! And he moderates and allows them too! lol
The media have snooped around and given him a wide bith!
Vander the pressure is on martinez at wigan they have not replaced cattermole,valencia or the spuds signing they have spent 2 bob compared to 30 odd million they brought in,Unless the world caves in we are capable of murdering this lot in 3rd gear but you never can tell in sport.
I think our kits have been a bid bland over the last couple of years – you get exited wiating for it and then it’s not much different – maybe a bit of Italian chic is what we need – a modern version of the two claret hoops away kit is the ultimate challenge for any designer
All of us shoul dwrite to newsnow and get him kicked off! I have written but they just ignore me!
But if we ALL write….
I’ll start an online petetion if you like
I know you are going to lynch menow but….I quite like our new home kit!
Sorry! lol
Aussie – wigan are on the slide I think – we’ve got a bit of a boost with Diamanti coming in – Behrami coming back – history says the away team wins this fixture
Matt, I also wrote to them about it a while ago. It was during summer when there was nothing going on and he kept posting irrelevant tripe that had nothing to do with WHU. I thought that even if they weren’t interested in the quality of the blog, they may at least want to keep people on topic with their tagging. I didn’t get a response from them. Online petition wouldn’t be a bad idea, but then again he’s such a sadist for being insulted that he would probably enjoy the attention.
Consider me signed up to that petition Matt.
I will get the petition sorted tomorrow! If we get enough names, they should listen!
He is a sadist but I’m sick of seeing his rubbish about west ham!
I tried to ignore him! But I just want NewsNow to kick him! Young people read what he writes and believe him!
matt i actually like the home kit i thinks its a changet to the normal claret n blue. i’ve been saying for a few seasons now i’d like one like the old 86 shirt but this one aint to bad and anyway i’m sure we’ll be back to claret n blue next season. i honestly dont no y we have a navy blue away kit
Good
Johnny, that makes 2 of us! lol
I actually don’t mind the away shirt either! The sky blue one we had in (I think) 2005 was horrible! And massive! lol
Franco became a naturalized Mexican citizen after settling in Mexico in 2002. He has since played for the Mexico national football team and has amassed seventeen caps, scoring six goals for the national team.
In 2006 he signed for Spanish Villarreal CF.
Franco was the scorer of a goal by which qualified Villarreal for the UEFA Cup in a 1-0 victory against Celta de Vigo.
Franco now signed officially with West Ham United of England after many speculations that he would sign to Estudiantes La Plata from Argentina.
Guillermo Luis Franco Farcuason commonly known as Guille Franco (born on November 3, 1976) is a naturalized Mexican football striker, that currently plays as a striker for English Premier Team West Ham United and Mexico national team.
VIVA MEXICO
Matt you can make that 3! I like the new kit, both home and away versions. The megastore also has some nice polo shirts which I often wear to matches as I have often ended up standing with the home fans at away games and with away fans at Upton Park. Plus I often fly in on the the day of a game so I dont always have time to change before a game and I find that travelling through an airport in a Hammers jersey is a faster way to get stopped at customs than wearing a I luv Osama t-shirt and carrying a rocket shaped duty free bag!
Hi celtic mate !
Yeah the Polo shirts are nice too! I have 1! I also like the training shirt, have you seen it?
I also have the 75 cup final shirt that is a very tight fit but I love it! lol
Matt I wasnt even born in 75 but I still have the scarf, hat, wall pennants and photos of my first ever trip to Upton Park when I was 7. The game was against Man City but it was cancelled due to a frozen pitch! I was gutted but we met Phil Parkes at the ground and he signed the calender my Dad had bought me which is still my most treasured Hammers possesion, well that and the shin pads Martin Allen gave me when my cousin took me to Chadwell Heath one time to watch the team training.
Lol! Shin pads!
Sweaty ones! lol
I was born in 75 and Malcome Allison gave my daughter the shirt to give to me for fathers day
Well, he bought it for her to give to me! lol
For the record, as someone upthread mentioned, Thames Ironworks did indeed play in Navy blue, since the original Mr Cearns had represented Oxford University in varsity football.
(My fantasy team TIDC has claret & navy blue stripes for this very reason)
Yes sir Dave. That was me. I would say navy is the most traditional. But the Claret and Blue is West Ham.
But since the thread was about the Mexi-fella. I will repost what I’ve found out earlier. that is if anyone cares…..
I’ve just spoken to a mate of mine that writes reviews for years for Spanish/Mexican and south American papers.
His take on Guille is that he is very good in the box, has a great long distance shot, handles the ball well, great with his head. Only drawback is he tends to get hurt alot. Also, being an International for years may be a good thing as far as getting used to the fast style of the Prem. Let’s hope he can adjust quickly.
This article predicts a win for us against Wigan, however the writer seems to have jumped the gun a bit.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/westham/6169463/Wigan-Athletic-v-West-Ham-United-match-preview.html
It’s saying DaCosta should get a start in our starting 11 now that Collins has gone. What about Tomkins? Even Collins was not a definite starter as Tomkins has definitely given him a run for his money.
Apart from DaCosta (and Spector) I believe that will be our starting
Sorry i didn’t get to finish the sentence. Apart from DaCosta (and Spector) I believe that will be our starting 11.
It depends on whether Ilunga is fit or if Zola wants to give Daprela a chance. If Specs plays then hopefully he will have a good game. Right back is a lot more natural to him so he can’t be expected to do as good as job on the left side.
I agree that Behrami will probably be eased back into playing, hence why I don’t think he’ll start.
solcalhammer,
You friend was watching someone else or drunk.
His strike rate is terrible. His only good record is in mexico and he proved a flop in Villareal….from 1st choice to 4th choice…in a side that plays footie in the same style as WHU. He falls over easy, Which refs will soon pick up on and when he misses easy chances puts a look on his face like his just had his balls removed without anasthetic…while holding his hands like in prayer. He is 6ft 1″ but not strong and is not that good in the air. Ive seen him miss absolute sitters at Villareal ofton.
If he is good in the box, why is his goals per game record so poor. At the very start of this blog i put his full record on here.
Give him a chance but dont expect much. APP his missus is pretty and i think he has three kids. They attended the British school in Villareal, so can speak english. He should settle in uk…ok. With three kids he scores off the pitch..no problem.
9/4 boys Hammers to win at Wigan must be the best soccer bet ever?
AS for the kit discussion….i dont care if our players take the field in a pink silk matching bra and thong…..if it sells well and raise’s some cash for the club. We have to erase our debts…its damaging the club and i feel so sorry for zola/clarke who are having to deal with all this…with their hands tied. Its disgraceful we are going round the bins looking for players….ours is a great club with proud traditions and supporters. This IMO is as low as we have ever been and it must be sorted out.
In defence of G.Franco and to be totally honest. I believe he is a better bet than Viduka..he will work hard for the side. Viduka IMO would of been a expensive mistake.
Im a better bet than Viduka!
Like your comment TJ. It would appear at the moment Zola and Co are having to work like lower league managers trying to find talent for free or on the cheap because the club is skint.
I am surprised the club hasn’t been sold yet considering it’s in the premier league, based in London and close to the Olympics venue.
This is investors heaven but not much interest.
Which obviously tells me there are some underlying issues which are putting people off and they are keeping quiet from us.
FIFA 10 DEMO IS OUT
http://www.gamershell.com/download_50798.shtml
Sky say this morning that Guille deal is not yet a done deal according to agent. In talks with 5 PL clubs and a championship side.
With the number of other strikers having apparently signed with us this TW and then bowing out to other clubs I say:-
WATCH THIS SPACE!!Lol!
If West Ham keep winning everyone will want replica,s of the kit and I think everyone recognise,s we dont have money but I tell you what who fancies playing us Liverpool wont fancy it but here is the thing unless the fans who come on here and give our management and players time it just wont happen straight away So is there any chance the people who knock Carlton Cole who Sir Geoff Hurst referred to as ;the new Martin Peters can at least judge him over a season where he has to up his game to force the England door open give him a chance and let Zola judge the balance.As armchair pundits it is easy, as a manager who is trying on limited funds to give us a higher standard of footballer it would be tough recruiting when the likes of Citeh can attract mercenaries through money how do we recruit?by players who are convinced Zola and Clarke can make them and our club better and hopefully this will attract a decent owner who has a plan that can make us Champion,s League material so then prestiege of playing for the best teams in the premier games will enhance their personal ambitions which should be trophies over a quick buck, Lucash a prime example of that. Patience is all we can have because honestly if Zola and Clarke are after money they would not be at our club others are monitoring this pair dont you worry be patient boys because we have a Champion,s league managemnt structure I am positve the rest will follow in the Project!
D and G,
We should just be thankful that our previous owners offer to purchase the Olympic stadium was refused….if that had been accepted and contracts signed…we probably would no longer exist. Two groups did make offers for the club in the region of 50 mill, but both walked away after the extent of the clubs debts became apparent/ the lack of upto date accounts…combination. The bids were unacceptable to our current banker owners anyway, who want to recoup as much of the original outlay (125mill plus 35mill of loans). If they sell the club now (with 100 mill of *known* debts outstanding)they will be looking at 60 mill plus taking over the debts. However the debts in the next set of accounts will be much lower..IMO atleast half..and that could include the sheff utd/tevez cash owed which was included in the reported 100mill figure. They are forcing the club to make all the cutbacks and not helping us at all to erase them.
When the clubs debts are low enough, they will then look to sell the club for around 125 mill. The problem they have is that sometime ( i think December) the iceland courts are due to review our previous owners finances and may order the club sold on the open market to the highest bidder…to settle his finances and pay off his creditors with his available assets (we are his only major asset).
No one sensible will buy the club now at the asking price, if they can get it at a cheaper level..poss in december. We will be literally auctioned. Anyone interested may be able to obtain us much cheaper then, than now buying direct from cb holdings.
I believe we could be sold quickly in around December by auction…probably about 75 mill, unless they can find a buyer before then.
I think some buyer,s if you get more than one would not want to get involved in a bidding war ,emotionally and egotistical buyers may pay more, fear of loss is greater than fear of gain in normal auctions but so long as whoever buys has our future business plan in place then watch us go big time forward !
In an ideal world we want our club in the hands of people who love and care about it. People who will help it and let it grow, not selling off our academy products all the time. From the day we sold Rio, i knew we would never achieve our potential. We became a factory, producing items for other people, i said it then and our recent history proves it.
CB holdings are bankers and will sell to the highest bidder, they have one aim alone…to recover as much as possible of the 160mill that was borrowed. Thats the bottom line.
What we dont want is anyone buying our club with money they dont have…credit/loans…but cb holdings will not care who buys it, the circumstances or the position we are left in. Thats the real world we are in.
Just pray that we get sporting owners who will run us properly. I just wish Shiekh Mohammed would buy us (if we have foreign owners) he is a true sportsman and passionate about England. He is a gentleman and would allow us to grow and develop….he also wants to win and do the best he can. Shame i dont know him!!!
If Zola and Clarke have to go through another season identical as this one they will be off and I don’t blame them.
Yeah it’s great they have brought a great bunch of kids in but they need some money to spend for christs sake!
TJ. Ajax are a great club with lots of tradition and have won trophies. EVEN they cant hold onto their players.