The News of the World again links us to Everton’s Andy Johnson. I like Johnson as a player, but he is incredibly injury prone, and I cannot see why we would need a player like him unless we were planning to sell Dean Ashton.
What Price Mark Noble?
March 3rd, 2008 - 9:52 amThis week’s News of the World is touting Mark Noble as a replacement for Flamini at Arsenal. The Gunners apparently considered an approach for Noble in the last transfer window, says the article. We shouldn’t be surprised that Nobes is attracting attention. Even though he’s not the finished article yet, it’s clear that he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the country. I fully expect him to make the England squad within twelve months. Arsenal apparently value him at £8 million.
Mark Noble is West Ham born and bred. It’s now up to the club to make it clear to him that they intend to build a side ready to challenge for honours, and that they will build the squad around him. If his head was turned by a move to one of the big four, it would be a tragedy. If that is not to happen he needs to be confident about the club’s ambition. It still breaks my heart to think what might have been if we had been able to hold onto James, Sinclair, Cole, Carrick, Lampard, Kanoute, Di Canio, Johnson and Defoe. Best not to go there.
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Do We Really Need a New Striker?
February 15th, 2008 - 1:45 pmA constant theme on this blog in recent weeks in the comments has been the desire for a new striker. Admittedly our goals ratio hasn’t been what we might have expected this season, and people are laying the blame at the feet of Dean Ashton. It’s clear he is not on form and siffering a crisis of confidence. The reaction of sections of the crowd is not helping. Along with Zamora, Bellamy and Cole, you’d have thought we would have our best ever strike force. With Camara also available and Ljungberg and Boa Morte also able to play up front, why on earth would we need a new striker. That, of course, is to ignore all the injuries our players have suffered.
With Zamora ready to return I am fairly optimistic about the rest of the season. It is a shame Bellamy is now out, but if Dean Ashton can get some form back, and Carlton stays in the great form he’s been in (and can get a few more goals) I think we’ll be OK.
But if we DID buy a striker in the summer – and had up to £10 million available, who would you urge Curbishley to go for?
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What Could Sidwell Bring Us?
February 14th, 2008 - 9:44 amMy newspaper of choice (not), the Daily Mirror suggests that we will sign Steve Sidwell from Chelsea at the end of the season for £5 million. Pour qoi? I cannot see anything that he wouldbring to the team which Noble, Parker and Mullins do not. Do you?
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Move Along, Nothing to See…
January 24th, 2008 - 8:44 pmOnly seven more days to go in the transfer window and we have been involved in precisely, er, zero transfers in or out. I can’t decide whether that is a good thing or not. The NEWS NOW West Ham page carries precious few transfer rumours. Normally at this stage every other story would be a new bit of gossip. I can’t really believe we will get to the 31st and the situation will remain the same, but you never know.
I still think we should be trying to offload Dailly (whose move to Rangers fell through), Quashie and a couple of others. Oh, and Boa Morte 
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Ashton & Green Transfer Targets?
January 23rd, 2008 - 9:33 amLet’s look at three rumours in the papers this morning.
Firstly, Kevin Keegan apparently wants to sign Dean Ashton for £7 million. This is the amount we paid Norwich for him. Few would deny his value has significantly increased since then, so that looks to be an undervaluation by at least £2-3 million. Should we even be tempted? There is a school of thought that says that Deano hasn’t been the same since his injury and that we should cash in while we can. There is no doubt that he’s not firing on all cylinders at the moment but I have seen enough to believe that it won’t be long before he is back to his best. VERDICT: DON’T SELL
Arsenal are also, according to a couple of papers, about to offer £7 million for Robert Green. Again, I’d say this is an undervaluation. And I would be devastated if we sold him. He’s been our most consistent performer for the last year and is an outstanding keeper. A complication of selling him would be that it would be difficult to line up a replacement with only a week of the transfer window still left. My gut feeling is that we will indeed sell him to Arsenal, but not until the Summer. It will be an interesting test of whether he and the Board believe this a club which is going placed. If he does, he’ll stay, but if moving to Arsenal will further his chances of playing for England we may be seeing the last few months of Robert Green in a West Ham shirt: VERDICT: KEEP IF AT ALL POSSIBLE
The third rumour concerns Giovanni Trappatoni coming in as Director of Football. The sixty eight year old Italian has a record which is second to none, but I have severe doubts about this. Can anyone name me a club where a Director of Football role has worked? And would it really work bringing in a foreigner with no knowledge of West Ham’s traditions? One paper even says this would be a precursor to him taking over from Curbishley! VERDICT: WE DON’T NEED HIM
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Laugh? I Nearly Wet Myself
January 18th, 2008 - 8:38 amAccording to the Mirror, Celtic are to bid £4 million for Mark Noble. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
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Theo Walcott Coming on Loan?
January 14th, 2008 - 6:43 pmAccording to one of our readers, he’s seen this on a West Ham site…
Theo Walcott could be making the short move across London from Arsenal to West Ham on loan for the rest of the season. The move could see Walcott in Alan Curbishley’s depleted squad as soon as Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Manchester City.
The only reason I think there might be something in this is because I reckon if we go after another striker it will be someone on loan. With four strikers to choose from if they are all fit I just don’t think the board will stump up the required £10 million for another permanent striker without shipping someone out. Whether Theo Walcott is the answer, though, is to be doubted. I don’t see him as an out and out goalscorer. He rarely makes the Arsenal starting lineup. We’re not their nursery club. I vote no!
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Spurs Want Robert Green
January 12th, 2008 - 9:40 amAccording to this morning’s Sun, Tottenham are about to make an offer for Rob Green. They value him at £6 million. Obviously I hope we and Rob Green himself tell them where to go. Indeed, it will be an interesting test for Green. Does he see us or them as a team likely to win things in the future? If Man U or Arsenal came in for him I could understand his head being turned. But Tottenham? He’d be mad. And then of course there’s the frightening prospect of Tottenham offering Paul Robinson in part exchange…
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Should we go After Defoe?
January 8th, 2008 - 10:23 amJermaine Defoe has announced that Ramos has told him he can leave White Hart Lane. He says he wants to stay, but if a new manager tells you you’re not wanted it’s a fair bet you’ll be gone pdq.
The big question is: should West Ham try to re-sign him? He’s a proven goalscorer and an England international. But can we forgive him for the manner of his leaving, and is he too similar to Craig Bellamy.
Over to you.
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