Sunday 29 December 2013

Say Hello to Ishak Belfodil: at last an understudy to Andy Carroll?



Breaking news from France is that Ishak Belfodil the French-Algerian forward who has been warming the bench at Inter this season is on his way to West Ham. L'Arena reports that apparently, a six-month loan deal has been agreed that will bring him to the Boleyn until the end of the current season. West Ham fans will hope that this is the start of a series of squad enhancements that can propel them to safety as they face into 2014 second from bottom of the Premiership.

Is the Algerian international the answer to West Ham’s problems? Well, for sure Belfodil has got some Allardyce characteristics –he’s big at 191cm, also muscular weighing in at 86kg and as footage of him in action shows he’s also pretty pacey and hard to dispossess– perhaps a bit like a mixture between Diame and Vaz Te, but looks stronger than both in the air.

For Inter he has been employed mostly as a right-sided  forward rather than as all-out striker and has a scoring record that does not suggest he is quite the hitman that many are hoping for – having scored a respectable 8 goals for Parma last season (mostly headers and some pretty impressive efforts amongst them) he has struggled at Inter and remains to break his duck with them. he managed to get himself voted onto the Serie A flops of the year (no goals, one red card for fighting off the ball!!!), but Italian soccer press can be pretty cruel and in reality he has not been given much of a chance and almost certainly would plead that he has been largely played out of position on the wing rather than his prefrred centre forward berth. However, Hammers fans will note that at a mere 21 years of age and with pretty sporadic experience in the French and Italian Leagues, he lacks the experience that the pressures of a Premiership relegation dog fight require.
Only for the different colour of boots they'd be identical...
However, with his youth and after a frustrating season where he has been unable to break into the Inter first team, the reported six-months loan period at the Boleyn may be attractive to the youngster.  He has quite a few Carroll-like attributes and could be a useful back up for the injury-prone star as West Ham face a nervous period when their star forward finally returns from his lengthy injury-problems. Also, in a World Cup year when Algeria will be competing - he needs to get some proper game time. Impact sub i hear you cry?

In the background is a pretty complicated legaal arrangement between Inter and his former club Parma who retain 50% ownership of him, although it is unclear whether this is likely to prove relevant to a loan deal and may only become an issue if a more permanent deal is sought.
The reports suggest that he will arrive in the next few days.......Waddaya think???

12 comments:

  1. still only speculation mate - twitter twatter...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It takes 6 months for French players to settle in! Would rather Jordan Rhodes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. He's one for the future...a six month ONLY deal makes no sense and let's face it Allardyce has a history of signing players and them leaving them on the bench citing fitness problems and the like....

    ReplyDelete
  4. cluless moron fat sam out out out!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. If that is the best we can do then we really are doomed to relegation. I hope this rumour is just that - a rumour

    ReplyDelete
  6. apparently he got shown the door at PSG...

    ReplyDelete
  7. With all that jumping about he'll probably get plantar fascitis as well. We are doomed!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dont count on BIG signings , THEY DONT WANT TO PLAY FOR SAM ! A former hammer just left cardiff would be better boss

      Delete
  8. Can finish with either foot. Interesting but not a cure for all ills.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. apparently his agent woz in London this weekend...suppose it'll be QPR then!

      Delete
  9. When will the penny drop that nobody other than sams old players or those too old only coming for last season in premier, want to play for west ham second from bottom and especially this clown were stuck with because the board don't want to admit they got it wrong again after grant.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to comment - bad language is strictly forbidden and please refrain from any nasty 'isms'