The True Cost of Your Ropey League Hits Home

The picture says it all. Already stretched in terms of attacking options, the last player that Boss Slaven Bilic would have wanted to pick up an injury would have been Enner Valencia. Having just scored the comeback goal that Hammers fans expected to be the start of a scoring spree, he twisted awkwardly and now looks crocked for six months or more according to leaked reports after his scan today.

 As a result, the first of the VERYWESTHAM predictions for the coming season (i.e. that Valencia's second season would be terrific and prolific) has gone into the dustbin. The prediction that we would finish fifth in the Premiership also looks a little ambitious now!

However, perhaps this incident is what's needed to re-energise our efforts to find a new striker (or two?). Chaz Austin is still very much available and as the transfer deadline approaches the game of poker around the transfer fee and his  personal terms should come to a conclusion. The absence of competition for a starting place will also surely make the Hammers an attractive club for a player on the verge of the England set up, and then there's the King's Landing London versus Winterfellish Noocassell issue in terms of lifestyle.....Case closed!

A proven Premiership goalscorer who is relatively lucky regarding injuries.....the £15 million signing on fee would bring our Premiership predictions back to life and is surely a small price to pay for the honour of competing in one of Europe's leading football competitions.