David Gold Gives Update on Andy Carroll's Groin

Hammers head honcho David Gold has taken to twitter to reassure fans that Big Andy Carroll simply has a bit of a stiffy and his substitution after demolishing Middlesboro yesterday was merely a precaution.

Let's hope that the Chairman is correct but Hammers fans will know only too well that Andy's history is of what initially appear to be minor knocks dragging on into prolonged absences.

With the Hammers now in the top half of the table but well adrift of the European spots, it looks like they can relax a little and maybe pencil this season down as one of consolidation. The problems offloading poor Summer transfers highlight the need to be cautious during the January window where most of what's on offer comes with a health warning.

The Deal for Scott Hogan looks stalled for now and with Jonathan Calleri belatedly discovering some goalscoring form maybe the Hammers will decide to hold back on the cash until the Summer. However, with over a million extra prize money for each Premiership placing each victory from here in has aconsiderable financial worth and would cover much of the cost of new recruits.

Meanwhile, the capture of Jose Fonte makes much better sense with news that Angelo Ogbonna needs major knee surgery and will be absent for the rest of the season.

Let's hope Big Andy makes it to the Summer without any further injuries.

 

Payet Solution Emerges

It's been a horrible week for Hammers fans with the realisation that our star player is little more than an economic mercenary who is now holding the club to ransom in an effort to force a move elsewhere.

Most fans will accept that a player's career is short enough and that they need to be pretty ruthless in their late 20s if they are to realise their potential at the highest stage. For clubs like West Ham, we have to accept that we are not quite that big (yet!) and that we cannot offer Champions' League opportunites.

However, there is a basic level of honesty and honour that fans demand from their 'heroes'. It's only 10 weeks since Mr Payet accepted a £1 million loyalty bonus and there is a massive difference between asking to leave and refusing to play.

Contractually, West Ham could bin Payet in the reserves but his market value is such that it would be an expensive gesture and the club are trying to build so that this type of thing becomes less likely in the future.

David Gold has suggested removing the January transfer window, but this would be harsh on clubs who have injuries and would necessitate allowing bigger squads with all the problems that would bring.

Maybe instead its time for some people power - why not start a crowdsourcing fund to resource keeping Payet at the club and making an example of him? If he is refusing to play then surely the club can refuse to pay his wages, so the main issue is the loss of revenue in transfer value - that would likely be considerable but is it finally time for real fans - not just West Ham fans - to say no to this cynical manipulation of our game?

What do you think? Should UEFA get off their backsides and impose sanctions on players who behave like this - a six month ban would certainly soften the arrogance that underpins this type of blatant contract breach and let's face it, this is the type of behaviour that presents a perfect example of bringing the game into disrepute!

 

Sak's Back!

The arrival of Andre Ayew and Jonathan Calleri has bolstered West Ham's confidence that they can score enough goals to make their first season at the Olympic Stadium a success. However, many fans were disappointed when Diafra Sakho looked to be on his way to West Brom - until a failed medical scuppered his plans.

Sakho enjoyed a fabulous start to life with the Hammers scoring in six consecutive games at the start of the 2014-5 season. Unfortunately, things have been stop-start ever since while there have been a series of off-field problems and disturbing visits to social media. Never the less, there can be little doubting that Saks has an edge and that his pace and aggression creates space for others.

As a result, many fans hope that he will rediscover his focus and return to the fray. In encouraging news today club chairman David Gold revealed that Sakho is back in training and that the door is definitely open for a return to the first team squad.

All of which makes you wonder how he managed to fail the medical at the Hawthorns? With Andy Carroll's injury-proneness combined with Calleri's lack of Premiership experience, having Sakho and Ayew both available would be a real boost as we face an exciting season.



 

Hammers Secret Plan to Accomodate Fans in Olympic Stadium

As the move to the Olympic Stadium draws ever nearer, one of the main concerns for many fans has been whether they can get one of the precious remaining season tickets. It's a measure of the success of the board that they will easily sell out the season ticket allocation despite an increase in capacity of around 20,000 compared to Upton Park!

However, as recently revealed, there are only 7,000 remaining tickets despite a 30,000plus 'priority' waiting list, suggesting that many fans will be left disappointed. However, hopes were raised today by Chairman David Gold who when asked if it was worthwhile joining the waiting list advised that the tweeter should indeed still sign up to the priority list!

Over the years, Mr Gold has been a refreshing force on twitter with his forthright style. It seems unlikely that he would give bad advice. Equally, Claret and Hugh who highlighted the disparity between availability and demand are usually spot on with their figures. As such thousands of Hammers fans are left wondering what cunning plan the board have to fit all those who want a season ticket into our new home?

 

Oh No!!! It's Biffa Barton!

A hush has descended upon the Hammers media family as rumours grow of the arrival of the media regulator to Upton Park. With news that Joey 'Basher' Barton is undergoing a medical at the club, Hammers observers are anxiously scrutinising their previous utterances about the 'controversial star' as they recall the twitter trouncing sleeky Gaz Lineker and Alan 'sensible' Shearer endured when they took on Bard Barton back in 2012.

Commenting on MOTD about Barton's sensational efforts to bring UFCinto the Premiership, they dared to suggest that Joey was out of order for his sending off and melee-inducing behaviour during a tussle with Man City. Having been red carded, to the pundits consternation young Barton decided to try and take out a few City players as he left the pitch.

However, the politics of condemnation was soon turned on it's smug head as Barton took to twitter to settle the score with Shearer and 'squeeky clean' Lineker. Barton challenged Gaz to a verbal face off, threatening to reveal all manner of skeletons from the Lineker closet. Sadly (?), the entralled twitter watchers were denied further hilarity as Lineker, despite being referred to as an 'odious toad', thought better of things and retreated into TOTAL silence!

With Joey's apparent arrival, many Hammers folk will be watching their Ps and Qs in the hope that they can avoid a similar bashing from Barton. Poor David Gold may well be wishing that he hadn't bothered with his previous comments about Barton's misdemmeanours!

At VERYWESTHAM we would like to take this opportunity to wish the skilful superstar the very very best of luck and would hasten to add that his previous difficulties have been no more than mere misunderstandings. If anything, Barton could well be the striking sensation that the Hammers need moving forward.

If that won't suffice, we will all have to get Uncle Julian to have a word in his ear!

From Polygraph to Polymath: Hammers ready to Ride the Celestial Skies

Its been a remarkable journey under the Davids - arriving as the club reached an all time low with debts of over a 100 million and a sense of inevitable descent as the rats deserted the good ship Bubbles.

Within a fortnight CEO Scott Duxbury had resigned putting definite distance between the club and the 'misleading' evidence the Premiership enquiry reported regarding the Tevez affair. Maybe Duxbury took one for the club, maybe not, but either way one didnt need a polygraph to realise that the club had been caught telling porkies!

For sure, many fans expected immediate intergalactic domination, but the shrewd board recognised the need for a gradual climb. The initial Avram phase merely served to confirm just how bad a state the club were in and we had to endure a limp relegation.

Enter Big Sam - experienced, efficient, intolerant. It wasnt pretty by any means but the fightback was on. Four years on we have established Premiership stability, have a decent squad, have qualified for Europe, and look financially secure ahead of the move to the Olympic Stadium. Some folks are understandably sad to leave the Boleyn, but this move means we will keep our stars of the future at the club and jettison our status as a feeder club for Chelsea and Spurs. Big Sam? Job well done, but DONE!

And now our rock star lawyer multilingual Internationally experienced manager is ready to lead a new phase for the club. Bilic personifies the concept of polymath - a true leader with a sound philosophy that can bring back that sense of righteous purpose Hammers fans delight upon. We ARE better because we believe in style and substance over crude success, in doing it the right way rather than acquiring souless commodities who only 'feel' for the club as long as they are on the payroll.

The Bilic era promises to be special - a time when we rediscover our core values and push for the highest limits!

COYI!!!