The Official West Ham United Thread. Vol 2

[bad company]

I still like the OS very much. UP was great but too small and we would have been unable to generate the revenue required to challenge the top teams.

The deal looks even better than I thought:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/west-h...

[bad company]

Looking like we might struggle to hold onto Lanzini. Anybody know how long he has on his contract?

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/chelsea-plot-shock-mo...

[TCEvo]

He had a new contract last summer (or winter window) as we signed him then from the loan deal that he came to us on.

He's already said that he's no intention of leaving (linked elsewhere last week) so hopefully that'll be the case, although might need to bung him some more dosh.

Opportunity open for him to be our #1 player, if he isn't already, IMO; needs a tad more consistency though.

[TEKNOPUG]

bad company said:

I still like the OS very much. UP was great but too small and we would have been unable to generate the revenue required to challenge the top teams.

The deal looks even better than I thought:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/west-h...

Will be interesting to see the next set of accounts. More seats sold but at lower prices. 7th largest revenue @ ~£200m but it's another £100m leap to 6th place. So the OS will probably keep you up with the chasing pack but it's commercial revenue that's needed to bridge the gap to the top 6 and European places.

[bad company]

Calleri and Tore returning to their parent clubs:-

http://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/may/25-may...

Not surprised.

[RichB]

Looks like Zabaleta is coming on a free. Richt back, 32 years old. Thoughts?

[AJB88]

RichB said:

Looks like Zabaleta is coming on a free. Richt back, 32 years old. Thoughts?

If it was pay as you play.. go for it. but it won't be!

[pincher]

I think he's better than anything we have got at the moment (even at 32) and will act as a good mentor to Byram who will hopefully come good in the future.

If he can smuggle Iheanacho out of Manchester in his suitcase while he's at it, then I'll be very happy.

Edited by pincher on Thursday 25th May 15:21

[pincher]

Someone on KUMB said:

For once the Dave's have jumped in early to secure a top class player for a position we've struggled to cover for 3 years not a week after the season has finished, yet people see fit to say he's not good enough for us even though he played 32 times this season for a team that's on a different planet to us. It's not as if he's going to go downhill in the 3 months until the season starts.

The pressure is now temporarily off the RB spot so we can move on to other important areas like forwards.

I suppose most folks would rather we spent the close season chasing the dream of a perfect RB only to come up short a day before the start of the season, and end up signing someone ****...again. I'm not big fan of the Dave's but they can't win sometimes.

Sums up my thoughts quite succinctly.

[RichB]

pincher said:

Someone on KUMB said:

For once the Dave's have jumped in early to secure a top class player for a position we've struggled to cover for 3 years not a week after the season has finished, yet people see fit to say he's not good enough for us even though he played 32 times this season for a team that's on a different planet to us. It's not as if he's going to go downhill in the 3 months until the season starts.

The pressure is now temporarily off the RB spot so we can move on to other important areas like forwards.

I suppose most folks would rather we spent the close season chasing the dream of a perfect RB only to come up short a day before the start of the season, and end up signing someone ****...again. I'm not big fan of the Dave's but they can't win sometimes.

Sums up my thoughts quite succinctly.

Excellent, I'm perfectly happy with someone who is 32. WIll mean there's never any question of Antonio playing at RB

[TCEvo]

pincher said:

I think he's better than anything we have got at the moment (even at 32) and will act as a good mentor to Byram who will hopefully come good in the future.

If he can smuggle Iheanacho out of Manchester in his suitcase while he's at it, then I'll be very happy.

Edited by pincher on Thursday 25th May 15:21

Agree with this to a degree; especially point re the striker! I have concerns about signing another ageing player.

Pleased to see the back of Tore & Calleri - although what's the bet that he now signs for a European club & bangs in the goals (as per Zaza).

[pincher]

TCEvo said:

Agree with this to a degree; especially point re the striker! I have concerns about signing another ageing player.

Pleased to see the back of Tore & Calleri - although what's the bet that he now signs for a European club & bangs in the goals (as per Zaza).

I know what you mean but Zabaleta is a known quantity and we should be pretty confident that he will do a good job for us - I'd wager that he is fitter at 32 than Byram is at 20-whatever. That said, you just know he will get a long-term injury in the Pre-Season!

Re Calleri - that's pretty much a nailed on cert. I blew hot and cold with him but I always admired his effort, even if the end product wasn't that great. In a slower league, I think he might do very well.

[TCEvo]

pincher said:

TCEvo said:

Agree with this to a degree; especially point re the striker! I have concerns about signing another ageing player.

Pleased to see the back of Tore & Calleri - although what's the bet that he now signs for a European club & bangs in the goals (as per Zaza).

I know what you mean but Zabaleta is a known quantity and we should be pretty confident that he will do a good job for us - I'd wager that he is fitter at 32 than Byram is at 20-whatever. That said, you just know he will get a long-term injury in the Pre-Season!

Re Calleri - that's pretty much a nailed on cert. I blew hot and cold with him but I always admired his effort, even if the end product wasn't that great. In a slower league, I think he might do very well.

Calleri just always looked so lightweight & at the rare moments when he did have a good opportunity he tried something stupid or fked it up.

[sjc]

RichB said:

pincher said:

Someone on KUMB said:

For once the Dave's have jumped in early to secure a top class player for a position we've struggled to cover for 3 years not a week after the season has finished, yet people see fit to say he's not good enough for us even though he played 32 times this season for a team that's on a different planet to us. It's not as if he's going to go downhill in the 3 months until the season starts.

The pressure is now temporarily off the RB spot so we can move on to other important areas like forwards.

I suppose most folks would rather we spent the close season chasing the dream of a perfect RB only to come up short a day before the start of the season, and end up signing someone ****...again. I'm not big fan of the Dave's but they can't win sometimes.

Sums up my thoughts quite succinctly.

Excellent, I'm perfectly happy with someone who is 32. WIll mean there's never any question of Antonio playing at RB

Yep agree with all of this.
Cress and Byram can only benefit.

[TCEvo]

sjc said:

Yep agree with all of this.
Cress and Byram can only benefit.

Surprisingly Cress got an England call-up today; presumably everyone else must be injured as he's been terrible this season.

[sjc]

TCEvo said:

sjc said:

Yep agree with all of this.
Cress and Byram can only benefit.

Surprisingly Cress got an England call-up today; presumably everyone else must be injured as he's been terrible this season.

Me and the lad have just said the same !

[sjc]

Can totally relate to this.
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/w...

[BlindandLost]

Pablo Zabaleta to sign on a free on the 1st of July:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40061220

Good signing I reckon. Will be good to have some competition at RB. Will hopefully be able to teach Byram about defending as well

[AJB88]

New away shirt has also been released.. looks like a training top.

[pincher]

I suspect I will be in a minority but I really like that.