What Price Mark Noble?

This 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.

Do We Really Need a New Striker?

A 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?

What Could Sidwell Bring Us?

My 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?

Move Along, Nothing to See…

Only 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 :).

Ashton & Green Transfer Targets?

Let’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

Laugh? I Nearly Wet Myself

According 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

Theo Walcott Coming on Loan?

According 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!

Spurs Want Robert Green

According 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…

Should we go After Defoe?

Jermaine 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.

Hammers to get a Brazilian?

The Sun reports that West Ham are to make a £5 million move for Brazilian star Marcelo, currently with Panathinaikos. They reckon we’ll sell Hayden Mullins to fund the deal. Call me old fashioned, but I doubt whether old Hayden is in the £5 million bracket. He won’t need a work permit as he holds an Italian passport. The fly in the ointment? His adviser is our old friend Kia Joorabchian. Oh well, nice thought while it lasted.

Newcastle Can Keep Dyer

It looks like Kieron Dyer’s move south has been scuppered by the Newcastle chairman, who has tried to extort another £2 million out of West Ham. I hope Eggert Magnusson stands firm and doesn’t fall for this con trick. Dyer is very injury prone, and while he might be an England international, £8 million is way over the top for him, especially as the two clubs had already agreed a fee of £6 million. People seem to think that at West Ham money is now growing on trees. That impression needs to be dispelled.

The Summer Season

I was chatting to a friend on the gold course this afternoon and we reckoned that our overall spending had been pretty minimal this summer. So I thoiught I would indulge you all and list the ‘Ins’ and ‘Outs’ of the summer transfer season so far…

SOLD

Yossi Benayoun £5 million
Paul Konchesky £3 million
Nigel Reo Coker £8.5 million
Tyrone Mears £1 million
Teddy Sheringham Free
Roy Carroll Free
Shaun Newton

Total £17.5 million

BOUGHT

Scott Parker £7 million
Craig Bellamy £7.5 million
Richard Wright Free
Julien Faubert £6 million

Total £20.5 million

So, as I thought, Eggie has only had to shell out £2.5 million so far. It rather makes you wonder what he has got in mind for further pruchases, doesn’t it?

A nice £20 million striker and a top knotch left back and left winger wouldn’t go amiss.

Chris Cohen Moves to Forest

Former West Ham starlet Chris Cohen, who moved to Yeovil after failing to land a first team spot at Upton Park has moved to Nottingham Forest for a fee of around half a million pounds. I wonder if we had a sell on clause…

Defoe Bid Lodged With Spurs Today

This is only single-sourced, but it is from the same person who told me Calum Davenport was about to sign for us in January, so I passi ton for what it is worth. It seems Eggert Magnusson has lodged a sizeable bid with Spurs to ecure Jermain Defoe’s services. He knows Defoe is nervous about returning to West Ham because of the likely reaction from a section of the fans, but Magnusson is hoping it will be clear to him that he will be fourth in the running for a first team place at Spurs now they have signed Darren Bent.

I remain of the view that Defoe is a class player who would be a brilliant acquisition for us. He scored plenty of goals for Spurs last season despite not being in the team some of the time. He would provide a good contrast to Dean Ashton and ought to play well off him. I hope this rumour has some truth to it.

It’s All Gone a Bit Quiet…

Things seem to have gone rather quiet on the transfer front since the Bent snub. He’s signing for Tottenham tomorrow. I’d love to think we had a chance of signing Benni McCarthy but I suspect he will be setting his sights at Stamford Bridge. Eggert Magnusson has made clear we are after a pacy player and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Defoe move was reactivated. Yossi seems to be on his way to Liverpool and we are said to have tabled a £10 million bid for Shaun Wright Phillips. On his day he is a world beater but there are too may days when he is not on his day. Wayne Bridge and Nickhy Shorey are rumoured to be left back signings. Bridge is beyond his best so I hope we stick to Shorey for that position. In terms of players leaving, Marlon seems to be attracting the most interest and it looks as if we will get around £4 million for him. Reo Coker must be disappointed that a big club hasn’t come in for him and we are surely right to hold out for £8-10 million for him.

We’ll see what the coming week has in store…

I Remain Perplexed

I must admit to being a little perplexed at the reason for the breakdown of Darren Bent’s transfer. I am also a little perplexed by Yossi Benayoun. He was clear that he was signing a new contract and yet now appears determined to move to Liverpool, whose insulting offer was rightly turned down. Apparently they only bid £3 million. Why on earth would they want to sign a player they value at that amount? It seems we will now haggle over a swap deal involving Craig Bellamy. As I have said before, I am not a fan. Sure, on his day he can be a brilliant player, but he is too inconsistent and has been disruptive at every club he has been at. If we do swap him for Yossi, we shouldn’t add more than £2 million to the deal.

Craig Bellamy No Thanks

Today’s Times is predicting that Yossi Benayoun will be used as bait in a deal with Liverpool to get Craig Bellamy. Not sure I approve of that. Bellamy has been a troublemaker at every club he has been to - Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn and Liverpool are just the ones I can remember. Not sure hw would be conducive to a good team spirit…

Defoe About to Sign?

Rumour is that West Ham have agreed a fee with Spurs for Jermain Defoe. He’s worried about the fans’ reaction, though. Views? Personally, I’d take him back like a shot, as long as the fee isn’t higher than what Spurs paid us for him originally.

Informed Gossip

I don’t know how many of you look at the KUMB forums or are onthe West Ham Mailing List. For those that don’t, there is a chap called Brownfatwa on KUMB who is apparently quite reliable in his predictions. So I thought you’d be interested…

Right chaps and chapesses am now back from a rather splendid luncheon not too wankered to get to tonights shin-dig avec messrs Bonds, Cottee and Gayle.I’ll do my best to recount tales of matters claret (lots of it) and blue (no need to be). As I’ve said before the source is genuine but obviously he needs to keep some decorum as do i on certain matters.
but here’s the gist of things.

1. The Icemen are mustard. very ambitious, very committed and apparently absolutely loving it, Eggy big-time. Was saddened by the prospect of relegation but remained confident to all staff throughout and never flinched from the ‘just a setback’ line.
2. Backing for Curbs is very resolute and £30m gross (of sales) is not am unrealistic assessment of our fire-power if required. However…
3. it seems that the investment in the team is being prioritised for this year. The new ground will become priority from next year - big committemnt to this. So team overhaul this term then more of a ‘one or two here one or two there’ therefater.
4. Impression was that Curbs (and Day) were tough cookies and had very principled views on what the players should do, behave and be responsible for. Not keen on ‘individuals’ and ‘flash types’.
5. Transfer activity this summer will attempt to build the nucleus of a top 6 side for the next 2-3 years.
6. very positive feel about all aspects of the club and staff now. investment to be made in the academy and to broaden the overseas scouting resource.

Nothing to really add on the door marked exit and has been well trawled on this site already. The priority is to slim down the overall size of the squad and only bring in quality. Curbs believes that there are too many ‘Ok only’ players. maybe worth saying that Baby Rio has got a stay of execution until January at least. This is due to a) improivement in form at tail end and b) unable to get maximum value due to court case c) wants to stay. my man still gets the impression that Gabbs is the odd
one out of the 5 CBs. Pards loved him but Curbs sees him more as a RB - not big or striong enough for CB. expendable.
Dont be surprised to see a net reduction of about 7-8 this summer.

Tevez - could not really enmlighten us. Kia i sense holds the cards and its probably all in the hands of barca/real mad. We will fight damn hard to hold him but if we do then probably just for anither year on effectively a loan-fee basis.

Northern Monkeys etc - no worries. Eggy seems to have assurances fron FIFA itself that we are fine. Coulnt be arsed to debate this at length just kept saying ‘don’t worry your cotton socks’.

Transfer strategy &n targets - do i have your attention now?? Priority is midfield. NRC out and want 2 CMs plus a RM or one that can play either flank as a wing-man.

PARKER was Curbs #1 choice and that uis a done deal. terms agreed with both Newc and player in principle. Will sign after medical this weekend in early part of next week.
BARTON - not to my mans knowledge. if we have approached then it is via agent, no contact with City over fee etc. he did not see barton as Curbs sort of player i.e. trouble with a capital T for Tit - a complete one. And Curbs does not like to gamble on miscreants.
TOURE - name has been mentioned in-house but this one would be down to Eggy first and foremost. Interest could have well been registered but felt was likely to stay in europe with a top Spanish or Italian club .
MAKELE - possible. Are asking to be kept informed shopuld Chelski giove the green light. Fee is nop more than £1m wages high.
?? - also loooking at a Scandi kid (u-21s) to be brought in and grounded for 1-2 years time. cant recall the name i’m afraid but playing in sweden.
CAHILL - there is some fire to the smoke i detect. our stance here seems to revolve around NRC. we seem to be hoping the scouse want him and if so a px deal for cahill could well be a runner. Is on Curbs list and Lucas is desperate for a team mate to join us.

the wide player RM was hoped to be Giles Barnes buit now unlikely sionce Derby made it up. ( Poss go again in Jan if Derby struggling). Had dismissed koumas and offered Eagles and dismissed him. the names still on the list are Barnetta (agent informed), Routledge (as a back-stop) and surprisingly Young (Villa) still crops up. Looking outside Uk for this slot too.

LB - want a first choice over george macca. No surprise here SHOREY has been approached and i Reading contacted. Mullins may be bait here. fee is £4-5m. Will talk with player & agent within the next 10 days. Not imminent but hopeful. If that fails there is a target in germany - no name given. Baines is a no-no due to Wigan stand-ofv and Curbs not a bifg fan.
Robinson of WBA also on the list.

Strikers. Situation muddled by tevez and Ashton - should be ready fro August but hinted all is not yet 100% with him. Boobby stays, Cole goes and Hare is dispensible. No ineterst in Bellamy at all. Viduka wont shift family from NE though we were very keen.
thjere is clearly business to be donme with Charlton. bent is Curbs #1 choice and this is regardless of whether tevez stays or not. trying to tie up a deal before the Tevez situation clears so as not to be held to ransom. dDelegations meeting next week from clubs to discuss formal offers. Agent and player are aware and behind the scenes terms have been discussd alreadfy. Think its Tuesday. we would offer PX from Mullins, hare, gabbs, walker, davenport i.e.all players known to be liked by pards. Bent comes even if tevez stays. We are in poll position on bent but Charlton may play hard ball. Liverpool thought to have bigger targets
annd Yids only interested if defoe goes. Fee for cash is £12m minimum. very hopeful.
YAKUBU - is the second choice and he is thought to be gettable. No go on Gudjohnnson - he has no ineterst, we did.

Phew I need a drink.

Tevez Will Leave Because of Curbs

THIS article from today’s Observer has the ring of truth about it - especially as it is co-written by Denis Campbell, a West Ham season ticket holder and a journalist with excellent links into the club…

Carlos Tevez, West Ham’s controversial Argentine striker, is keen to leave the club because of differences with manager Alan Curbishley. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all considering a move for Tevez, who scored seven goals in the Hammers’ last 10 Premiership games of the season to help keep them in the top flight.
According to a West Ham insider, Tevez will not consider staying at Upton Park as long as Curbishley is in charge. ‘Tevez likes the club and wants to stay,’ the source said, ‘but he won’t while Alan Curbishley is the manager. He hasn’t forgotten how he was treated when Curbishley first took over from Alan Pardew. He told Tevez he didn’t know what his best position was, treated him indifferently in training, and refused to play him at first.’Curbishley left the 23-year-old on the bench for his first game in charge, a 1-0 win over Manchester United in December, and it was a month before he named Tevez in a starting line-up in the Premiership.
‘If there was a change of manager maybe it would be different,’ the source added, ‘but Tevez does not think Curbishley knows what he is doing and that he’s a bad manager. He wants to play for someone who can further develop his game. Curbishley recognises now that Tevez saved our season, but it’s too late.’

Tevez, who has won 25 caps for Argentina and played for them in last year’s World Cup finals, was the subject of a £31million bid from Inter Milan while at Brazilian club Corinthians in 2005, and it is believed that a similar figure will be demanded for him this summer.