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Hammers Bid £4 Million For Holt

June 3, 2012 By Iron Bobby Leave a Comment

News coming from SkySports today is that West Ham have bid £4 Million to take Grant Holt from Norwich City.

The 30-year-old had a transfer request rejected last month and appears keen to bring his time at Norwich to an end despite enjoying three very good years with the club.

He helped Norwich win back to back promotions and scored 15 goals in the league in his début season in The Premiership.

Sam Allardyce sees the big striker as the perfect man to spearhead the Hammers first campaign back in the big time.

However, Paul Lamberts departure to Aston Villa could see them make a move for the 30-year old hit man.

I like Holt and he reminds me of Dean Ashton but do we really need a striker of this age as our first signing?

 

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Rob Green Exit Confirmed

June 3, 2012 By Iron Bobby Leave a Comment

David Gold today confirmed Rob Green will not be signing a new contract and is set to leave on a free transfer.

Green is currently with the England squad as they prepare for Euro 2012 and looks to have rejected a new deal offered to him by West Ham.

Gold’s Twitter Account said:

“Robert Green is a free agent he has chosen to move on.

“Nobody wants Rob to leave but nothing is for ever, he must do what is best for him and we must do what is best for us.”

Green signed for us from Norwich in 2006 and has proved to have been an excellent servant for the club making some wonderful saves over the seasons.

Jussi Jaaskelainen looks set to be signed on a free transfer to replace Green, while there are still whispers the club are interested in David Stockdale. Other keepers available would be Paul Robinson and Craig Gordon who was released by Sunderland.

I have been a big fan of Green in a West Ham shirt but I do feel he lacked a few key attributes needed to be world class, these would be commanding his area and coming for crosses which I felt he was rooted to his line to often, and his kicking was awful, either he kicked it out or had to make a save as his kick went straight to an opposing forward.

Anyhow I wish Rob Green the best and hopefully he goes to a big club rather than a QPR as I feel there would be no point in a move like this and it would be motivated by money.

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Message To Big Sam: Don’t Sign Louis Saha

May 31, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

There are a few rumours flying around about West Ham going in for Louis Saha. What do you think, is it a good move?

I remember him well when he played for Manchester United and he was even in France’s squad. He was a nice player back then, wasn’t he?

Tottenham signed him from Everton much to the bewilderment of the fans as he got out of the blocks straight away and impressed then suddenly went downhill which had everyone’s back up.

Now Tottenham have released him and nobody is going to miss Louis Saha. Everton certainly didn’t miss him and must have thought that Christmas came early in the form of a Tottenham transfer! Saha only scored two goals in 20 appearances for the club, too!

The Hammers, who are back in the big time, are busy looking out for a few summer bargains. They are looking for experience to help out young Nicky Maynard and Portuguese wonder kid Ricardo Vaz Té and they may be looking at Louis Saha.

My advice is “spend your cash elsewhere”. Let’s face it; Saha is 33 and no longer the player he was at Man Utd. I think the Hammers would be going backwards instead of forwards with a transfer like that and they’d be sending the wrong signals out. I think Saha needs a spot of playing in the Championship as his days in the Premier League are at an end.

If the Irons are to have any sort of impact on the Premier League next season, they’d better forget Louis Saha as his ability to knock them in the net is steadily going down, not up. Bad news.

A much better option for the Hammers would be Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega, a Colombian who can play both as a forward and on the wing – a much better choice, and younger – seven years younger actually!

Whatever happens, the Hammers have a number of doors open to them, it’s just a case of choosing correctly and not falling into any old habits such as picking up strikers on the cheap. I say take it easy and bide your time Mr Allardyce and co.

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The Goalkeeping Dilemma

May 30, 2012 By Iron Bobby Leave a Comment

So news coming out of the rags today is that Rob Green is not playing ball with a new contract and West Ham are looking to sign a new number 1 with Mr. Green’s imminent departure.

We all know what’s in the media isn’t exactly gospel, but if they are right and Greeny is on his way then what are our alternatives? Iron Bobby has two possible candidates who could fill the goalkeepers jersey quite nicely should we need it.

Jussi Jaaskelainen1. Jussi Jaaskelainen

The keeper is available on a free transfer after his club Boltons demise from The Premiership.

Not the youngest goalie on the list but he has a wealth of experience in the top flight and would be as steady as they come for a few seasons while we source a long term option.

There is a reason Jaaskelainen was courted by Manchester United on numerous occasions as well as a host of other top clubs, the guy is a great keeper and if Green went then I would not be upset with the prospect of having this guy between the sticks next season.

Paul-Robinson2. Paul Robinson

Robinson is another keeper who had the misfortune of being relegated to The Championship after Blackburn endured a torrid campaign under Steve Kean.

However this should not detract from that fact that Robinson is a top keeper and produced some wonderful saves last season. Like Jasskelainen he has a wealth of top level experience and has a lot of good years left in the tank.

The only downside is he played for Spurs 🙂

So there we have it, my two stand out candidates who will either be available on a free transfer or command a low fee, leaving vital funds for Sam to strengthen the rest of the squad. There are other keepers who I was thinking of, Wayne Hennessey of Wolves was one of them until I saw he is out for six months so wouldn’t be ideal!

How about your thoughts? Who would you bring in should Green seek pastures new?

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