West Ham United Blog

Solano signs on a free

Confirmation has come through that we have sign Nolberto Solano on a free transfer from Newcastle United.  Welcome to Upton Park Nobby, glad to have a player of your class here.

Transfer deadline close to closing...

...and it looks like the only addition to the Upton Park will be Nolberto Solano.  He is currently in London waiting to sign on the line but it is dependent on Newcastle signing a replacement, two of whom are believed to be in a hotel around the corner from St James's Park thrashing out a deal.

I'd welcome Nobby to Upton Park, he is a skillful, hard working and decent winger who can also be back up as an attacking right-back option.  He is also not quite as injury prone as some of our other signings.

It would seem that Reading and Derby County have priced themselves out of shipping Nicky Shorey and Giles Barnes respectivley, in the case of Shorey this is especially odd as he could be up for a Bosman next summer.

Anyway, I'm staying up and updates as and when....

New cricket blog....

I'm a bit of a fan of leather and willow, though not quite enough to write on it in great detail.  Although attending the Ashes in Australia a few years ago will remain one of the highlights of my life (just below being there when Steve Potts scored), I don't quite have the passion for cricket as I do for my beloved Hammers.  Fortunately, a new cricket blog has come onto the scene and is a great read so far.  Check it out at http://www.bowlingboy.co.uk and enjoy...just remember to come back here after....

All quiet on the West Ham front

A few more hours to go and still no sign of a new signing.  Some people are still confident we are going to get Barnes and Shorey, who would be great signings, but I still feel  it is up front where we need another face.  Updates as and when.....

Show your love for Eggy with a West Ham T Shirt

Found this little gem from T-Shirts365.com, a Hammers T-Shirt with our loveable little Chairman's face plastered on it.  I love the way he wears a West Ham scarf no matter what the weather.  So show Eggy some love, it's only £14.99 but I reckon his gratitude will be priceless.  To grab it, click here.

Bet on Reading v West Ham

Well, my days as a football betting expert are clearly slowly getting numbered.  Maybe because I allow my heart to rule my head.  Well, not this week!  We're off to the Madjeski Stadium this Saturday and despite the need for revenge for last season's humiliation being strong, I am going to predict a defeat for the Hammers.  You can get 100/1 at Coral Bookmakers for a 6-0 defeat but I do not think things will be so drastic this time.  A slightly closer 3-1 defeat at 18/1 looks an interesting bet to me, but you can take your pick from all the different scores from our friends at Coral, just click here and best of luck to you.

Bristol Rovers 1 West Ham 2

West Ham are through toe the next round of the Carling Cup after a just about deserved victory over Bristol Rovers.  Man of the match Craig Bellamy scored the two goals that put the Hammers through.  However, the victory was bittersweet as Kieron Dyer, who has made a promising start as a West Ham player was carried off with what is suspected to be two broken bones in his lower leg.  We certainly won't be seeing Kieron play in a Hammers shirt this side of Christmas.

It wasn't the greatest performance and Anton Ferdinand's defending for Rovers consolation goal was abysmal, he got completely caught out.  Collins came on in the second half and hopefully did enough to show Curbs he deserves a starting place.  His presence was commanding and his heading strong, I am much happier with him in our defence.  But with Dyer now gone, even more cover in midfield is required.  We are also being linked with Adriano, the Brazilian striker, either way, we will know by Friday what is happening there.

Bristol Rovers V West Ham live on Sky

Just in case you have not heard, our Carling Cup match against Bristol Rovers tomorrow night is live on Sky Sports - let's hope it is not a televised giant killing!

West Ham update

I'm back from holiday, hence I missed the Wigan game and now a couple of days have past, there does not seem to be too much reason to put together a report on it.  What I will say from the other reports I have read (and the magnificent Sky Plus) is that we seem to be at a tipping point as a club.  We are not showing the abysmal form we did last season (otherwise we would have lost at Birmingham and got turned over by Wigan) but nor are we exactly setting the league alight and our season can still certainly can go either way.

A couple of losses and the team could lose some confidence, the crowd can get edgy and we can be looking into the abyss.  Don't say we are too good for that to happen as it history would suggest otherwise.  I don't think it will, but it is possible.  On the flip side, we have the makings of a very decent team but what I hope we get this week is a quality striker.  Seeing Zamora fluff his lines on Saturday and with Bellamy never being known for a goal-machine capabilities, we really need a true finisher up-front to complement Deano when he is back.  Missing out on Roque Santa Cruz appears to be a real shame.  Diouf is certainly not the answer, and Anelka, though technically superb is just too volatile a player for me to welcome to Upton Park.  Someone like Andy Johnson or Jermaine Defoe is needed - I'm not suggesting those are the players we will get, merely that a poachers instinct is really required.  Let's see what the rest of the week brings us.

Bet on West Ham v Wigan

It has not been the greatest start to my tipping career, with a draw and a loss predicted but a defeat and a victory occuring but here is hoping it is third time lucky.  West Ham face Wigan on Saturday in what is bound to be a bad tempered affair.  I am predicting an up for it crowd baying for the blood of the team who along with Sheffield United, sought to send West Ham down by foul means rather than fair.

I am looking for a 3-0 home victory for the Hammers with Bellamy to break his Hammers duck as well.  Coral will give you 14-1 for that result qnd you can bet with them here