Dear God, if reports are right on the net, we have been paying 40k per week for Marouane Chamakh to do next to nothing for the last 5 months. What a monumental waste of dosh!
And it's not as if the guy is an isolated case. Arsenal FC stitch us up almost every time we go shopping in North London!
The most famous example is, of course, Ljungberg who cost us close on ten million in transfer fees, wages and a buy out of his contract, in return for which he played 28 games and scored two goals. Three of those appearances were as a sub and he was withdrawn in no fewer than 11 of his 25 starts. Step forward for a picture Freddie, and say "Cheese"!
Then there was John Radford. He didn't cost a lot, it is true, but as a centre forward, he scored precisely no goals in 30 appearances for the club, making Carlton Cole look prolific!
And talking forwards, we mustn't forget Davor Suker who, to be fair, scored three times more than Radford but who completed even less games than Ljungberg, starting just 8 games and finishing only 4 of them. Clearly Davor was not a fan of the Mastermind Mantra, "I've started so I'll finish!"
Mind you, Suker looks like a veritable workhorse alongside that donkey, Aliadiere, or Ali's Derriere! He didn't finish a single game, nor did he score a single goal, the perfect combination of Radford and Suker it seems. In fact, a mirror of Chamakh! For the record Jeremie started just one game and came on as a sub 7 times.
Stewart Robson was going to be a future England captain when we signed him for a bank busting 700k but Arsenal knew he had a deep seated injury, Four seasons and 84 appearances later, he left for Coventry on a free.
Lansbury was another "future England star" but he also fell well short of expectations with his most memorable performance being in goal! He only made 13 starts in all competitions and was withdrawn in four of those. His goal tally? One.
To be fair, we got one good season out of Ian Wright, Wright, Wright and his 9 goals for the club are more than the combined total of Ljungberg, Chamakh, Aliadiere, Suker and Radford. It was fun having Wrighty around but, although he won't go down in the Arsenal's Anals of the club, he doesn't deserve a place in the annals either!
Which brings us to Nigel Winterburn who was a trier and who, although slowing up badly by the time Arsenal released him, did start 89 times in Claret and Blue and managed to score more than Chamakh, Aliadiere and Radford combined - ONE!
Even when we got a good one, Leon Britton, we let him go without him playing a single game!
Then there was, of course, the exception to the rule and so the man I managed to forget, Hartson. 33 goals from 72 starts, and a 4 million profit when we sold him on to Wimbledon. He made the rest worthwhile, unless you name is Eyal Berkovic!
just for record i cant think of any player we have EVER directly sold to ARSENAL.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about Super Johnney Hartson?
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a single west ham player that we have directly sold to Arsenal certainly not since the premier league and probably not before
ReplyDeleteDon't sign no Cnut from the gay goners again unless winger wants a job innit
ReplyDeleteI just can't understand why anyone would be stupid enough to pay £15m and £100k/week for someone who only plays 20 odd games a season and can't even hit double figures. I can understand the vanity thing I suppose with the England appearances but sadly you will find that vanity alone won't keep you up next season. If Hull get the players they are currently in for then it's safe to say that all 3 promoted clubs will be better than West Ham next season.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the player in your picture, Mark Noble?
ReplyDeleteHe also came from Arsenal to West Ham! :-)
That was david noble
Deletenot mark noble
erm... Ljungberg -
ReplyDeleteAppearances 328 (285 starts, 43 as a sub)
Goals 72
While the thrust of the article is hard to argue with if you're going to allow that Ian Wright was a partial success because he had one decent season surely you have to extend that to Stewart Robson who also had one fantastic season,1988, when he was voted Hammer of the Year.
ReplyDelete0842, thanks. God knows how he slipped my memory, unless it was that kick in the head I received outside a club in Swansea. I've added!
ReplyDeletepstephenson14, the difference is that we knew Wright was a short term signing, we expected Robson to be around for the best part of 10 years or to be sold at a huge profit.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't expect Robson to play for 10 years. West Ham knew he had the injury and took a punt on signing him. Arsenal wouldn't have let him go otherwise.
ReplyDeleteLiam Brady was a joy to watch alongside a young Julian Dicks
ReplyDeleteWe didn't sign Brady from Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry HF, looks like we're signing Liverpool's outcasts now; Carroll, Cole and now maybe Shelvy. Bit better than the crap we've had from Arsenal though, I must admit!
ReplyDelete08:49 - go back to your Tott-Bale Hotspuds blog you little troll you!
With links to Shelvey and Nzonzi it makes me think Noble is not rated very high in Allardyce's book, which is unfortunate because he is the hub of the midfield. Perhaps i am reading things wrong and Diame is on his way out.
ReplyDeleteUS HF
I expect O'Neil and Vaz Te to depart.
ReplyDeleteAllardyce should be held accountable for the Chamakh deal. If you're going to bring in someone on that wage you should use him. If you're going to bring someone in as cover then bring someone in who isn't on such a big wage.
ReplyDeleteBut then we had Miaga who wasnt used either, and Paulista who wasnt even given a sniff. It's nice Allardyce can just throw money away like that.
Makes you wonder about loyalty doesn't it Stani? Chamakh picks up huge wages for doing nothing, Cole after serving the club for seven years is shown the door because his wage demands are too high.
ReplyDeleteGreat test unfolding again!
ReplyDeleteIan Wright anyone?JohnHartson? did I miss something or did'nt Liam Brady have very good games from us?
ReplyDeleteTry reading the article you dipstick 1754
ReplyDeleteWe don't ever read your article you complete wanker , we just want to abuse you , reading what you say is a waste of time , its all bollox so we just skip to the abuse , fucking 60 yr old virgin and caravan dweller
DeleteYeh, great innings by Root. Should have shown the new ball more respect though. Must be kicking himself....was looking very comfortable and on for a double bubble
ReplyDeleteRegards Cole, will be interesting to see how he does at his next club. I think that will show us whether the club were right to offer him crap (which is why he left) or made a mistake letting go of a loyal servant.
ReplyDeleteSomeone asked Gold if he was offered a new contract on twitter. Gold replied yes and cue the morons dissing Cole.
You forgot Lansbury...Ludo in disguise, decent enough player.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Lansbury...are you Ludo in disguise...
ReplyDeleteWhat? John Hartson is probably one of the best strikers we've ever had and correct me if I'm wrong but he came from Arsenal!!
ReplyDeleteDoh! Lansbury! Added. He supports the argument!
ReplyDeleteBig Sam's words on the loan signing of Chamakh I'll make him a better player is that why he didn't play him also Big Sam I'm not that confident on you in transfer market as a West Ham supporter we needed some class signings in Jan what did we get Chamakh & Pogatetz plus Joe Cole on a free don't really want to make me rush out & renew my season tkt where's our scouts doing nothing as all they seem to do is get on flights to here there & everywhere & find nothing grr buck up Sam or go as your football & tactics make me yawn
ReplyDeleteSukur scored 3 times as many as Radford? 3 times 0 is 0 you tit
ReplyDelete