Holding holding West Ham!

Sitting in the White Horse at Scales while holidaying in the Lake District, news reaches me that West Ham have signed another holding midfielder in Abou Diarra. You do wonder if Big Sam is going to emulate Spain by ditching strikers and playing an entire team of 6ft 3ins defensive midfielders. Signed from Marseilles for £2 million, Diarra has 44 caps and has played most of his career in France. Clearly a decent player, you wonder if he's an alternative to Diame or if they will be played together in a five-man midfield. Meanwhile Ravel Morrison has gone on loan for a season at Birmingham which seems a good way of the lad getting some experience and returning to the Hammers as a better player.