Andy on the way

Andy Carroll has passed his medical at West Ham and after a month of waiting for the man it seems his move to the Hammers is finally on. On the strength of last season's showing he's a top striker who will keep West Ham at mid-table level or higher, and we've got a one-time £35 million player for £15 million.

However, the reported terms are somewhat worrying. We're paying £100,000 a week and offering a six year contract to a player who is rather injury prone, which is £46 million over six years. That's a huge commitment to a trophy signing for a club that is still heavily in debt.

Carroll looked to have a great attitude last season, but we are also gambling on his desire and hunger remaining for those six seasons. If it all goes well and we win a trophy he'll look a bargain, if it goes wrong for whatever reason, perhaps because of injury, distractions or Allardyce leaving, we may find ourselves with yet another player on a long-term contract and huge wages that the club can't shift (see Dyer, Llungberg, Upson, McCarthy, etc). Surely a three or four year contract would have been more prudent?

Still, it's a big show of commitment from Gold and Sullivan and I'll be excited to have Big Andy at the club.