From West Ham reject to World Cup Final

The Daily Mirror has a big piece on Javier Mascherano headlined: "Argentina World Cup hero Javier Mascherano goes from Mullins' back-up to the Maracana." While the Daily Mail runs a similar story headlined, "Javier goes from West Ham reject to the World Cup Final." The Mirror does claim there were suspicions West Ham couldn't play Mascherano that often because of financial clauses in his contract, but it still seems incredible that Pards only started him five times and Curbishley didn't select him at all. And for a time Marlon Harewood was played ahead of Tevez. Hayden Mullins, now at Notts County, was an honest player — but clearly not in the same league as Mascherano, even if Javier might have had settling in problems in London. Only West Ham could manage to mess up signing two world class players and also get fined £5million for doing an iffy third party ownership deal…

Optimism shock at Upton Park

If this carries on we might even be feeling optimistic about the new season. West Ham have got their transfer business in early and have purchased a new Argentine striker in Zarate, a defensive midfielder of some potential who has won the Belgian league in Senegal's Kouyate, a young midfield prospect in Diego Poyet and a young left back in Aaron Cresswell. Now Sky claims we're in for Ecuador's striker Enner Valencia who scored three times at the World Cup, while ESPN claims we're after Dnipro's 24-year-old Ukrainian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka. 

These may not happen, but it's evidence that the two Davids have got fed up with mere survival via pragmatic football and are flashing the cash because they want to create a side capable of being in the top half or better next season. It could of course all go wrong. I remember being optimistic at the signing of Mexico's Pablo Berrara by Avram Grant, who was an international star but never got going at Uptom Park. 

We'll soon see how good the new signings are, but they are surely an upgrade on Joe Cole, McCartney, Taylor, Collison and Diarra (who has just been paid off at some expense). And if we are looking at any other South Americans, I wonder if that Javier Mascherano who starred for Argentina last night is any relation to the Javier Mascherano who was kept out of the West Ham side by Hayden Mullins?

Seven bloody one!

Well, that was the biggest 7-1 shocker since West Ham beat Hull City 7-1 in 1990 and even Steve Potts scored…

Poyet arriving?

Strong rumours West Ham are going to sign Diego Poyet, son of Gus Poyet, on a free transfer from Charlton. He impressed in Charlton's midfield in the second half of last season winning their player of the year award and at 18 is one for the future. A future midfield of Morrison, Poyet and Noble could be exciting for both WHU and maybe England. Poyet would  also give us our best Fancy Dan midfielder flowing Barnet since Ian Bishop…

Alan Dickens lives!

The new home kit quite closely resembles the shirts from The Boys of '86 season with its thin white lines on claret. I'd still prefer blue sleeves on a WHU kit, but overall I'll be happy enough if we finish third again.Click on the link to view on the West Ham website.

Cresswell coming

More changes at Upton Park. We've signed Ipswich Town's left back Aaron Cresswell. At a fee of around £2 million his price isn't too high and at 24 he's young to improve too. Mick McCarthy seems to rate him, though it would be interesting to hear what any regular Ipswich watchers think of him. Meanwhile WHU legend Tony Carr, the man who discovered Ferdinand, Carrick, Lampard, Cole and co is moving upstairs and former Luton and Derby manager Terry Westley is coming in to run the Academy. It says everything about TC that John Terry, Big Fat Frankie Lampard and Joe Cole (then at Chelsea) all returned to Upton Park for his testimonial. You'll be missed Tony.

Hammers Googled

Interesting developments with this right to be forgotten on Google. Wonder if West Ham will ask for the last 34 years to be erased from all search engines? Or failing that at least our relegation seasons…