Hammers winger forced to promote his own addiction
In these cut-thrust times of economic uncertainty, a Premier League club without a sponsor cannot afford to let little things like irony stand in the way of a decent pay-day. That is why the club has not let the fact that winger Matthew Etherington has a gambling addiction stop them signing a new sponsorship deal with online bookmakers SBOBET. Read more »
Broke Hammers could go from XL to Fatboy Slim
West Ham’s financial situation seems to be going from bad to worse. It is now almost certain that Gianfranco Zola will have to sell players in January. But they are still not exploiting a revenue stream since sponsors XL went bust so we thought we would set them up with Brighton and Hove Albion’s old sponsors.
1. Dimitar Berbatov was not the solution to all of Manchester United’s problems. They were outplayed against Liverpool.
2. Although it was good to see him fulfil his dream of playing in Manchester United colours - white with blue trim!
3. Albert Riera looked an excellent signing for Liverpool. Just what they have been lacking - a winger to take players on, get round the back, and put crosses in. Read more »
Little Zola goes XL (briefly)
Gianfranco Zola and the letters XL have rarely been used in the same sentence before, and they are not likely to do so again for a while. For as the pint-sized Italian was taking over the West Ham manager’s job, their £2.5 million a year sponsors have gone into administration. This is a shame because the likes of Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole were definitely suited to this particular sponsor. So just hours after parading Zola in front of their sponsor’s logo, the Hammers may now have to find a new backer.
The Beeb reports: “Fuel prices and the economic downturn have been blamed for the company running into financial difficulty.” Apparently they were referring to XL rather than West Ham or it would have read: “Eggert Magnusson and the Alan Curbishley have been blamed…”
Last night’s World Cup qualifier between Australia and Uzbekistan was delayed briefly when a bird landed on the pitch. We know pitch invasions can be frustrating, but there is no call for what Lucas Neill callously does. OK, maybe he didn’t murder it, but he certainly knocked it senseless! “I think Lucas Neill might have killed the bird!,” surely one of the greatest commentary lines of all time!
First he sees Alan Curbishley out of job, now he is attacking animals. What next? Lock up your children - Lucas Neill is on the rampage!
Following Alan Curbishley’s depature from West Ham, his dealings in the transfer market have come under increased scrutiny. Here is our rundown of his worst Hammers signings. 1. Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal
Curbishley should have known that sneaky Arsene Wenger only sells his stars when they are past it. But West Ham forked out £3 million and some hefty wages to secure the Swede’s services. One injury-ravaged season later and they were paying him not to play for them as they terminated his contract.
No, you quit first, honey
And we were all busy watching Kevin Keegan. Llewellyn Charles ‘Alan’ Curbishley has quit as manager of West Ham. The Hammers boss was thought to be heading for the sack before Saturday’s 4-1 win over Blackburn. But it is thought the club’s decision to sell defender George McCartney to Sunderland on transfer deadline day without managerial consent has caused him to quit as boss.
Curbs has said that decisions made “without involving me”, were “a breach of trust and confidence meaning I had no option but to leave.” Hammer fans, what do you make of this?
