West Ham United – The Good, the Bad or the Ugly?
Wez Saunders is State of the Game’s new West Ham United columnist.
So following what should be a monumental day in the History of West Ham United Football Club, comes the hysteria and confusion around how such signings have happened in the modern era of Champions League teams vs. ?Premiership minnows? (as described by a very well known online encyclopaedia).
A lot of talk has been written about Kia Joorabchian, Roman Abramovich, Boris Berezovsky, and Badri Patarkatsishvili and the potentially imminent bid to takeover West Ham United Football Club, but what should this all mean to the common fan?
Well as a well known lover of all things football-stats, my friends will tell you that no doubt I will be able to argue for or against these signings depending on my audience. For the purpose of this article, I am going to explain to you why this is a positive thing for West Ham United, and also for English football.
Facts: West Ham are now responsible for Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano ? two of the World Cup?s finest talents, and two of the most sort after South American?s in the game today. Irrespective of the rumours and interests of summer transfers, the pair have signed ?permanent deals? with West Ham United. This means that the only way either play can leave the Club is by a) being sold, b) on a Bosman at the end of their contracts or c) being loaned out at the clubs approval. They cannot be recalled to play for any other club outside of West Ham?s control.
It is rumoured that West Ham have paid between ?1m and ?5m for each player, and that they have signed 4 year deals. A lot of speculation surrounds the paying of their ?40,000 per week wages and the exact details of their sell on clauses, and the possibility of West Ham not profiting from any future transfer but why is this important?
West Ham United have at their disposal two World Class players who will bring excitement both on and off the pitch. The levels of hysteria within the first 24 hours of the story being published on Tevez? personal website has been almost as incredible as West Ham reaching the 2006 FA Cup Final. West Ham fans are quite simply delirious. The rest of the World quite simple green with envy.
West Ham can enjoy at least one season with a squad capable of challenging for a Uefa Cup spot in the Premiership, as well as challenging for the League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup. In which time, any success will in turn result in other players of a certain calibre looking at West Ham as a possible place to play, especially if the two Argentineans publicly comment on enjoying the stay in London (of course, to be confirmed throughout the course of the season).
Not only that, but it helps the current squad, as well as the Academy of football as younger and less experienced players (such as Kyel Reid, Hogan Ephraim, James Tomkins) will see exactly how Superstar players behave and are treated.
This is not to mention the instant raise in season tickets sales, match tickets and merchandise. Okay, so MSI may have a percentage of the merchandise sales as they ?own the rights? to both players, but shirt sales will go to West Ham United.
I have not seen anything mentioned about the publicity in South America either. West Ham are known to have a fan base in Africa, Scandinavia and Continental Europe but this now opens up another door for potential fan base, and we all know what that means ? more revenue.
So we have two World Class players, the squad is stronger, we have a greater potential to challenge in competitions, the fan base grows, revenue is generated and we have not spent over the summer?s transfer budget (unconfirmed). Oh, and we also expose West Ham United Football Club to the rest of the World. Such a terrible shame that maybe these players are ?owned? by MSI and may leave in a year?s time. What a disaster for our football club! (Said with sarcasm!)
Alan Pardew is a shrewd and clever man. And whilst Terence Brown leaves a lot to be desired, I cannot possibly imagine Pardew being involved with anything that would or could damage the long term progress of West Ham. And we?ve all seen that happen before.
Admittedly there is something strange about the concept of these superstars joining the club, but as long as it?s legal, I do not envisage a downside, other than the obvious fact that one day, both players will leave the club just as all of our superstars have done in the history of the club.
Having another club develop into a potential European force (previously only the top four, but now Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and West Ham are waiting in the wings) can only be good for the attraction of English football. After all, it?s better been owned by third party than going into administration. Ask Leicester fans ?..
Hammers, I leave you with this message. Sit back, and enjoy. I am.
About the author Wez Saunders
Great post – one of the most logical, sensible and yet still positive I have seen amongst the madness. I do still think that there might be merits and logic in this being what is termed an “Asset Switch” in the city – where they can put there assets into another entity to either help them take that entity over or put the assets in a shop window. However either way as you point out it does not matter, one might be a huge win for WHUFC the other ain’t a bad situation either. Bring on the Villa game where I for one will be welcoming them loud and proud!!
Great post wez. I for one cant see any other than a win/win situation for us here. At the end of the day if it all goes belly up what have we lost?… nothin! we’ll have the same squad as we had before tevez and mascherano arrived…and we’ll maybe even have a couple of extra quid in the bank… and the other option is, if we are taken over by some new board in a twist of fate then thats certainly not no bad thing cos chances are more big names will be heading our way, all the negatives surrounding this story are simply due to jealous rivals. jealous they nevr had this opportunity and also reacting harshly due the the state of shock they are in!… these are good days the be claret and blue…keep them coming!
Excellent well considered post There can only be upside. The squad has fantatsic spirit. It seems inconceivable that they will not have spoken to Lionel Scaloni (apparently a great friend of both) who will only have given a great report on his time with the Hammers and the fantatsic squad spirit (after all why was he rumoured to be on his way back to us all summer). Alan Pardew has elevated himself to god like status amongst the Hammers fans (well certainly me) – he seems such a motivated and strongly principled man and I think he will have all these qualities and more called onto his managerial shoulders when they arrive next week. All in all have you ever had a better time as a Hammers fan? I can’t think of any and I’ve supported the club for over 40 years (OK early 60′s, 1975 and 1980 and 1985/6) By the way I called to get a season ticket and there are no more for sale….seems like the commercial team are missing a trick or 2?
I just had to write this in response to Wez ‘s (or Wesley as he is known to me) article.
Wesley is my son and I have to say he must be the most fanatical West Ham fan ever. He lives and breaths West Ham. On Wednesday night Wez and I had a conversation about his beloved West Ham and I said “God is good Wes and he works in mysterious ways” – Well low and behold when yesterday’s news was announced I’m sure he saw it as a sign that there is definitely a God (and obviously one who supports West Ham)!
He has been on a different planet since the news broke. Jamie his brother is as mad as Wes is about football but I have to say appears to have a little more self control when it comes to his team.
When Wez was born we lived in Upton Park so I guess it’s just in his blood – who else could he have supported!
To all West Ham Fans out there enjoy what I’m sure will be a fantastic season (according to my sons that is)!
Sorry son but I just had to write this.
That’s alright … Glad you have paid such an interest in the whole saga!!
And thanks to everyone who has responded so far – look out for my future posts ….
funny how no one has mentioned that Corithians are second bottom of the league, the police are investigating money laundering and if Joorabcian is behind the bid, there will probably case good case to accuse him of insider trading.