West Ham Fans Born to be Claret and Blue

The disappointing result aside, Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Burnley at Turf Moor featured the almost obligatory injury to a new West Ham signing on their debut, in this case Benni Mc Carthy, recent recipients of this dubious honour, signed during the Eggy excess period, have included Mathew Upson when signed from Birmingham, Craig Bellamy when signed from Liverpool, Lucas Neill when signed from Blackburn, and Newcastle Duo Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer, not forgetting Julien Faubert (God rest his mother), who didn't even make it past the pre-season friendlies!

With both teams flirting with relegation, this match was always going to be called a 'six pointer', as the home side Burnley have performed fairly well in the Premiership, until recently Turf Moor was seen as a bit of a fortress, but that is no longer the case. Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke will hope their 'striker heavy' (sounds strange doesn't it?) West Ham squad will do the business and bring home three vitally needed points.

Rather like someone who can't pay their bills and refuses to open the envelopes, West Ham United has flown like a lead balloon from fiscal crisis to crisis, refusing to accept the inevitable once the World's financial markets went in to meltdown.

For West Ham they may not be the three musketeers, but Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilano could ride to the rescue, they all arrived on the same end of transfer day and are a welcome addition to Gianfranco and Steve Clarke's squad .

Today will be treasured and lamented in equal measure by fans hoping their club will pull a rabbit out of the hat before the transfer window slams shut. Of course players can be registered after the 'witching hour' so long as the FA have received a Fax or Dax confirmation of a player's impending move. West Ham fans, already feeling a justified grievance in relation to the 'Eidur rather play for 'Arry' at Tottenham situation, are understandably keen for additional strikers to be linked with a move to the Boleyn, so they will be hitting their news sources to find out about Brasilian striker Ilan.

Hammers most influential player, Scotty Parker only makes the bench, as does Carlton Cole, so young Frank Nouble starts up front for this must win game.. West Ham 01 Green 15 Upson 18 Spector 30 Tomkins 14 Kovac 16 Noble 20 Faubert 21 Behrami 31 Collison 24 Nouble 32 Alessandro Diamanti Substitutes 29 Stech, 22 Da Costa, 23 Ilunga, 08 Parker, 46 Stanislas, 12 Cole, 19 Sears ........

As we mentioned earlier this week, the restructuring of the staffing behind the scenes of West Ham United has begun in earnest, first to have his lucrative contract cancelled was Phil 'know it all' Hall, Gianluca Nani has been asked to fall on his sword and that old king of spin himself, Scott Duxbury, is 'resigning'.

On the face of it they are two wheeler dealers, occasionally ruthless, and more often than not single minded in their approach if they want something. Both know the East End and both have done well in life, they have also been involved in football for a long long time, but that is where the similarities end!
David Sullivan has been accused of being a low life in the past, 'Arry Redknapp is one, Mr Redknapp should enjoy his halcyon days while he can, because when his old mucker Peter Storrie takes to the witness box, the wheels will come off the 'arry wagon.

Hammers draw against bottom of the table Portsmouth was surely an indication that reinforcements are needed in order to ensure the club's Premiership survival.
Just like waiting for a bus, having seen none on the horizon, fans waiting to see a bona fide striker in the Claret and Blue suddenly have to contend with the return of Carlton Cole and the imminent arrival of not only Benni McCarthy from Blackburn but also Eidur Gudjohnsen formerly from Chelsea and Barcelona.

Pompey goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved goal opportunities from Frank Nouble, Alessandro Diamanti and Jack Collison to help ensure a draw for the home team. Hammers took the lead early in the second half when Mathew Upson chested in Younes Kaboul's attempted clearance, and it seemed that would be enough to help secure three valuable points.