Martin O'Neill: Manager of West Ham

I believe Martin O'Neill will become manager of West Ham over the next few days. I know his friends have been telling the press that he is not interested in the job. On Thursday night Paddy Power had him at 20-1 to become the next manager. Last night so much money was taken on his appointment he was at 2-1. Clearly, the negotiators and their selected friends are making some holiday money.

Hérita N'Kongolo Ilunga

According to Wikipedia, Hérita N'Kongolo Ilunga was born in Kinshasa on 25th February 1982. I wonder if the Congo record births of its citizens? Rumour has it he is really 38 rather than 28 years old. I must say, that since he signed his four year contract with West Ham in April 2009 he looks and plays like someone at the very end of their career. One wag has suggested he should be carbon dated? Is it possible to work out accurately how old someone is?

Malcolm Allison (1927-2010)

You can find my tribute to Malcolm Allison here:


http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WHallisonM.htm

West Ham v Spurs

The game against Spurs on Saturday was one of West Ham best performances over the last few years. Definitely better than anything Zola ever achieved. The first signs of change took place after West Ham gave Chelsea a two-goal lead. Although there was no coming back, they showed some good battling qualities. The same was true against Stoke. They are also a team with a fair amount of skill. This combination will get West Ham results against the very best. They were even more impressive against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Carling Cup. This was a competition that Sunderland desperately wanted to win and therefore played their first-team whereas Avram Grant brought in several reserves.

I watched the Spurs game live via the internet. The Upton Park crowd really appreciated this new combination of strength and skill. There does not seem a weak link in the team, (except for maybe Boa Morte). We also have Thomas Hitzlsperger to come into the team. All his new signings look like good acquisitions. Both Pablo Barrera and Victor Obinna look to be players with an excellent future.

Kieron Dyer seems to have recaptured the form he showed that made him an England international. Although he went off suffering from “dizziness” at half-time. I reckon that he was really suffering from shock after surviving as long as 45 minutes without injury.

Allesandro Diamanti

Allesandro Diamanti has been sold to Serie A side Brescia for a fee of approximately £1.8m.
Another financial disaster as the Italian came from Livorno for £6m. The transfer therefore represents a loss of over £4m on the player, who spent only one year at the Boleyn. I cannot recall a club in the premiership making so many mistakes in such a short-time in the transfer market.

Victor Obinna

West Ham are expected to complete the signing of Inter Milan winger Victor Obinna, 23, on a free transfer on Thursday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5taqDmlkGMk

Avram Grant in Denial

Another very flawed performance on Saturday by West Ham against Bolton. Grant seems to have Zola's problem of not understanding the English language. After the game he said: "We played like a team at the top. I am very happy with the performance. I am very disappointed with the result." If he does not realise we have serious problems in defence he is in denial. A person in denial does not make a very good football manager.