Rio to Manure?

Last updated : 19 July 2002 By Devos Tash

Moving On Again?
So why do I want Rio to move to Manure and be the final link in the back four probably helping them to become the greatest team in Europe again. Why?

Well apparently we have slapped a sell on clause and 15% will be coming back to Upton Park. With a bit of luck we could be looking at 5 to 6 million to bolster the transfer kitty. With the transfer kitty at 6 million (that’s not including any money from the tight arse, sorry, financially stable board) what are we going to spend all that money on?

At last West Ham have entered the rumour mill and like a breath of fresh air it is all about players wanting to come to West Ham and not walk out the door. We’ll leave all them stories to poor Leeds fans my heart bleeds for them (yeah right). The trouble is the links that are surfacing all seem to be in the wrong area of the pitch.

Donovan the lively young striker from the States, who wants a move to the premiership at a price of 3 million, is a target for the Hammers and the Sperms. He looked useful enough in the world cup but is he necessary other than getting one over the Sperms.

Gomez has a 5million price being asked by Fiorentina. Again Gomez has a proven track record and is a quality player but do we need him. In all honesty I would prefer to spend less on Donovan as I think the Americans have a better approach to sport than most (they are taught to be winners).

Garcia the man we have on trial from Barcelona. An attacking midfielder who again has a proven track record but if he has been at Barcelona for the last few years he will be on inflated wages. The only thing I can think of is he will be taking somebody’s place, Dicanio or Hutchinson spring to mind.

Last but not least is Izzet. I have always been a fan of Izzet and best of all he is a fan of the Hammers. Izzet will sure up an area where it is needed. We cannot have the likes of Moncur on the pitch when we get an injury in the middle of the park. Moncur has been a great servant to the Hammers but he is like a Pitbull when he’s unleashed on the park. I’m not sure on the stats but he can’t be far off a yellow card every performance last year.

Sikora is another name mentioned. I have no info other than he has been dubbed the 'new Marc Overmars' and will be available for 3 million. Fulham are supposedly the front favourites for the deal.

So lets look at this seriously. To buy these players we would be looking at 15 million at the very least and that’s without looking at the rise in the wage bill. Can anyone seeing our board releasing 15 million for transfers this season (not unless Roeder has hired Paul Mkenna to hypnotise Brown and Aldridge) so we can probably put all of them except Izzet down to paper talk.

The biggest concern is not one name mentioned is a towering centre back. Repka and Daily after a shaky start looked a decent partnership but one thing they do lack is height, creating problems from set pieces and long balls in the box. We have Pearce but I think he is a better full back or even cover for Carrick in the middle of the park. The left full back position is a cause for concern especially after the performances from Labant last year.

The press from the club seems to be talking up the talent within the young lads in the reserves but are they good enough at this time if we are going to push for a place in Europe. That I cannot answer but I am sure Roeder will know. Perhaps that is why we haven’t seen the Hammers linked to a towering strong centre back or perhaps it’s because we haven’t had the money but now our boy Rio is moving to the biggest club in Britain Roeder can go shopping.

Rio we know you are only doing it to give your old fans a chance to smile again at Upton Park and perhaps pick up a champions league medal or two.