West Ham banter 2

08 Aug 2026 11:49:26
At the risk of having an egg the size of an Ostriches on my face come May 2027 I'm going to say I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if Pablo ends up with at least 10 goals this season across all competitions.

There it's been said can't take it back. I might end up looking like the biggest idiot but imagine how much fun it would be if I'm right! Pablo check starts today! 😆😆

08 Aug 2026 13:01:52
Ya never know. He scored plenty in Portugal. You may well be right.

08 Aug 2026 13:38:43
I'll be honest, I can't see it, but I hope you are right, Dabber!

08 Aug 2026 13:53:48
Tbh, if he can't score at this level, he's never going to, but I will stick with my doubts, until I see otherwise. Be happy to change my mind if I see otherwise.

08 Aug 2026 17:59:15
Love your optimism, Dabber, but just can't see it. He is a likable character, but he is truly awful. I don't know how he played today, as I didn't see the game, but did note he got an assist.

08 Aug 2026 18:09:39
If the people arrive as hoped, I don't think he will get a game, if all are fit.

08 Aug 2026 23:15:23
H-D, He got an assist because he lost the ball and Bowen struck a sweet shot from the loose ball. Pablo is bloody useless.

07 Aug 2026 21:23:14
I don’t like calling anyone out, but not one of Bamba Dieng’s injuries have been to do with his knees. He missed 4 matches last season with ligament stretching (ankle), adductor pain in 25 +! groin injury. I have gone back to 2022 and no knee injuries at all.

08 Aug 2026 09:47:42
I can only post what I understand.

Dieng is an international free agent, with a decent past record. Not for me to say, but he's hawked around several teams, here and in Europe. He had lowered his demands and expectations.

So, why up till now has nobody taken him on? He's been trying to get fixed up now for two months. There must be more to it than ligament strains. I'm no medical expert. Doesn't it look suspicious though?

08 Aug 2026 10:09:43
Agreed
Dyer, Llungberg, Wiltshire, Carroll.

07 Aug 2026 15:24:21
There’s something very Ravel about Dele Alli: an exceptional talent tragically wasted.

Hard to come back from what he’s put himself through, but good for him if he manages it.

07 Aug 2026 16:16:25
He needs to make a comeback for sure. Can he?
I have my doubts.

07 Aug 2026 16:43:35
If he can reach anywhere near the form he used to have and behave, it could be a shrewd move, but a big gamble.

07 Aug 2026 17:07:42
He probably still better than Pablo.

07 Aug 2026 19:22:27
Definitely. Can't believe we didn't sell him.

07 Aug 2026 14:06:44
Nuno on future incomings:

"We don't have much time, but we don't want to make mistakes. It's crucial the players who come in are right. We are taking our time to make sure we get it right."

"We know the profiles and the names, so we let the Club do their jobs."

07 Aug 2026 13:21:36
All opinions and information are welcome on this forum, as far as I’m concerned.

It’s the range of experience and passion of supporters that makes it what it is.

07 Aug 2026 13:30:46
Spot on.

07 Aug 2026 16:44:36
Damn right. We don't all agree all the time, and, understandably, we all have different views, but that's what makes the site.

07 Aug 2026 11:24:56
Joyful. I would be really interested and I know you won't tell us, in what job you do. You get shown top private club finances, you know what every single player is thinking and bids that we have had in and also what other clubs are about to bid.

Must be some proper high powered job across multiple clubs and agencies.

All the while being able to post it all on a public forum.

07 Aug 2026 13:12:57
I'm anonymous, that's why, Lee, I don't know how to take your post, if it's complimentary, I will take it, thank you.

It would do no good to talk about myself, or my relationship with various agencies.

I'm not a supposed ITK, as you know, I don't make money out of clicks, Patreon, services etc., good luck to them, it's obviously their living, no problem with that at all.



I have no idea how many readers this forum has, perhaps the editors will tell us?

That's it really, hope that's helped.

07 Aug 2026 16:47:31
Well said, Joyful. I'm a chimney sweep if anybody interested lol. 😆 🤣 😂

09 Aug 2026 11:27:50
Mac3, I watched highlights this morning. All decent goals. Hoping, as all, for a quick return, but a change to see different teams. 🤞
Not too many posters on here, Mac, would be doing that job? We’ve all had to have a C.Sweep at some time if we own property, that’s one of the first jobs we had done when we moved as we were having a Gas fire installed after having an old BackBoiler.


Ripped out!
I’m well retired & so happy about it, no job worries, no mortgage & liveable Pension income! Only worry, health & getting less mobile, but lucky to get to present age with my lovely Wife of 59 years. 🤞 🤞 COYI ⚒ ⚒ ⚒ ⚒ ⚒

07 Aug 2026 07:11:08
Just heard that Dele Alli is training with West Ham, it’s probably just to keep his fitness up, but West Ham do like a free agent, could there be something in this, weather he’s still got it or not I don’t know, but Championship could be his level. 🤷

07 Aug 2026 08:58:20
Dele Ali, by all counts he's a busted flush. He's been a big substance taker, he's been training at Spurs, MK Dons before WH. At Como he lasted one game, I doubt he can play professional football at this level.

Mac, following up, WH were asked the price for Mavrapanos quoted. Not less than 35 m euros, that was Leverkusen, previous week almost identical call from BVB Dortmund.



No bids of any kind have been received up till last night.

Only my view, WH need to keep hold of Mavro this season, getting too late to replace him with quality. If WH fail to get promoted, then he and all the previous Premier players will leave anyway.

07 Aug 2026 09:28:58
I think we just need to say no more sales now, scoure the free agent and loan markets then re evualate come January, we are in need of reinforcements of course we need winger and creative mdf but we don't have the money.

I suspect the poison dwarf is messing in the background still his hubris would not allow someone else to come in and do better than him and God forbid be liked by the fans so he would do everything he can to throw spanners in the works including encouring outside bids for shares

07 Aug 2026 11:48:14
I've thought for a couple of weeks that the January window will be the really important one.

06 Aug 2026 23:50:35
Wobble your heads. Please do you honestly think Solomon isn't about money? Do you honestly think we would have pursued a player all summer and not signed him due to peer pressure about his nationality that wasn't there every time we were linked to him? I want signings as much as anyone to the point of being called negative a load of times, but think about this and have a day off.

This is about money, nothing else.

07 Aug 2026 07:45:30
Yup, of course it is Robbo. They are trying to squirm their way out of this by saying they won't sign him because some fans don't want him... yeah sure. Since when have clubs bothered what fans want.

They must think we are stupid, and, another thing, whoever is driving this BS needs to tread very carefully because our beloved fans have already been through the mill, and we won't tolerate this BS for long.



If we lose to Burnley next week, there will be uproar.

07 Aug 2026 08:01:55
No, there won't, Mac. If we lose to Burnley - another relegated Premier League club, there will not be uproar.

All this nonsense about the fans will turn. I don't think any fan base, ever, has turned in August.

07 Aug 2026 09:34:33
Calm down, Mac. To say if we don't win away at one of the better sides in the division there will be uproar is ridiculous. There may be uproar from a few people on line. There won't be from the fans. If it's a case of 10 games gone, not many points on the board, then the pressure cooker will spurt.

07 Aug 2026 09:38:45
Also, whilst people are disappointed with the lack of transfer activity, I think most of us realise we are in a difficult position, so will allow some leeway. What I don't think the fans will accept is going back to the ultra defensive football as opposed to the milder defensive football we saw second half of last season.

07 Aug 2026 16:50:20
Agreed, Hammer. We can't just sit back like we did in the Premier League.

06 Aug 2026 21:48:57
I can't believe we have cooled our interest in Soloman, if the figures mentioned (£5m up front plus less than £3m promotion clause) are accurate.

For a competent winger from a PL club, it's peanuts. Is there an injury record/issue? Has he said he doesn't want to move to us?

The alternative wingers already mentioned are more expensive.

Someone explain it to me like I'm five.

06 Aug 2026 22:27:45
Markro, as others have said, I think it can only be as a result of worries over a backlash from a small minority of fans, but used the financials as an excuse.
But it just doesn't wash, because if we get promoted, we have to pay an additional 2.5 million in bonuses, which is peanuts.

Yet, if we don't get promotion, the financial implications are far worse.
If the player himself had done or come out with something outrageous, then maybe we should avoid, but he hasn't, so it's a terrible decision.

06 Aug 2026 21:43:07
I'm not so sure about these recent, surprise revelations about our awful financial situation. I cannot believe that a canny operator like Kretinsky hasn't always been fully aware of all of the details of our finances.

How would he have been able to persuade Bowen to stay if he didn't guarantee strengthening the squad?

Something doesn't feel right.

06 Aug 2026 23:22:20
I would think Markro Kretensky was going to inject cash but the stavely bid changed that, as you sauly he would be fully aware of the financial.situation and have a plan of how to deal with it, all these media leaks and take over bids only serve one person the poison dwarf