How it all happened

It was too good to be true. West Ham United, a team that found it self relegated just a few years ago, had landed two superstar World Cup players, shocking those watching the transfer window. West Ham, with its superb youth academy, Alan Pardew’s commitment to attacking football, and er, “Green Street Hooligans” (never saw it, and doubt I will), managed a coup of sorts by acquiring Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano when it seemed they were destined to go to Man Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea.

And now it’s all beginning to make sense. Are the Argentine internationals, disgruntled with Corinthians, merely parked at Upton Park for the next profitable transfer window. You can bet your arse they are. It all comes out now. The extent to which West Ham benefits from this deal is that they have two world-class players to help them gain entry into the real Europe (Champions League vs. UEFA Cup) or even grab some silver.

To know that Portsmouth turned down this sweet, sweet deal should make West Ham fans suspicious. On the other hand, so what? The Hammers get to pay these galacticos only half of their wages, and no transfer fee. And the players get to hone their craft in the Premiership, without the ridiculous transfer fee to justify with stellar play on a weekly basis.

The beauty of all this is that despite such a desperate move on Kia Joorabchian’s part, he remains so unimpressed by the stature of West Ham that he’ll dare to make a bid on it. Kind of a, “well, that was easy; may as well buy the bloody whole thing”, if you like.

Thankfully, this drama occurring somewhere other than Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield or Emirates is a welcome thing. Let the media go to town on this and Pardew use these lads to show us exactly what kind of attacking football he has in mind.

Man Utd rejected Mascha bid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/5309852.stm

Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2340557,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2340669,00.html