Grant Holt has become the latest name to surface as a target for West Ham, with reports suggesting a £4 million bid has been lodged to lure the unsettled Norwich City striker to Upton Park.
The fastest growing Hammers website is now on Facebook, click the link to be entered into our up and coming competitions http://www.facebook.com/pages/ForeverWestHamcom/200938616608282
The 31-year-old last month handed in a transfer request at Carrow Road, despite Norwich’s 12th placed finish in their first season back in the Premier League, with Holt’s 15 goals aiding to that impressive finish. His goals this season even led to a suggestion of an England call up, so would he be a good signing?
Firstly, question’s have to be raised over Holt’s ability to consistently perform at the top level. At the beginning of the season, he was dropped due to poor form and only found his
shooting boots towards the latter stages of the campaign.
While 15 goals is an impressive tally, this is only his first season in the top flight and £4 million for an unsettled, journeyman striker who is probably now past the peak of his goal scoring ability seems over-inflated.
Secondly, if he were to come to West Ham, it is difficult to predict how much playing time he would receive. Sam Allardyce may want to start both Carlton Cole and Holt in the same side or one providing cover for the other.
Looking for experience? Just want to be heard outside of the Boleyn? We are currently looking for writers, drop us an email at foreverwestham@snack-media.com for more details
It would seem unlikely that Holt would immediately dislodge Cole from the starting eleven, so Holt could become a forlorn figure on the substitute’s bench wishing he had never joined and ultimately becoming unsettled once more.
Finally, if a budget of around £4 million can be spent on a striker, other targets look much more appetising. A number of names have been linked to West Ham, with Yakubu, Michael Owen, and even Nicolas Anelka rumoured, and while Anelka may not be the best acquisition, both of Yakubu or Owen look a more appealing prospect.
Would Grant Holt make a good signing? Tweet me @WestTomUnited or visit
www.martingeoffreybobby.blogspot.com if you agree or disagree.
Ever dreamt about getting paid for reading about West Ham? Well now you can make dreams a reality http://bit.ly/ffc-foreverwestham-lp
As if we’d get Anelka! And Owen has stated he’s staying up north. Yakuba may well end up in China. Holt is a realistic option. 15 goals in his first season, you mention that, I’d take that any season.
This site is terrible!
Personally I wouldn’t spend more than 4m,he’s got 2 years left in him and hasn’t really proved consistency. Anyone else remember mike small? Scored bundles of goals in top flight for us pre Xmas one year but in reality wasn’t that good and drifted away.
Holt has scored something like 70 goals in 3 seasons. Owens played about 15 games in 3 seasons how can you say he would be a better option.
Why on earth would anyone want to sign Anelka? His goal to game ratio is terrible! is it not time to knock this buying players passed their prime malarky on the head!?
Grant Holt wasn’t dropped at the start of this past season, he played a part in all but 1 match which was due to a foot injury. Also his goals are spread across the season, not coming good at the end of the season as you report. If I were running the show at West Ham, I’d not touch him as he only has a couple of years left in him. the way he plays will draw injuries which he will find more and more difficult to play with and recover from. Norwich don’t need or want to sell him, he cost £400,000 so he owes them nothing.
Nicolas Anelka as Pete rightly said doesn’t score enough goals, Michael Owen hasn’t had the football appetite for years choosing to sit happily in manures reserves picking up his bookies money or simply injured. The rest home for the sick, injured or plain past it at West Ham should be declared over. The days of bogus chairman conning the supporters of their ambition by bringing in stars of the past is well and truly over as people are more clued up with clubs dealings these days.
As for Holt, he’s a little on the old side but PROVEN and HUNGRY, at the right deal for the club, I have no problem with him coming to us.
One thing though, amongst all of these rumours flying around this time of year, give the Manager and Chairmen a little credit, they aren’t totally FLUSH idiots!
I’d like to stand out in defence of this site. I always read these articles, I find them generally really stimulating. Not always but sometimes, they’re spot on!
Anyway I find it difficult most of the time to get involved in arguments about player value for money. I prefer to talk about player value on the pitch (and in the dressroom) and let the owners think about the cost of it.
Owen is a great little player but he’s too risky for his injury background, his lengthy inactivity and the fact that he probably doesn’t have a soft spot for West Ham. We’re not on his ideal career path and therefore, what’s the point if his heart isn’t in it.
Anelka is a world class player and would certainly add to our squad. But again he’s chosen to finish his career swimming in money in the embarrassment that is the chinese league, will his heart be in it? I don’t think so.
Even Yakubu is a good player but turned his back on Blackburn pretty sharpish once they got relegated. Is this the kind of loyalty we want in our dressing room? We’d also be investing in his wages what we could invest in a younger player with sell-on value i.e. Zaha, Rhodes. (Not that I’m saying they’d be any more loyal than Yakubu…)
I’m sure there are plenty of players out there who would kill to play in claret and blue, would give their heart and soul every game, and furthermore are actually quite handy with the ball at their feet. All three of Owen Anelka and Yakubu, although top class players, leave a stink in the air and I’d steer clear.
Holt is not what westham need, he’s just an average player and if we want to look to the future and improve our team he’s not the answer!
”Owen is more viable transfer than Holt”???????? hahaha!, I guess if you had it your way you’d resign Dyer too. You MUG!