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Arsenal target West Ham ace

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A 2-0 win is arguably the most solid result you can hope to pull off on the first game of the season.

Sure, you can always crave more goals, but the final score against Cardiff City on the opening day saw us comfortably claim the three points, while keeping an equally important clean sheet.

On the flip side, a 3-1 home defeat to a side which struggled for form last year is going to sound alarm bells, whoever it happens to.

So it’s little surprise there is talk ‘boring boring’ Arsenal have been in contact with West Ham over the possibility of signing star centre back Winston Reid.

Last season’s Hammer of the Year showed no signs of early season sloppiness by turning in a typically assured performance.

The 25-year-old New Zealander has recently signed a new contract and is pretty much the only guaranteed starter across the defence, leaving James Collins and James Tomkins to fight it out to partner him.

Sam Allardyce has shown faith in Reid, and helped nurture him into a top class defender. The manager has tweaked the team, but balanced it in a way that hasn’t required wholesale changes, leading him to claim this week that this ‘year two’ squad is “right up there” in terms of the best he has had. That has meant players like Reid are confident in knowing their role, can be assured of game time if they play well, and are rewarded for success.

Arsenal have struggled in recent years, slipping out of real contention for the title, with the main focus usually being on scrapping to secure 4th place. They’re a team that seems disjointed, expected to succeed without the belief to mount a serious challenge.

We’re a club moving forward. There are realistic aspirations that could bring genuine success. There is a lot more for Reid to achieve at West Ham.

And aside from the player himself, his transfer would be a massive step backwards for the club given the hierarchy are determined to quash perceptions we are always prepared to sell our top stars.

It has been documented that we need to clear the wage bill to free up funds to bring in a striker. But it would be a huge shock if we sacrificed our best defender to a London rival to balance those demands.

Losing Reid would leave us short in the centre back position, with little chance of finding a replacement of equal quality. Retaining Winston will better our chances of securing a lot more solid results throughout the remainder of the season.

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The Sydney Hammers supporters club is the officially endorsed supporters club for West Ham United fans living in and around Sydney, Australia.

We are the fastest growing and most passionate football fans group in the city, and are committed to following the Hammers through highs and lows from Down Under.

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28 comments

  • Warren says:

    Agree partly Jimmy, Tommo is the future and I think he’ll get more playing time this year instead of Ginge..

  • Brian says:

    I too don’t want either Reid or Tommo to go. We also have Chambers coming back from injury who could make a few fleeting appearances this season. The papers say we would except a bid of around £6m for Tomkins…well below my estimates…£10m minimum plus add ons. Reid may be lured by Euro football….hope he waits til we get there next season.

  • bubbles says:

    Tomkins is not good enough . It is no coincidence that the poor run around New Year coincided with him being in the team . He does not read the game and cannot pass the ball . …. Only 24 … what a stupid thing to say . Do you really believe he can get any better . Why do you think he was not selected for Olympic team … because the coaches saw him and could see he hasn’t got it . If you read and understand it is a lack of wage capacity that stops us getting new blood . Get him off the pay roll and promote one of the youngsters as cover . Tomkins has had his chance and it is time to move him on while he has some value .

  • Warren says:

    Va Te, Taylor and possibly Maiga to go.. No one else thanks

  • tony says:

    Taylor Va te to go no one else

  • sibbo says:

    nothing wrong with Tomkins,confidence dropped when he was not played,hes a greatplayer any one who thinks he is not, doesn’t know a lot.

    • Johnsey says:

      You’re dead right, people forget that he was voted MOM in the play-off final.

      Some of us can remember the early matches of Alvin Martin and Rio Ferdinand, no-one is prepared to look at the bigger picture any more.

      Here’s a thought – would anybody be prepared to let Morrison go back out on loan again if it guaranteed a top class striker arriving?

  • spikeorourke says:

    How much did Winston cost us??

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