It came as a pleasant surprise that potentially the pivotal weekend in West Ham’s season didn’t involve actually having to sit through 90 minutes of football.
The signing of Italian duo Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello is a welcome boost at a time when the team really needs some new impetus.
A shortage of personnel has meant much of the season has so far been spent struggling at the wrong end of the table, with the shortage of a striker highlighted as our main downfall.
At 31, Borriello is arguably at an ideal stage in his career to assist in a relegation battle, and there is no doubt he has played with some of the world’s best during his time in Italy. He is experienced enough to bring the right sort of motivation to the team, while still dynamic enough to drive changes on the pitch.
Attacking Italians often play with passion and flare, (take Paolo Di Canio and Alessandro Diamanti for example), and if Borriello can incorporate goals, the late night viewing times will be much easier to stomach as we approach the season finale.
The problem is, much of the rhetoric from Allardyce around the signing of Borriello has been fairly bland. I’ve no doubt he’s delighted to have the Italy striker on-board, but quotes attributed to the manager have been less than enthusiastic about his aspirations.
Nothing screams out that we have signed a prolific goal scorer – more someone that is a gamble, someone we are taking a punt on in the hope he comes off.
We have had since the start of the season to line-up a player for as soon as the transfer window opens, and the fact it took three weeks to bring someone in stinks of desperation.
His goal scoring record hasn’t been strong this season, and he has been far from prolific recently due to a “few niggly injuries”. Not a glowing endorsement.
But with the prize of a World Cup squad place on offer at the end of the season were he to perform well, it should act as enough personal motivation to get stuck in, even if the survival of the club which just has him on loan isn’t.
A classic YouTube search of the new signing brings up footage of numerous goals scored by the Italian, and provides hope he can be a bustling centre forward with a clinical touch.
That’s the most positive outlook on what he can bring to the side. And until he pulls on the claret and blue, we should reserve full judgement while backing him help turn our fortunes around.
Do I remember a time when two other foreign players came in to bolster the team.
Mascerano & Tevez They did a fair job except for the Bodge of the transfers and the involvement of various dubious agents and management figures at the time.
whether we save the season or not at least they are trying now.
I hope it pays off, but I also think we deserve more. The Lescott rumours, the Lambert rumours, the Loe farce, the half arsed attempt for McCormack, but we have not spent a penny. Know we are in debt but we have not gambled at all. Results bad for us tonight and by tomorrow could be sixpoints off fourth bottom, perhaps our cheap skate miracle will happen!!!!! COYI