Stade Rennais: Mandanda, Assignon, Omari, Theate, Belocian, Santamaria, Bourigeaud (c), Majer, D.Doue, Doku, Abline. Subs: TBC
West Ham: Areola, Zouma, Cofal, Fornals, Paqueta, Downes, Ings, Benrahma, Aguerd (c), Soucek, Emerson. Subs: Fabianski, Scamacca, Cornet, Bowen, Ogbonna, Kehrer, Coventry, Mubama.
Harry Maguire is a good defender who only seems to perform at his best while representing England. He is an extremely highly paid 30 year old who has just been stripped of the captain's armband and been deemed surplus to requirements by Eric Ten Hag.
We had hoped that arriving in our Hotel ahead of Hammers friendly against Stade Rennais where we finally have good broadband and data facilities that there would be PLENTY to write about regarding transfers, unfortunately it is as if time has stood still for the last fortnight as there appears to have been 'much ado about nothing!'
West Ham United are reportedly now close to securing the signing of Chelsea's Armando Broja, was dubbed an 'outstanding' striker by Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. The 20-year-old Albanian international having spent a season on loan at St Mary's, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances in all competitions. Havng had a £40 Million bid for Connor Gallagher rejected by the Stamford bridge 'hedge fund', Hammers are now in realistic territory.
West Ham's Interest and Competition
'Steinman can sendero' a Daichi transfer rocket across the bows of HMS Moyes!
Even the Moysasaurus in blind mode would have to admit that Daichi Kamada is a top top player, having experienced first hand what a pocket rocket Kamada is as the Japanese International helped Frankfurt play Hammers off the park in the season before last's Europa League semi final.
No footballer is EVER bigger than their club, despite claims to the contrary made by certain players of Portuguese descent!
Players like those mentioned above go on believing in their own myth, even when their star has waned, whereas there are others who KNOW humility and are humble in the face of overwhelming adoration amidst the company of sycophants.
Funnily enough we at the Org have just been loading up the old Range Rover, complete with silver and black RAF roundels on its sides, in preparation for our Normany landing! We are scheduled to view the Irons on the road tour encompassing the game against fellow UEFA Europa League qualifiers Stade Rennais, or Rennes as they are more commonly known in France, on Saturday the 29th of July.
Very lazy today, so just screenshots of teams:
Borehamwood: Ashmore, Rush, Stephens, Whelan, Sagaf, Marsh, Abraham, Agbontohoma, Trialist, Trialist, Sousa.
West Ham: Fabianski, Cresswell, Zouma, Fornals, Scamacca, Downes, Ings, Ogbonna, Coventry, Laing, Swyer.
Subs: Anang, Hegyi, Bowen, Emerson, Luizao, Earthy, Casy, Mubama, Chesters, Kodua, Scarles, Forson, Potts.
And yes, Timmy Abraham is Tammy's younger brother!
Gianluca Scamacca has been heavily linked in some quarters with a move away from West Ham this summer after an injury hit first season with the Irons, strong interest in the striker is allegedley coming from Jose Mourinho’s Roma and Champions League semi finalists AC Milan.
However, Scamacca has been included in the squad for tonight's pre-season friendly away to Borehamwood which may raise some eyebrows, although to all intents and purposes including the £35 Million striker isn't unusual at all, UNLESS the club were seriously trying to 'punt' the Italian striker to other clubs!
You would think that with £105 Million on its way to the club following the protracted Declan Rice to Arsenal transfer that West Ham would be eyeing up several top notch replacements, however despite plenty of excruciatingly poorly reported 'click bait' headlines the players realistically being linked with a move to the Irons are distinctly underwhelming and that might NOT be a bad thing!