Category Uncategorized

West Ham are a club with enormous potential.ÂUpton Park enjoys sell-out 35,000 crowds on a weekly basis, hosting one of the most passionate and militant fan-bases in the country. Furthermore, the East Londoners plan to move to a new home in 2016, the Olympic stadium, which is expected to significantly increase the club’s revenue.

But performances on the pitch in recent years haven’t quite reflected the Hammers’ almighty scope for growth. After continually bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship, Sam Allardyce has spent the last few campaigns using an attritional brand of football to solidify the Irons’ top flight status.

Perhaps that potential can be unlocked via the transfer market, a theory Big Sam Âappears to be subscribing to, having made five signings already this summer in the form of Diego Poyet, Enner Valencia, Cheikou Kouyate, Mauro Zarate and Aaron Cresswell.

With that in mind, here’s FIVE signings that could transform West Ham, propelling them up the Premier League table.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON MAROUANE FELLAINI TO REVEAL

[/ffc-gallery]

MAROUANE FELLAINI

Despite the glaring inadequacies of Marouane Fellaini’s first season at Manchester United, summed up in the below vine:

I still believe the Belgian lankster would be an exceptional signing for most Premier League sides, including West Ham. It wasn’t long ago Fellaini was considered to be one of the best midfielders in the top flight, in no small part due to a return of eleven goals and five assists during his final campaign at Everton, the highlights of which are viewable below:

//www.youtube.com/embed/mZFuxC1bdUk?rel=0

And although the Hammers are keen to branch out from their attritional roots this summer, there’s no doubt the 6 foot 4 afro-bearer would be a perfect fit for Sam Allardyce’s more traditional style.

Furthermore, Fellaini appears unlikely to survive the change in regime at Manchester United this summer:

The Daily Express believe the Red Devils will sell for around £15million, but Fiorentina have emerged as the Belgium international’s likeliest suitors:

ASHLEY YOUNG

Another Manchester United misfit who could have considerable impact at Upton Park is much-maligned winger Ashley Young.

You can’t imagine Big Sam taking too kindly to the 29 year-old’s regular Tom Daley impressions:

//www.youtube.com/embed/LVtYWd5TRS4?rel=0

//www.youtube.com/embed/UF3QJvHApTI?rel=0

But regardless, recent speculation suggests the Hammers are already planning a loan bid for the former England international:

On his day, Young can be unplayable. Just take a look at this sensational strike from last season:

And he can produce that kind of thing on a semi-regular basis for West Ham, the winger could prove to be an astute addition.

YEVHEN KONOPLYANKA

Another wideman believed to be firmly in the Hammers’ transfer crosshairs is Dnipro talisman Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Also a long-term target of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, the Ukraine international would be a sensational coup for the East Londoners. Just take a look at this wonder-strike against England from back in 2012:

//www.youtube.com/embed/GB0wDwgI39c?autoplay=1&loop=1&playlist= GB0wDwgI39c

The 24 year-old was in strong form last season, particularly in the Europa League…

…where he absolutely destroyed Tottenham’s Kyle Naughton:

But recent speculation suggests West Ham have been put off by Dnipro’s £12million demands for Konoplyanka:

MATHIEU VALBUENA

Pint-sized midfielder Mathieu Valbuena is by no means a natural fit for West Ham’s direct style, but I guess that’s kind of the point. Resultantly, and with the European elite seemingly shunning the 29 year-old, it’s believed the Irons are preparing a bid:

The France international produced good form last season and transitioned his displays into the World Cup, as seen below:

…where he netted against Switzerland…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

…and produced this enticing assist to Paul Pogba…

And after announcing his intentions to leave Marseille earlier this season:

L’Equipe believe he could be available for as little as €7million.

JORDON MUTCH

Cardiff City youngster Jordon Mutch may not be a top flight star just yet, but his first Premier League season suggests the midfielder has a bright future ahead of him.

The 22 year-old was in great form for the Bluebirds last season despite often featuring from the bench, as detailed below:

This last-minute winner against Fulham particularly stood out:

And Mutch comes with strong pedigree, having represented England at U17, U19, U20 and U21 level.

Furthermore, following reported interest from Sunderland, Cardiff have placed a more-than-reasonable £5million valuation on the goal-scoring midfielder.

It is a mammoth task to compile just 10 of the many legends that have walked through the door at Arsenal. From the foreign purchases to home grown talent, the underlying factor has been the Arsenal supporters and their waving of the sword to signify a new hero at either Highbury or Ashburton Grove.

The current group of players and the trophy drought may make it seem difficult to remember a time of rampaging midfield generals and exquisite forwards, but the halls of Arsenal are forever filled with the names of those who have made the club great.

There are disappointments in that many of the recent stars of Arsenal have not gone on to fulfil their roles as undoubted legends of the club, seeking riches elsewhere and losing touch with the importance of the club. But regardless of their actions, it shouldn’t take away from the very real but often disguised figures in the team who are likely to go on to fill in their names alongside the greats of the club.

 Click on Ian Wright to unveil the top 10

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Jon Flanagan came through the ranks at Liverpool and earned himself a plenty of backing from the fans.

The full-back was put through the ringer with injury problems and once he regained fitness, he struggled to find a way into Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Flanagan’s fall from grace was in January, though, when he was sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in December last year.

At the end of the season, Liverpool confirmed that the 25-year-old has been released from his contract.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255848″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Liverpool’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]

Now, it has been widely reported that Flanagan will be given another chance, but this time at Rangers.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard became the new manager of Rangers in April, and according to Wednesday’s report in the Evening Times, Flanagan will join the Scottish outfit on a free transfer.

The Liverpool connection is clear to see, but some fans of the Merseyside outfit are disappointed that Gerrard has decided to sign the full-back following his assault conviction.

Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).Comment from discussion Rangers hoping to sign Jon Flanagan. (Paul Joyce).

Tottenham Hotspur will be heading into this weekend with plenty of confidence having beaten Manchester United in midweek.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men outplayed the Red Devils at Wembley, eventually claiming a 2-0 victory, but the scoreline could have been much larger.

The North London outfit have a tough run of games coming up, including a showdown against Liverpool at Anfield this Sunday.

Following that fixture, Spurs will take on Newport County in an FA Cup replay and then North London rivals Arsenal in the league.

The difficult schedule continues as Tottenham play Juventus in the first leg of a last-16 clash in the Champions League.

To round off a busy month, Pochettino’s team will face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The fans have every right to feel confident about the upcoming fixtures given that the team are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Even though their opponents could provide a stern test, it seems that the majority of Tottenham supporters think that they are in for a good few weeks on the pitch.

Arsene Wenger is either throwing us off the trail (the apologists like to call it a smokescreen), or he’s telling us exactly what’s going to happen.

The Arsenal manager last week spoke of stability and that his side were close. He added that he didn’t expect a large number of signings this summer, hinting that the theme of three maximum could be continued, while sounding out the difficulties the World Cup will create during the transfer window.

Off the bat, stability can be used with one intention but interpreted as another. For those whose glass is half empty, stability means the club aren’t planning to do too much. Just as Mesut Ozil’s blockbuster signing last summer failed to disguise what was yet another poor period of business throughout, this summer is likely to feature one or two names that won’t really rock the boat, firstly in upsetting the balance of the squad but mainly in damaging the accounts.

Arsenal may be two or three signings away from sustaining a title challenge up until May, but that doesn’t take into account those who are leaving on free transfers this summer. It doesn’t take into account the fact that the team have only three natural centre-backs, with no one in the reserve team good enough to step in during an emergency. It ignores that Theo Walcott may miss the start of next season, and that most players will have to treat a World Cup hangover.

Wenger said that the window may only start to come alive around July 15th, which sounds awfully similar to his comments in previous years about a bankrupt Europe and a cold market. It’s not really an excuse for inactivity across the market, just a passable enough excuse that explains Arsenal’s inactivity.

This is a team who suffered at the start of this season through ill preparation. At time of writing, Arsenal are five points off Liverpool in first place. Those three points which were lost against Aston Villa on the opening day could have been quite useful.

But again, things like that aren’t taken into account. Wenger’s general comment on the summer transfer period seemed to echo the stance of past years: a lack of motivation, resting on laurels, getting by with the hope things will fall into place in your favour.

For those who want to take a realistic look at this Arsenal team, at least five players need to arrive this summer in order to turn a March imposition into title success in May. Five at the very least, and that’s being conservative. Someone at the club, probably Ivan Gazidis, needs to tell Wenger to stop dictating the terms of the summer. Stop finding excuses to halt the progression of this team.

There may be a feeling among some that Arsenal have gotten away with this season, snatching fourth when not too long ago it seemed likely they’d be preparing to play their European football on a Thursday night.

The manager has spoken about injuries, which is fair. How much further up the league table would Arsenal be if Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, and Ozil hadn’t been injured for so long? It’s a problem that needs to be addressed, but another problem is the lack of quality in reserve. A lack of quality may be a stretch; a lack of variance may be more fitting.

It only takes a couple of injuries for this Arsenal team to become worryingly one dimensional, and it’s not something that can be effectively resolved by going blindly into this summer.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Wenger will hold his cards close to his chest, as he’s always done. A couple of obvious addition may be completed in the near future. Loic Remy and Carlos Vela would be big helps next season, and they could both be signed for a combined £16 million. Remy and Vela – and Lukas Podolski ahead of the European Championship in 2012 – show that deals can be wrapped up before the start of a summer tournament.

The hope is that Wenger has altered his ways this year and that his statement on the summer is indeed a smokescreen that keeps the club’s business well disguised. If not, it’s set to be another frustratingly long summer.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

In another eagerly anticipated weekend in the Premier League where there is sure to be high drama, goalmouth action and controversial issues to be witnessed, what is likely to ensue in midweek will appear a dreary damp squib.

Yes, you guessed it, it’s the international break. Though thankfully, not a two-week break which makes us put a cross in our calendars every day until some exciting football returns to our screens, but just the unnecessary international friendlies that, in an environmentally turbulent (no pun intended) culture, tens of thousands of air miles are clocked up just so that substitutions can be made every time the ball boy goes to fetch the ball from the empty stands and we can be reminded in the comfort of our armchairs what a Mexican wave looks like.

Therefore, as England travel to Sweden on Wednesday to grace the Scandinavian country’s new stadium, it is hardly any surprise that Arsene Wenger has once again voiced his frustrating regarding Jack Wilshere’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad. In the past the Arsenal manager’s constant gripes over his players jetting off to play for their respective countries have become annoying. However, whether you love or hate Arsene Wenger, surely in this instance he has a point.

Wilshere is a world class talent and an invaluable member for both his club and country. After seventeen months out of action due to various injuries and niggles, it has been obvious in his three games back, in which he was only completed the full 90 minutes in one of these games, that he is not 100 per cent fit. In fact, arguably his sending off in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United was evidence that his match fitness wasn’t quite there as he toiled to keep up with the defensive duties that were imposed on him in a one-sided affair.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-468′ align=’center’]

Therefore, in fairness to Wenger, the question does have to be asked, how much can Wilshere actually benefit from playing in Sweden? The Frenchmen believes that he has arrived at a diplomatic solution with Roy Hodgson with the England manager telling Wenger on the phone that Wilshere has been selected so that  he can, and I quote,  ‘connect with the group’.

I find it hard to believe that the England manager is willing to fly Wilshere all the way to Sweden, so that he can gel with a 23-man squad, of which five haven’t won an England cap yet and are realistically unlikely to play when the World Cup does come around in two years time.

While there is nothing to benefit from Wilshere turning out for England next Wednesday, there is plenty to lose, and it would bring about a sore financial irony for Arsenal and Wenger, and here’s why. As Wenger has said himself, it is clear that these international fixtures in November act as preparation for World Cup qualifiers in March; this is what the friendlies in February are for. So the friendlies are quite clearly a money-making scheme in order to fill the pockets of the football authorities and the European governing bodies. To this extent, the friendlies are less about football and more about economics.

Therefore, if Jack Wilshere were to suffer a reoccurrence of one of the several niggles he has sustained during his lengthy delay, and if it were to keep him out for a sustained period of time once again, then the financial implications for Arsenal would be great. Wilshere is the type of player who can really have an impact for the better on Arsenal’s season. If he were to be out as a result of playing in a meaningless friendly, Wilshere’s injury could impact on the money they receive for finishing in the Premier League, merchandise on Wilshere, and dare I say the financial implication of not qualifying for the Champions League. This may seem a little far-fetched to surmise at this moment in time, but still true nonetheless.

Looking at Wilshere’s call-up from Wenger’s point of view, it is surely also a case of once bitten, twice shy for the Arsenal manager, following the injury sustained to Abou Diaby on international duty for France in World Cup Qualifiers against Finland and Belarus. Wenger had pre-warned the French Federation about the midfielder’s lack of fitness before the Finland match and consequentially Diaby hasn’t been available for Arsenal since thanks to France’s ignorance.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

For the risk of contradicting myself, I do think the Diaby situation was different in the sense that there is a void of importance between World Cup Qualifiers and friendlies. France are well within their rights to field an important player who may provide the assist or goal to win an important game for his country, whereas with Wilshere’s situation, there is no way his current fragile condition should be risked for a meaningless friendly.

So it will certainly be interesting to see how many minutes Wilshere gets on Wednesday, and while we’ll be dozing off as the 23rd substitution comes onto the pitch with just four minutes on the clock, Arsene Wenger will be edged forward on his sofa, biting what nails he has left, covering his eyes with his beret and praying that his starlet will pull through and be available for the north London derby just three days later.

Am I missing my patriotic fuse or does Wenger have a point? You can also voice your opinions on Twitter @matt_of_the_day

SkyBet have placed Middlesbrough as the 4/6 favourites to bring Robert Huth back to the Riverside Stadium this summer.

What’s the story?

Huth is available on a free transfer this summer following his release from Leicester City.

The centre-back played a key role in Leicester’s 2015-16 title-winning Premier League campaign, but did not turn out for the Foxes last season due to ankle and foot injuries.

The 33-year-old still wants to continue in the professional game, however, and is bidding to be fit for the start of pre-season next month.

SkyBet have placed Boro as the favourites to sign the German defender, and if the bookmaker is to be believed, they are well ahead of the likes of Stoke City and Aston Villa.

Huth turned out for Boro between 2006 and 2009 – making 63 appearances for the club before leaving to return to the Premier League with Stoke City.

Would Huth be a good signing?

There will be concerns over Huth’s fitness following a long period on the sidelines, but there is no question that he is a fine defender when fit.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]

Boro are expected to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer when considering the interest surrounding Ben Gibson, who has been linked with Everton and Southampton.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Gibson has been a terrific servant to Boro, but Huth’s arrival this summer would certainly soften the blow of his departure.

Huth, who is valued at £2.3m by transfermarkt.co.uk, would also be the perfect player to guide young defender Dael Fry, who is being tipped by the club’s supporters to make a big impression next season.

The former Germany international is no spring chicken, but he is a terrific centre-back, and could turn out to be an inspired signing for a Boro side hoping to make another push for Premier League promotion in the new season.

According to the reliable @ExWHUemployee on his Twitter account, West Ham United are getting closer to an agreement to sign Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker before the January transfer window closes, and Irons fans have been quick to have their say on the news.

The east London outfit are already on the verge of bringing Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario to the club on loan with a view to a permanent move in the summer, but it appears as though manager David Moyes wants to add another player in the centre of the park.

The Hammers have been heavily linked with a move for Dendoncker – who can play as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back – throughout this month, and it appears they are finally making progress on bringing the 22-year-old to the Premier League.

West Ham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the latest update, and while one said the Belgian is “just what we need”, another said “let’s hope it happens”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Earlier in the season, Thierry Henry, a guest on Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League group game away to Napoli, spoke about the need for partnerships on a football pitch. The Frenchman was obviously drawn into a discussion about Mesut Ozil and he went on to compare the German with former Gunner Robert Pires.

Arsenal’s win against Hull on the weekend gave fans a reminder of what this team were like in the early stages of the season. The returning Ozil not only complemented Aaron Ramsey, who himself returned from a long layoff the game prior, but provided options all over the attacking third.

The point of Ozil isn’t to add too much defensively, and in turn it isn’t to label him a luxury player. The German gives this Arsenal team purpose and direction, of which they’ve been completely lacking for the past six weeks.

He built a strong partnership with Ramsey in the midfield, working to bring others into play. If Ramsey is the engine, tying the midfield and attack together, then Ozil adds the artistry and invention. The opening goal by the Welshman was excellent and evidence of the importance of both midfielders. Ozil was forced wide but turned back on himself and played in Santi Cazorla, who put Ramsey through on goal.

What has been crucial in the pair’s recent return is the production of Lukas Podolski in front of goal. The former Bayern forward may not be the quickest or the most mobile, but he will thrive off the service of others.

Once again, there are partnerships that come from this. Arsenal have been without a consistent goal threat during the second half of the season. What they haven’t lacked is a player who can score goals, as Podolski has shown, but rather someone who can work with him in the final third.

Ozil’s intelligence sees him drift about the pitch in search of openings and points where he can shift the game, either in tempo or direction. Even with Ramsey, Arsenal need Ozil to offer that intelligence to their play. He’s always an option for the other midfielders, who often looked as though they weren’t sure what they ought to be doing. Arsenal’s game needs a runner like Ramsey, as well as Podolski to finish the chances. But it requires the ingenuity of a player like Ozil for the attacks to be put into motion.

Going into the final four games of this season, Ozil will prove vital. Time and again the topic of confidence comes up with Arsenal, and the playmaker will offer that in abundance. We may not be seeing goals or direct assists (second assist may be the fitting term), but the lift Ozil has given this team is enough to merit his £42 million price tag. No other player in the team can get Arsenal playing the way they did against Hull.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Of course, it’s not to discredit the player on the other end of the pass. Ozil needs runners like Ramsey in order to be effective. But with both now back in the team and having picked up where they left off, suddenly Arsenal’s end of season doesn’t look so daunting.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

When Billy Sharp departed Southampton for Nottingham Forest on Transfer Deadline Day, he left with some sadness. He left wanting questions answered.

The only question playing on his mind, that he wants answering now, why couldn’t he have taken a bigger bite out of the hot-dog that was thrust in his direction, as he celebrated with a wide smile that was viewable from the Blackpool Tower, after scoring Forest’s opener at Bloomfield Road?

The ‘Fat Lad from Sheffield’ took some time to get going, but it now looks as if he’s found his scoring boots, ready to be Forest’s 20 goal a season striker.

What were the reasons for his slow start?

From the high of getting promotion with Southampton, to the low of realising he was no longer needed. A significant role in the promoted Southampton side, but deemed not enough to get an opportunity in the Premier League. How he’d bounce back from the blow, would make interesting viewing.

Service was lacking in his opening games for Forest, because the midfield usually revolved around Lewis McGugan, who’s more prone to attempting the spectacular, rather than playing the simple ball. With McGugan finally out of the side, it’s certainly no coincidence that Billy Sharp has now been allowed to flourish.

In Raddy Majewski, Sharp has discovered someone on the same wavelength as himself, and in turn, Forest have found a partnership that will be the key to unlock many Championship defences this season. When Majewski entered the fray in the second half against Cardiff City, Billy Sharp lit up. The passing exchanges between the two, the anticipation of where they would both be to receive passes, made them appear as if they’d been playing together for years.

Using the confidence from Cardiff, he was now able to become a proper striker once again. Instead of working too hard for goals, as was evident against Peterborough, it all naturally flowed back. In the right place, at the right time as he directed a Chris Cohen header into the corner of the net.

At Peterborough, Sharp’s name was chanted in a manner aimed to back Sharp, but supporters still found themselves silently looking to the skies in the hope he wouldn’t follow the typical trend of brilliant strikers, that lose all of their natural, potent abilities at Forest.

At Blackpool, the convincing nature of the Billy Sharp chants increased. The realisation vibes oozed through the 1,500 Forest fans in attendance, seeping down to those listening on the radio. Everyone now knows Sharp has re-found his touch, ready to go on a goalscoring run that will alarm the rest of the Championship.

As Southampton struggle in an inevitable Premier League relegation battle this season, the bizarre move to loan out Billy Sharp may be looked at by their own, as a regrettable decision indeed. Whether the damage done is unrecoverable, is a question that will cross the mind of many at the St Mary’s over the course of the season.

As Southampton continue to ponder that thought, Billy Sharp is revelling in the love and appreciation from all of the Forest fans. The more goals he scores, the stronger the bond grows – hopefully coinciding with a rise up the league.

One man and his wallet have the perfect view of the growing relationship between the Forest supporters and Sharp. One thing’s for sure, Fawaz Al-Hasawi will not hesitate to offer Billy Sharp a permanent stay.

The best striker in the Championship?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Simon Cox and Dexter Blackstock would have something to say about that.

Not bad times at Nottingham Forest, it must be said.

@will_forest to get in touch via Twitter

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]