Winston Reid (Unattached FC)

The real issue though is how this all screws up people playing fantasy football who don't get a chance to manage their team over the silly season. They are the real victims in all of this.

A good finish to the season. I guess not losing Reid would help, but that looks like it probably will happen. Also not losing the fluid and creative style you've been developing this year, while continuing to be strong on the ball. I guess I wouldn't mind seeing Downing whip the heck out of the Spanish creative mids too. Finishing ahead of Arsenal and Everton. Making half a step towards being an established top table club, a threat to the clubs who are buying the league. 

Eh, I guess I used to follow Blackburn when Nelsen was there, and Man U from Brian Robson on until Rooney and Ronaldo(brats), but I've never really been a real fan of any EPL team. 

This squad has the potential to be something. It's been great to see Swansea, Newcastle and the Hammers to continue to threaten and challenge the supremacy of the petrodollar champs. I'd to see the Hammers be something better than the the latter two. Appreciated Downing's professionalism in NZ- gave us a real show and still is. Yeh. Style, strength. determination and some results could about do it...always liked the theme tune.

Can't fault your rationale; I fear that delivering all of that has the same probability of Santa dropping down our chimney flue.

The West Ham way has always been about playing classy attractive football; we haven't always managed to do that in recent times but the current squad is moving in the right direction and that has enabled a turn-around in fortunes. Top ten would do me.   

What a weird conclusion to jump to just because West Ham won't finish near the top 4.

Fortunes always hiding, hiding everywhere

I'm forever blowing bubbles,

pretty bubbles in the air!

Also, football and Christmas is a time of miracles!

Football's always about heroes and villains, the impossible, the unlikely and what we tell ourselves could happen. 

Actually make that sport in general. I was someone who genuinely believed that Nathan Astle could smack a 200 against England and win that test that day and damn me if it wasn't a whisker away from happening...

Except we weren't close to winning that test. Good knock though from Astle.

another ten overs or so would have done it at that pace. Also Cairns was injured and didn't come out until last man and was left stranded. If he'd come out ahead of Drum, Butler or Vettori....! http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63981....

Was he Mr X back then?

West Ham star dismisses speculation about his future - talkSPORT

Loads of footie coming up on TV One, including the Hammers game:

Chelsea v West Ham:

Live tomorrow morning 1.35 am TV One

Boxing Day Highlights Show:

Sunday 11.35 pm TV One

Spurs v Man Utd:

Live Monday 12.45 am TV One

Premier League Highlights:

Tuesday night 12.30 am 

Thought Winston had a pretty good game against Chelsea.

Some crucial interceptions which at times prevented likely goals.

Kept very busy and won a lot in the air.

Given the run around by Hazard in the second half at times and committed a few fouls but I thought Winston was the Hammers' outstanding defender. He dealt with Diego Costa pretty well.

Problem was West Ham didn't maintain enough possession in midfield and this placed an enormous burden on the defence dealing with constant Chelsea attacks. 

Winston Reid makes costly mistakes in West Ham's 2-1 home loss to Arsenal

.... " Winston Reid's tiresome hoiks upfield " - Daily Telegraph on Hammers v Leicester C

Watch it bro', you're losing your mana.

Sure he made a couple of mistakes but West Ham(at the mo) remind me of us a bit earlier - all those passes back down the pitch are putting them under pressure.Some good play at times still

Still holding out for him to stay and get that regular football at West Ham.

seems like he is off at the end of the season, although the headline of the article is a little bit disingenuous

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/9632944/Reid...

Allardyce said: "He has no future at this club. I've been in the game long enough to know that he's leaving at the end of the season. (It's) highly unlikely that he'll stay."

Headline - Winston Reid: Will leave West Ham in the summer 

Quotes in article - "highly unlikely that he'll stay"

bottom line is that he has obviously stated his intentions privately to Allardyce, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.  The fact that he has not announced he has signed with a club outside England suggests that he is planning on remaining in the Premier League. Will be curious to see where he goes, and what money he gets.

as a free transfer, I imagine he would be pretty confident of getting more than £60k per week. I have no doubt that his agents have sounded out a few clubs and some personal terms have been bandied about.

I can still see him going somewhere before the end of January if a few club's transfer windows don't go to plan. I can see someone like Arsenal or Manchester United* getting to a day or two before the window "slams shut" and still needing a centre back throwing £5m or so which will be decent money for us in the circumstances.

* calm down Leggy - we all know you think that McNair and Blackett are far better players than Reid but a) you don't make the decisions for Manchester United, and b) you are wrong.

Have I ever said they are better than Reid? What I said was although he has done very well, I think we could do a lot better than him.Although LVG would  make him a better player.

SAM ALLARDYCE has elaborated on Winston Reid’s refusal to sign a new Irons contract saying: “He’s been made a million offers going on for over 12 months.”

But the player has been snubbed and the club has now clearly run out of patience with the Kiwi defender.Allardyce said: “It’s difficult to think Winston is going to stay. I think he believes he can do better, that he can find a bigger club and financially benefit more than what we’ve offered.“I find it unlikely it’s not already verbally done. That’s football. But I’ll carry on picking him — why cut your nose off to spite your face?”High-flying Hammers will only listen to big-money offers for Reid in this month’s window andf speak head of tonight’s FA Cup tie at Everton the manager said:  “What is it, £1.8million a league place?“You shouldn’t grasp a fee just because you will lose them for nothing in the summer.”

Sounds like the deals been done. I can't see anyone paying us what he's worth to us to have him stay. The honorable thing he's doing is to see out his contract and for that I thank him. I just wish Fat Sam would shut up sometimes though...no need to snub Zarate and now Reid!

Sounds like Fat Sam is deflecting

Just announced they'll soon be offering supporters the chance to invest in club shareholding (tho not saying what limit is). Plus moving next year to Olympic Stadium. 

So thinking big (ger).

Looks like now that the Arse's interest in him has cooled, plus Winston having rejected a move to Everton, Fat Sam is going to call his bluff and withdraw the contract offer. 

Whoops! Might just have scored an oggie there Winnie.

Source?

Can't remember. Either UK Telegraph or Metro or Goal online. But they quoted FS as I wrote.

always a risk to decline a good offer to stay..

Lol! Crystal Palace or QPR more like.