Whining Willy to West Ham?

After some early pre-season transfer activity, things have gone a bit quiet, so Wanderers fans were grateful for the amusement provided over the weekend by stories linking former player Christian Wilhelmsson to West Ham United. The Swedish winger (or maybe that should be whinger) blamed his dismal showing at Bolton on the team`s style of play.

‘At Bolton we played a style of football that was too heavily based on physical strength, that was not right for me,’ he moaned. ‘Then when the new manager, Gary Megson, came in and got us using the long-ball game even more, I knew it was time for me to leave.’

While no one can deny that Bolton were grisly to watch last season, Wilhelmsson conveniently forgets to mention his inability to cross, pass, shoot, go past players, use his left foot or stand up, when facing anything more than a stiff breeze. Never has a player spent so much of his time horizontal.

Willy has now had a hat-trick of failed loan spells. One can only have sympathy for the chairman of FC Nantes. He must feel like the father of a much divorced bride, who repeatedly gives his daughter away, only to find her camped on the doorstep, complete with suitcases, a few weeks later.

West Ham have signed some dross of late (John Paintsil, Luis Boa Morte anyone?) but it is unlikely that they will take a risk on a player who can neither compete in the English game or stay fit for an extended period of time. It`ll be good if it happens, but only for fans of other Premier League clubs.