SIX transfer mistakes by Sam Allardyce at West Ham

As another transfer window is about to slam shut, we can look at our new acquisitions with a sense of satisfaction.

Although it’s still early days and we haven’t seen them play too much football in anger, Sam can be reasonably pleased with his Summers work.

Cheikhou Kouyate is receiving rave reviews for his performances so far and is fast proving to be a fan favourite, as is Mauro Zarate after his spectacular goal against Crystal Palace last week.

Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Carl Jenkinson have all been used sparingly so far, while Diego Poyet looks a top talent for the future and Aaron Cresswell looks to be settling in nicely.

All-in-all a good bunch of signings by Big Sam, but he hasn’t always been so lucky in the transfer market as these six transfer mistakes prove…

Click on Big Sam to reveal

Alou Diarra

Signed from Olympique Marseille at the start of the 2012/2013 season, big things were expected from him. Twice a league winner in France and a regular for his national team, he came with bagfuls of experience and talent.

However he couldn’t settle from day one and after making just six appearances for the club, he has now left the club, and I doubt he’ll be missed by many.

Modibo Maiga

Signed from French outfit Sochaux at the start of the 2012/2013 season for a fee of around £6million, Modibo looked to be a decent signing. Twenty four goals in two seasons at Sochaux was enough to convince Big Sam to splash the cash on the Mali front man.

However, after 31 games for the Hammers and a return of just three goals saw him loaned out to QPR in the hope of him regaining some confidence and coming back a better player.

That didn’t happen and he has since been loaned out again to French side Metz for the 2014/2015 season.

John Carew

Signed at the start of the 2011/2012 season in the Championship on a free transfer, he looked to be more than capable of performing in the Championship, taking into account he has played at the highest level in the Premier league, the French League, the Spanish league and in his native Norway.

But a return of just two goals from 19 games was just not enough to earn him a new contract and he now finds himself without a club at the age of 34.

David Bentley

Signed in August 2011 on a season long loan, he was seen as an exciting young midfielder with a good passing game and very handy at set piece plays.

He managed just five appearances without scoring before a knee injury ruled him out for six months and he returned to Tottenham.

After brief spells in Russia and back at Blackburn Rovers, he retired from the game at the age 30, stating that he had fallen out of love with the game.

Matty Taylor

One of many of Big Sam’s exBolton favourites who was signed in 2011 for a fee of £2.5million. Often played at left back which is not his favoured position and lacked any pace that he may have had in his time at Bolton and Portsmouth.

More of a return was expected from his meager two goals from 79 games. Often found himself as the vocal point of the watching crowds frustration. Now finds himself at Burnley after leaving on a free transfer.

Joe Cole

Joe Cole was a fantastic young talent during his first stint at West Ham. But taking him back after his time at Chelsea felt a bit like dating an ex-girlfriend again after you have caught her cheating. It wasn’t going to be the same second time around.

His heart didn’t seem to be in it after winning three Premier league titles and three FA Cups during his time at Chelsea. He suffered rotten luck with injuries during his second spell with the Hammers, and when he did play, he was often out of breath early in the game and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game.

Just five goals from 31 games saw him leave for Aston Villa on a free transfer.