From the horse’s mouth, manager Sam Allardyce said in last week’s pre-match press conference for the Sunderland match that ‘if you’re not happy at West Ham at this minute, then there is something wrong with you.’
Whether it’s a player, backroom staff or supporter, putting a glum face on when this is the Hammers’ best ever start to a league season would be stupid.
Especially if you’re lucky enough to play for West Ham at the moment, things couldn’t get any better. Scoring goals here, there and everywhere, notching wins against the likes of current Premier League champions Manchester City and last season’s runners up Liverpool, and currently occupying one of the Champions League spots, being associated with West Ham is very special at the minute.
So can someone try telling this to central defender Winston Reid? The New Zealand captain is out of contract in the summer and looks to be holding out to see which of the bigger clubs would be interested in snapping him up on the cheap. Despite Allardyce saying that he would only consider a £20m offer for Reid, the east Londoners cannot afford to lose their star defender.
Since arriving from Danish outfit FC Midtjylland back in 2010, Reid has grown into an established and accomplished Premier League defender. Everyone must have been wondering who in their right mind would sign this defender after his eventful debut in a 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, where the likes of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor tormented him all afternoon.
Now, no Premier League attacker looks like getting past the Kiwi, and it’s no wonder why so many big clubs are circling like vultures for his signature. Many would say that if a player wants to leave the club, give him his wish and let him go. Also, fellow centre half James Collins and James Tomkins have also been in fine form that has propelled the Upton Park outfit into fourth place. But why would you fix something that isn’t broken?
On the back of this fantastic run of form, Big Sam has said to his players about sustainability, and keeping Reid is essential for the Hammers to sustain the good run of results.
With West Ham splashing the cash in the summer, selling players in order to raise the funds will be a priority in January. Selling the likes of Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Vaz Te and Carlton Cole for minimal fees will boost the wage budget in order to give Winston Reid the improved contract he so thoroughly deserves.
However, how many New Zealand internationals have had the chance to play for the likes of Arsenal or Manchester United?
Could Reid be easily persuaded?
