Ivan Toney
By Hughie Southon
The major issue facing the depleted Hammers defence will be in handling the exciting but highly dangerous Brentford striker Ivan Toney tomorrow night (Fri).
He has already scored 12 goals this season including two in the 2-1 away victory at Manchester City.
Not is quite so widely known perhaps that Peterborough United’s director of football Barry Fry offered the 26 year old to the Hammers before he left the club for Brentford.
Moyes has admitted that he had the striker scouted and that we probably missed out on a player whom has become a handful for every club against whom he has played.
And Fry confirmed to Claret and Hugh that was the case saying that the Posh offered the player to the Hammers at that price but that the offer was rejected before he went to the Bees.
The former Sullivan/Gold employee from Birmingham City days said: “We went to the Hammers first because we reman friends with the Davids and the price was £10 million but it was turned down.”
Friday’s game will be just the third Premier League fixture between the two clubs, with Brentford having won home and away against the Hammers in their debut Premier League campaign last term.
Knowing what we do now, I have doubts that DM could have brought him through like they did at Brentford. He would have been in and out and mucked about by DM.
If Toney is found guilty of betting offences then a ban of a year to 18 months is likely based on previous cases. Best avoided!