By Niall McDonald
Well I didn’t see this one coming!
As the January window petered out who could have predicted that a week later we’d be signing an absolutely top notch player, a proven winner with years of experience at the highest level and a list of honours as long as the walk from Westfield to the Olympic Stadium. And better still for free!!!
Of course there’s a downside and as news broke this afternoon I quickly found myself wondering how many years it is since Evra was at his undoubted peak. In the office we could only agree its been a while.
So how will Moyes use him? Is he short-term cover for an absent Masuaku? Is he here as he brings more energy (at 36) than Cresswell possesses?? Will we see him take his place in a back-four for the ages alongside Fonte, Collins and Zabaleta???
However he fits into the side, signing the exact sort of player that we were supposed to not be after, the week after the window shut in out faces, is so off the wall many will hold this up as more evidence of the club’s shambolic operations. I’m not sure if this is peak-Sullivan or rock bottom.
And then there’s the media launch… Consider the ‘Welcome Patrice’ videos on the club website and FB page.
Not for Evra the classic ‘London Stadium at night’ film with sweeping slo-mo shots of him gazing up at the largest cantilevered roof in the Premier League, if not the world.
Instead the great man is featured roughing it at Rush Green, shown blowing bubbles, and grinning wildly as he gives a ‘double-finger pistols’ gesture which may be a tribute to the Fonz and I’d love to see become a goal celebration as well.
Then we see he’s been bestowed the Number 27 shirt, perhaps as a tribute to his countryman Le Snake, or just a reminder of happier times, or perhaps, and it can’t be ruled out, with absolutely no irony whatsoever.
Signing off with his catchphrase of “I love this game”, Patrice breaks into gleeful laughter – have a look and decide if he’s laughing with us, or at us. Jury’s out for me tonight.
Either way, he seems keen – Let’s see how much you love the game at ten to five on Saturday afternoon…
Bon chance Monsieur Evra!!!!
Wonder how you may have felt if Ibrahimovic walked into West Ham?
Patrice Evra is an eccentric clown, full stop.
Yes, he is 36, but Stanley Matthews played some of his best football after turning 40..
Let’s give him a few games, and then review what has been said..
Hopefully, we may be pleasantly surprised?
A few years ago, there was a 33 year old Brazilian winger, Nene, training and playing a bit with West Ham. sadly, no one took him seriously and he ended up going back to Rio without getting a fair go.
He joined Vasco de Gama, and hit 9 goals in 11 games, plus a ton of assists. Lessons to be learned perhaps!
I would be delighted if Evra, Mario and Hugill prove to be a fantastic signings. However, Evra (36) and hasn’t played since November joins an aging squad e.g. Collins 34, Fonte 34, Zabaleta 33, Noble 30.
World class players moving us to the next level? Mark Noble stated in one of the final interviews on the pitch at Upton Park ‘this club is no longer run like a circus, it’s run like a proper football club’ and ‘the board has put their money where their mouth is.’ I’m struggling to relate to these comments.
We were associated with around 30 players in this transfer window which may have been the press printing stories for the sake of it but there must have been some truth in some of this surely. Were we offering to keep little money, was it players didn’t want to come to us to be in a relegation battle.
We can only begin to imagine which players we’ll be associated with in the summer window prior to the season ticket announcements. Let’s hope we’re still in the Premiership.
Yes nial it was a shambolic window and without a doubt a panic freebie ! Good or not is to be seen lol! But surely its a body the club need for numbers and despite his age seems one of those players like bonzo that keep going ! Again we will see ! Its another window failure as bentdoctor and and a couple more would undoubtedly be here if not for the sully barter system that seems to fail at every hurdle except when they are free or cheap ?
Evra is here so we as supporters will give him every encouragement and support ! If he fails to live up to expectation then the board are going to come under fire and rightly so ! Any way you look at this signing its a free signing of a 36 year old player ! It is what it is !
Good luck to him and the dressing room ? 😉
At least the supporters in the front rows will be safe and not require a helmet. By the time Evra got from the pitch to the seats, he’d probably not have the strength to kick anything.
Evra enjoys a laugh & played w Payet. So I think he is doing part has laugh & maybe to say he will have that impact too.
Ha said before most negativey is that we had 31 days to get a CDM & didn’t get one. While other clubs did some great business like Watford 2 loan to buys been great for us a pacey winger striker & Ndong a CDM who can be bought at cut rate & both young 23.
I think Evra is still a good player & think will do well probably help out with some crossing & passing. Prob see Cresswell back in back 3 my worry is what does that do to Rice will hebllay CDM were we need Mobility badly.
Or will he just be benched.
Still think we should go for one more free William Vainqeuer CDM 29 let go by same club as Nasei & Others bc couldn’t pay wages. Has experience in Serie A Russian PL Olympikias. Etc. Has some pace mobility tidy passer & strong be worth a ho especially if short deal see how he does. Will want to prove himself especially in PL & could work out very well bc doesn’t seem going for Song looks set for Serie A & he doesn’t have PL experience which know Moyes wants but want last long on free agent list & worth a punt.