Yassin - is it just me? Reading Pards' comments this morning and certainly from reading in-between the lines, it looks to me as if Martin Cranie will take Moots place at right-back on Saturday. That is a shame because I love the young Frenchman. I know he is liable to make the odd mistake, but his presence down the right flank gives the team so much more pace and offensive threat. His link up play with Sam in the Reading game was one of many highlights and they just couldn't cope with the pairs movement and in sync overlapping. I hope Pardew hasn't tinkered again to the detriment of the team's ability to create goalscoring chances.

Linvoy Primus' loan arrangement has finally been sealed I see, although I hear he looks very ring rusty in the couple of reserve outings he has played in. As I said before how long do we pay him and bring him upto sfull fitness before he is any good to us? Hopefully before the middle of December!

I see that West Ham's sponsor XL has gone belly up. XL Leisure follow Zoom Airlines, who went into bankruptcy just last month and Spanish operator Seguro Travel which collapsed a few days ago. Still owed £5m, the Hammers' case is all too similiar to our previous leisure partner seeking brand awareness. Frankly there was never any brand. No doubt Thomas Cook will be next, but that is sure not to bother Man City's new owners.

It's been quite a week for West Ham chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, whose Icelandic bank who backed XL with a large loan as they tried to shore of their leaky reserves. Spare a thought though for all those happy Hammers' who bought XL (they all fit perfectly I am told) sponsored shirts within the last few weeks.

Finding a new sponsor willing to pay in the region of £5m to £10m maybe difficult as West Brom have found out. Tomorrow Albion play West Ham at the Hawthorns. When was the last time a game took place with teams wearing no shirt sponsorship?  ¶ 08:08