Tony Gale insists that Don Hutchison is a superb investment - and
says his age doesn't matter.
Giving his reaction to the record £5m acquisition of Hutch, Tony says:
"I think it is a good signing even at 30 years of age because he is a player, like Teddy Sheringham, that has not relied on pace in his career.
"It may seem a lot of money but it is worth it, and he will play on to the age of 34.
"If you want a plyaer that badly you have got to pay the asking price - and it is better when you do sign the English based players."
Tony thinks Don will be all the more mature following his first stint at Upton Park and adds:
"It was the making of Don after not really cracking it at Liverpool, because everybody came to realise what a good player he is.
"I think he got a bit involved with the high life off the pitch but I am sure he is a lot better player now and will be able to handle things.
"He lost his way a bit off the pitch and I think he will be the first to admit that.
"He has come on in bundles under Peter Reid and has played up front, in the hole, on the right, and is capable of making and scoring goals - just what we need.
"He will be making runs into the box as well; on Saturday Paolo never really looked like scoring, he is not the 'fox in the box', but I think Don will get into double figures as that third man in the penalty area."
But Tony says He will face stiff competition from John Moncur for a midfield berth, adding:
"I thought Moncs had a great game against Leeds but I'm sure if he is displaced he will knuckle down.
"The older players in the squad set a great example - John, Paolo, and Nigel.
"He proved by playing against Batty, Dacourt, Bowyer, and Bakke that he can live with the best, and that tells me he will still get a lot of games this season.
"He is West Ham through and through - if anyone has the old claret and blue veins running through him it is John - though he occasionally pays for it with nutty behaviour on the pitch."
Now the search continues for a centre half, and Tony adds:
"We are looking to strengthen in that position though Steve Potts, Ian Pearce, and Hayden Foxe are three very good players not playing."
Ian, of course, is still out injured, though Hayden should be back soon.
"Ian suffers because of his size, strength, and athleticism," says Tony.
"It is very bad luck but some players who get injuries when they are younger pick up compensation injuries as they go on."
Meanwhile, messrs. Song and Dailly hold the fort at the back, and Tony says:
"Rigobert and Christian started a little bit loosely on Saturday but as the game wore on they got better."
On the international front Tony says he is not happy with the decision to omit Trevor Sinclair from the England squad preparing to face Germany and Albania.
"It is a scandal that Trevor didn't get into the England squad, no disrespect to Danny Murphy who got in ahead of him," he says.
"Ask any full back or centre back who they would rather play against and I think it would be Danny any day.
"Trevor was brilliant on Saturday."
Giving his reaction to the record £5m acquisition of Hutch, Tony says:
"I think it is a good signing even at 30 years of age because he is a player, like Teddy Sheringham, that has not relied on pace in his career.
"It may seem a lot of money but it is worth it, and he will play on to the age of 34.
"If you want a plyaer that badly you have got to pay the asking price - and it is better when you do sign the English based players."
Tony thinks Don will be all the more mature following his first stint at Upton Park and adds:
"It was the making of Don after not really cracking it at Liverpool, because everybody came to realise what a good player he is.
"I think he got a bit involved with the high life off the pitch but I am sure he is a lot better player now and will be able to handle things.
"He lost his way a bit off the pitch and I think he will be the first to admit that.
"He has come on in bundles under Peter Reid and has played up front, in the hole, on the right, and is capable of making and scoring goals - just what we need.
"He will be making runs into the box as well; on Saturday Paolo never really looked like scoring, he is not the 'fox in the box', but I think Don will get into double figures as that third man in the penalty area."
But Tony says He will face stiff competition from John Moncur for a midfield berth, adding:
"I thought Moncs had a great game against Leeds but I'm sure if he is displaced he will knuckle down.
"The older players in the squad set a great example - John, Paolo, and Nigel.
"He proved by playing against Batty, Dacourt, Bowyer, and Bakke that he can live with the best, and that tells me he will still get a lot of games this season.
"He is West Ham through and through - if anyone has the old claret and blue veins running through him it is John - though he occasionally pays for it with nutty behaviour on the pitch."
Now the search continues for a centre half, and Tony adds:
"We are looking to strengthen in that position though Steve Potts, Ian Pearce, and Hayden Foxe are three very good players not playing."
Ian, of course, is still out injured, though Hayden should be back soon.
"Ian suffers because of his size, strength, and athleticism," says Tony.
"It is very bad luck but some players who get injuries when they are younger pick up compensation injuries as they go on."
Meanwhile, messrs. Song and Dailly hold the fort at the back, and Tony says:
"Rigobert and Christian started a little bit loosely on Saturday but as the game wore on they got better."
On the international front Tony says he is not happy with the decision to omit Trevor Sinclair from the England squad preparing to face Germany and Albania.
"It is a scandal that Trevor didn't get into the England squad, no disrespect to Danny Murphy who got in ahead of him," he says.
"Ask any full back or centre back who they would rather play against and I think it would be Danny any day.
"Trevor was brilliant on Saturday."