Summer transfer window 2021.

[John]

Another striker who joined West Ham in January, Benni McCarthy, and another who appears to have weight issues

McCarthy was being paid £45,000 a week at Ewood Park, their highest-earner, and is on comparable wages now, including a payment of £250,000 for his image rights.

[BigUts]

It's proved to be a great move for the fat git!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

After reading that article it just confirms that the deal was good for both Blackburn and Benni McCarthy. Unfortunately it looks like West Ham are the losers out of the 3 parties.

[thenodrog]

Another striker who joined West Ham in January, Benni McCarthy, and another who appears to have weight issues

McCarthy was being paid £45,000 a week at Ewood Park, their highest-earner, and is on comparable wages now, including a payment of £250,000 for his image rights.

benni's been a lovely player in the past but he's lost any motivation he ever had imo.

btw... Speaking of image rights...... Does anybody rem that bloke in 'Live and let die'? In the shark tank James Bond shoved some Q originated device down his throat and it filled him with gas until he floated up and burst.

[John]

West Ham are ready to take severe sanctions against fat boy Benni McCarthy.

Benni McCarthy facing hefty West Ham fine if he fails to lose weight

Edited May 16, 2010 by John

[LeChuck]

I can't believe we managed to shift that fat @#/? for £2.5 million!

What's even more baffling is that some people doubted it was the right thing to do.

[47er]

Yep, apparently Sam was out of his senses for letting him go! Absolute miracle to get 2M for that fat, lazy loafer.No wonder he was on the verge of coming to the Premier League for years but no-one would take the risk.

8 - Benni McCarthy

Here's a choice between two possible scenarios. Scenario A: You wander through the remainder of a season on the fringes of a team managed by a blustering hoofball merchant. You are kept out of the team most weeks by Franco Di Santo (17 appearances, one goal) or Nikola Kalinic (15 appearances, one goal).

Scenario B: You earn about twice as much money at a club who, while involved in relegation set-to, arguably have better long-term prospects, and are managed by one of the most likeable men to walk the streets of London, and who recognises that a ball is round so it can be passed along the floor.

Tough call.

See what I mean!

[thenodrog]

The suprising thing to me is that he will be letting his country down in the World Cup. I thought when he was here that that might be enough to motivate him to get fit. Obviously it isn't.

[Plastic Head]

West Ham are ready to take severe sanctions against fat boy Benni McCarthy.

Benni McCarthy facing hefty West Ham fine if he fails to lose weight

It must be all the jellied eels and pie and mash.

[grizfoot]

I can't believe we managed to shift that fat @#/? for £2.5 million!

What's even more baffling is that some people doubted it was the right thing to do.

It's okay saying that in hindsight but our goal threat in open play has been significantley reduced since McCarthy left. Yes it probably was the right move but it was still a bit of a risk in my opinion. It's mainly due to our improving defense we've racked up so many points this season, we definintley need a striker or two this summer to replace the gap left by McCarthy.

I remember home games this season against Fulham and Portmsouth (second half) were he was brilliant and our best player by a distance. He also played a key role in keeping us up the previous season. He does seem to keep picking up injuries in recent times and that's why he hasn't really had the chance to shine at West Ham.

[Amo]

What's even more baffling is that some people doubted it was the right thing to do.

I admit I had my doubts about selling McCarthy, because fitness aside he was still the best goalscorer at the club and without a replacement we were left thin on the ground. As it stood, his departure coincided with an upturn in form despite our misfiring strikers.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Topman

[Billy Castell]

It turned out to be a great movem I thought we may miss that bit of skill he has, but we didn't, and what use is skill with no application to utilise it? And thank god we didn't sign Benjiani in the window to use up wages.

The dildo twins will no doubt start releasing statements against him soon.

[The Rover of Finland]

West Ham has same troubles with Benni than Rovers had. Never been in East London but there must be several fast food places. They actually paid 2M plus something for over weight striker. Didn´t they learn anything of Nigel Quashie deal? Both were panic buys.

[RoyRover]

I admit I had my doubts about selling McCarthy, because fitness aside he was still the best goalscorer at the club and without a replacement we were left thin on the ground. As it stood, his departure coincided with an upturn in form despite our misfiring strikers.

I echo that. I was convinced that we would need him to stay up. I'm glad that we did get rid of him. Goes to show that the guy is to blame for the shape he is in and not anything the club were doing.

[braddock]

I echo that. I was convinced that we would need him to stay up. I'm glad that we did get rid of him. Goes to show that the guy is to blame for the shape he is in and not anything the club were doing.

well obviously. do you honestly believe the rovers fitness team didn't know that big macs make benni mac big? the shape he is in is down to himself and himself alone.

[FourLaneBlue]

I admit I had my doubts about selling McCarthy, because fitness aside he was still the best goalscorer at the club and without a replacement we were left thin on the ground. As it stood, his departure coincided with an upturn in form despite our misfiring strikers.

Did it really "coincide" or did Benni's departure help the club and the team spirit?

There have been rumours about his negative influence on squads both before and after his time at Rovers. It also means Jason Roberts has nobody to moan to and his application seemed to improve. Even if still didn't score much he seemed to complain less and frown less when left on the bench.

[patrickvalery]

Not a fan of Sullivan but this did amuse me;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1282288/West-Ham-United-Arsenal-East-London-pledges-David-Sullivan.html

‘I believe Mr Zola had every entitlement to remain manager for the season. He wanted me to buy Benni McCarthy, I bought Benni McCarthy. That was the one player he wanted to sign and I signed him.

‘Benni McCarthy’s body-fat measurement is 24.2 per cent. Mine is 25.4 per cent. Benni McCarthy is nearly as fat as me. I try to do aerobics in the morning but I’m 61 years old.

‘He’s the one West Ham player I want to go to the World Cup because he might come back fitter.

‘Franck Queudrue once came back to Birmingham at 18 per cent but I’ve never known any footballer over 20 per cent. He got so out of shape. He came to us overweight and got injured and gradually it got worse.

‘I don’t know at what point this becomes a breach of contract. It probably doesn’t. But Frankie Dettori starves himself to get to the right weight. Usain Bolt wouldn’t be the Olympic 100metre champion if he put on a stone.

‘It is not unreasonable to keep to a diet when you’re a professional sportsman. It ought to be a breach of contract.

[CrazyIvan]

I don't like the porn kings, never have, but I don't think Sullivan is wrong. I can't work out how Benni thinks having a quarter of his body weight in fat is ok and not detrimental to his performance. I'd be busting a gut to be fully fit to play Sunday League!

[BuckyRover]

I don't believe it was Zola who signed him though.

I think this is why Sullivan is being so outspoken, he can't believe that he actually signed him!

[Inta Beaver]

Not a fan of Sullivan but this did amuse me;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1282288/West-Ham-United-Arsenal-East-London-pledges-David-Sullivan.html

‘I believe Mr Zola had every entitlement to remain manager for the season. He wanted me to buy Benni McCarthy, I bought Benni McCarthy. That was the one player he wanted to sign and I signed him.

‘Benni McCarthy’s body-fat measurement is 24.2 per cent. Mine is 25.4 per cent. Benni McCarthy is nearly as fat as me. I try to do aerobics in the morning but I’m 61 years old.

‘He’s the one West Ham player I want to go to the World Cup because he might come back fitter.

‘Franck Queudrue once came back to Birmingham at 18 per cent but I’ve never known any footballer over 20 per cent. He got so out of shape. He came to us overweight and got injured and gradually it got worse.

‘I don’t know at what point this becomes a breach of contract. It probably doesn’t. But Frankie Dettori starves himself to get to the right weight. Usain Bolt wouldn’t be the Olympic 100metre champion if he put on a stone.

‘It is not unreasonable to keep to a diet when you’re a professional sportsman. It ought to be a breach of contract.

In the real world if your boss said that about you it would be classed as bullying, it is hardly the way to get a positive reaction from someone like Benni, he will come back from the world cup looking like the Nutty professor now! These porn kings are clueless.

[patrickvalery]

I don't like the porn kings, never have, but I don't think Sullivan is wrong. I can't work out how Benni thinks having a quarter of his body weight in fat is ok and not detrimental to his performance. I'd be busting a gut to be fully fit to play Sunday League!

Couldn't agree more Ivan

The amazing thing is that a 'normal healthy man' should have approx 20% body fat ratio. A boxer who has trained for a fight has approx 8%. Now you'd expect a professional footballer to be somewhere between the two i'd imagine. Probably closer to the 8%.

I'll give you a little insight. When Ricky Gervais fought Grant Bovey in that charity fight a few years ago he was at just over 25% body fat. OK he was probably 8-10 years older than McCarthy. But there is no excuse for him to have got into this state. To think this man thought he deserved a starting place in our first team.

[Majiball]

I don't believe it was Zola who signed him though.

I think this is why Sullivan is being so outspoken, he can't believe that he actually signed him!

I wonder if Sullivan thought he was getting some revenge ala Savage. Benni did pretty much refuse to play for us again.

Benni should get a stomach ring, 25% body fat . Did he not have a similiar amount one summer when reporting back to pre-season training with us?

[tcj_jones]

Sullivan's comments are typical of his hugely unprofessional manner. It is disgusting that Benni is in the shape that he is, but you don't talk about such issues in the press. He always talks in a derogatory manner about his own players and staff and it's not the right way to go about things. Remember when he slammed Frank Querdrue in the press whilst at Birmingham, claiming him to be a complete waste of money? I'd hate to play for that ######.

Still, £2.5m has to be one of the best deals ever. I remember a lot on here criticising Sam for leaving him out of the side, but maybe we now know for sure what the reason behind this decision was.

[Hughesy]

At that % of fat - Benni deserves all the critiscm he gets.

[John]

I was slightly concerned when Benni left, as despite his weight problems, he was the best proven finisher at the club (also the fact we were flirting with relegation at the time).

However, looks like things have worked out well and we have not suffered in the slightest (plus receiving some money in the process).

I can completely understand Sam's stance now and also think he conducted himself well when Benni went on strike.

Edited May 29, 2010 by John