GN Soccer Magazine September 2014 Edition | Page 8

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10) Mauro Zarate (West Ham)
Apart from the stranger-than-strange £12million
spent on Enner Valencia (and that is more for
gallows humour purposes), the striker situation
at West Ham promises to be rather uninteresting
indeed. An injured Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole,
Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te make for 26
Premier League goals in 158 games over the last
two seasons, and the possible arrival of Connor
Wickham doesn't do much to ignite a tingling in
10) Mauro Zarate (West Ham)
the loins. We want excitement, dammit.,
The presence of Mauro Zarate, therefore, makes for much more fascination. Banned for two games at Lazio for insulting a referee (severely), he
then followed that up by making a fascist salute. Zarate also left Rome for
treatment on a skin condition but was then seen holidaying in the Maldives, and was regularly forced to train with the reserves or youth team for
being disruptive. All within the last 18 months.

9) Bojan Krkic
Given his pedigree, we're not claiming to
be unearthing a 'hidden gem' in double
Champions League winner Bojan, but
there is certainly a sense of intrigue regarding the Spaniard's arrival in the Potteries. There is little doubt that the move
constitutes a fall from grace for Bojan,
last season and just five for Milan the campaign before. However, with an
impressive pre-season and under the stewardship of a seemingly more
settled Mark Hughes, this seems very much like a free roll of the dice from
all parties. Just don't score in any midweek home games between October
and March - not sure we could take the weak gags.

8) Muhamed Besic (Everton)
"I knew several months ago that
(Muhamed) Besic would be in the squad,
because he is the only player here who
can handle the job of man-marking
Lionel Messi" - Safet Susic, Bosnia &
Herzegovina coach. Despite the added
pressure, there is little doubt that Besic
thoroughly impressed during this