What price a contract.

"That was for the gaffer"

thus spoke the West Ham Captain Nigel Reo-Coker.

Now given that Alan Pardew was under a pressure isn't it nice to see the players rallying round? Oh uh Pardew was sacked you say?

As an ex-collleague of mine said "Reo-Coker says his goal was an answer to his critics... others would say it confirmed the criticism was correct, he should have been putting the effort in for the last 17 games. "

Of course Reo-Coker's nose was put out of joint by suggestions that Arsenal wanted him and that West Ham didn't sell. Apparently he was put out that he wasn't told. Uh why should he? He has a contract and therefore West Ham are under NO obligation to sell him. Someone can offer a £100 million and they have the right to turn it down. Sorry Nigel you signed a contract.

Of course professional footballers believe contracts are a one way thing these days. Mr A Cole are you there?

If I was a cynical old soul I'd wonder if Reo-Cokers sudden effort had something to do with the January transfer deadline.

Surely not.