https://www.whufc.com/news/how-and-why-i-joined-west-ham-united-ricardo-vaz-te Interesting snippets in the first half of this article. He doesn’t seem far off the mark; wasn’t he massively unfit when we brought him in, then unstoppable in November and December to seal a big move in January?! It was this transfer that cemented in my head, that if ever any of our signings turned out to be fantastic, for even a couple of months, they’d be off in the next window more or less!
Was a complete punt that paid off. More luck than judgment though I suspect. Unfortunately, for every Vaz Te, there’s probably 10 Scott Wisemans.
Fascinating to read that the tapping up process started on the pitch with Kevin Nolan asking him about his contract!
Will never forget his 7 seconds thunderbastard at home to Crystal Palace and his hattrick against Leeds when he came on for the stricken Butterfield.
We went up to Hartlepool for a friendly and Vaz Te was just about to sign. As we arrived early, he was practising on his own taking free kicks at the goal and our few supporters were getting peppered with not many being on target. Anyway it all turned out for the better eventually. Anyone else remember the day ?
We had our pants pulled down by Allardyce. Vaz Te at that time was easily the best striker in the championship. Don't think we even had any add ons for West Ham getting promoted..
No one would touch him with a barge pole at the time we signed him. Credit to Keith Hill for turning it around for him, 20 million pound goal he scored for West Ham to take them up in the play offs. Probable more than that cos I don't think they have been relegated since.
I remember him doing kick ups on his own, just in front of the goal at Hartlepool. All of the players were called in just before kick off (I can't remember whether it was the first or second half), and he did a nonchalant little flick, aiming for the far corner of the goal, and missed by about 10 yards. Everyone behind the goal gave a little sneer, as if to say 'who the f#ck is this guy'. 5 months later, I was having his name printed on my shirt. 5 days later, he signed for West Ham.
There was a release clause of £500k in his contract from memory, which he insisted on having put in, in case it didn't work out for him at Oakwell. He probably wouldn't have signed otherwise.
I remember watching him in preseason when he was on trial I forget who against but it was at home. He scored a free kick daisy cutter. After ten mins me and my dad looked at each other and said we should sign him
Are you sure thats right,? His career was hanging in the balance when we gave him a trial. Seems strange that a triallist would.insist on a release clause. I'm probably wrong but I thought it was the fact that his contract was up at the end of the season so we sold hom as soon as a bid came in.
I just remember it being said at the time that they'd activated a release clause, and the rumoured figure was £500k. It does seem strange, I agree, but that's what I recall from the time. Though looking at articles from the time, there's no mention of a clause.
A release clause is how I remember it. The Don liked a release clause. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Sam Allerdice said it was the best 500k he'd ever spent
Did he do well at West Ham, because after he'd gone I wasn't interested in his career anymore. And as much as I/we criticise mad Keef, you could say that he also had the managers rug pulled from under him that January.
Yes he did. If you read the article linked earlier, he was instrumental in the goals he scored getting them both into the playoffs, and promoted
I really disliked the bloke ,however he did have us in a top 8 position before ,as you said ,they pulled the rug away.
