Green escapes punishment

And then, all at once, profile photos were changed across the world. Photo courtesy of Guardian.co.uk

Robert Green will be contacted by the Football Association following the West Ham United goalkeeper's abusive gesture towards the press box at the close of his team's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

There will be no formal action from the governing body but it will remind him of his responsibilities after he reacted to criticism of his recent performances with an "up yours" gesture to the media as he left the pitch.

Green produced a fine display at Upton Park following a clumsy start to the season that drew speculation that his torrid World Cup – he was at fault for the USA equaliser in England's opening group game – was continuing to trouble him.

After a Frédéric Piquionne goal gave Avram Grant's team a first Premier League win of the season, Green walked off the pitch and offered a provocative motion of his arms to the press box that was his apparent response to the criticism.

Hey, Robert... bold gestures are nice, but it's possibly a little late for them. Why don't you put a string of good matches together and then, and only then, maybe we'll agree to stop talking about this:

Season Preview: West Ham United

Overall Outlook - It's been quite some time since I felt like I had any idea what the people assembling the Hammers roster are thinking.  It seems that every year they go out of their way to overstock one or two positions where they really didn't need any more support in the first place.  This year the overstocking seems to be coming at strikers who aren't target players.  With Franco [ed note. Franco was released at the end of last season], Diamanti, and Sears already on the books to vie for time opposite Carlton Cole they have now added Frederic Piquionne and Miralem Sulejmani and are rumored to be after Yakubu as well.  Hard to know why they'd be doing that when there are other positions that are in need of more help perhaps anywhere and everywhere across the back line which is adequate but hardly rock solid.

Schwarzer to Arsenal

Passing the torch?

Mark to spark keeper merry-go-round

Fulham will reportedly move for West Ham's Robert Green if Mark Schwarzer joins Arsenal, with the Hammers tipped to move for Asmir Begovic.

Schwarzer, 37, is expected to complete a switch across London to The Emirates following the end of Australia's World Cup adventure.

The former Middlesbrough custodian will cost the Gunners around £3.5million, according to the News of the World, and the Cottagers will put that fee towards a deal for England blunder keeper Green.

Have we been asleep at the wheel, distracted by the World Cup, or just don't trust the News of the World?

Other than the speculation above, other reports have David James going to Fulham instead of Green.   I'm a big fan of Begovic's and would love to see him get a starting gig.  Of course I would love to see him move to Arsenal and be their starting keeper for 3, rather than Schwarzer for between 9 and 12.  Or maybe Benaglio or some other keeper from outside the Premier League.  Just for fantasy team cost purposes.

However it shakes out, it's certain to make for a more interesting August with lots of dominoes falling.