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.

Hammers sign Diamanti

West Ham have eased their striking problems with the signing of Livorno forward Alessandro Diamanti. The 26-year-old, who joins the Upton Park club for an undisclosed fee, has signed a five-year contract with the Hammers...

Mattia Fontana of Eurosport's Italian website gives us the lowdown on the new Hammer:

Diamanti is an incredibly talented forward, a 'number ten' if you like.

He is perfect in a 4-3-3 formation so Gianfranco Zola could play Luis Jimenez and Diamanti behind Carlton Cole.

He is fast, his ball-control is simply amazing and his shot, always with his left foot, is powerful. He loves to shoot from distance and is also a free-kick specialist.

The big question, for me, is about his character. Diamanti is a bit 'crazy', similar to Paolo Di Canio if I was to draw a comparison.

You had me at "free-kick specialist".

Early Doors

Your first look at the rumour, innuendo, injuries and team news ahead of tomorrow's pre-match press conferences.

Zola closes on Chamakh

Meanwhile, left-back Herita Ilunga's facial injury means he is rated as doubtful to face Tottenham on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League clash at Upton Park. Jonathan Spector is a likely replacement but Fabio Daprela, the Switzerland Under-19 international, impressed in a behind-closed-doors practice match against Watford.

It will be great to have another budget striker in the game, and certainly the buzz has been good on Chamakh since Wenger was sniffing around him. But in the immediate term, Spector becomes an option in defence.

Santa Cruz on course for derby date

Roque Santa Cruz is in line to make his debut in next month's Manchester derby... And, while Hughes is reluctant to put a timescale on the 27-year-old's availability, the September 20 showdown with Sir Alex Ferguson's men at Old Trafford is a possibility. "We are talking about two or three weeks," Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk.

Fulham sign Greening on loan from West Brom
Fulham complete Duff signing
I don't see much fantasy value in these signings... at least not with Murphy, Dempsey and Gera fit and Davies on the mend. But I do think these are great real world signings for Fulham and will allow them to reasonably compete in multiple competitions without stretching themselves too thin. Kudos to Hodgson and co.

Johnson out for up to eight weeks

Furious Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has blasted the challenge that has left Andy Johnson out for up to eight weeks with a dislocated collarbone.

Hodgson was livid after Amkar Perm defender Dmitry Belorukov executed a cynical body-check that left Johnson sprawled on the pitch in the second half of Thursday's 3-1 Europa League play-off victory.

"It was a good win against a difficult team but the game has been marred by the unbelievably blatant challenge on Andy Johnson," said Hodgson.

"It has dislocated his collarbone and put him out for a long time.

More Fulham news, and this no good. But there may be a silver lining for fantasy managers in the form of 4.99 Erik Nevland. He looked capable when called upon last season. However, Fulham have a bit of a rough run over the next few weeks - Chelsea, @Amkar (Russia), @Villa, Everton, @Wolves, Arsenal. Nevland will be interesting for consideration but certainly isn't an automatic selection.

Hot Rod shines as Everton stroll

Rookie midfielder Jack Rodwell became Everton's youngest goalscorer in European competition with two spectacular long-range goals in their emphatic Europa League play-off first-leg victory over Sigma Olomouc at Goodison Park.

Louis Saha also weighed in with a brace, as manager David Moyes got the response he was looking for after the 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal last Sunday.

I've certainly been hyping Everton and now Rodwell has entered the picture as a budget midfielder. I would think there are better options in the side, but at 4 cheaper than Fellaini, or 7 cheaper than Baines he might be worth consideration as a midfield enabler.