The Israeli midfielder might be trying a little too hard, revealsBack of the Net'sPaul Watson...
Out-of-favour West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun is determined to win over boss Sam Allardyce but reports suggest that the Israeli's early attempts to impress have caused widespread embarrassment.
Benayoun arrived on loan from Chelsea in the summer for his second spell with the Hammers, but has struggled for first-team football at Upton Park.
Rather than give up, the 32-year-old has resolved to endear himself to Allardyce â but according to a source in the West Ham camp, BenayounâÂÂs methods have been misguided.
âÂÂYossiâÂÂs determined to make Big Sam [Allardyce] notice him, but heâÂÂs not having a lot of success,â FourFourTwoâÂÂs insider explained.
âÂÂLast Thursday he turned up to training in a full tuxedo. He really looked the part but it proved completely impractical once the session got going. The manager didnâÂÂt make any mention of it at all but he did make a kind of âÂÂtutâ noise every time his top hat fell off.
âÂÂIt was the same on Tuesday morning when YossiâÂÂs showed off this trick where he can tell you the phone number of any name in the London phone book. Everyone was really impressed, but when he finally got to [Big Sam] Allardyce, the gaffer explained exactly how the trick is done and told everyone to get on with the warm-up.
âÂÂYossi just looked so downcast after that, especially because he didnâÂÂt know there was a trick and had learned the entire phone book on Monday night.âÂÂ
Despite resorting to more orthodox ways of impressing his manager, Benayoun still seems to be off target.
âÂÂOnce again, today he spent most of training pulling off fancy flicks, inch-perfect through balls and visionary crosses, but you sure as hell donâÂÂt win over [Big] Sam [Allardyce] like that,â our source concluded.
Although West Ham are currently eighth in the table and there are 31 games remaining, the wily Allardyce has declared this weekendâÂÂs clash with Southampton a âÂÂsix-pointerâÂÂ, giving the Hammers a chance to move second in the table with a win.
Editor's note: this isn't a serious accusation and all quotes are fictionalised. But you knew that, because you're not stupid.
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