Faubert to Real Madrid...no, really.

Julien Faubert, French international, has to go down as one of the most disappointing signings West Ham have ever made.

He must rank alongside Joey Beauchamp who signed for £1million and then gave up before playing a game because of the traffic!

Or Florin Răducioiu who went shopping with his wife in the West End rather than turn out for the first team.

This week Faubert joined Real Madrid - yep - that Real Madrid.

The player himself has even admitted he thought it was a joke when his agent called to tell him.

When Faubert joined West Ham France coach Raymond Domenech 'slammed' the player for joining a club which was so far beneath his obvious talents and ability.

Here's Domenech at the time: "I can't understand Faubert's decision. When my players phone me to tell me they are moving clubs, I tell them it is OK if they are joining one of the top four in England, Germany, Italy or Spain."

"But it is unspeakably stupid to join a club outside of those few, apart from the financial point of view."

"It is a great pity when you are on the brink of the French national team. I struggle to understand why he has done it."

This only increased my excitement at the possibility of seeing this fantastic new star turning out for the Hammers.

As was the West Ham way at the time Faubert - by all means impressive in his debut in a pre-season tour of the Czech Republic - ruptured an achilies - ruling him out of a first team start for months.

When he finally did make his debut he loooked fast, could cross a ball from very, very deep with a wicked swerve but obviously didn't go past people cos he was nursing his achilies, right?

Wrong, he didn't go past people because... well, he just didn't.

Instead he crossed the ball from somewhere on the right of midfield everytime he got it. Or he gave it away.

In the end he played at right-back - from where he still crossed the ball - but through no fault of his own he was not comfortable defending.

So, he coudln't defend, or attack, in fact his own goal at Arsenal aside i don't think he did much at all for West Ham.

Over the last few weeks he has looked like a man so short on confidence that i actually saw him pointing to a team mate when Lucas Neill advanced out of defence and shaped to pass the ball to Faubert.

He didn't want it.

His confidence was so low he - quite rightly in my view - thought Real's interest was a joke - he's not the only one.

I hope it works out for him at Real Madrid but somehow i just can't see it.

Still at least Domenech will be happy eh.