Upon leaving Manchester United in 2005, Roy Carroll would have been delighted to have secured a transfer to West Ham at a time in his career where he required regular first-team football. He was receiving that until a back injury saw him miss the second half of his first season at Upton Park and when he returned, he struggled to remain in the side. A difficult second season led to Carroll asking to be released from his contract - a request which was soon granted - but it proved to be the wrong move for the Northern Irishman. He spent the following year occupying the bench at Scottish giants Rangers and he would end the campaign with just one cup appearance to his name. Carroll gained more game time in future transfers to Derby County and Danish club Odense, but when looking back at his career, he may question his decision to leave Upton Park at the time in which he did. Off-the-field problems and competing with Robert Green would have contributed, but he still made 35 appearances in two seasons, which included several months on the sidelines. In hindsight, leaving West Ham at that time looks somewhat hasty.
A degree-educated, dart-throwing, non-smelling sports journalist based in a small Staffordshire town that has just become Floyd Mayweather's answer to the question: "What's the strangest place you have ever visited?"
