Kia Joorabchian's failure to buy West Ham has put Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano's Upton Park future in doubt. His company basically owns the two world class Argentines/second class Hammers, and his plans to buy the club were strongly rumored to have been part of their decision to settle (for however long) in the bubble blowing region of London. All that changed when up popped Eggert Magnusson to become the Premiership's most appropriately named chairman at the London club.

But Alan Pardew might finally be ready to start giving Tevescherano a few games, according to today's Guardian.

"Pardew has spoken highly of the pair's recent performances in training and is understood to be amenable to their remaining in east London. The manager feels that the hard work has been done in developing their fitness to Premiership match standard and that now is the time to reap the benefits."

For the good of the game, let's seriously hope this happens, because nothing less than the soul of football is at stake here. If Tevez and Mascherano disappear from the Premiership along with Joorabchian, then we'll know it was actually the rather dodgy business deal that many suspected all along. But if they stay, and they play, and they prove themselves in the Premiership then maybe they really did dream of playing for West Ham as young lads rather than being forced to by the money men.

-Originally published on CaughtOffside