I think Feghouli and Ayew have been written off too quickly. They've come in at a time when the team is seriously disjointed. Feghouli, IMO, has shown more than Ayew but both of them are good players, they've shown it over several years on big stages. Part of the problem, I believe has been the uncertainty over where we're playing people. I think the failed Antonio RB project plays a role in that. If we play with wing-backs, where do we play Feghouli? He's not really a wing-back, he needs to be further forward. Then who do we drop if we want to play Ayew off a striker?
Trying to shape things around Zaza didn't help either IMO, neither did the injuries.
I'd rather we keep both of them and hope by fixing the RB and ST positions we can start the season anew. I really don't see why Snodgrass wouldn't be victim to the same problems and I don't think he's close to the player Feghouli could be if everything was working better. Unless Feghouli is sold for a significant enough amount that we make a profit.
I really would prefer we didn't start over. I think not fitting in all the players we brought in was the problem in the first place, why do that again? Fix the problem positions.
Regarding the balance of the team, I think we always look best with a 4-2-3-1, and I think that's what we should get back to as regularly as possible. Feghouli's natural position is on the right of that 3, Ayew's is probably in the middle of the three, maybe the left.
The Payet discussion had spread across threads, so I've tried to consolidate all the Payet-specific comments on his own, and retain here only those that are linked with new transfers in.
Let me know if one of your comments has gone astray, and I'll fix it.
Watford have Jerome Sinclair, Brentford had made enquires about him as a replacement if we bought Hogan but now Watford could do a part ex. Hogan's scored 14 this season, after him the next top scorer is a CB with 3 so its easy to see why the Watford deal is more attractive to the Bees.
OCS - £15m isn't much use if you can't spend it, if we were to offer the Bees someone on loan to replace Hogan they might be more receptive. Martinez or Fletcher maybe although not sure if Fletcher would want a loan deal after last time.
ASLEF - maybe, but all this haggling has opened the door for other clubs. If we offer £15m now, with a take it or leave it ultimatum, it will force Brentford's hand. Sure, they could say no and hope Watford come up with a suitable offer, but risk losing £15m, which would be a big deal for a club that size.
I would just hate to think that we’d lose out on one of our main targets for the sake of £2m
Google search for 'news' by 'most recent' deliver a few hits - both the Daily Star and some blog thingy have articles (from earlier this morning, nothing more recent) but all link back to the Sun report from yesterday.
Which claims ... initial fee of £9m agreed, but wrangling over add-ons still going on - could be a £15m deal in total. Nothing signed and sealed yet.
Premier League leaders Chelsea will move for 29-year-old West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet, who Hammers boss Slaven Bilic says is refusing to play for the club. (Sun)
Man U are apparently willing to let Memphis Depay leave for Stg 15m, report on the BBC says that only Lyon have come in with a bid and it is significantly less than Man Uutds valuation
i have seen Depay play a couple of times and I think he is useful, the 15m valuation does not seem unreasonable for a talented 22 yr old
Comments
Trying to shape things around Zaza didn't help either IMO, neither did the injuries.
I'd rather we keep both of them and hope by fixing the RB and ST positions we can start the season anew. I really don't see why Snodgrass wouldn't be victim to the same problems and I don't think he's close to the player Feghouli could be if everything was working better. Unless Feghouli is sold for a significant enough amount that we make a profit.
I really would prefer we didn't start over. I think not fitting in all the players we brought in was the problem in the first place, why do that again? Fix the problem positions.
Randolph
? - Reid - Ogbonna - Cresswell
Kouyate - Obiang / Noble
Antonio / Feghouli - Lanzini - Payet / Ayew
Carroll / Hogan
Randolph
Trippier - Reid - Ogbonna - Cresswell
Kouyate - Noble/Obiang
Antonio - Lanzini - Ayew
Carroll/Hogan
Looks like a pretty good, balanced side to me, tbh.
The Payet discussion had spread across threads, so I've tried to consolidate all the Payet-specific comments on his own, and retain here only those that are linked with new transfers in.
Let me know if one of your comments has gone astray, and I'll fix it.
RB should have been priority way before a striker, we have a striker at the moment, we don't have a RB at all.
Keep Ayew and Feghouli, hoping one of them can up it up and make up for the loss of Payet
Randy
Trippier Reid Ogbonna Cressy
Antonio Obiang Kouyate Lanzini
Carroll Hogan
Or maybe Kouyate at CB for Ogbonna who's been woeful which hill allow Noble to come in
Just pay the £15m.
Please.
I would just hate to think that we’d lose out on one of our main targets for the sake of £2m
Which claims ... initial fee of £9m agreed, but wrangling over add-ons still going on - could be a £15m deal in total. Nothing signed and sealed yet.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2591568/west-ham-transfer-news-scott-hogan-set-to-move-to-london-stadium-after-15m-fee-agreed-with-brentford/
i have seen Depay play a couple of times and I think he is useful, the 15m valuation does not seem unreasonable for a talented 22 yr old
Problem is that would mean spending £30m if we got Hogan too and I just can't see it.
Maybe a loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer ;hmm
WBA IN FOR SNODGRASS?
West Brom are set to join West Ham in the race for Hull's Robert Snodgrass, according to the Daily Mirror.
Snodgras, 29, has rejected a new contract offer at Hull, while West Ham have had a bid rejected for the Scot.
Snodgrass has scored nine goals for struggling Hull this term.