I am hoping our poor start to the season will actually serve us and encourage the board to take a chance in the manner all PL clubs have to at some point and pay a bit over the odds for the right man if available. The reason I say the right man is that I think he is just what we need and will bring solidity in front of a defence that no one else is doing at present, it is a massive outlay for our club but if we are serious about this season then it does need doing in my view.
If staying fit we have options up front that were totally missing last season and Carvalho could be the link that brings the whole team together, we could through him reduce the leakage at the back which would allow the goals scored by Hernandez, Arto, Sakho and AC actually result in points.
I can't help wondering whether Bilic has the final say on player recruitment. Often players do well within a system but struggle in another system. A manger would normally buy players who he thinks fit best the way he wants to play.
Tore was a star player in Turkey but looked rubbish at WHU. Feghouli was a good Algerian international but flopped at WHU. Some say that it was because of the transition to EPL and they could not hack it. What about the players already proven in EPL? Fonte, Ayew and Snodgrass were doing well at the previous clubs but have not been the same players at WHU. have the same concerns about Anautovic. Perhaps, these players don't fit the way Bilic wants to play. If not, why were they bought? Zaza was terrible last year but seems to be doing after leaving WHU. Maybe his new team's system/style and tactics suit him.
So I have some unease about player recruitment. One could argue that good managers bring the best out of the players that they do have and make tactical changes to secure that. If so, why is Bilic not able to do that? Our results and performances have not been too good since the second half of last season.
Crikey!! Sakho has barley kicked a ball in the last one and half seasons but is now rumoured to be wanting a move (https://talksport.com/football/west-ham-united-fc-transfer-news-diafra-sakho-eyeing-exit-lazio-and-bordeaux-register). I know he wanted a move and the West Brom deal fell through because of medical problems, but supported have welcomed him back and he could have waited to score a few goals before sulking again. Club (supporters) paid him whilst he was unfit. Not sure if this is really a gambit for a new contract and a wage rise or really a statement that he does not like WHU hierarchy and wants to move ASAP.
Crikey!! Sakho has barley kicked a ball in the last one and half seasons but is now rumoured to be wanting a move (https://talksport.com/football/west-ham-united-fc-transfer-news-diafra-sakho-eyeing-exit-lazio-and-bordeaux-register). I know he wanted a move and the West Brom deal fell through because of medical problems, but supported have welcomed him back and he could have waited to score a few goals before sulking again. Club (supporters) paid him whilst he was unfit. Not sure if this is really a gambit for a new contract and a wage rise or really a statement that he does not like WHU hierarchy and wants to move ASAP.
To be fair, it's TalkSport and they don't offer any indication that he actually said he wants to leave - just that teams want him, apparently.
Might not be a bad thing for him to go. I like him as a player but we haven't seen much of him for a while, so if someone's willing to pay something...
The opening line starts "West Ham's out-of-favour forward Diafra Sakho", Well he's not been out of favour, he's been injured and the moment he's fit he gets game time. ;doh
May be the thinking process is sell Sakho or Carroll & get Waris Majeed in? Still reckon we should go for Kara Mbodji to be a Centre Half or CDM. ;pray
You could say it means they will get more money from the Champions League so can now stop mucking us around over the fee but as they seem to do that all the time like Mr Levy does at Tottenham then it probably makes no difference to the deal. I understand it's final decision time tomorrow but don't like the idea of Ndong being the consolation if we bale out! Why don't we show that we are genuine and go for Danilo from Porto?
That might be the case but I understand he was promised, for what that is worth, a move last season and he stayed and now he has set his heart on a transfer away. IF it doesn't happen we can expect the "we tried all we could and here is the cheaper and poorer ability wise alternative". That is why I made reference to Danilo @ Porto as being a decent alternative.
While not the end of the world it is slightly worrying that since Collins rejoined in 2012 our best centre back pairing was and still is Collins and Reid (joined 2010). Other defenders have come, some have gone, but none have really been any better, our best two are the same for five years. Certainly at the current time both Ogbonna and Fonte have more mistakes in them and are certainly IMO positionally worse than JC and WR.
For me, we suck it up this season (or at least until Jan) and do our best, then try to sell Ogbonna (doable) and Fonte (could be an issue if he's on high wages) as I am consistantly disappointed with them, and then phase Burke, Oxford and Rice in (still have Reid and Collins of course). I don't want to buy when we have some youths who seem so nearly ready. Next season give them the chance!
Comments
If staying fit we have options up front that were totally missing last season and Carvalho could be the link that brings the whole team together, we could through him reduce the leakage at the back which would allow the goals scored by Hernandez, Arto, Sakho and AC actually result in points.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40993430
Andy Carroll to Newcastle on loan as potentials going out! Yaaaawn
That's a bit left field. No one would have seen that coming...
I thought he'd already gone to Watford
Tore was a star player in Turkey but looked rubbish at WHU. Feghouli was a good Algerian international but flopped at WHU. Some say that it was because of the transition to EPL and they could not hack it. What about the players already proven in EPL? Fonte, Ayew and Snodgrass were doing well at the previous clubs but have not been the same players at WHU. have the same concerns about Anautovic. Perhaps, these players don't fit the way Bilic wants to play. If not, why were they bought? Zaza was terrible last year but seems to be doing after leaving WHU. Maybe his new team's system/style and tactics suit him.
So I have some unease about player recruitment. One could argue that good managers bring the best out of the players that they do have and make tactical changes to secure that. If so, why is Bilic not able to do that? Our results and performances have not been too good since the second half of last season.
Might not be a bad thing for him to go. I like him as a player but we haven't seen much of him for a while, so if someone's willing to pay something...
How much is something? ;hmm
take ;cake ;biggrin
;doh
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4303085/manuel-lanzini-barcelona-west-ham-transfer-philippe-coutinho-ousmane-dembele/
Also a few stories that Chelsea are going to hijack our Carvalho deal!!
Doesn't make loads of sense would rather we just sell him even if for a loss a loan doesn't really do much for us
“I’d like him as well at Birmingham. Good player.”
You could say it means they will get more money from the Champions League so can now stop mucking us around over the fee but as they seem to do that all the time like Mr Levy does at Tottenham then it probably makes no difference to the deal. I understand it's final decision time tomorrow but don't like the idea of Ndong being the consolation if we bale out! Why don't we show that we are genuine and go for Danilo from Porto?
That might be the case but I understand he was promised, for what that is worth, a move last season and he stayed and now he has set his heart on a transfer away. IF it doesn't happen we can expect the "we tried all we could and here is the cheaper and poorer ability wise alternative". That is why I made reference to Danilo @ Porto as being a decent alternative.
For me, we suck it up this season (or at least until Jan) and do our best, then try to sell Ogbonna (doable) and Fonte (could be an issue if he's on high wages) as I am consistantly disappointed with them, and then phase Burke, Oxford and Rice in (still have Reid and Collins of course). I don't want to buy when we have some youths who seem so nearly ready. Next season give them the chance!