Jose Fonte is a sensational signing for West Ham – a guy who would not be out of place in the Manchester United, Man City or Liverpool team.
And I genuinely believe that by the end of next season he will be our new on-pitch skipper with Mark Noble becoming the club captain.
Expect him to be named as captain at the start of next season – the man is a real leader – something we have been missing.
His age doesn’t worry me at all – he’s a top class player from whom we will be likely to get another three good years and he is precisely the right guy to put serious steel into our defence.
I’ve watched him a lot down the years and the man is a brilliant player and organiser who makes those around him far better and improves youngsters – Sam Byram in particular will come on a bomb.
Nathanial Clyne and Virgil van Dyke are another couple who spring to mind. This lad Fonte is a top class and everybody should be thrilled that he is on board.
Winston Reid is a fabulous player but he is not an organiser like this guy – he is exactly what we are looking for and at £8 million is a tremendous buy despite his age.
As a defender is flexible who can play in back threes or back fours. For West Ham to have landed such a quality operator is brilliant news. Top top signing.
We move on to Middlesbrough today (Sat ) looking to build on last week’s 3-0 win against Palace but I think today’s opposition will be a bit tougher to handle than Sam Allardyce’s men.
We are five points clear and Boro will have the mindset that home matches must be won. I don’t think they will beat us but they will make it very tough and I reckon a sore-less draw may be on the cards.
But can he play right back, the lessons from last season and this season are still not being learnt. Why do we need another CD, we already have 3 plus two good youngsters as well. I get the impression that Slav don’t trust youth.
It is an excellent signing agreed Leroy.I think him & Reid will be a top partnership.Well lets hope so.I havnt seen many within the game when listening or reading that doesnt think we have got ourselves a very good deal.
I dont get the calls for youth Badger.How many other managers at clubs play youth as cbs.If there is one position you do need some experienced wise heads in then it is cb.
Dont get me wrong im all for the youngsters been given a shot.But when they have progressed or can contribute to the team.Not only because they are young & there is call for them to be played.
I’m very happy with this signing👍
Firstly, I wonder if the penny’s finally dropped with Sully/Sully jr, as this deal was done pretty much under the radar (as much as these deals can be nowadays anyway, and with seemingly little fuss).
I’m all for the boards willingless to interact with the fans, but just wish they’d moderate what they come out with sometimes (no resale value for Defoe, then we go and buy Fonte??)
Secondly, whilst I love Reid, Ginge and to a lesser extent Oggy, I think Fonte may be a little bit more of a ball-playing defender rather than a get-rid quick type of defender, and one who may be able to bring young Oxford on (a similar ball-playing type defender).
Nice one SuGo, keep it up👍👍👍⚒⚒⚒
The only problem I could see about him was the price for his age, but with Leroys recommendation I’ll accept that as well.
We so much need an organiser, and a presence at the back. In a four with Read Byram and Cressy, we will have the most stable defence we’ve had all season.
He will definitely be expected to bring on Byram and Oxford, but it’s the stability we have lacked that he will bring.
Eight million is nothing these days specially for a geezer with his proved quality.I said on another piece that my son in law is a scummer and he is really cheesed off to lose him.
I watched phil thompson on sky giving him the big thumbs up about three weeks ago.Got to take his word on a centreback with some seriousness.The mush was good himself.
My favored position for a team captain has always been CB, ( followed by CMF holding player )
CB has the best view on the game to make quick decisions and shout orders. This geezer seems like a natural leader, so he could be priceless.
Im with you on that sleep man.Centre back captain.It seems every radio or tv piece on the signing say we have a top geezer.Aint seen anyone say we have been mugged only some of our own
Yes, it seems obvious that Fonte will takeover as Captain in the near future. Noble’s position in the team is coming under more and more scrutiny and Reid has never convinced as a leader. I like Reid as a player but from the outside he appears to be a quiet lad not naturally suited to the captain role – I may well be wrong.
Another point is that when this African Tournament is finally over – if that day ever comes – then Kouyate (and Ayew) will come back into the team and put Nobles position under even more threat. Let’s hope the signing of Fonte allows Bilic to use Kouyate in midfield, where his athleticism is better deployed.
A bit of bad news that I’ve heard this morning is that Ogbonna is due to have an operation which will keep him out for the rest of the Season, this will probably stick a big spanner right into whatever plans Bilic is trying to make.