Quite tellingly, the transfer talk surrounding Nayef Aguerd appears to have dried up completely recently.
And it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the narrative surrounding the Moroccan central defender has changed significantly over the past few weeks.
One only has to look back at the transfer speculation at the start of the window to find that it was Aguerd who was constantly being linked with a move away from West Ham. It was often reported that for the Hammers to be able to afford a second centre-back, it would require Nayef to be sold.
Kurt Zouma was something of an afterthought in the reports. Yes, he was expected to leave if possible, but the majority of the speculation cantered around Aguerd.
However, all stories of the Moroccan’s departure have dried up recently, and pictures and videos taken from the Hammers’ pre-season camp appear to show a happy and contented squad member. Factor in that West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui has included Aguerd in most of his preseason games, and one begins to wonder if he does have a future at the club.
I’m certainly not ruling out the defender starting against Celta Vigo on Saturday, and if he plays well… who knows?
Might make a go at lett back as cover for Emerson? He’s played there for Morroco possibly? Its CB where his lack of physicality gets exposed.
Once again moyse paid him wages he can’t gt anywhere else’so we are stuck
Being able to cover left back and centre back are good options.
He is an international player and could flourish at left back under JLo.
Needs to accept he won’t start every game but from physical point of view that could be good.
Second c//bk would still need to be signed, JLo hoping for Jean Clair Todibo..
Aguerd might have had a few shaky appearances last season but I don’t think he is a bad defender, more that he is out of form, he didn’t receive a lot of cover and he plays next to either Emerson or Cresswell which does him know favours as they both frequently leave the cb’s exposed. With Rodrguez and potentially Alvarez playing together he may well look a lot better, also playing a high line may suit him better than the low block because one of his assetts is pace so he may well be able to make some good recovery tackles. I hope he comes good because he certainly from a technical perspective has a lot of ability.
Totally agree i think given a bit more cover he has a lot of talent 👍
I like Aguerd….his previous inconsistency under Moyes doesn’t mean it will continue under Julen’s plan. Why he allegedly wants to leave is puzzling.
Where did the noise about Aguerd leaving come from at the start of the window? Did it come from social media because I can’t remember anthing about that from any official sources or mainstream media.
He’ll let JLo down like he let us down. Poor, poor signing and don’t forget his self-interest regarding the ACN. Too full of himself after the World cup. He thought he was too good for West Ham.
Wish he’d gone early in the break.
Totally disrespectful and unprofessional liability, like his mate Zouma.
perceptional problems on display again
I have to agree with a lot of the sentiment here. I like Aguerd and when he got injured against Celtic in that pre-season game last summer, which I think he got trying too hard in a match like this, I was disappointed for him. When when he came back the WC was on top of us and it was not really until the period from January he got his first real run. However, as pointed out Moyes low block system did not really suit him and he was quite often exposed by his wing backs. I think Jlo’s system will suit him better because he does have the speed to recover if the opposition break through the high line.
Perhaps this is the reason we have not really gone flat out to get a new CB, especially with Zouma still there. As he is now hopefully on the way out, Tim and Jlo can focus on a cover CB rather go for a mainstream candidate like Todibo and Bruno.
He is in the Hammers shop window!!
A lot of Moroccan players end up in Ligue 1 in France. If anyone from there was interested the current financial meltdown of French football finances is hardly going to help
He wanted to leave because of how Mr Moyes tactics meant it didn’t play to his strengths making him have those few shaky performances which then dented his confidence and dropped him down the pecking order. Our defensive issues really started the moment we got rid of Ballon Dawson. He was an organiser and a communicator….when that strength and organisation disappeared, that’s when our back line started to struggle. Zouma and Aguerd were never really a good match, and for Aguerd and Mavropanos to get an understanding, they needed to play together more often. After his couple of shaky appearances, Mr Moyes only played Aguerd when he was short of cover and he was never really given the opportunity to show what he can do. His attributes did not fit well with playing the low block, he is much better in a possession based system which play to his strengths. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays and turns out to be the player we always thought he was.
Playing in the right system and playing under a coach that believes in him I think he’s a decent CB, can’t see the point of selling him for £20 million and replacing him for someone that might not be any better. I remember people saying he was a future captain when he first signed, definitely worth another year IMHO
Keeping Aguerd after Todibo’s arrival, might be reasonable. I helps putting pressure on the newcomers, Kilman and Todibo.