It’s very hard to argue with the Moyes transfer window logic – extremely cautious though it maybe !
I realise this will cause new knee jerk outrage from the “board out” lobby but for them to argue we should be spending millions in the winter window is both illogical and impossible anyway.
Pedro Obiang really should have been replaced
In my view the manager needs to fill one position in this window to ease everybody’s already stretched nerve ends and that’s in midfield where we still badly need that player of pace and power.
Without such an operator it will be a bigger struggle than it need be following the refusal by Pellegrini to replace ether Kouyate or Obiang. Bad mistake.
Under Moyes I believe the squad will grow stronger and less vulnerable. The progress over three games demonstrates that but the arrival of a powerhouse midfielder would certainly calm my nerves.
His approach – as he outlined this morning – is to avoid spending dough he may need later on players that will do nothing to improve the team.
It’s a reasonable attitude. Last night we published a piece at https://www.claretandhugh.info/moyes-winter-signings-over-the-last-15-years/ which demonstrated clearly that has been his approach.
It also demonstrated how tough it is to buy anyone half decent in January showing the players who had arrived at West Ham over 10 years either on permanent or loan deals.
They really weren’t the best and that’s down to the time of the year as clubs refuse to let decent players go given most are involved in some sort of battle at the top or bottom.
Moyes’ has done okay since he returned and tough though the upcoming fixtures may be I reckon he will glean enough points over the rest of the season for the Hammers to survive – the squad really is good enough despite what some may want to believe.
But without that midfield powerhouse it’s going to be another one of those too regular nail biting climaxes which ironically sees Aston Villa arriving as our final game of the season.
COYI
Completely with you on this one Hugh, and if we could get two cheeky loan signings with a right back and proper ball winning striker we just might be happy 😊😊😊
I don’t see how we score goals – apart from set pieces – without a hard running box to boxer mate
Exactly with you fully on that in your article but just being greedy with my other additions or suggestions! central midfielder first every time !!!!
I agree, except that the critical need is for someone strong up front i.e. not so desperate for them to get back. I know it’s leftfield, but I’d be interested to see what sort of a job Masuaku could do as an offensive central midfielder. He’s got strength and skill to take on central defenders.
Completely with you on using masuaka in the middle. Just about enough defensively but will bring the ball forward and has pace and a decent engine to get around the pitch. Said it a few weeks back that I would like to see him in there but think it would work better in a midfield three.
Im not a board out now’er but we have needed one of those for at least three years.
William Carvalho anyone?
If one accepts that for the last couple of seasons the players have been scouted and bought by Pellegrini’s team then either in this window or in the summer we need to buy decent players that work in a system of play that fits our budget not a pipedream one.
Or we need a Unicorn buyout by Bill Gates so we can buy Liverpool’s team.
Carvalho defensive midfield Pop
Agreed Hugh, but the point is we’ve needed midfield players that are not just about flair for a while.
We have the players it’s just terrible decisions from Pellegrini. He said it himself “I have 2 players for every position”.
In CM 2 spaces – Noble, Rice, Wheelchair, Sanchez. Therein lays the problem. We let Kouyate, Fernandes and Obiang leave. None of whom were spectacular but were solid and rarely injured.
The squad is bloated with career injury specialists. Wilshere, Reid, Yarmalenko, Sanchez, Antonio, Lanzini. Theres £500k in wages a week there and then you start to see the problem. None of those players can give more than 10-15 games a season. We need a CM who can play. They dont need to be amazing. Just fit!
Hugh I am totally with you BUT BUT the midfield problem is not a new one its one that has never ever been addressed after Chiek,Pedro and Fernandies were allowed to “leave” as we know with at this moment no adequate replacements and the Jan window is just a farce IMO ..who let’s a quality player leave in mid season. and why I am hot under the collar why why oh why was Tompkins sold when he was a very very capable RIGHT BACK when needed. .when he played there I think I am right in saying we didn’t lose ..I will stand corrected..Hind sight my god
I also don’t see how we score goals, but don’t think this is the lack of a box to box midfielder…I don’t see a team that has a go-to strategy for opening up the other side and carving out opportunities.
We have a lead striker with a very specific set of skills, and our focus should be on feeding those. I don’t think the box to box midfielder will assist that greatly.
The midfield problem is about not being overrun. Rice sits and intercepts well, but we need power and energy in there to complement him. Who presses, who can burst between the lines, and who can carry the ball so we can feed our creative players in areas to hurt the oppo? The last player I can think of that was truly effective (all be it for a very short time) was Behrami, and to some extent in his early time with us Kouyate.
Midfielders these days tend to be pigeon holed as attacking or defending. I feel like what we need is a Kouyate upgrade (which never arrived). More about energy and presence than attacking threat.
But I also feel we need to implement a strategy to get the best out of Haller, by going back to his time at Frankfurt and before, looking at the types of goals he scored and the positions engineered in those circumstances, and seeing how we can create those situations. For a long long time we’ve relied either on individual brilliance or set pieces to score goals, rather than pattern of play….since we had Payet basically. I think currently our offensive play is worse than our defensive play….we so frequently go one up, but never go two up. Haller we have to remember was hugely highly rated, and there was much surprise that we managed to land him. He’s not become a bad player over night,. and I think saying ‘he just needs a partner’ is far too simplistic a judgement. What about the partners he had carved out the opportunities he thrived on?
Lastly, our resilience at corners is dire….would love to know how many corners conceded versus how many goals conceded from corners this season. The stats are out there for how many is typical (it’s about 30 or 40 corners per goal I believe).
Watching the Liverpool game last night there is one position we can never fill and that is the 12th man.
The crowd were pumping and in the faces of the United players, sadly for us that is not possible in the new gaff, imagine if we are relegated would be interesting to see how many renew ST.
Rick Za get over it fella my first was in the **** soaked Chicken Run Aged 5 in 1958my last v the much hated Man U..I was brought up there as I brought my kids up in the “East Stand” yep sad it’s now gone and distant memories ..move on m8
Whammer1, my first game was also in the Chicken Run; sun-soaked and not until 1963, aged 8. My sons were brought up in the North Bank and then the East Stand.
At one level you are right about moving on, but you fail to explain how that is achievable in a stadium not fit for purpose and with a crowd suddenly inflated to 50+k thanks to the con* of massively reduced prices. How true and British to accept most levels of mediocrity, rather than fight for what is either required or “deserved”.
Country-wide, we elect inveterate liars, accepting whatever they say as fact and never truly holding them to account. So, what real hope for our little football club!
I have always believed the owners to be under the spell of the baroness and unless or until she is evicted, so they will remain and the club will suffer. I believe her to be at the root of most that does not work as it should for a football club (Birmingham + West Ham) and that the owners will certainly continue to benefit financially until they either sell up in 3 years time or the club goes to pot before.
*A common loss-leader where ticket prices are lowered to suck in the public who is then fleeced, once through the door, with all the associated match-day add-ons.
I love what u have said here Aspi – politically as well. But have heard the “held to account” things many times and I just wonder how one does that and what difference it makes. Genuine question mate
With you on this; why many of us think chucking panic cash round is a good idea beats me – we just end up with rubbish. If he can persuade Gnarls Barkley to join on loan, that would do it for me.
You don’t have to chuck money around IF you have a good scouting network that can find good players. We don’t, as demonstrated by the sheer amount of flops we’ve signed in the last decade. One of the highest wage bills in the league yet we never finish high enough to justify it – why’s that? Got nothing to do with signing old, ‘big-name’ players, searching for a final pay-check, has it? The idea that you can get best ‘value for money’ by going to your favourite agents and asking which of their clients want a move is laughable, and shows what a joke we are as a club.
Well said James Gunn! ..
Totally agree on need for powerful midfielder
But Moyes saying no one available, like last time he was here. So if he fails he can shift responsibility.
Board can blame Moyes for dithering. Truth is if they all actually wanted to get some one in by spending required money it is possible. Like many i don’t believe lack of funds. Just the funds are being used to repay debt, which Sullivan could delay if he so wished as only repayable to shareholders
Roberto has left the building!! One over seas position going to be available in the named squad??
It might come as a joke to some,but many “Board Out” fans don’t believe it’s a case of spending millions .Many actually believe that some sort of coherent infrastructure and planning would actually be cheaper in the long run – On the face of it millions and millions are being wasted in silly wages offered to “big names” or “near retirees” in a reactive and haphazard way as if that is the only answer.
In my forty plus years,I have derived as much,if more pleasure, seeing our youngsters develop and progress to the first team – That’s been thrown away in recent times in favour of seat of your pants, big name,quick fixes ,imo.
It’s hard to watch the same mistakes being made over and over again and many could be forgiven for thinking that the ownership don’t really care.
We need people running this club that know what they are doing and putting 100% in to it, instead of this part time(KB) winging it and invariably lurching from one disaster to the next.
Precisely, maybe our awful scouting system has something to do with the fact that most of our January signings in the last 10 years have failed? Maybe the strategy of going to agents and asking which of their clients want a move, as if they have the club’s best interests at heart, doesn’t work? We have one of the highest wage bills in the league yet never justify it. In terms of infrastructure, lack of DOF, Head of Recruitment, Technical Director etc, we’re one of the worst-run clubs in the league. Only expect awful short-term signings from these owners and you’ll never be disappointed!
Well said George! ..
We have the squad to see us through the season , especially now we have Moyes instead Pelligrini . I believe we would be 19th right now under the Chilean .
The kind of midfielder we need probably won’t become available anyway .
What we and every other club needs is for the January window to be scrapped .
Gold and Sullivan have been here for 10 years but still have no scouting network set up. Relying on Agents who are money men, not football men- to finf us what we need is so amateurish. Its embarrassing. Any Manager in the world would struggle to work under this board. Especially with all the leaks that are let out. The clubs rotten and theres 3 people to blame
You need to read the piece we did on scouting as your account is factually incorrect and to believe Moyes would take the job given your thoughts is a total absurdity having heard him say on many times how desperate he was to return. Leave your hatred at the back door if you are coming here and enter through the front door with some logic. Cheers.
Sorry but waiting till now to “beef up the scouting staff” !!
Moyes should not be picking scouts ,they should be in place by the club and still be there after a manager leaves,imo.I read the article and a lot of their “big ideas” revolved around voluntary scouting for the club (the 18th richest in the world)!!
You didn’t read it properly – they weren’t big ideas . It is what’s happening five scouts at academy level plus Konchesky – WyScout in place, chief scout on the way and paid freelancers like every club used – three in Europe at weekend and three last. Up to you what you believe but sending blokes out in flat caps on salaries went out years ago
Hugh, you do realise that Premier league clubs have been using Wyscout since at least 2013, it’s not new technology and speak worlds for how behind the times our board are. How do you explain the fact that the scouting review back in 2018 exposed all of these floors yet still wasn’t/hasn’t been acted upon?
Sullivan needs to stop playing chumpionship manager and get in a team independent of the manager who will stay around and provide continuity, not some of Moyes old mates who will move on when he does…
We need something quick… the squad is paper thin & those we have got aren’t good enough.
We might scrape enough to keep us up this season but there needs to be a major change in the structure of the running at the club, that or we will go down this season or next.
The club is in my view, lost & devoid of answers or worse still, unaware of the questions.
can someone riddle me this ….
we apparently want a central midfielder, with some legs, who has played in the prem before and a good age . . and a short term deal if poss
newcastle are today signing 25 year old Bentaleb (ex spurs) on loan and we not in running …
Forget the Boleyn, its irreversible history. Instead recognise Hammers without quality reinforcements will NOT reach 36, let alone 40 pts to avoid relegation!
Moyes sets his current teams up to avoid defeat not to win. I do not dispute that is necessary against the best attacking teams we are imminently about to play; but single points vs Everton etc & narrow defeats to Sheff Utd etc will NOT save us from relegation!
Hammers struggle to score goals from open play because the current crop do NOT support Haller in the box & fail to x accurately, even from most set pieces. Yes, Haller needs to “battle” more too, but Hammers MUST to play to his proven strengths! We need a pacy wide midfield player who can x accurately to Haller & others. Lanzini is not fast enough to play wide & Anderson is injured! Snodgrass cannot get Xs in the box against PL standard defenders except from set pieces, which most often fail to match with Hammers’ runs into the box. Fornals is gradually improving, but him, Lanzini & Anderson’s confidence was ruined by Pellegrini constantly swapping them around. Yarmolenko best going forward with an “eye for” a pass & able finisher but lacks work rate required in a struggling team. Use him as an auxhillary forward to support Haller when Antonio injured against weaker teams when 2 forwards prudent.
Antonio’s energy, pace & power desperately needed but why do they always bring him back too soon only to break down again for yet more surgery? Sack the medical team who also failed to recognise Carroll & Wiltshire were brittle poor risks for their wages etc.
Also brought back Fabianski too soon.Fabinaski saved us from many defeats early season when Hammers flattered to deceive! Pending his full recovery let’s hope Randolph’s injury does not reoccur? A good reserve GK but injury risk?
The defence is constantly exposed by opposition midfied players being allowed to turn unopposed in front of our box to shoot or pass penetratively though our deference because Noble fails to mark his direct opponents. Masuka when in midfield ( as Saturday sub vs Evertoon or in wing / full back positions NEVER marks effectively & Zabaletta is sadly too slow for PL now & too old for repetitive matches within a few days. Balbuena has played poorly most of the season. Diop’s pace & power has been sorely missed. Defence needs an organiser / leader.
When Johnson fit he can succeed both Zabaletta & play instead of Masuaku who shoulkd be sold as soon as Johnson & Fredericks fit. Meanwhile loan Clyne with a view to buy NOW!
To avoid relegation we need CDM, RB & accurate pacy wide midfield player NOW who responsibly tracks back with opponents + Antonio, Anderson Fabianski fit & Lanzini Anderson & Fornals confidence restored without further delay!
Hammers have needed a dynamic ” box to box” CDM since Alex Song who: effectively marks opposition playmakers & passes the ball penetratively forward instead of sideways & backwards. Noble has no pace, cannot tackle & chases the ball like a “terrier dog” all to no avail leaving Rice & the back 4 routinely exposed to counter attacks!
Bilic identified William Carvallho as the missing link.
Pellegrini identified Andre Gomez as the missing link.
Carvallho or similar player wasn’t signed. It cost Bilic his job.
Andre Gomez decided to stay at Everton. No similar player was signed. It cost Pellegrini his job.
I fear David Moyes won’t get the midfielder he wants either.
It’s all very well playing Rice and Noble every single game, but Rice is young and Noble is old. They both come into the players that need to be rested occasionally category. Not to mention that you need competition for places.
I would have liked Kouyate to stay but can’t agree that Pellegrini ‘refused to replace them.
It would be interesting to know what sort of funds were available to him after losing 4 injury prone or want away forwards in one go.