Something to improve the mood for thousands of West Ham fans who had believed – briefly – that the ‘brave new world’ of transfer windows under Macaulay’s data driven regime might offer hope. The disappointment voiced upon the reports that West Ham’s first signing was likely to be Josh Brownhill was widespread as many simply shrugged and suggested ‘same old, same old’ West Ham signings.
Rumours that the 29 year old Burnley captain may is about to swop northern claret for southern claret and blue may be premature. Comments from within the club, relayed by Hammers news would point to a surprisingly ‘enlightened’ West Ham philosophy taking hold:
When asked about the Josh Brownhill story, it is reported that West Ham’s spokesman retorted:
“We actually don’t think Brownhill is as good as the players we have already got and we have a lot of midfielders.’
To identify Brownhill specifically as ‘not as good’ as existing players can only suggest he’s not London Stadium bound any time soon!
Which has to be a huge step in the right direction, for those who are still hoping for younger, fitter, more exciting midfielders to come across the threshold.
It also confirmed that players need to be shipped out before replacements arrive: The additional line from the spokesman confirmed it:”We have a tiny bit for wages but we can’t bring players in until we sell.”
A ‘tiny bit’ : Without Ings, Antonio, Coufal, Fabianksi and Cresswell ‘s wages – is likely to be several hundred thousand a week ‘not’ going out in wages. Which by anyone’s standards is more than a tiny bit.
But it certainly suggests that there’s more to this window than the ‘usual’ late – career work horses being brought in on the cheap: Hammers fans will reserve judgement and have to wait and see for themselves.
Not as good as what we’ve got. 18 goals and umpteen assists. Yeah ok. Cheers.
I’m sorry but would anyone with any class or ability, or heaven only knows both, be prepared to play for Sullivan….I thought not.⚒️⚒️⚒️
If Sullivan is in charge of the signings it will be who he can get on the cheap and then blame the manger when they are not playing any good
all i want to know is how Sullivan lost that £50million he bid in January? down the side of the sofa? if not surely he has called in the Police!
You missed Zouma, Soler and Ferguson’s wages.
Don’t you just hate transfer windows they are full of hope but you are always left disappointed
2 nd highest gate in the premiership and we will still have the smallest squad and aging got to sell before buying how embarrassing for all our terrific supporters can’t wait for them to sell
So why has he bought a house in Essex?
It’s all so amateur. A critical transfer window to rebuild that was a long time coming and the planning seems to boil down to “let’s see what happens”.
Any buying club knows the desperation and will bid low and we will probably have to accept.
Surely they could of seen this scenario coming and accessed temporary finance to give us options?
Sell cheaper at the end of the window if we have to – not at the start!
The same usual BS from the club. Drum up some transfer news by ‘leaking’ we’re about to sign a FREE SIGNING then at the last moment, puff suddenly he isn’t good enough & we need to sell before we bring anybody in. (Going from we need to sell before we buy)
No better than we already got…? As a whole, the entire squad were absolutely abysmal last season & everyone except Bowen, along with a couple of other names, has been made available.
It’s all well & fine to go after young players & bring the squads average age down, but we do need some experienced heads to knit things together. Is 29 really too old?
Telling everyone we haven’t got any money & need to sell every saleable asset, we are going to end up with players that no one else wants & youngsters that aren’t PL ready.
Brownhill is going to be the level of signings we’re going to have to accept.
It’s going to seem to be a long season coming up, we aren’t going to be seen as an attractive proposition for any top players. We can’t even use offering higher wages as a carrot this summer.