It really does defy belief that, as West Ham United enter what could be their last real chance to spark a Premier League recovery, no new defender has been signed.
While the club moved quickly to bring in two new strikers in Castellanos and Pablo, the centre of defence still cries out for drastic and immediate surgery. In truth, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Dinos Mavropanos have simply not done enough.
Ask most West Ham fans who their preferred centre-back signing would be and the name Charlie Cresswell would sit near the top of the list. That has been the case since before the summer, when the former Leeds United defender starred for England U21 during their European Championship triumph.
Cresswell is unlikely to join Nuno’s West Ham defence according to reports
The Hammers dithered, delayed, and failed to reinvest the money required to properly replace Nayef Aguerd. As a result, they now find themselves in a position where Cresswell would be mad to consider a move to the London Stadium.
Missed Chance Comes Back to Haunt the Hammers
One club’s loss is another’s gain, and Cresswell now looks likely to leave Toulouse FC during this transfer window, with the Bundesliga his probable destination. VfL Wolfsburg are said to be in advanced negotiations with the 23-year-old’s representatives and are now favourites to secure his signature.
Meanwhile, West Ham head into the crunch clash against Tottenham Hotspur with the same old ramshackle defence that has struggled all season.
If there was ever a moment to act decisively in the market, this was it. Instead, the club appear content to roll the dice once again — and it is a gamble that could yet prove catastrophic.
It has to be soul destroying for some of team to know whatever they do the defence is likely to let us down. No one’s pretending the Jan window is easy, but even signing an older, British based, workmanlike centre back would be an improvement.
Forget any thoughts of “acting decisively” in the transfer market, Gonzo. This is West Ham, & that is how we do things ! In any case, it is already way too late for us to make signings & avoid relegation – we are too far behind & we need a whole new defence ie 3 centre backs, at least (I think that the full back situation is more acceptable). It ain’t going to happen; accept it. And, for the record, I don’t think much of our striker signings either, although Castellanos showed a bit of effort against QPR.
We are chasing players we are unlikely to get yet again.
Forget Traore and Dier and forwards we desperately need a couple of defenders like yesterday
We should have had.them signed by now ready to play in the Spurs game.
Again too slow snd not getting priorities right.
Should have done everything for Cresswell but he does not seem keen to come so let’s forget and move on.
Donor look at players which are coming back from injury and no more than 27 years of age, preferably younger
We are now dragging our heals yet again that if we do not get some defence in we do not stand a chance
We started by getting 2 strikers in and I thought great they are getting what we need but it has all come to a hslt
Once again, is there nobody at West Ham who can do anything right …. nothing right?
It is really frightening that the club is in such a state, with everything going wrong, ultimately resulting in this club’s relegation and drop into the football abyss.
Sadly that’s what I now have to accept, unless a miracle from God happens asap.
Unfortunately the club resembles an oil tanker takes a long time to manoeuvre
Forget any thoughts of “acting decisively” in the transfer market, Gonzo. This is West Ham, & that is how we do things ! In any case, it is already way too late for us to make signings & avoid relegation – we are too far behind & we need a whole new defence ie 3 centre backs, at least (I think that the full back situation is more acceptable). It ain’t going to happen; accept it. And, for the record, I don’t think much of our striker signings either, although Castellanos showed a bit of effort against QPR.
Congrats to Malick Diouf, Senegal beat Egypt and he’s into the AFCON final. ⚒️
Circus
The old saying “can’t see the wood for the trees” is ringing true here. Is it not obvious that the Board/Club are already gearing up for the Championship.
I’d love to be wrong ofcourse but we’ve already got 1 foot in the championship we had our chances to close the gap & fluffed them. When you’re losing constantly especially to “fellow strugglers” at the bottom of the table you know it’s all over. 😢⚒⚒⚒
I think the phrase is,will prove catastrophic, Gonzo.