For what seems like years West Ham United have had a problem with their recruitment. Endless overpaid, expensive, underperforming so-called stars who have been quite content to take the money and offer little in return.
Even in recent years the names trip off the tongue – players like Danny Ings, Maxwel Cornet and Guido Rodriguez have all seemed content to take their salary whilst offering neither output in terms of contributions to the West Ham cause – nor seeking to leave and further their careers even if that means taking a pay cut to build their careers.
So the El-Hadji Malick Diouf story of last week is actually refreshing in revealing a young man who is NOT merely content to take the cash and just ‘exist’ at West Ham. (TalkSPORT:‘I see myself at a top club’ – West Ham star reveals future transfer wish:).
Good for you, young ‘Malick’: Because to get there, you’ll have to up your game, become one of the best full backs in Europe over the next three years.
And at the end of it you’ll likely be sold for more than twice what West Ham paid.
Which is the way to personal success for the player, financial success and an end to losing money on player trading for West Ham United and, more than likely, supporter satisfaction too.
Watching a raw talent grow and at the same time helping the Hammers’ cause as he developed and eventually moved on was a source of considerable pride as Declan Rice grew in stature: The club needs more players who have that kind of focus rather than ‘just turning up’.
It is a rare thing to see ambition at West Ham in recent years when far too many claim ‘I want to stay and fight for my place‘ when what they really mean is ‘West Ham have been dumb enough to pay me a fortune just for sitting on the bench – I’ll see this out for a couple more years”.
And if it means we see a player develop and succeed in Claret and Blue on the way to better things – it is to be welcomed – if not demanded.