The task of rebuilding of West Ham’s team under the new management and coach duo scheduled for this Summer is well documented. I just wonder how much harder the task has become with The Irons’ failure to secure European football for the coming season.
Twelve months ago the recruitment by Tim Steidten seemed exciting with, amongst others, the signings of Alvarez and Kudus seen at the time as high quality and well-priced : More so in hindsight after Mo’s debut season. An unscientific look around the reported attempts to sign players this summer does suggest a tougher ‘sell’ of West Ham United to prospective new recruits. A new Head Coach, playing a more liberated, stylish format of football would, one would expect make the option of pulling on the Claret and Blue more appealing than last year.
The lack of any European football at London Stadium combined with the global exposure it brings could well be acting as a huge disincentive to prospective West Ham signings. The exposure to a global audience created by West Ham’s Europa League runs and ECL triumph would have made Tim Steidten’s job far easier.
Kudus must have seen West Ham as a big step up from Ajax in terms of his own profile and future career. His exposure on a European stage probably helped him raise his own standards to the fabulous ‘high’s we all enjoyed watching. Would Lucas Paqueta have signed if there had been no Europa Conference League that year? We will never know but I bet we could all hazard a guess.
Now the 2024/5 reality seems to be that players are turning away from a move to East London in favour of other clubs: The Jean-Clair Todibo situation is a case in point. A player with the pedigree of playing for Benfica, Barcelona and Nice. Agreement has been reached at thirty-something million between Nice and West Ham, but the player wants to move to Juventus who of course are in the Champions League next season.
How many other deals are stalling over personal terms at present is something we can only estimate but there is a common theme of West Ham – apparently – having to offer huge amounts and even then struggling to getting deals over the line.
Probably another reason, then, for the interest in N’Golo Kante: However much I dislike the principle of bringing in a 33 year old costing £20 million plus: If quality recruitment is SO difficult in our ‘out of Europe’ season then maybe that is another price West Ham have to pay for failing in the second half of last term. It is still ‘early days’, as I have to remind myself. The transfer window is just 20 days’ open and more than a month to go.
Maybe I need to chill and wait ‘n’ see… Keeping an eye on those ‘failed bids’ and the ultimate destination of those players will keep me busy to support my theory for the next 40-plus days before deadline day. I hope I am wrong!
How about, for a change, having a proper go at winning one of the domestic cups? Preferably the FA Cup – straight into the Europa!
With the travesty of justice that was called FFP and is now called PSR (which doesn’t seem to apply to Man City and Chelsea) there are only 5 European places to be contested by Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Spurs, Newcastle, Villa and ourselves – so we can never take European qualification for granted
The challenge for Steidten and J-Lo is to interest players with teh prospect of competing for these places
Paul imo it was Moyes fault that Mav and Aguerd were injured was Moyes fault. The constant pressure on our defence because of his style of play is going to impact on the players with excessive over work will lead to fatigue and injury. And anybody who can seriously be watching the games especially him could see that Zouma is crocked, why on earth set your team up to be under constant pressure which is why we saw so many massive losses last season
Moyes bites your arse.
Non rotation and playing fatigued players in last five games probably cost 3 premier league places.
Had his tactics, rotation and players being used in their correct positions European football could have been achieved.
This needs to be rectified in signings so that JL-o has confidence with players on bench.
Having 25 players that can deputise will be a luxury not recently afforded.
We had Aguard and Mav out and Zouma was crippled. That ain’t Moyes fault and owners did back him when we record points total for half way
We had Aguerd and Mav out and Zouma was crippled. That ain’t Moyes fault and owners didnt back him when we had record points total for half way
If the club were that bothered then they should of sacked Moyes whilst we still had a chance of getting European football by Sullivan wanting to save a few £’s and so the club cannot whinge now its tougher to get deals over the line and attract players.
Yeah probably right in terms of signing wanting to play European football. But in reality, this isn’t a secret, we knew not qualifying we’d be cack here – cheers Moyes AND the board.
What a load of waffle