There seems to be an inevitable meltdown on social media that Spurs are on the verge of hijacking a deal for Gedson Fernandes with all fingers pointed at the board for not sealing the deal earlier.
Of course, Sky Sports played their part in this story by exaggerating the transfer by suggesting the deal was agreed in principle while another social media account since deactivated suggested the player was on a plane to London to join up with the Hammers. Neither was true and the negotiations were at a much earlier stage than suggested.
The reports were premature and no deal had been reached between West Ham and Benefica as some suggested.
Like many other deals, this transfer has been agent led from day one and the youngster was offered to many Premier League clubs at the same time with a preference for a London club as his mother lives here.
The man in charge of Fernandes future is super-agent Jorge Mendes, a man who is the former agent of Spurs manager Jose Mourinho. In April last year, Mourinho announced he had joined Jorge Mendes’ company as a “super player-agent” after having a career break from management.
At the time Mourinho said “I am super excited to become a super-agent. I’ve known Jorge for a long time so it’s a natural move as I treat players like they’re my own family. However, I’m not afraid to criticise a player whether in a football management role or as an agent. For example, Luke Shaw? Tubby. Pogba? More worried about haircuts than football. Ronaldo? A princess. I will though, secure them the best financial deals as football chairmen know how to pay me off”
So, it should come as no surprise that Mendes favors his old client and employee and if we are honest Spurs will be a far greater draw for the player too. The sad truth is the deal was never 100% ours in the first place for Spurs to hijack.
It is sometimes hard to fantom the outburst of West Ham supporters on social media about a player they had never heard of three weeks ago, who is unproven in the Premier League and a player that David Moyes himself called one for the future. If West Ham are to avoid relegation we need to sign players for now with experience that can help us get out of trouble.
Totally agree. We need players with Pl experience and who are willing to give 100% for the cause.
Never got excited about this possible deal … unless he’s also handy in goal. Sander Berge looks more the type of midfielder we need – energetic, powerful, young, good passer with quick feet. Does anyone have the latest on him? Have we missed out?
It’s the same every transfer window rumour after rumour I got so fed up years ago I never get excited or expect anyone to sign for us until they do and I have a suggestion let’s have no more reporting on rumours what ever the origin then no one will get unnecessarily disappointed
The same Moyes, who allegedly decided Maddison and Dendoncker were also not good enough for our midfield in his first spell. But signed Hugil. That is really hard to fathom, Sean. Maybe us supporters are more knowledgeable about players than Moyes and watch other leagues in Europe
See you at the demo Sean
Did sully write this for you Sean? Ok one for the future will see if at spurs he shines? Agree a deal for berge would be better but hey maybe Joe Allen or some old past it injured preferably as long as their cheap suits sully better eh ? Tell him the demo is awaiting ! board this time will be shaken way more than Burnley’s short memory .
None so blind as those who don’t want to see or understand. Hatred is much easier isn’t it?
It’s the same old story linked with so many players just to keep fans hoping but will now with the league position in prem end up with dross players when you look at our next six games where are the points coming from we are now in a religation fight well done DG DS
The premierships worst owners Sullivan and gold strike again only claret and hugh continue to back them. I await this comment being deleted
Why would we delete it – hardly original
Said the same thing when this broke a couple of weeks ago.Never heard of him so he cannot be that hot.Looks lightweight and certainly not the Sander Berge type we would be much better off pursuing.What will get the fans backs up is going after Fellaini and Allen.
Why would it be deleted? Why is this down to S&G, as opposed to being media fuelled garbage? Why are you so angry and bitter? Why don’t you save your criticisms for someone who cares? So many questions….
Sold out 65,000 seats each game, cheap stadium rent and we can’t compete in the transfer market! Are we being bled dry by the board!?? Pochettino was my first choice as new manager but he wasn’t even considered as the board would have had to give him money to spend!!
Now we have Moyes in charge and though I like him as he gets the best out of nothing available he is not a top 6 quality manager. Gross spend last window £80+ million net spend £20 million! 3 steps forward 2 steps back and one more step back later!
Have u not get it yet – they don’t have the money, Way it is
We have spent 25m in the last two and half windows where is the money?
They don’t have the money you want. Is that what you are protesting about?
Pochetino was your first choice, but never would he come to West Ham. He has big clubs like Bayern, Real Madrid, etc interested in him and you actually think he’d come to us lol
Oh you mean like Allen or Fellaini, Sean? Not fussed about Fernando’s tbh but please save that we are looking for the players we need to stay up when those 2 names are mentioned. Yet again the boards desire to “just manage” rears it’s head, so we shouldn’t expect much at all and with the run of 5 games we have coming up, including Liverpool twice excuse me for not being very optimistic as things stand.
Did those two get signed without me noticing?
No Hugh, but accordng to Ex both on the wanted list.
Well that’s up to Ex. I think we might be better waiting and seeing
Good insight, most of us are barstool managers who really don’t understand the internal issues of world football I’m sure people think it all happens in England and are unaware that there are Leeches out there ready to make as much out of a player they can and not bothered who gets him as long as there pockets are lined to the extent of lying about this club or that club interested or have put in a offer just to get his client noted I tend to wait until the player is unveiled as a player in front of a camera
Yes, all deals are now drven by agents and what they can get from it – yet weirdly no one mentions that when they have their own pet hobby horse
When’s your next article on the backwardness of our ‘scouting system’ going to be Sean? 5 scouts for a premier league club is a joke, but instead of using them we rely on a select few of Sullivan’s favourite agents – because they’ll DEFINITELY have the best interests of the club at heart, rather than the player they’re representing, right?
I have no idea whether this suggestion that West Ham have just 5 full-time scouts is true but I will ask, I am unaware of the original source of the information. Can you enlighten me?
Well, I got the quote from an article on Claret + Hugh of course! Admittedly, it says 7 scouts rather than 5, but that’s still not great when teams like Southampton have 30+ European scouts and Brentford have 25+
You quoted Brady in an article in the Sun from Feb 16 2019, where she stated that ‘We have a director of football who has set up a system which employs seven scouts in Europe’
Like every other club we have our own group of scouts supplemented by others in various areas when we need to use them on a freelance basis. They have groups of scouts available all over like every other club. This is just a distraction for those determined to find issues and a stick with which to beat people. I’ve been in this game a very very (too) long time James. That’s how it works. I’m not sure I’d be inclined to consider Brady’s Sun column a reliable source.
Couldn’t care less about Fernandes. Not sure he will be up to the premier league. Will get very upset if they sell Diop. Good way to really upset the supporters.wouldnt be the greatest move.
I agree. Selling Diop would be a very disappointing signal. Overall, he has performed very well since he arrived, in my opinion. I think his confidence was damaged by playing in front of Roberto. Disappointed he was not playing on Fri after a good performance at Gillingham, as I’d like to have seen the same back 3 against a PL team. Cresswell is too short as part of a back 3! Diop’s the sort of young player we need to keep and build the team around. Selling, even for £40 million, would really show we are lacking in ambition and deprive us of a significant player who can help us avoid relegation. The fact we didn’t get another young, tricky, lightweight attacking midfielder on loan seems to be a cause of concern to some, but not to me.
I never commented on this one because I knew like all the other transfers we would somehow find a way to mess it up ..sorry but we always do …if he is one for the future and we need player’s now ,then why did we waste all these weeks trying to sign him ..its just the same story with the excuses when we don’t get them ..if we don’t sign players3in this window. We will 100% get relegated imo..
We are just 2 Bob when it comes to business, so I suggest we just get used to it
Fernandes despite the hammer emoji’s never seemed likely, he is also very lightweight, struggles to get in the first team at Benfica, PL is a few seasons away for him imho. Berge on the other hand is exactly what we need and by the look of him would take less time to adapt.
If we are linked with barbosa and Fernandez and end up with joe Allen that will be another step on the road to our next Burnley
The board have spent 25m net in the last two and half windows combined
Not good enough
So u don’t think they have enough money – nor have I – Not quite sure whether u think a protest will achieve much or make you feel better
Trouble at Burnley accomplished things, why not another protest now.Gone back to their 2 bob ways those owners
Yeah u got us Pellegrini – cheers
No I think they won’t spend the money not the same thing
In the last two windows and this so far we have spent a grand total of 25m net
If they still have no money then they are frankly utterly incompetent and still need to go
And who are your suggested replacements and why have their been no bids?
That’s what u want to think – the reality is they are £40m in debt which is why they won’t spend and screw things further. Exactly the same thing
Made them get their wallet out and get Sullivan off transfers last time
If you don’t think husillos and pellegrini Were the right people suppose we need to look at who chose them …………….
No mate – you just won’t say a word in favour so your views are unbalanced. Fact is your protest and their decision as a result was a total failure. But I guess in your world they will always be to blame – so be it. Don’t even know what the protesters want apart from them to leave and the club left with no board and no interest from elsewhere but then anyone can do what they like and feel what they like. I don’t care so long as it’s respectful.
And if you believe they did what they did because of a protest I think you may just be fooling yourself. They#d approach Pellegrini a year earlier
We have Grady Diangana who plays right midfield same age from our academy? Benfica who with Fernandes agents want to put Fernandes in the premiership shop window ? Our squad needs to remove some overseas players to bring in replacements and get rid of some players off the wage bill of which are home grown and dead wood?? We only have a squad that makes the premiership league rules with what we’ve named already so some have to go as well as those that are desperately needed to come in for west ham this window ? We all know what’s needed? Moyes is not that stupid to not know what we need and how to offload what we don’t and get in what we do? The board should support him because the buck stops at the top if he fails to make the necessary changes it will lie with them in the end for not backing him for who comes and who goes for they appointed him?? Keep the faith C.O.Y.I
2 bob Daves
Watching CP yesterday, with an injury list as long as your arm, no strikers, hardly any goals. But refusing to accept defeat & grinding their way to safety. No conclusions from me, other than to say I am baffled. If that was us would there be demonstrations & calls for Hodgson Out because it would not be good enough? Ah well, who said ‘Pride comes before a fall’?
I am getting to the point with West Ham where I am past caring. Mediocrity is not only accepted but the actual goal under this ownership. Second rate ex premier league players is not good enough especially in light of the supposed ‘vision’. I nonetheless grant you that no one of any worth would in their right mind wish to join West Ham at this, or arguably, any time. However, year after year of lack of strategy, preparation and general care for the club and its loyal supporters, who seem an irritation and inconvenience to our ownership, has now taken its toll with me. We must have the most insight-less owners imaginable as any period of considered reflection from Suliivan, Gold and Brady must surely make them see that they are just not very good at running professional football clubs. In this light, it really doesn’t matter who the manager is, and the players we bring in – they all struggle and will continue to do so under this culture. As for the article above, I think it reads as an simplistic apologist for can only be interpreted, given the catalogue of past episodes, yet another embarrassing cock-up at West Ham.
A lot of hot air manufactured by agents about a player we don’t need doesn’t amount to an embarrassing cock-up for me. Keep the faith, Dan – West Ham is for life, not just for Christmas …
Tell me about it…I was a standing season ticket holder in the Chicken Run!
The brightest light at West Ham and the one i turn to amid 1st team mediocrity is the crop of young players we have at U23 and U18s level now.The future looks bright there for the club.Would be nice to see them gradually break through.3 in the squad on Friday.Cannot fathom why Diangana is not recalled with all the turbulence of the transfer market not yielding anything because of a lack of funds.
Feeling among fans is rapidky approaching another Burnley situation
Their 789th claim if poverty will not wash
you mean a few fans. Let’s see how many turn out on 18th. I’d be very interested to know what they think a protest will achieve. Another Pellegrini?
Have you visited the Hammers United website Hugh?
No interest mate. I understand what they are about – up to them. Got my hands full here. Nor am I am concerned about what they may think of me Sean or the site.
We have Milllionaires on the Board, we have Billonaires on the Board, but they have to balance the books. We need Players and we need them now. We won’t get rid of Wiltshire, Sanchez or any of the useless crap, but we keep sending young players elsewhere. Either buy or keep our young players and shock horror thought, try them in the Premiership. Samuelson was a really good youngster and played in a couple of matches. So they send him outside and now he is rubbish. Der. Buy someone NOW , not Deadline Day. Hugill here we come.
Its quite simple really ..net spend as much as you hate to talk about it ,it Dosnt lie ….poor David’s I bet they can hardly put food on the table …😂😂😂😂🙄🙄🙄
Don’t mind talking about it all cos it’s ludicrous to start talking as some fans do unless you want another Icelandic situation. Get used to it. Like most clubs they don’t have real money. Way it is
Cant keep reading this board propaganda…we all know you’re pro board but it’s getting really bad and bordering on unbearable lately. If your intention is just to cater for pro boarders and not for some of us that don’t really like the board but live with it, then you’re going in the right direction.
Stop reading then. If your only answer is sack the board you have no answer cos they arent going to. Frustration and anger is not an answer. It’s called moaning
Ffs give an answer to the prob rather than this constant moaning If u and others wanna try driving the board out that’s entirely your right and I respect it because I try to respect all views. I take the view that until there’s an offer on the table there’s nothing to discuss and protests simply destabilise the club. Sorry if that’s notsuitable but it’s how I feel.
How is this pro board propaganda? There are quite a few legitimate reasons to criticise the board over recent seasons but failing to nail down a deal that was no more than a transfer window story isn’t one of them.
Personally quite relieved we have not ended up with yet another ‘one for the future’ that you never hear of again until they go out on loan to Kazakhstan. We need some experience…..which I think is what the article says.
I was one who had never heard of fernandes before this transfer window. The media will hype all sorts of deals for all clubs that mostly will not happen
Some fans rightly talk of Maddison as a missed opportunity – but was he actually interested in coming to West Ham rather than Leicester (who had recently won the Premier league)?
I think that we should also look at another player Elicester bought – Jonny Evans – if we had bought him the moaners would have been out in full force – old, past it, second rate etc but he hasn’t done too badly
Let us be a bit patient – see a) who we do end up buying and b) how they actually perform
If we either dont buy anybody or who we buy ends up being useless then we can moan, but for now I believe that we should get behind the team
I live in South Africa and have never met DS DG or KB and think that their track record in hiring managers is poor (Alex McLeish says a lot) – but for now I support the team and the manager and acknowledge that all kinds of ridiculous rumours about players will be circulating for which we cannot blame the board