With Evan Ferguson pictured in the shirt and looking forward to starting his Hammers career and enjoy a reunion with his former boss Graham Potter, the outcome is satisfactory for West Ham and supporters: Compared with what could have been, from some of the names mentioned during the lead-up to deadline day, West Ham have a decent, hungry young striker to help push the club upwards in the Premier League.
From reports surfacing it could have been a very different result in the transfer window had Graham Potter not put his foot down and rejected the ‘back-up’ option – which was André Silva.
Much the opposite profile to Ferguson in all aspects, age and mobility certainly, it looked at one stage as if West Ham were going to have to settle for the out of favour 29 year old who hadn’t scored in months.
Bild.de via sportwitness.co.uk -who kindly translated – reveal that Silva was lined up to come to West Ham on loan as we’d been suggesting – until Graham Potter cancelled the deal. There were, according to the German source:
“..Reports in Germany stating that West Ham and Leipzig had agreed a loan deal. They were believed to be working on the finer details of that move before West Ham turned their attention elsewhere. West Ham was already quite far, but then Graham Potter decided against the striker. “
Sounds like a bullet dodged indeed as Silva would likely have been less mobile, less motivated and less effective at West Ham. And he would certainly have not enthused the fan base as much as Ferguson has done. Last summer saw West Ham accept thirty year old – plus – players into their midst, some of whom were clearly not up to the speed of the Premier League.
Rather than repeat the mistake with another – nearly – thirty year old football journeyman, Potter has saved the Hammers from Ings 2.0 and pushed West Ham forward with a younger, more dynamic front man at the club until the summer.
Time will tell but it sounds as if West Ham’s manager has made a good call.
“Fickle Potter intervenes to save West Ham from repeating past mistakes”
What the hell is that headline? Do you know what “fickle” even means? From all accounts, Potter has been looking to bring in young forwards this window or, potentially, the next.
Ferguson was seemingly the one he was focused on entirely while also looking at other potential recruits and Silva was one linked before Potter was even in the job so it’s the polar opposite of being fickle.
“Much the opposite profile to Ferguson in all aspects, age and mobility certainly, it looked at one stage as if West Ham were going to have to settle for the out of favor Silva who hadn’t scored in months.” In all aspects, really? Compared to the prolific free scoring Ferguson, who had amassed an amazing one goal since November 2023.
Now I admit, it is hard to believe much of what is written about football in general, but even more so I am finding when it comes to Evan Ferguson, when you see statements like “ Evan Ferguson scored a stunning hat-trick in Brighton’s 2-2 draw with Wolves” but perhaps if we all share whatever we find from our respective sources, we might get somewhere near the truth?
The article is fine and I agree with the sentiment – but the headline is terrible – why call GP “Fickle” for blocking a poor transfer which was likely thought of before he came?
There’s no point bringing dross in, we likely have players already who are capable of playing poorly up front. We have to hope that Ferguson keeps fit, he very much does have it in him to hardly play at all but also has it in him to be decent if he does play.
If he scores goals for us then Brighton will either keep him or put a massive figure on the sale open to all.
If he breaks down injury wise then we don’t get caught with a fee for a crock, which I actually think he is
Great call by potter has more vision with younger players saved us millions on what would be a mistake !
Ferguson in but Brighton will take him back at end of loan make no mistake NO MONEY SPENT PERFECT WINDOW FOR SULLY
well yeah, they’ll be more in the summer
It’s not ‘Fickle’, it’s the opposite, Potter is the first person we’ve had in a while with his head screwed on and a clear way to go about things.
In essence , Potter got Ferguson for a free trial , which is great , no obligation to buy if he breaks . Potter will figure out players to keep and then build the squad properly in the summer with no panic buys . JWP is better than Guido and so Westham will be improved with his return .
Taxi for Mr Salthouse ! Well done GP, scuppering Sully’s schemes.
The perfect transfer window for the chairman not a pound spent