Sam Byram …on his way?
Sam Byram’s future at West Ham doesn’t look great and should a decent offer be made in the summer the former Leeds player could be on his way along with up to six others.
The manager bought the former Leeds defender in the January of 2016 declaring: “He’s one for next year” – a prediction that has fallen on its face.
So far, in nearly a season and a half, the player has made just 11 appearances in all competitions!
The Hammers are set for an active summer and among those who could be on their way are the 23 year old right back, Adrian, Havard Nortdeidt, Alvaro Arbeola, Jonathon Calieri, , James Collins, Andy Carroll and even Ashley Fletcher as the club look for top new blood.
Byram is clearly not trusted in the right back role and I even read on one well regarded Hammers website this morning that the answer to our “right back problem” may be Mark Noble.
That Cheik Kouyate is being used as a makeshift right sided defender – a much criticised situation – speaks for itself as Byram appears to lose his way at the club.
We were told this morning: “A top right back is a priority in the summer and Sam is seen as one who needs more development time. We will be looking to freshen everything up in the summer and there could be departures.”
Kieran Trippier has to now be our top target surely. At whatever cost.
I’ve not been convinced by Byram although, to be fair, he has had bad luck with injuries.
However, at 23yo the club can’t waste too much more time hoping he will come good.
All of the other players mentioned have not given the club any reasons to keep them.
The Noble for right back suggestion must have been made by a blind man. Ridiculous.
Sure Levi can’t wait to give him to us
If Hugh is right about the major turnaround of players that is likely this summer (following a major rebuilding last year) that is a terrible indictment of out recruitment. I would be interested to know what other fans think about our progress. Last season was a one off, which I feel covered up the fact that we are not really any further forward than we were two seasons ago. I am not just responding to Monday night. Seems to me we have scraped our way to most of our wins & have never looked convincing. What do other fans think?
I think in the summers of 2014 and 2015 we made fantastic progress with the squad. We added more real quality than we had for the previous 15 years. As for 2016, it was the opposite. Overall we have made good progress during the last 3 years but we can’t expect to match the very rich clubs in such a short time.
For me, we can’t expect to move forward quicker than, 5 steps forward and 2 steps back. I am quite satisfied we are going in the right direction as fast as we possibly can.
Also I think the real success stories of last summer were Quina, Martinez, Fernandez and I still think Fletcher. All youngsters who should come to maturity in the next 2 years.
Leicester were in a sprint last season, and they won it. We started a marathon 3 years ago and we are still running it. Are we winning? I like to think so.
Andy Carroll and even Ashley Fletcher…..shouldn’t that read Ashley Fletcher and even Andy Carroll??
Noble to right back,is it April the 1st already or someone got up and went straight on the Special Brew lol
To Go?…….Adrian, Havard Nortdeidt, Alvaro Arbeola, Jonathon Calieri, James Collins, Andy Carroll, Ashley Fletcher, Tore – and Fegoulhi?
This doesn’t sound right – we need a prime and a back-up rb – even if he isn’t seen as the number 1 Byram is a more than adequate back-up RB. Surely we are not going to recruit 2. Keep Adrian (although he may want to go),
Agree re Nortdeidt, Arbeola, Calleri is on a loaner and so would go, Tore as well, Ginge (with Burke and Oxford coming into the squad), Carroll and Fletcher means that we would then be looking to recruit 3 – 4 forwards! That’s a stretch so Fletcher will likely stay.
Now the million(s) dollar questions – who comes in?
Interesting that we took the head of recruitment from Sunderland 18 months ago.
Name one good player Sunderland have signed in 10 years apart from defoe who you don’t need to scout and find?
When was the last time we actually took a top player from another premier league club ?
Slav knew Lanzini and Payet from scouting when a national manager, since then most buys are average.
Average recruitment = average team.
Noble at right back did make me laugh. Almost as funny as Randolph in goal.
Id keep adrian and let randolph go his a championship player at best yes make a few good daves but almost always lets in the easy goal so to distibute the ball when we play counter attacking football his alsoncpsting us points by letting in cheap goals would keep byram as back up and fletcher as i believe his and martinez could be a real.strike force given time carrol if we got sufficent money for him id let him.go yes deadlynon his day but thats 5 tomes a season at best we need somenone who wont get the west ham curse hopefully batman a nw right winger to challenge fegouli as i believe he has it in him.but needs tome and a challenge a proven rb and a new gk we are well coverd else where woth youth oxford burke fernandez martinez maybe a cheaky bid for cassias ( cant spell his name) for one last roll of the dice in goal evem if its for a season or two and get a youth goal keeper to learn from
Have we progressed, assume so although it doesn’t really feel like it sometimes. Disappointed more than distraught, last season gave us a taste of what it’s like to go anywhere, play anyone with no fear. I loved the ‘tongue in cheek’ calls to Barca, seems we were coming for them lol but it was fun and not completely without relevance given our league position at that time. More than anything we got respect big time and I bloody loved it…..now it’s a bit like same old West Ham, win a few, lose a few more but ok. Do I still enjoy going, yes, look forward to each game but would like a bit more.
Neither Adrian or Darren Randolph are top-class keepers but who to bring in and is Sullivan prepared to pay the premium required for a top keeper? Begovic, Joe Hart, Pickford, Vorm, Tim Krul etc etc – there’s plenty out there you just have to pay the money.
The same can be said for a top class right-back and the numerous other additions we need to strengthen our weak squad – pay the money required and don’t try to cut corners all the time!
We need a Phil Parkes style statement so it’s Joe Hart for me. I’d bloody love that I really would.