The first major recruitment coup of the new West Ham era looks a nailed – on certainty now after this weekend’s developments; We’d suggest a ‘done deal‘ but knowing how those words came back to bite us last week we’ll wait for the official announcement!
However it seems a fair conclusion to suggest that West Ham’s head of recruitment position has now been ‘filled’ following the report today claiming that the one major stumbling block that could have derail the club’s appointment has now been circumvented, according to footballinsider247.com:
Nils Koppen has been granted a work permit as he closes in on being appointed West Ham United’s new transfer chief….
Koppen will lead West Ham’s search for players once his contract at FC Copenhagen is ended
The 39-year-old was awarded the permit at a hearing on Friday after agreeing terms with the Hammers.”
Within three weeks of taking over the helm, the new-look Hammers’ board would seem about to confirm their appointment of the former Glasgow Rangers technical director as their head of recruitment.
Whilst it has felt like months, that’s pretty speedy stuff.
We understand that Koppen will be working ‘alongside’ Nuno Espírito Santo rather than ‘above’ him, which should hopefully defuse any of the summer nastiness that saw Nuno exit Nottingham Forest a year ago after his falling-out with Forest’s ‘head of football’ Edu, who apparently had very different ideas on how the club should have been operated.
Koppen faces a big challenge this summer: His ‘inbox’ will already be stuffed with enquiries for key players that West Ham will be hoping to keep: Plus of course the ongoing Summerville and Fernandes transfer talk needs nailing down one way or the other according to the board’s wishes.
There’s also the small matter of bringing in enough talent for Nuno to have a functioning squad once the likes of Alphonse Areola, Jean Clair Todibo, Fernandes, Summerville, Fullkrug, Cornet, Ward Prowse and whoever else is deemed surplus to requirements has exited the club.
However there is still the small issue that Koppen is technically still in the employ of FC Copenhagen to be overcome. No doubt nothing that money cannot fix.
Who will approve the players that he recommends? Nuno and his dominant agent will probably have their own ideas regarding recruitment…
This is worrying news He was a dissapoint in Scotland Just ask around
I do understand need someone to bring together all the aspects of recruitment (agents, data analysis, players contracts, scouts, rogue football managers, recommendations,…) and it is great news, but I must admit one thing I don’t like about the whole DOF/Tech Dir. concept is it could in theory, lead to constant churn on recruitment.
If the guy is judged on financial in/out goings on players and turning a profit, it leads you automatically to the idea that players such as Brooking, Billy Bonds, Noble will be sold at their peak and the DOF will be saluted for doing a good job. Then club hunt around for younger replacements and start again, with some success but not 100% because these players are in fact irreplaceable. Then you wait and hope the newcomers will develop well and enhance their value, while club probably treads water for a bit (in footballing terms).
So I hope that part of the remit is to build up a core of players that could be with the club for many seasons because they are too good to lose even when they are 31. Some of these players and much more recent ones, were what made the team competitive and a threat to any team.
For example, Fernandes & Summerville are top of everyone’s list to be sold, yet they are 2 players you would turn to, to bounce back into the PL and stay there for many seasons. Perhaps unavoidable this time around because of financial black hole left by DS & Brady – to be confirmed.
Lastly, the pro-DOF argument that you can change manager in the future and not change the squad, I think it is just a very comforting theory that does not hold a lot of water. All managers will start changing the squad because each has a different style and approach to implement. It’s an easy sell, pleasing sound bites.
Still very glad the guy is joining but wonder about repercussions and outlook. Has a real role to play, but perhaps has failings inherent to it.
I do understand need someone to bring together all the aspects of recruitment (agents, data analysis, players contracts, scouts, rogue football managers, recommendations,…) and it is great news, but I must admit one thing I don’t like about the whole DOF/Tech Dir. concept is it could in theory, lead to constant churn on recruitment.
If the guy is judged on financial in/out goings on players and turning a profit, it leads you automatically to the idea that players such as Brooking, Billy Bonds, Noble will be sold at their peak and the DOF will be saluted for doing a good job. Then club hunt around for younger replacements and start again, with some success but not 100% because these players are in fact irreplaceable. Then you wait and hope the newcomers will develop well and enhance their value, while club probably treads water for a bit (in footballing terms).
So I hope that part of the remit is to build up a core of players that could be with the club for many seasons because they are too good to lose even when they are 31. Some of these players and much more recent ones, were what made the team competitive and a threat to any team.
For example, Fernandes & Summerville are top of everyone’s list to be sold, yet they are 2 players you would turn to, to bounce back into the PL and stay there for many seasons. Perhaps unavoidable this time around because of financial black hole left by DS & Brady – to be confirmed.
The academy and youngsters, apart from Kante, have not established themselves as 1st team players. Perhaps in the Championship but there is no certainty based on lack of loan success and lack of trust manager showed in them. I hope part of DOF remit is to review the Academy, especially development of those on the fringe of the 1st team as well as Lamadrid, Magassa,.. Most would say Magassa has huge potential, but what is being done about it? Anything? Maybe sell find another potential success, considering whether loan MIGHT help. It’s not good enough, somewhere along the line it is failing.
Perhaps club need sister clubs who’ll take developing youngsters and they will play. Something needs to be done.
Lastly, as for the pro-DOF argument that you can change manager in the future and not change the squad, I think it is just a very comforting theory that does not hold a lot of water. All managers will start changing the squad because each has a different style and approach to implement. It’s an easy sell, pleasing sound bites.
Still very glad the guy is joining but wonder about repercussions and outlook. Has a real role to play, but perhaps has failings inherent to it.
Dream job. Dream appointment. Just hope that Koppen does not want to make his own mark and place his own stamp on the NES squad.
Nuno needs to be in charge and get assistance from everyone else.
COYI
I am relieved if it’s true he will work with Nuno. Managers are the first to be sacked if it all goes wrong, so should have a say in who we buy. We know the other way doesn’t work from the Steidten / Moyes debacle
6 weeks until the start of the season, hope he didn’t have any holiday plans. Feels like it could be the start of a very exciting era for us.