West Ham are cooling on a permanent Alex Song deal.
The midfielder hasn’t been at his best since returning from Africa in January when ending his international career with the Cameroon.
And the failed move for Darren Fletcher later in the month was an indicator the club may be ready to look elsewhere.
Now it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the club will be ready to splash out up to £15 million on the transfer fee and £70k – £80k wages the player will want.
A source told ClaretandHugh said: “He has been out of sorts in recent weeks although it’s important to remember he’s not a guy who tries to play the easy pass.
“However, some questions are being asked and the chances of the club getting involved in a battle for him are receding a bit.
“It’s still too early to make a final judgement but from all I hear I’d say the chances have gone from 50/50 t0 about 70/30 against.”
Although there can be no denighing that Song hasn’t been the same player since he returned from the ACON, but there also can’t be any doubt that he is a class act and imo a bad case of jet lag shouldn’t stop us from moving heaven and earth to sign him.
agreed, and the fact that they are trying to get another central midfielder is normal .it’s not to replace hime it’s to replace Nolan who will leave in the summer.
Anyone who reads these blogs will see I have been commenting on Song’s form of late and his passing has been poor, giving the ball away to often, sometimes in dangerous areas around his own box. I also feel he may perhaps have knee problems. He also needs pace around him to be at his best with his eye for a pass, but to be fair he hasn’t had that luxury lately.
yes someone who plays expansive like him needs good support because he is likely to give more balls away than others. He has certainly been out of form lately and it is a bit worrying.
They way we are playing at the moment and playing Nolan deep in midfield puts a strain on Song, the only good thing is other clubs will loose interest as well
His price will drop and his wage demands will have to come down,
There are similar players out there that will cost less and are younger and we have been linked with them in the past but with BFS going I hope the new manager might use Kouyate with others how they want to play.
Personally for me we still should try to sign him.He has been giving the ball away a bit but also he has lost options to pass to in recent weeks.With Kouyate behind him in defence,Downing not directly in front of him in the centre at the tip of the diamond.He was at his best with these two where they should be.Jenkinson & Cresswell were also giving him more options to pass it wide when they were raiding along the wings.You cant blame one guy but im afraid that Nolan does have an impact on the whole midfield.Downing has been less effective,Noble has been out of sorts & Song as well.None of them want to pass the ball to him.If we could get Noble,Kouyate,Downing & Song back in midfield playing to the system that suits them then im sure we will see the best of him again.Best of all them as a unit in fact.If Allardyce actually plays them together without his pet in the team.
I would never change Song with another midfielder. Every match he touches hundreds of balls and he’s never banal. He’s still young, he loves London and Premier League. I’d think twice about letting him go. He’s a warrior with great feet.
The bottom line here is that when we play well, generally he plays well. Oppo of late gave been closing him down and not giving him time, putting two men on him.
Ordinarily this works to your advantage by creating space for others…but when that space is created for Kevin Nolan, there is simply no upside.
Get Kouyate back alongside Alex, with Downing, Diafra and Enner back upfront and he’ll soon be back to his best.
With you there stubbo… Nolan is our bigest prob to date.. his legs are gone he ambles around and gives the ball away more than any other player..
Song is a quality player in his own right . The facts of the matter are that he is doing the job of 3.5 players . Noble and Nolan give him no support at all as they crawl around like headless chickens and he is also covering the chronic lack of a quality central defender when Reid is injured .
Well said Bubbles, the Nolan factor is what is confusing Song, if we play as we did at the beginning of the season with the diamond and the right players in the right positions, then he is the class act .
COYI
Same reply i gave to stubbo.. your right on the mark there oldiron.. though dont totally agree with bubbles about Noble.