West Ham’s back line has been the subject of considerable conjecture this season. Entering the fray with just three front line centre backs, thanks to either Tim Steidten or Julen Lopetegui’s flawed decision making (it doesn’t matter which, its a bit late for apportioning blame), the Hammers have been down to just Max Kilman standing after Mavropanos was suspended and Todibo injured: Clearly an addition to the back line is a must buy in the summer.
Mavropanos in any case has become notorious amongst Claret and Hugh comments as always having a mistake in him: The 88th minute free kick in the ‘D’ he gave away for a clumsy lazy challenge against Arsenal could easily have led to an equaliser when the team was working their socks off for twin. An upgrade is required.
Reports linking a £15 million summer move by West Ham for Taylor Harwood-Bellis are exciting: The young England centre-back is affordable for West Ham’s budget and according to all reports is ‘up’ for the move. Critics claim he’s a defender from the bottom club and ‘relegation quality’ .
They miss the point that at 23 the Saints’ defender has years of improvement in him under a decent coach – and if he can get selected for England whilst playing for the awful Southampton, there is indeed every likelihood that he will evolve into a quality centre back to rival Aaron Wan-Bissaka in terms of a ‘hindsight bargain’.
A sale of Nayef Aguerd or Mavropanos would make the young England centre back a modest outlay to West Ham in the summer but a very real, young, decent paced addition and upgrade to West Ham’s defence.
I don’t want to be dismissive and maybe all 3 players the 2 defenders and keeper have their merits but this is a team that have had two different managers and let it so many goals it’s unreal. I think all 3 players played in sides previously, where their defence wouldn’t be under so much pressure so maybe that is why they appeared okay. If they join us they will be back to under constant pressure as that is what we have been like for nearly 10 years now. Personally I don’t rate Ramsdale and am not sold on the other 2 either. Maybe Harwood is a decent prospect and worth a try .
” when the team was working their socks off for t’win. An upgrade is required. ”
Didn’t realise you were from up North, Martin.
Westham have already blown their budget last summer and combined with no Euro football revenue and a low Premier League finish losing Westham another 25 million , cheap or free options are the only options to avoid PSR violations .
Problem with todays supporters….. they would of said Marc Rieper not good enough Tonka not good enough even Neil Orr…….Developing a player is something younger fans do not seem to appreciate nowadays….and if you take there way of thinking to the limit why did we buy Summerville after all he was in a team that failed to get promoted!…. Take the blinkers off and look at the potential of the player.
Yes Martin, it is a bit late to be apportioning blame, but nevertheless you just can’t help yourself and keep on doing it. On your point about the criticism, I agree and I wonder if West Ham were more closely involved in the relegation battle, would those same people say that Bowen was not worth buying? At the price being quoted for H-B, if that is true, I think he is definitely worth a look, he does check a number of boxes. As was mentioned earlier, I would also take Ramsdale if he was offered, because Areola seems to have no clue on distribution.
I would have no issue taking KWP and Ramsdale from Southampton also. All would improve our squad.
I agree on this. People also forget he was highly rated prospect at Man City who played for England at U16,17,19,20,21(he captained them) before moving on like many of English Man City prospects did (Cole Palmer, Liam Delap)
He only played for England seniors because Carsley was picking his U21 favourites, plus there were a lot of injuries.
Easy to point to Palmer, but City have let a lot of youth players go that have never been heard of again (Mubama could soon to be added to that list)- they don’t get many wrong.
West Ham just looking for a cheap option again…