Another brief interlude for football talk. West Ham United’s boardroom travails are big news at the moment as the potential Sullivan – Kretinsky succession understandably takes up media and fan attention. However with the World Cup just days away and several Hammers competing it won’t be too long before the focus shifts back to on-pitch developments.
Accordingly, a new article out today has highlighted ‘the World Cup’ figureheads’ – key players for selected countries who can influence their nations’ performance once the tournament gets underway: First amongst these is discarded West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez.
Still a West Ham player and considered a likely game changer in this summer’s World Cup finals.
Despite being loaned out, unwanted, from east London at the start of last season by Graham Potter, Alvarez is considered a huge game changer for his native Mexico side. in their article ‘The World Cup figureheads:s Stepping up on the biggest stage” the Irish Examiner leads with:
While he hardly caught the eye for West Ham, Edson Alvarez is Mexico’s key man. El Tri’s captain marshals the side in the middle of the park and provides the effective shield for the backline. The forward-thinking 28-year-old will also be the one to instigate attacks through the middle.”
Which makes you wonder if a succession of West Ham head coaches have played ‘El Machin’ out of position, a sluggish component of the least dynamic midfield in the Premier League.
Fans will have a chance to assess Alvarez again this summer – as will Nuno Espírito Santo.
Could Alvarez do a job in a championship midfield? Few would think so with the Mexican skipper odds on to be sold if his World Cup performance attracts serious bids from South America or – as rumoured – a possible return to previous club Ajax.
Hammers fans would love to see him have a good tournament, if only to show up another dumb Graham Potter transfer decision to ship him out to Turkey last summer. And after a desperately unlucky season dogged with injuries, Alvarez surely deserves a bit of good luck.
Awarded Golden Boot player of the tournament and scored the winning goal in the CONCACOF final last year, sort of suggests he’s not total cr-p. Don’t Fenerbahce have option to buy though?
Personally I don’t know on this one. There were games where he did ok for the Hammers and games where he was terrible. Was he begin asked to play out of position? Well yes I think he was. This type of players collects the ball in midfield and plays through balls to the forwards. He is not a holding midfielder! Would he be good if asked to play to his strengths in the Championship? Who knows, hopefully Nuno does!
Cost whu £33.5m what is he likely to bring in transfer market, £20m?
Totally agree he was linked often to yellow cards possibly leading to red.
That was a year ago if he’s learnt and can avoided his trait could be worth keeping him.
Let’s see how he gets on in the world cup needs to stay injury free.
Never shyed away from a tackle and originally suggested possibly a replacement for Rice.
With Fernandez departure under Nuno could find a different player.
He will have a good world cup as he is played to his strengths in a Mexico team, I feel Nuno would also get the best out of him, but fear a cut price sale away. Potter was retarded and definitely cost us millions in write downs on player valuations. Remind us again what we paid for him and question whether letting him go on the cheap is a sensible decision?
people seem to forget how abysmal edson was for us, awful discipline and a donkey of a footballer. definitely get rid