By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
So, West Ham want to take a more holistic approach to player recruitment. Whatever that means, aside from the dictionary definition.
The expected appointment of Nils Koppen is due to be announced next week, assuming he is granted a work permit, and his title is set to be Director of Recruitment rather than Director of Football.
To some, these might be mere semantics, but I believe the nuance is important.
More Than Just Recruitment
A role dealing directly with the buying and selling of footballers allows other areas of the football operation to be expanded, and it looks as if that is exactly what is happening at West Ham.
After 10 days of very little information emanating from the club, it now appears that most of the big media hitters have a decent steer on the direction in which the club is heading.
And it would seem that the promised restructure and rebuild is actually happening.
That, in itself, is something to get excited about after years of watching our rivals move ahead of us in scouting and recruitment.
Koppen will lead West Ham’s search for players
Defined Roles
What does appear to be clear from the shake-up is that, alongside an expanded role for Mark Noble, Nuno Espírito Santo will be concentrating far more on coaching and tactics than on bringing new players into the club.
Clearly, as part of the structure, he will have a say in the type of player he wants.
But at that point, it will be over to Koppen to identify those players, if that work hasn’t already been done.
A Better Way Of Doing Things
Where everyone else fits into this structure is yet to be fully explained.
But it already feels like a far more sensible way of operating than throwing the baby out with the bathwater every time West Ham change managers.
That has happened far too often in recent years.
Overall, things do appear to be ticking along behind the scenes, and I suspect next week will bring even more developments.
Let’s hope that Nuno is given players that suit his vision rather than a few pig’s ears to make his job impossible.
Another head of recruitment, hard to get excited about this.
At least we have someone tasked with finding out what Nunos priorities are, identifying players and helping Nuno select them. Let’s see if an actual data analysis and scouting network follows
It is good to have a person with knowledge to bring together all the aspects of recruitment and to prevent manager from bringing in players to act as quick, easy fixes in order to meet his target. The recruitment market is a shark infested sea nowadays while NES target is to bounce back to the PL like a rubber ball in one season – not easy.
The downside is you have constant churn and in theory players such as Brooking, Billy Bonds, Noble would be sold and now Summerville, Fernandes are most likely to be sold because have highest value, but also greatest ability to bounce back to the PL as well as remain in the PL.
They then need to be replaced. Unfortunately, so far, the WHU academy holds a bit of potential only (Scarles, Orford, Ajala,..?) who MIGHT be C & later PL ready – but very few indeed. So WHU hunt the market to replace players who are in fact, irreplaceable as a like for like.
Flip the coin and players also want to move on and use the club as a stepping stone, but a DOF whose success is measured only by financial in-goings and out-goings will act as a ceiling for the club and encourage player turnover regardless. He’ll receive a massive salary and be judged by accounting entries.
For me developing youngsters as well as academy players successfully playing for the 1st team need to be part of his remit otherwise the DOF will be happy with constant churn that will justify his mansion-buying salary. He also needs to retain a core of players (Fernandes, Summerville) for the club to progress even further. Maybe not this season unfortunately, because of the financial black hole of the club, thanks to Brady and DS.
As for being able to replace manager and not change players I think it is a nice theory only (but who am I to say) and presumes one manager can create magic out of a squad where the previous manager failed. Like asking NES to make a success of Potter’s team – ain’t gonna happen.