From the lacklustre way in which West Ham huffed and puffed but failed to score in a second half that they dominated, there is clearly a lot to do on the training pitch as well as in the days that remain of the transfer window.
Latest signing – reported by The Athletic to be around £18 million (although other sources claim nearer to £10 million) – Edvin Austbo was snapped at the airport yesterday afternoon on his way to London where presumably he’ll undergo a medical today.
All being well, the Hammers will have brought themselves a dynamic, pacy forward who will get the crowd on their feet: Sorely needed but not, on his own, enough to solve Nuno’s problems, some of which are self inflicted.
Austvo snapped at the airport on his way to England last night
Known as an attacking winger with explosive pace, Austvo will be welcomed by Nuno thanks to his ability to press high and create goals as well as score them himself from wide positions.
The suggestion from the Athletic is that, intriguingly, there may be another wide man target too:
“Meanwhile, the Championship club have also submitted a £12million offer for winger Mikel Gogorza of Midtjylland.”
Which would certainly give the Hammers options for the season ahead and go some way to curing the team’s lack of pace so bemoaned by my colleagues here on Claret and Hugh.
No news on a creative midfielder -sorely needed after yesterday’s failure to land a glove on their opponents – much needed to unlock the ‘low block’ as teams in this division sit back and bat away West Ham’s currently toothless attack.
Three days remain for West Ham to conclude their business with at least three more needed – along with something of a change of approach from their under pressure Manager.
No good having a great midfield or forwards, if they’re made to do the job of a defender, how can they press, when the game is played in our half, of lacklustre defending.
Having a solid defence, gives the talented players, the opportunity to play their game, we got them to do.
Defenders that keep passing sideways or backwards, implies they are afraid to attack.
Mentality is lacking, self confidence is missing, lack of positive instruction, governs lack of progress.
Sort out the defence.
Something doesn’t feel right here. Signing two out and out left wingers while we also have Solomon smacks of no plan. We need a left back, a creative midfielder, a centre back and cover from Bowen yet we seem to be going all in on left wingers?
We need footballers on the pitch and not names in locations on the team sheet, MB.
Remember Michail Antonio, the right full back?
I remember well and he was poor there got subbed after 52 mins. I also remember Kouyate having a great game at right back as well not! Nuno playing Scarles at Right Back was another outstanding success. If you don’t have the right players in your squad to create a balanced team failure is guaranteed. As an example 11 Jared Bowens might sound great on paper but would get us relegated
Light squad need versatile players who can cover multiple positions.
Defence …. Michael Keane for a season, together with Mayers and Casey (even Tobido when we have a new manager)
Midfield…. Soucek (even Magassa and Alvarez when we have a new manager)
Forwards… this guy Austbo Ajaja, and the Woodchopper from Forest for a season (even Cornet when we have a new manager, if the medical team get him fit)
agree.
If this is all true and not click bait Mikel Gogorzo looks unlikely has persistent hip and groin issues.
Not likely to return until September 2026.
Wolves c/bk with a transfer fee of approx. £25m also debatable.
Needed: c/bk, l/bk, pacy creative mid, freebie striker after window shuts.
Two draws at home next week won’t be enough to save Nuno…You could get Messi in under this gutless manager and it wouldn’t work…Ajala and Piroe sitting on the bench against a side that got battered at home in midweek by a league one side is signing his own execution…He is waiting for the pay off…. Personally I think he knows that a take over is coming and he wouldn’t be retained anyway.
Not surprised if Hammers go for Gogorza. He has been out for months and will continue to be so if FC Midtjylland is to be believed… so he should fit in nicely. 🙂
I think the point here is that he’s another attacking player…we need a completely new B4, first, as I’ve already said on here, it’s no good scoring 2 or 3 if we let in 3 or 4…
I thought Engles and Mukasa were supposed to be our creative players? Give them a chance to settle in
If this geezer’s our last summer signing then we’re in big trouble.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he is. We seem to be as chaotic and clueless as ever as we were for 16 years under Baroness Botox and the cheapskate charlatan snake oil salesman vertically-challenged ex-adult industry dictating cretin.