AFTER last season’s lame performances, West Ham failed to take action to change or upgrade the trio of central defenders responsible for the worst statistics outside the relegated trio. The Hammers’ three center backs had the worst records for goals conceded and clean sheets. Bar none of the Premier League ‘survivors’.
And the fact that neither Graham Potter nor Chairman David Sullivan saw fit to heed that 2024-5 warning and change the line up has backfired in a wholly predictable manner.
Instead of new recruits, the Irons’ complacency resulted in a limp loan deal for Brighton’s Igor Julio who hasn’t featured. Clearly the club didn’t learn and now will pay for that monumental error of relying on Todibo, Mavropanos and Kilman, most likely with their Premier League survival.
The penny appears to have dropped, finally, as West Ham go searching in desperation for an upgrade.
Rebuttal follows rebuttal as any half decent player will laugh at the prospect of joining a Premier League basket case.
So the latest ‘target’ – apparently Brentford’s thirty two year old Ethan Pinnock – shows both the desperation now gripping the club and also how low the bar is set to upgrade the Hammers defence. As givemesport.com revealed, Brentford’s virtually redundant defender is seen as an ‘upgrade’ by West Ham.
“Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock is emerging as a potential January transfer target for West Ham United….Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are reportedly eyeing a move for the experienced 32-year-old defender, who has made just three Premier League appearances this season”.
Too little, too late.
Ignoring the evidence of their own eyes last season and failing to improve the centre – back situation at the end of 2024/5 is yet another of the West Ham board’s board’s huge failings, as if they could not believe their £77 million “investment” in Max Kilman and Jean Clair Todibo could ever be questioned.
Another big mistake which will take more than a 32 year old out-of-work Ethan Pinnock to rectify.
This isn’t a signing to lift the spirits. But I’d much rather have someone like this than a plaudit-winning centre back who’s never played outside of Brazil.
CB,S likr Pinnock could be another Dawson i think we need somepne like him with P.L experience could solve a lot of isses then get Max out of the firing line Igor not had a look in.
Potter was obviously happy with the defence in the Summer and also stated that he didn’t need a striker, you could forgive all that perhaps, if we had a world class midfield, but in reality we are lacking in so many areas
Well , obviously not a “Wonderkid “, perhaps he’s ” Unplayable ” , this club is bad ! Unfortunately it’s only going to get worse, what an absolute shower…
Didn’t you say the same thing when we signed Dawson?
no, I wasn’t writing for C and H when we signed Dawson!
Got to agree with DJHammer. Absolutely no point in concentrating our recruitment efforts on young players with potential to develop.
We need effective help right now. Just as Sam Allardyce had a plan and brought in the players to successfully execute that plan. Unfortunately, Sam was not credited with saving and improving our team. Instead, we demanded that we played like Barcelona and hounded Sam out. Same with David Moyes.
We need to be in it before we can win it. We need immediate assistance. Effective and pragmatic coaching will also go a very long way to making a difference on the pitch.
COYI
Remember in the summer you were going on about strikers being signed. Seems now they have been signed you are now bleating on about CB’s. Pity more of this was not made by you and other pundits in the summer. I’d be surprised if you publish this but if not I’ll note it elsewhere.
”bleating on’about centre backs. go read the articles from august and september about selling Nayef Aguerd without replacing him.
Aged defender needed for sinking ship.
Freebies only need apply.
Dawson is avaiable.
How many people were happy to welcome Dawson? Could steady the ship. Good stats.
Not much of a gamble.
No No No. Need younger players which ever happens to the club at the end of the season, although i expect to be in the Championship. When will we ever learn, look forward 18 months, player struggling to keep up with speed of Premier league or number of games in the Championship. No resale value and no money to replace. This is why we are in this situation now. Don’t make it worse for next season
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
He’s decent in a low block defensive partnership of three CBs, if signed he could help in the short term for 18 months or so.
How we can go into the window with no clear targets given our defensive record just about sums up all that is wrong with our club. Todibo is ok but mav and especially kilman are not good enough.
Going into the season with these two and and two ageing injury prone strikers has backfired massively. What a mess