Tim Steidten’s transfer decisions last summer continue to be placed under the scrutiny of 20 / 20 hindsight: The brief has changed from the summer’s pearl diving to ‘hit the ground running’ acquisitions. The only positive outcome will be a lesson learned for the future with regard to buying thirty plus year-old players with dodgy injury records in the case of Fullkrug. At least with Luis Guilherme, some, or most of the cash should be recouped. Fullkrug will be another matter.
With reports again surfacing regarding the (oh no) interest in Newcastle’s creaking Callum Wilson, I hope the calm head of Graham Potter prevails and deters West Ham’s management from taking yet another backward step with one more crock for the scrap heap after half a dozen ten – minute cameos.
“Necessity is the mother of invention”: West Ham have bags of necessity right now with a full front-line of strikers on the sick list. Graham Potter had a few days to get his feet under the desk and assess the squad after joining, plus however much time preparation waiting for the axe to fall on Lopetegui. And in that time he would seem to have come to the same conclusion as his predecessor- that Luis Guilherme is not a first team footballer.
The fact that the ‘luxury’ twenty million plus teenager sat idly on the bench during West Ham’s epic victory against Fulham speaks volumes. The Irons started without a recognised striker and even when Kudus was withdrawn and replaced with Ings, Potter chose to live his teen speedster sitting watching.
If I was Guilherme right now I’d be agitating for a move away. The fact that the Times ran the story yesterday that a Saudi team are planning to buy him probably comes as a relief to the player and to West Ham’s management as it will being a sorry end to the whole speculative episode. You can fully expect Guilherme to emerge as a wonderful 20 a season goal scorer in five years time – that is the way of things at West Ham.
However, just now, that £15 million (If we are lucky) can better be used elsewhere to help towards acquiring someone who can bang in five plus goals in what remains of this season and go onto greater things in the next few years. The luxury of ‘potential’ – another teen pearl – is not something West Ham can afford just now. With no Bowen, Antonio or Fullkrug, ‘potential’ doesn’t put points on the board.
I don’t get it an 18 year old was bought as one for the future surely, not for the now.
If he’s happy to be with us at West Ham and he will become a PL player then it is a no-brainer to keep him. Nurture him. Blend him into the team. Don’t rush but don’t ignore and forget.
If he’s not settled and pleased to be in London with a bright future in front of him, then he needs to be moved on.
Just keep him away from the likes of Ravel and Matthew Etherington’s advisors and ‘mates’.
COYI
Quite willing to keep Rodriguez who has been a disappointment aged 30 years with no resale value.
Excuse is that he’s come from another country and not settled yet.
This lad aged 18 years who has potential if given game time with resale value looks to be a better option.
He was bought due to his speed which is something whu is not in abundance with.
With Potter’s engagement who knows what he has to unlock.
Appears from comments there is an overwhelming response to keep him.
Feels like people are writing him off without good reason other than price tag. He didn’t come on as Kudus replacement against Fulham for tactical reasons as stated by Potter himself. Like for like subs are not always the norm and you use subs as per the game. Fortunately it worked out. His cameo appearances have been half decent(hit post against Liverpool). He’s on the bench most games so must be something there. Also he is an eighteen year old lad who has upped roots and gone halfway across the world to a whole new environment so for that alone he needs time. The way our season is going in mid table it could be perfect opportunity to get him bedded in and up for next season.
how many points does 15million buy you?
The only reason there’s any focus on him at all is the price tag.
If he had been a few million he would be accepted as an 18 year old prospect making the odd appearance as sub and making up the numbers on the bench is exactly what 18 year olds do if they’re good enough – Most aren’t.
When he was signed I didn’t see anything at all to make me think that he would get more than the odd cameo appearance while training as the first team squad member. A lightly used squad player is hardly a challenging idea we always have them. The whole idea was that he wasn’t an U18 player so why is that peculiar idea raised now ?
He is little different from what was said on the tin when he was bought, the issue is people imagining that something more exuberant was written on the tin.
Agreed, John , look at current target Taiwo Awoniyi’s early dealings and he was bought and sold for peanuts early on – Liverpool bought him for 4.5 mill euros in 2019. So the theory for Guilherme was fine just one-too-many zeros in Steidten’s deal.
A reasoned article, but I would argue that the opportunity for this season to be one where we get into Europe is a longshot, at best. And, as such, the idea of keeping a player like Guilherme and helping him bed in to be a more productive member of the squad for next season and beyond should not be discounted. As much as we have a strong academy, with a number of players looking ready to try that step up. What we dont have is a tricky winger, with all due respect to Kodua – he just doesnt look like he’s going to cut it at the highest level (and never did for me in U21’s but I wish him well). So, whilst we will have Potts, Earthy and Orford (centre mid), Callum Marshall (striker) challenging for places in the team, we have none in Guilherme’s position. Does it really make sense to discard him, at a loss, to get players in to improve this season when it’s a longshot to make any real difference? Especially when we all expect Kudus to be off to Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City or PSG in the Summer? I would argue no, unless he really isnt any good and was a complete waste of money….
👍 Absolutely right John.
Makes no sense to give up on a player with his potential at only 18. he’s only been in UK for 6 months, barely played and needs to be supported while learning his trade
⚒️
He should be playing ever week for the U21’s!!
He didn’t come on because we were winning, the priority was to keep it tight. Had we needed a goal i’m sure he would have come on.
Always signed as one for the future so keep him i say.
Agree
Keeping him will be best option due to his age and Brazilian (they just have that reputation).
Do need some reinforcement up front and could be better to go for somebody like Lath who won’t cost a fortune.
How many times does whu have to sustain losses on buying wrong players?
He needs to be played to find out what his potential is.
First part of this season has been disappointing and forever playing catch-up.
Now with Potter perhaps we can take some early leads and give this lad more game time.
To sell Guilherme is not only a massive mistake, but a shocking reflection on the club in terms of investing in the future. We have the rest of the season to help bring this lad on and at 18 he is only a lad but with massive potential.
This Ezechiel Banzuzi we’re buying is he any good?
Would be better to see Steiden being made an offer to go to Saudi,what a mess he has created
Is the ‘mess’ you speak of , the responsibility of Tim Steiden ?
Surely, not all of the 9 players brought in were his choice alone (Rodriguez, Kilman, Soler?)
OK, some have not turned out to be all that we’d hoped for (Fulkrug injuries) but how much of the ‘mess’ is his and not Lopetegui?
I think Terry’s point is that Steidten was given total control of transfers, so he had the final say irrespective of who suggested the player. It was the reason Moyes wouldn’t sign a new contract.
Short term thinking,give him time.
Don’t think we are going down and probably not getting in Europe,so got the rest of the season to see how he performs.
I agree Darrell…….. Over the next seven months Guilherme could make huge steps forward in preparation for next season, saving West Ham upwards of £25m. One of Potter’s strengths is working with young players. Keep him.
Don’t sell him , loan him out for 2 years , he’s going to be a star , silly to sell