Obviously until the first signing arrives through the door, complaining about names speculated across the media in which West Ham may be interested is all a bit pointless.
However, it does seem from everything we are hearing at CandH that Swansea’s Alfie Mawson is strongly fancied whilst Jonjo Shelvey is another David Moyes sees as a possible solution to out midfield issues despite The Toon currently being placed 16th with one point more than ourselves.
To be honest Mawson is not a name that had occurred to most until he sprung into the gossip columns a few weeks ago whilst Shelvey is a well known maverick who can play a bit when the spirit moves.
However, what can’t be denied is that the Irons – if serious about them both – are shopping in the basement again with Mawson part of a bottom of the table defence which has shipped 32 goals and has the worst goals difference in the league.
Shelvey, meanwhile, after 15 appearances and no goals, has seen red twice and yellow three times whilst as a Championship player last season he managed five goals, 10 yellows and one red.
Are either what we really need? I’m not sure we would have been discussing either of them a couple of months back.
I am struggling to get the Reece Oxford scenario out of my head after the lad forced his way into the Borussia Monchengladbach team recently and in the games I watched was as composed as it gets.
If we are really going to buy Mawson ahead of giving the most highly touted youngster we have seen at the club in a long time a chance, I’m struggling with that.
Informed reports claim that both ‘Gladbach and Leipzig could be close to launching £20 million bids for him and given their standing in European football that speaks volumes.
To sell him for such a figure and buy Mawson for much the same must be a very mute point.
As a result a real test of the Moyes football nous is at hand. The question is whether he has enough time to make a decision on Oxford. I for one sincerely hope so.
If you are good enough to play for a top half Bundesliga side then I reckon you must be good enough to play for a bottom three PL side.
As for Shelvey. Think I’d be tempted to look elsewhere!
COYI
Oxford and Rice make good sense for now and the future.
Shelvey is a bit border-line and you think we could do better.
Mawson-definitely no! Temper outbursts aside, he is far too slow for EPL play.
If Moyes stays, then he must consider some of our own fine defenders like, Makasi, Burke, and Cullen (in addition to Oxford). They are the future of West Ham defense, assuming we survive relegation.
I think Moyes knows he will be here more than just 6 months, so that’s why he is planning for the future. We need a replacement for Ginge. A very rugged defender who is totally dependable in doing the basics well. I haven’t seen much of Mawson, but he seems like that sort of player. Some supporters won’t like him because he is not super fast or top of the class as a CB, but I would rather see one of our CBs being of that type.
While he plays in a bottom of the table defence, his personnal stats show that without him, they would have shipped far more goals.
It’s about building a squad of players who complement each other, and with Oxford seeming to have turned a corner in Germany ( it’s early days yet ), I’m sure Moyes can’t wait to see him produce the goods in training, and earn a place in the team. Nobody knows yet whether he will be bothered to; it’s depending on whether he really wants to stay in Germany.
The only CB I trust enough is Reid, and he is always injured, so Moyes will need to completely overhaul his defensive players, probably starting with Mawson.
I’ve never been impressed by Ogbonna, although he has had a few good games recently, and Fonte had only just found his feet when he got injured. We don’t even know if he will find them again when he comes back.
With luck Oxford will be impressed enough by Moyes to re-launch his WHUFC career, and joined by Rice, Reid, and perhaps Mawson could provide the nucleas of West Ham going forward.
Shelvey would only be a cheap option in midfield. he is very aggressive which we need, collects red cards which we don’t need, and his passing consists mainly of knocking it long from deep in midfield. It could be that he is all we can afford, but I hope it isn’t.
Remember the words from Brady – world class players in a world class stadium. We are again being linked with numerous players. Shelvey, Mawson, Joe Allen etc. are not world class. What with the other jokes e.g. Feghouli, Zaza, Calleri, Tore, Brady, Sullivan and Gold have sold us a pup.
Zaza decent player, 34 games 16 goals for Valencia
I hope we keep Ox & Rice. I like Mawson but I don’t think its Moyes looking to the future bc I don’t think he is a priority & he is slow. Good defender but lacks pace.
Moyes only want PL proven players & that cost a lot more for players who might not even be as good as those we could get from Bundesliga Serie A Jupiler Eredivise etc & Championship.
Much rather have Grealish then Shelvey or James Madisson & Jarrod Bowen good Right sided player with Hull 11 goals 24 apps 21yo.
Shelvey is ok & now linked w Capoue who isn’t bad but 29 & feel for £12m for both & at meat w Shelvey & most likely Capoue will have to wait until they get replacements in. And that means be the end of Jan til we get players in.
That £12m could pay us a huge creative talent in Mohamed Elynpussoui 11 assists 6 goals 24 apps. 23 yo w pace.
Or 2 CMs like Hamza Barry two footed Hadjuk split very fast 23yo £5m & Opare RB & cover LB for £3-5m which think we need a Full back more then a CB right now.
I like Mawson but £40m no & if have to swap Ayew & still pay £20m mad.
Midfield has to be our priority & I don’t see Moyes looking at are future when besides Mawson we are mainly linked w aging players.
He seems more concerned with next 5mo which I don’t blame him bc on 6mo contract & wants to restore is rep.
But I’m not sure i like that he has the final say on transfers especially when it comes to the sells of our youth. Could of left Ox on loan if not going to use to get top 6 experience & raise value & ability.
Rice & Ox are our future & Rice needs new contract ASAP. Must hold onto Lanzini until summer bc they can’t get a replacement been lacking creativity for year in half.
Cullen & Burke on low wages & wouldn’t get much so why not give them a chance under proper staff not like we have a big squad.
And don’t sell Sahko to a table rival like Palace Swansea or Brighton.
Hope we get this Jan right but I don’t get going all in for Mawson & really wish we would look outside PL need pace & youth to engerise our squad in mid & passing ability
Hugh – the problem is that we are being informed of players the Club’s allegedly intent on signing that gives the impression of being random at best, desperate at worst. What we never get is a statement from our Club’s leadership (owners and coach who ought to be on the same song sheet in this matter) explaining why those identified players in particular, and how their purchase aligns with a strategic vision and coherent business development plan for securing a squad of players capable of delivering a ‘top class’ Club – as promised by the D’sx2 and Lady Brady…in exchange for selling out Upton Park.
Quite amazingly given Lady Brady’s celebrity and peerage status as a business luminary, our Club fails to deliver basic ‘good management practice’. The Club fails to communicate clearly and transparently to its fan base, a key stakeholder, and does not produce a coherent strategic plan dovetailing a player purchasing strategy (budgets, fiscal security) with a progressive coaching-managing philosophy. What we get instead is a scrolling list of players we are punting for, and no rhyme or reason given to us for identifying these players – Joe Allen and Shelvey, I ask you? The issue is not ‘who we buy’. It ought to be ‘why’ are we interested in buying those players in particular and ‘what’ do they bring over and above what we currently have? The response to those questions should be consistent and coherent in terms of the Club’s strategic plan for developing a coaching-managing philosophy at the core of transforming the club as promised by the owners as a sweetener for selling off the crown jewel of Upton Park. If the Club doesn’t have such a vision it’s nothing short of a dereliction of leadership responsibility. It means we purchase players randomly rather than against a planned set of development needs.
My agenda here is to make the point among fellow stakeholders that our club deserves professional, progressive management and a credible strategic leadership. The ‘Bin dipper’ approach to player purchasing, as described neatly by Hammer580, we are witnessing again has the single effect of draining any last vestiges of trust from us (me) in the capability of the ownership and leadership of our great Club to deliver a future that is better than what we have now. COYI
Very cogent analysis, I’m in total agreement. Poor top-level management has been the story at our club for longer than I care to remember. The current board continues this trend. Compare our situation with that of Tottenham. With a similarly astute leadership West Ham could be challenging for Europe consistently, instead of regularly fighting for Premiership survival.
Jonjo Shelvey is a liability – he’s a confirmed idiot
Yellow Cards 28
Red Cards 4
Oxford has to play IMHO, otherwise what’s the point in bringing him back.Our defence has been a liability. We need something different and he’s a potential class act.Whilst still young and learning we need to see what he can do.
The club missed the chance to bring oxford on and although he’s getting good reviews to put him in the deepend now could be costly ? He will need time to adapt again and I can’t see Moyes risking that in the position were in right now , rice has been stand out and is still being benched ? Why ? So what chance oxford of being in the first eleven ! Its a mess ! Its suck it and see time , starting tomorrow , Moyes team tomorrow will tell us all quite a lot IMO , if ayew ,cresswell , noble , and Carroll start then we will struggle , let’s all pray west brom are nackered from the arsenal game !😉