Mawson…Shelvey and the Oxford conundrum

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