With a summer sell-off in sight, Hammers fans will be wondering just who will still be standing from last season’s squad when the Irons kick off their promotion campaign in August. We are collectively still holding onto the hope that key players such as Soucek, Bowen, Castellanos, Mavropanos and Hermansen will remain to help kickstart ‘the fightback’ but with the club in such dire straits financially there are fears of a 2002/3 style exodus.
Seventeen players – if memory serves me right – departed after the Hammers fell through the trap door despite accruing 42 points that year and their finest young talent – Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick and – eventually – Jerman Defoe turned their backs on Upton Park. It was a pretty torrid time to be a fan.
football365.com raises the spectre of further fan heartbreak this summer with the very real suggestion that the one player above all others who fans would love to keep could be following that well trodden path to West London:
“Jarrod Bowen to Chelsea would bring Joe Cole heartbreak for West Ham fans”
Claims the report, suggesting the current ‘Chelsea links’ could be the final straw for Hammers fans, having to have to endure their talisman wearing navy blue after six years a Hammer:
..The economic reality of a £100million black hole and an uncaring owner concerned with covering his own back means this all points in one direction.
Apart from [Bowen] Tomas Soucek and perhaps new cult hero Taty Castellanos, none of the current West Ham team will be overly mourned should they leave this summer.
With this news, the only hope is that Bowen will choose somewhere other than Chelsea, a club where players are treated as pig slop to fatten Clearlake’s bank balance and sense of self-regard.”
Trouble is, here I disagree: To see Jarrod Bowen playing anywhere else would be a gut punch to West Ham fans after the highs of Prague, the goals, the assists and the sheer hard work of the guy.
We love him to bits and it’d be a bitter pill to swallow indeed to see him in red, or black and white, or dark blue – anything other than Claret and Blue. At almost thirty years old, there is still just the faintest chance that Bowen might prove the bookies wrong and stay a while to guide our club back out of the Championship.
But as news of Chelsea assembling a £40 million bid grows, those hopes diminish daily.
Doesn’t seem board have any loyalty.
They look in the mirror and just see self, self, self.
How can we solve this problem without having to put our own money in.
Martin I’m sorry but if a plus £40million bid came in for him and he is interested in going to that club he has to go. Been a great servant to the club and is a good person, but say £45 million for 29 year old would be a good deal really. Two or three years younger and answer would be no.
agreed, he has surely one last decent payday in him and he’s give 6 years to WHU.
Why should we sell our captain and talisman for peanuts? We sold rice to cheaply and squandered the funds! West ham should decide what his worth is not the tabloids? I wouldn’t sell at all he is exactly the type of player we need to get us promoted at the first time of asking ! And we should be doing all we can to convince him to stay and rebuild around him! We need to find several more characters like Bowen who give their all and buy into the west ham way!
If there is a fire sale as expected then I can see many season ticket holders giving up their seats! There has been apathy and misery for the last year seasons! I think a lot of west ham stalwarts have been loyal to the core,but their patience has worn thin.And if the hardcore fans cannot see any intention from the board to retain our best players then they will walk away! So it’s up to the owners to convince the fans that they are serious about reclaiming premiership status.If not then we will become a Leicester City!
Bowen’s departure would make the acquisition of next season’s captain a whole lot easier and pragmatic.
The building of a bespoke promotion side is a priority.
No room for Antonio either.
Of course it would be great to see Bowen stay,but if he goes then good luck to him….
Im concerned you write about key players staying and you include Hermansen in that sentence, jesus I hope hes one that leaves,hes not good enough and thats a key area we need to improve.
If Chelsea do offer £40 million for Bowen, we should take it. He has been a fantastic servant to West Ham and his best years are behind him. £40 million for a 29 year old is fantastic money. Although his work ethic can never be questioned, in terms of leadership, he is no Mark Noble and towards the end of last season, he didn’t seem on his game. Let him leave with dignity and find our next Bowen.
I think it’s all being a bit overstated to be honest. Most of the old school hammers fans like myself and my mates are sick to.desth of Sully and couldn’t give .a shirt anymore. What will be will.be and good luck.to anyone who leaves wherever they end up . After all would anyone really choose to work for that disgusting weasel
“But as news of Chelsea assembling a £40 million bid grows, those hopes diminish daily.”
Are you having a giraffe £40m
At nearly 30 if they can get £50m for him then goodbye and all the best.
We’ve been poor at spotting players on the decline and cashing in, in fact it’s usually other clubs who do it and we buy them.
Great servant to the club and I wish him well if he leaves.