West Ham boss David Moyes has a big problem looming at right back if he doesn’t get to grips with it very soon.
With four tough games on the agenda between Saturday and February 1 Pablo Zabaleta at 34 years of age is our only option.
Ben Johnson – who has been tipped by ClaretandHugh blogger and former academy chief Terry Westley as a star in the making – is understood to be coming back to full fitness after a recent hamstring problems.
In the meantime however, we face Everton, Leicester City, West Brom and Liverpool between now and the start of next month which really looks a problem.
Much has been made of the need for a powerful midfielder but with Ryan Fredericks seemingly a tad injury ravaged and unavailable anyway a new signing – loan or otherwise – looks badly required at the back
The former Fulham man is likely to be out for another three weeks and it is surely asking far too much of Zaba to be involved in so many games.
Come on Moyes…come on board – get moving. There’s a problem here.
Are the full-backs in the u23 squad not up to anything, apart from Ben Johnson ??
Which full backs? It’s Prem Leage 2 Division 2 – miles from the Premeir League and Ben Johnson is one of them but is a very fine young prospect
Long term we need a replacement right back to replace Zaba. Be nice to think Johnson is that player but until he is available/fit I’d stick one of the U23s in certainly for the Cup match and give Zab a break. Even one of the CBs. No need to get some inflated short term fix from the transfer market. By the end of the month Johnson and possibly Fredericks should be back to compete for the spot.
It’s the same old thing every season
How we can go into a season with one main striker
Two right backs one who’s past it and two left backs and one in Masuaku who can’t play there
Honestly the club deserve to go down the fans don’t
Absolutely!
Despite our debates, I assume that we both want the same thing, so here’s a genuine question without any malice behind it – do you know if we’re looking at any RB’s? Or are they hoping that Zaba + Johnson can last until Fredericks comes back?
Not to my knowledge James and that’s why I wrote the piece. It’s a terrible problem staring us bang in the face
Hi Hugh, I’m back as you seem relentless in your attempts to de-platform me. No malice behind this question – do you know if we’re looking at right-backs at the moment? Or is midfield the main priority?
I’m not trying to de platform anyone James. I am answering your points. And I don’t understand why you don’t get that. Not to my knowledge and it worries me
Sorry for that Hugh, I wrote this comment when my other comment disappeared, so I thought it may have not passed the moderation requirements.
Only swearing and abuse James. No problem
These are problems that could have been avoided with some simple forethought.The goalkeeping one has cost us umpteen points i am sure once Fabianski was injured.Nobody realised how bad Roberto was until he was thrown in at the deep end.The lack of support for our main striker. Ajeti is not a premiership striker and Antonio is very injury prone.A midfield dynamo to help the over burdened Rice as Noble is nearing the end of his career and lastly right and left back.We have barely spent a thing in these 2 positions for years and now just like the goalkeeping problem the right back issue is here.I hope Moyes is given a freehand because what we saw in the Summer has really come back to haunt the club.That is a major clearance of players and no adequate replacements brought in.Its all very cloak and dagger.Why are the owners so reluctant to let us know what they have received for Samuelson and Powell.?.
We have desperately needed decent replacements all over the park and have done for some time. We are the 20th richest club in the world so where does all the money go from gate receipts, huge tv rights and player sales? We have spent a very measly £25m over two transfer windows. Championship sides spend that and at this rate we’ll be joining them. Simply not good enough!!!
64 maybe they are a tad embarrassed to let it be general knowledge
Personally, i’ve got faith in Moyes to put this right – his transfer record, in my opinion, is better than most and he’s unearthed some excellent players via his scouting methods and signed players who improved massively. Seamus Coleman, Jagielka, Tim Cahill, Leighton Baines, Lescott, Arteta as well as shrewd, sensible loan signings (Landon Donavan for example).
I know the need for a RB is urgent, but we’ve got to get these signings right and stop signing players for the sake of it. Moyes will be well aware of the holes in the squad but i’d rather scrape through this season with what we have than sign more deadwood that we then have to shift. Just look at Carlos Sanchez and Ajeti – now we can’t get rid of them!
It feels like the games up to the 31st January have no importance in getting any players in for getting results, and the last day of the transfer window is big free for all on last minute deals that don’t always go through because the selling club have to get rid of players and the buying club look for a lower price deal and nothing comes to fruition either on price or the deal doesn’t make the deadline ?? The winter transfer window is a big farce to make programs like Sky transfer window thats on every day till the window closes. Television and the sports channels run or dictate what today’s football is all about and will always be has long as the money’s forthcoming and the club’s lap up the money????