(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
It seems almost impossible but on my count the Hammers currently have 13 midfielders on their books, two proper front men and seven defenders -with perhaps two of the back four men of genuine Premier League quality.
Incredibly we gave a team oif midfield men plus one in Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen, Andriy Yarmolenko, Grady Diangana, Felipe Anderson, Manu Lanzini, Robert Snodgrass, Pablo Fornals, Nathan Holland, Conor Coventry and of course Jack Wilshere.
Sadly that speaks all to loudly for the recruitment policy at the club over the last few years and not all of that can be laid at Manuel Pellegrini’s door although it’s impossible to forgive Wilshere’s £100,000 three year contract.
With Rice, Bowen and Soucek, immediate names on the team sheet with Fornals not far behind, David Moyes has some tough decision to make on who stays and who goes because carrying 13 of them simply isn’t on.
I have little doubt that Holland and Coventry will eventually find themselves out on loan again whilst Grady Diangana will probably be given until Christmas to show us what he’s got.
Yarmolenko has pushed hard in pre-season but his injury record is not good although he is decent cover for Bowen which leaves Lanzini and Anderson on the questionable list with Snodgrass and Noble now coming towards the end.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the manager sorts out a squad so top-heavy in that area…will we see some swap plus cash deals in order to boost that very fragile defence.
More than possible.
Spot on article! All we seem to hear is WHU are interested in this or that midfielder – when we are loaded there. Yes Mark and Snoddy will play less and Wilshere not at all, but we must recruit defenders now. Left back is critical.
In reality you can rule out Wilshire he might have a couple of late sub appearances, Noble will take a step back ( if he can in his words) and Snodggrass is another who’s legs could just go at anytime.
That’s 8, then Coventry will probably go on loan to championship team, that’s 7, Rice to Chelsea, that’s 6,
Anderson & Lanzini sold if we believe what we read that the manager doesn’t fancy them, that’s 4.
Yarmolenko usually injured, that’s 3.
Diagana has never done a full season that’s half.
Down to bare bones of 2 and a half midfielders! Lol
Very good. Riches to rags in a blink.
Who would my first choice Midfield five be?
Left wing Diangana,
Defensive mid, rice
Central mid/ box to box, souchek
Attacking mid, fornals
Right wing, Bowen
We need at least two quality players in each position though.
Red
you’re right. any team needs another 5 as cover for form or injuries.
Diangana – Holland
Rice – Cullen
Fornals- Lanzini/Noble
Soucek-Snodgrass
Bowen-Antonio/Yarmelenko
Antonio/Haller/Yarmolenko fight it out for the strikers role,Yarmolenko in two only.
Anderson can go unless he’s happy fighting Holland and Diangana for a place.
Coventry should be around as he is versatile,we are short if Soucek or Rice are out.
Plus the odd youngster to come through.
14 if you include Josh Cullen
wilshere and anderson should be priorities to get rid
Agree with most of the comments above. Key is to have Rice, Soucek, Diangana, Bowen and Fornals. Moyes has to make it clear that the other ‘established’ midfielders must compete for their place on the subs bench. Holland, Cullen and other younger players have to be involved as well.
According to reports a bid has come in from Napoli for Fornals, Diangana has a lot of suitors, that’s a way of trimming two off the books if you look from a purely financial perspective. As for Cullen, Coventry and Holland they may need another season on loan. Also rumours of signing Mario Goetze on a free which would be another midfielder… based on current status hard to see that happening isn’t it ?
Cullen is 24 now. Uh see him or sell him surely.
Maybe Dutch, hard to judge the lad on championship performances, a contract extension then a season on loan to a PL side though… 🙂
A smoke screen for no buys, for book balancing and for fighting relegation. These are my fears. When we buy a Player, or get one on a Free, then maybe I can start believing. If we are buying no one. Keep every youngster we have and do what other hard up clubs do. Play as many of them as you dare.