West Ham’s board members were unable to win a battle with David Moyes over January signing plans.
Whilst some members of the board were desperate to see a striker brought from and Championship of Premier League club, Moyes stood firm on his “not if they don’t improve the team” stance.
Our understanding is that the same sort of discussion was going on inside the club as among the fans, that an adequate striker signing – either on loan or permanently – was badly needed.
The view among some was that there were Championship and Premier League strikers available but Moyes made it clear he was unready to spend any part of his budget on ‘adequate’ strikers to compete with Mikey Antonio.
Instead, he went in late for Benfica hitman Darwin Nunez but that failed at the death of deadline day when the Benfica negotiating team failed to complete the final details and disappeared, leaving Moyes and the Hammers totally frustrated.
Moyes definition of “adequate” is likely to have been much different to, in particular, Sullivan’s. I’m very happy to go along with Moyes’ definition all day long, even if we don’t get European football next year. We had 10 years’ worth of Sullivan’s definition of “adequate” strikers. Where did it get us: perennially flirting with relegation come January and February, with little available funds for investment the following season? I know we have Kretzinsky on the Board now, but he’s a professional investor not a football manager. So, I’m happy to be persuaded by Moyes – who’s been managing in the EPL since 2002, and has single-handedly turned our Club around – on what’s “adequate”.
Just to clear this up ljd. Sullivan has no control – no one has – all goes to a vote but he can’t over rule the boss if that’s people think has been happening in the past. It’s no longer Sulliban v manager since Kretinsku arrived. I understand the guy has his faults but I’ve always rubbed along with him and others pretty well and the board has done well to bring in a new and influential investor whom I personally believe will be in charge within 18 months. Much of the dislike is based on the porno thing but let’s be realistic no need for it without users – which is worse?
I thought it was Napoli and Zapata that fell apart after the deal sheet was in and they went AWOL for a few hours.