Axel Disasi was many supporters’ idea of ‘the last choice’ rather than being the ‘preferred’ recruit to West Ham in the winter window. All month, Hammers fans had waited for news of the centre back signing which was deemed every bit as urgent as signing a striker. However as the number of deals went into double figures and no back line recruit was forthcoming, questions were being asked.
Deadline day brought the reluctant, half fit centre back from Chelsea as the ultimate sticking plaster short term loan signing.
Just today it has been reported that West Ham were on course to bring in a permanent signing before Nuno Esprito Santo blocked the move. This does fit in with earlier comments during the window from within the club that Nuno couldn’t decide who to go after: Reported by teamtalk.com the Hammers apparently backed away from a deal for Senegalese defender Arouna Sangante in the final week of the winter transfer window.
As the report confirms:
“Talks progressed to an advanced stage for Sangante, who has been one of Ligue 1’s standout young defenders this season while playing for Le Havre. The West Ham hierarchy were keen to push the deal over the line for the highly‑rated 23-year-old Senegalese centre-back and viewed Sangante as a long-term investment with significant upside.”
“However, despite the club’s strong interest, West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is understood to have preferred a more experienced Premier League‑ready option.
That stance ultimately led West Ham to pivot toward Axel Disasi”
So the performance of West Ham’s back line is now even more linked with Nuno’s West Ham future. Should Kilman, Disasi and Mavropanous fail to keep West Ham afloat in the Premier League over the coming weeks, the finger of blame will inevitably start to point firmly toward Nuno and his chosen strategy at the end of a hectic transfer window.
That’s a narrative it’s more likely Sullivan didn’t want to spend money. That’s what history would suggest .
I know nothing about this player but we really needed to get two CBs in with flexibility to play other positions too. This guy or someone else should have come in too especially when Disasi hasn’t played for so long and clearly doesn’t want to come anyway.
It’s a definite copy and paste from all the previous transfer windows by the clowns mismanagement of this club. Had a young, up and coming prospect lined up but the manager said no. How many times have we heard this from the club. Give it a rest no one believes this nonsense anymore and it’s tedious and boring now.
West Ham must be the worst run club in the PL, it’s run like a Championship club 20 years ago.
Declan Rice was not satisfactorily replaced, and the money was largely squandrered — as with Rio Ferdinand all those years ago. Coupled with poor centre back recruitment, the defence is fatally exposed. Every team that we play knows that if they pile the pressure on in the 2nd half and keep punting high balls into the box they have a very good chance of a goal or two. Most clubs will get wins or a draw against us as a result.
This was yet another poor transfer window, with the emphasis on selling players rather than strengthening the squad, no signature buy, dithering and haggling, and last minute panic buying of whatever was still available. Par for the course.
If we get the old “We tried” b*llsh*t from Sullivan & co again this time, the resounding answer has to be “NOT HARD ENOUGH !”.
So the usual “we had someone lined up but the manager said no” story. Rinse and repeat from Sully and his crew. Heard this song before….
Don’t believe it, this sounds like BS
Could it be that Nuno is deliberately trying to get sacked before the end of the season and get a big pay off, rather than wait for us to be relegated and get no pay off( as per recent reports)?
Martin you are wrong there. If he is sacked before seasons end he gets no payout.
I wouldn’t put it past Sully to sack him minutes before the last game v Leeds weather we are down or up
If he turns out to be Disaster Nuno’s head should roll.
Typical leaks from the club, all isn’t well on the recruitment front.
Quite how is Disasi premiership ready…..he hasn’t played all season…..joke !!!!!
So a Premier League failure who comes from the bomb squad and hasn’t played a game all season is considered more Premier League ready than a 23 yr old prospect?. Nice one Nuno
Westham needed more than one CB . Sangante a top Ligue 1 CB and match fit should have been signed if Cresswell wasn’t available . Most head coaches aren’t good at recruitment because they don’t have the time to properly scout hundreds of potential players . That’s a full job for several people at a Premier League club . 100’s of millions wasted by every manager/coach , inept DoF and owners at Westham proves that a coherent strategy orchestrated by a quality DoF is required to have a successful club . Brighton , Brentford and Crystal Palace all make money on their transfer dealings compared to Westham who generally lose vast amounts of money on either the wrong players or good players who turn bad after a year or so ( Zero individual and specific coaching is usually the reason for a player turning bad ) .
Whatever and whoever is to blame for the state of West Ham, what I clearly see is almost a deliberate sabotage by Nuno on West Ham’s success.
His disgraceful discarding of James WP, the releasing of some very good und 21’s to go on loan, his consistent tinkering with the first 11x, his deliberate non-use of Callum Wilson, and favouring of the worst defender in the league in Max Kilman is totally enough to get rid of Nuno.
At the end of this season, relegated or not, fingers will seriously be pointed at Nuno. But be then it’s of no use.
Are you David Sullivan in disguise?
If we’re relegated it will be Nuno,s fault & his alone. Hopefully he will resign & not hang around for a payout..
Nuno has made a fair amount of mistakes especially when it comes to consolidating a winning position. But for what reason would he want to sabotage our season. You must be in Sullies pocket.
“Disgraceful discarding of JWP” The bloke was rubbish! Not even ONE free kick goal during his time here. As for the “very good” 21s released on loan, which were good enough to start? Earthy? Marshall? Neither will make it as Premier League players.
I really don’t understand why Magassa is not being considered as a centre back as he has played that position previously. It seems that Nuno does not rate him at all, although I think he is a player.
Why didn’t they get both, the Chelsea lad isn’t costing us a fortune and a youngster could then have time to refine his craft for next season? Sorry I’m falling for the BS again aren’t I? This is clearly another “we tried” story isn’t it?
I think this mantra of premier league experience is an an essential for success is complete rubbish. Max Killman had a fair amount of prem experience and look what has happened to him. So Nuno is way off the mark. But I somehow doubt the voracity of this story as I can not see Nuno’s calling the shots it has the whiff of the board realising what a complete mess they are and starting the bus in preparation for the manager to be thrown under it.
Well done Nuno. Only one manager at a time for our team. Much to do without the distraction of babysitting the picks of other people. COYI