During an explosive interview with Claret & Hugh earlier today, a source close to the club laid bare the failings which now see West Ham teetering on the brink of relegation.
Nobody reading this website needs reminding quite what a predicament the Hammers are in right now. And as fans, we all have our own opinions on exactly how a club with the third-highest attendance in the Premier League and a top-10 budget has found itself staring into football and financial uncertainty.
But when C&H spoke to a source who has both played and coached at some of the biggest clubs in the country, the assessment was brutally honest.
“Recruitment Is A Big Issue”
When asked for an outsider’s view on where it had all gone wrong this season, he didn’t hold back.
“There are a number of reasons, but the first one has to be the upper management buying players. It’s been terrible.
Max Kilman was persevered with for too long and, from what I can see, the defence overall has been nowhere near good enough. I know they’ve improved, but Brentford scored three and it looks like positions still need fixing. Recruitment is a big issue.
“The wrong managers have been chosen but West Ham’s big problem is — and always has been — buying strikers.”
Difficult To Argue With
It’s hard to argue too much with that assessment of West Ham’s attacking options.
Taty Castellanos is surely due a goal after a decent display against Brentford, while a Pablo Felipe strike would probably bring the house down at the London Stadium.
And let’s be honest — if the £20m signing from Gil Vicente scores the winner against Arsenal this weekend, plenty will very quickly be forgiven.
Recruitment and retention activity totally ignored the vital heartbeat of a successful football team – the coaching staff.
David Moyes was unable to build on his progress due to the uncertainty of his tenure. Lopetegui brought in strangers better suited to the second tier of Spanish football. Potter sought help from organisers of a teddy bears’ picnic.
Nuno has begun making the most of the squad which he inherited. He cut a lonely figure on the touchline for the initial months when he was in charge. A very significant upturn in fortune was manifest after he got some help behind the scenes.
Alan Irvine, Paul Nevin, Stuart Pearce, Kevin Nolan and the others all had a significant effect on our players and have all been greatly missed. They were never effectively replaced and that is where West Ham recruitment has been abysmal.
COYI
Doesn’t Steidten get any blame.. He was spending money like a drunken sailor.
Upper management recruitment covers that right?
I’m not going to stop someone mid flow and ask them to name individuals. I took it as everyone and anyone who was involved in buying players
Recruitment has been an issue for Sullivan and Brady full stop.
Whether quality Board members who feel they have a voice and influence (3x separate issues there), a manager who had control of transfers in and out, players who are comfortable with what the club are aiming to achieve, all remain an issue.
Maybe a little optimistic Gonzo. Arsenal will batter us this weekend and put us on the edge of relegation imo.
Have just been watching the villa game and to see poor Harvey Elliott sitting on the bench and has hardly played a game for villa.
It makes me think it was such a shame he did not want to come to us,we might be in a totally different position now.
The recruitment was so hard to get descent players because the club was in utter turmoil and so much unrest in the squad
Have gelled now but is it too little too late????
Come on you Irons