Rumours abound – as reported this morning – that Tomas Soucek may be headed out of the club. It appears that ‘The Brave Bandaged One’ may be headed for a Turkish link up with ‘The Special One’ as Jose Mouriño is thought to be interested in taking the Czech warrior to Fenerbache.
I suspect this is the tip of the iceberg and several others will be exit-bound. Don’t be surprised to see a wholesale rebuilding of our defence with any combination of Mavropanos, Aguerd, Zouma and Coufal all identified as revenue sources with which to bolster the squad. In addition, if buyers are there even at modest fees – for Ings , Maxwel Cornet or JWP then both a centre back and right back could be funded to move the team forward. From watching the friendlies and the team performance during the second half of last season it was quite clear that none of our centre backs were top quality.
One look at Julen Lopegegui’s face during the Palace game would convince most that the status quo is not an option.
The incoming ‘free’ signing of Guido Rodriguez and hopefully Sergi Roberto, if successful, will give our team a spine, along with Alvarez, that has been lacking since Mark Noble’s retirement. When was the last time JWP crunched into a tackle? His delivery from corners is great but that doesn’t justify a place in the squad for one who impacts the game so little.
Part of the reason West Ham’s defence was so leaky last season was the total ineffectiveness of Soucek and JWP working together in a non-functioning midfield and an inability to screen the back line. Clearly the academy midfielders can grow into the team in the next couple of years, so older ‘free’ signings to share the workload with Alvarez, particularly in our non-European season with less football, isn’t concerning.
I really wouldn’t be surprised to see a wholesale clear out. I hope Lopetegui shows he has the spine to take these decisions instead of plodding on with old war-horses. Two centre backs and a right back should just about be funded by the £15 million West Ham had reserved for Wan-Bissaka and player sales as above bringing in maybe £30 million. Don’t forget the huge wages these players, as listed above, are currently taking.
Now is the time to be honest about player shortcomings rather than sentimental: The Czechs have been awesome servants and Aguerd never fulfilled potential. Getting back up the greasy pole towards the top six demands some tough decisions rather than just throwing the same ‘average’ players on the pitch week after week and hoping the I-pad will have some answers.
How many times did they play together?
Spot on Martin. Almost every player leaves at some point. Even the great Bobby moved on to Fulham. It’s not about the players that leave, but about showing them respect and gratitude on their way out.
Zouma a revenue source?? Really
Zouma is identified as a potential revenue source? Do you think he is going to pass a medical anywhere? The best solution may be to pay him off if there is money, both for his health and our financial benefit. Ings might be attractive to some, but not on his wages so by the time we have subsidized those, even on a loan its not likely to be much revenue. Antonio’s a more likely candidate than Ings if money is needed. He shouldn’t be eliminated from the potential lists of outs. JWP might attract some interest, although we won’t get anything like what we paid for him, but this might be the time to move him on. His value is unlikely to increase. Cornet, it’s along time he has done anything of note and he might have to accept moving down to get a move.
£30 million for 8 players? You must have gone to the Sullivan school of business. JWP is close to that on his own, stop denigrating players just because they don’t suit the new coaches plans. For sure Zouma is finished but on those wages we’re stuck with him. If Füllkrug and Guido work out, brilliant, but for how long? Having players with different profiles is a positive. If we’re so stuck for cash why did we spend £25 million on Guilherme to play u21 and sit on the bench? Usually your articles are some of the better stuff produced on here recently but to be honest, I’m reaching the point where C&H could do with shifting some of the writers who are just not up to the level required.
‘any combination of’.. does not mean ‘all 8’, does it?
That the sum total of your counter argument? If we really want and need to move some of these guys on, how about writing something positive about their attributes and history with the club. Most have been great servants without whom we wouldn’t have fresh silverware despite not necessarily playing to their strengths or having had devastating injuries (Cornet). Build them up, don’t knock them down and they may still surprise you.
Build them up? I don’t think this site has any influence on anybody’s transfer decisions. This is all irrelevant banter.
Encourage positivity in the fan base, that has a knock-on effect on the team. Sow division and reap a bitter harvest.
‘Build them up, don’t knock them down and they may still surprise you’. Don’t you think that Cornet and some of the others might want a move? Coming to West Ham has hardly helped his career and the incoming players hardly suggest he is seen as a key man. If he could match or better his deal don’t you think he (and his agent) would want a move? As for others do you think Coufal enjoyed last season when he got regularly rinsed or Tomas generally looking like he wanted the earth to swallow him up after yet another error? The two Czechs have been great servants but a move away, and for both of them slower paced leagues, might make for a far happier life.
I wouldn’t stand in their way, but why run them down ? Pretty sure it’s not a positive to a buying club if our fans are desperate to show them the door.
Tom looked pretty happy when he lashed in the ball against Everyon to win us the game at Goodison Park. Fans bleat about us having a small squad yet still want us to dump half of it having just supplemented it finally.
Agree in letting go everyone except JWP … with the new signing he could be deadly at set pieces …
Let the others go … but keep JWP in my opinion
I’m sure a large number on here will be wetting themselves with glee at the thought of Tomas and Vlady going. Not me.
The ones I want out ASAP are Zouma and Aguerd,poor, poor signings, then unfortunate Cornet who has wasted his time coming to use, sadly for him, plus Ings and hopefully Antonio, the latter if not now then in January. If we could get Ings off the books that would be a bonus. The wages have drained out of our club.
Always worries me getting rid of players who actually love the club, but there’s only 2 of them above. Antonio loves himself first.
JWP is interesting. Yes, he could be very useful with the new front man but we need to be honest that his return from direct free kicks has not been great in the last season. He did get seven goals in the PL last year, not shabby but none in ten appearances in Europe. Two of the goals were penalties and then of course there was the wonder corner. He’s now thirty so potentially an opportunity to still get a fee for him. Probably one of those cases where you put a value on him and if someone bids at or above that you think about it.
Ings should go Celtic. He’d thrive there.
He might well thrive there, but how many of their players earn £125k per week?
When did they bid for him ? What did they offer him ?
I’m certain a few might leave in this window…….. Ings, Zouma and Cornet most likely. The others are reliant on who comes in. Aguerd, and/or Mavropanos, Antonio – but probably only if another striker comes in (Although, I’d like to see him remain in the squad until the end of his contract) I’d be surprised if they move on JWP this time. But whenever Soucek leaves, I think his buddy might follow. Good offers could dictate the issue here.
We im just supremely happy that villa, aren’t having a good pre season their is unrest in their camp with so many new players signed, to replace their old guard noses have been put out of joint and i predict a long hard tough season for them, and they won’t even get oast the first phase of the champions league. But as the old saying go’s you reap what you sew.
Some of these players will inevitably leave. Surely we can’t let Coufal go. He had a significant contribution in assists last season and is our only senior right back. Even if AWB signs we still need two right backs. Unless we are in the market for two right backs?
If we bring in AWB and both MF targets then we will definitely have to move on 2 players. Can’t see Zouma passing a medical or anyone stumping up for Ings wages. Doesn’t seem to be any interest in Aguerd either. Coufal is our only cover at RB. Looks like Cornet and Soucek likely to be sold.
am i the only one who thinks bowens corners are better than JWPs
and JWPs free kicks have been absolute rubbish, he’s never going to score, looks like he hasn’t practiced since he played at southampton
nfl, im hoping we can shift him this window, im doubting his potential contribution more than soucek
Stop knocking all these players down be positive and they might surprise all of us.
You certainly shouldn’t be knocking players like soucek and coufal. As for jwp give him a chance ffs
To many so called West Ham supporters are negative all the bloody time. Keep it zipped and with a bit of luck we will have superb season 🤫🙂
Click bait !
Why would we let 8 players go after signing 7 ?
The last two years, fans are moaning that the squad isn’t big enough and now we want yo let 8 of them leave.
Players like Soucek (who scored a fair amount of goals for us) and Coufal may become squad players for sure but why would we dump them and reduce the size of the squad when they can clearly do a job as squad players. Aguerd the same. Then if someone comes in for them we can sell them for a decent price instead of making it look like we are desperate to get rid of them.
Makes no business or sporting sense.
We can’t afford to be sentimental about the group on the list. Perhaps except JWP who looks like a frustrated player fed up for covering others lack of work rate, discipline and drive.
But we do need a deeper squad. Moyes taught the first eleven there was no jeopardy in playing below par, and the bench there was no point in busting a gut to get into the line up.
Trust JL to pick the kids who can cut it, get the best out of the bench and set the team up with some ambition.
It will take time to get right and we may have to go backwards to go forwards, but to coin a well used phrase we need to trust the process.
Cornet isn’t a bad player, he is badly under motivated and underplayed. Ings can serve us well if he is trusted. Aguerd needs to work harder a want it more, but that’s training . Mavropanos wants to be a hero so needs the crowd behind him. Tommy looks tired at the start of every game and needs a slower league. Vlad is better higher up the pitch and if we are on the front foot he may well save us 20million.
I’m no coach, I’ll leave that to the professionals, but these aren’t bad players, they just need to be played in the right positions. Not ‘ he’s a right back’ but where on the pitch as a right sided defensive minded player is he most effective.
Even Zouma will be able to do a job, just like Ogbonna has from the bench and when we get injuries. Slow , and ungainly he is, but he doesn’t lack commitment and in short bursts he could do a job for us.
How many times have we seen players bombed out of our club and suddenly under a new manager they look like world beaters.
I’m happy to praise Moyes for what he did right, and the stats don’t lie , he was successful. But creating a team and building for the future wasn’t on his radar, he was only looking for a silver bullet to fix everything. Even when he was given the actual answer to it all in Tim Steiden he fought him.
Let’s see what Julen Lopetegui does with the surplus , he might surprise us all, and on defenders Max Kilman looks like he might need some time to settle, so don’t rush anyone out of the door just yet.
What’s happening with the Academy players
we’re spending lots of dough on imports but why are we spending money training the youngsters if we aren’t going to promote them?
post coming later today, lots of news on academy and loans
High time Soucek was sold. Might as well out Coufal as well as the terrible Zouma. Ings, Cornet and Aguerd can all go as well as the pointless JWP though I suspect him or Soucek will remain. Snap up a bargain or two at the end of the window!!
I said this about JWP before we signed him, yeah hes got a good set piece, but he’s pretty ineffectual otherwise.. also don’t even think he’s scored a direct free kick for us yet