West Ham’s crisis seems to deepen by the hour, not merely day by day. The midfield is being stripped of players, as Alvarez and now Rodriguez are confirmed ‘leavers’ and Andrew Irving won’t be far behind. Which would be fine and actually welcomed if it had happened last month, or in June.
But the fact that one week before the transfer window closes, West Ham will now have a total of twelve player exits with just two new purchases and two free signings puts hapless manager Graham Potter at a huge disadvantage- without even considering his dreadful, clueless start to the season.
Speculation has been growing over the weekend – as have the reports today, Monday– that Aston Villa and Spurs, plus un-named Middle Eastern sides, are ramping up interest in taking Lucas Paquetá away on a transfer out of West Ham before the end of the window. Last night Claret and Hugh’s source inside the club – in case you missed it, it was late, confirmed :
“We’d have to bring in a lot of players first, to even consider it”. Seemed clear enough. Not ‘not for sale’ then.
Which got me thinking: How did that square with Vice Chair Karren Brady’s assertion just last month that Paquetá was 100% not for sale?
Remember her appearance on TalkSPORT on 17th August? Here’s a reminder of what she said regarding Lucas Paquetá’s future:
“I think he wants to stay, and we definitely want him to stay. So the thing is, he’ll be staying.”
So as reports grow of late bids for West Hams’ number 10, it may be time to hold the vice-chair to account if there is even a whiff of West Ham bowing to accept an offer and selling Lucas Paquetá in the last week of the window. For me this would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Sixty million quid or not.
If he goes Spurs, me and my sons season ticket will not be used again this season.
Had enough of this @@@@@@. What they’ve done to our club is criminal
My back was broken many straws ago Martin !
West Ham have been the team I have grown up with for over 40 years. I am fed up with all the negative comments from ex footballers who think they know better and sports reporters who seem to think they have a secret passage into the Club’s senior management. It is also clear to me that it is also the players agents who are causing a number of issues because they are desperate to fill their own pockets . WHU’s Board are accountable for the f current fiasco by thinking the previous coach and Sporting Director bungled the recruitment of older aged players who could not deliver the standards now required in the Premiership. Let’s be positive and give the manager and players a chance to turn it around for the better.
Especially if they sold him to Spurs.
I agree, especially with your last comment Martin. What is the point of money at this stage when they don’t use it. We are on track for lowest points total, fewest goals scored and most goals against in a PL season, yet Potter and Macaulay seem to do absolutely nothing. June 2023 seems a very long time ago.
Get your money on his departure in January! When we have 6 points in total.
60 mill would be a result. He is so ineffective and just flatters to deceive. We can’t rely on him to consistently deliver the goods if he stays as he hasn’t done it since he has been here. Problem is that they have left it too late to get any replacements.
I probably have to agree David. Paqueta brings moments of great joy, as per his goal against Chelsea, but time and time again, overall, he doesn’t justify the hype.
The last match was the perfect example. A great goal was followed by him letting Cucurella get in front of him at the near post for the first Chelsea goal and then he lost the ball in a dangerous position which resulted in their second.
There is a problem though. Earlier in the transfer window I would have take £60m in a heartbeat but not now, it’s too late to find a decent replacement. Additionally any decent replacement is now going to think twice about joining WHU given our start to the campaign. On balance I think we need to keep him this season and hope that Potter, or his replacement, can get a consistent tune out of him.
Whatever she says take with a huge pinch of salt……..
That ‘World class players for a World class Stadium ‘ went down well.
Let me know when there’s any sign of either.
Joke club.
Run like a Circus.