As critics we are all quick to jump on decisions to let players go that backfire upon West Ham. How well we know the stories of strikers who couldn’t hit a barn door for the Hammers and got sold at a huge loss – and then went onto success at future clubs: Both Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca seem to have re-discovered past glories after discarding their claret and blue kits.
Nicola Vlasic, whilst not rediscovering massive form since being sold, is still I think the biggest loss taken by the Hammers- but as I write this I am tapped on the shoulder by the memory of Felipe Anderson..
So when corroboration of a sale that proved a good decision appears, in the interests of fairness I think it only appropriate to highlight it too.
André Ayew at his unveiling in 2016 – this was his high point
Back in 2016 as we moved from Upton Park to London Stadium, Andy Carroll joined for £15 million and then was eclipsed ( in monetary terms) by the signing of André Ayew for £20 million. Wow, we thought, Bilic must know something we don’t!
Sadly, his hunch was wide of the mark and André, whilst expending a lot of energy running around endlessly, achieved little – if 12 goals and 5 assists counts as ‘little’ in 18 months – and he was sold back whence he came to Swansea for ‘just’ a £2 million loss.
Since then, unlike Haller or Scamacca, Ayew has seen his career on a downward trajectory so much so that today after spells with Swansea, then in Qatar, Nottingham Forest and French side Le Harvre-he is now without a contract and a club. Sad for the player, vindication for the Club who knew a good deal from a bad and cut their losses at the right time. Credit where it’s due.
Martin T, I’ve made the decision to continue with C&H for the time being, but will only be reading your articles. The other writers just seem to want to cause issues to provoke a response, whereas your articles are thoughtful, well written whilst also thought provoking. Hopefully the other writers will see how you take a level headed approach and eventually follow suit, instead of giving oxygen to all the conspiracy theories and gossip they peddle. This place could be so much better if everyone took a leaf out of your book, researched the facts and calmed down a little. I’m not sure why but seems like a lot of them have some kind of axe to grind instead actually supporting our great club. All the best Martin, and please just keep doing what you are doing 👍
Well that’s good to hear, thank you.
Haller was a Pellegrini signing, a lot of people forget that and would have done much better in a Pellegrini system rather than a Moyes system. And although he was a class act, his was a case of being at the wrong club at the wrong time – especially with the change in managers. Haller definitely didn’t fit into Moyes system at all, which is why they did the decent thing and let him go to Ajax where he was a perfect fit and showed why he was bought originally. But the quality of league also had a lot to do with it. The speed and physicality of the premier league has always left a some younger players bewildered as to why they can’t adapt quickly. The Italian and Dutch leagues give players more space and time on the ball to make their decisions, not so in the premier league. As far as Scamacca goes, once he got injured he was his own worst enemy as far as rehabilitation and fighting for his place were concerned. It took a major rocket from the Italy coach and being dropped and disciplined for him to get his attitude sorted and stop playing PlayStation till 3 in the morning the day before a match. I wish them both well, but in the past we always seem to be the team that takes a gamble on a decent prospect, pay slightly over the odds to get them and then get the worst out of them before selling them on for a loss. At least with Scamacca it wasn’t really much of a loss, but I’m sure we will live and learn. COYI!
With Haller and Scamacca it it’s probably fair to say they didn’t fit our system or lack of. As reported by Antonio, a loan striker under David Moyes has to fight over scraps. Maybe more focus was required on how they were going to fit in.
Did Vlasic really get a fair run in the first team? Again, maybe more focus on how he was going to fit in.
Andre Ayew will be 35 by the end of the year, in his playing position he may need to drop a few levels more as Andy Carroll has if his love of the game makes him so inclined. His big bucks days are in the past.
Seb Haller has gone on loan this season to newly promoted French club, Leganés. Hope he stays well.
Wow, this site is really struggling for “news” stories at the moment.
Sure I read somewhere that the £35 million we lost on Anderson was precisely the amount we got from selling the Boleyn 😢