Graham Potter took the blame for West Ham’s lack of transfer activity when addressing the media in his Chelsea presser earlier today.
The Hammers manager faced a barrage of questions about transfer dealings as well as specific players in front of the assembled media at Rush Green.
Whilst Potter repeated the well-worn line of not commenting on other clubs’ players when asked about Evan Ferguson, he did open up on the club’s general transfer strategy.
“The club, the board, and the chairman have been fantastic, wanting to help. It’s us wanting to get the right players in. If anything [the delay] is me trying to find the right player who fits in the place and the group—it’s difficult to find,” Potter said.
“If we find the right player, we’ll do something, but I have to do the right thing because if we get it wrong, it can have an effect.”
Reading between the lines, Potter’s final comment is telling, with a clear indication that spending frivolously now will impact next season’s budget.
His comments also add weight to recent suspicions that transfer offers for both Brian Brobbey and Ezechiel Banzuzi were paused because the Hammers boss and his close ally Kyle Macaulay did not wish to make panic signings arranged prior to their arrival.
It might not be what everyone wants to hear, and in many ways, Potter’s comments do sound similar to David Moyes’s usual utterances. But if it stops West Ham wasting money on injured or unsuitable players, then I’m all for it
Many posters on here keep going on about our failure to sign Duran – Unai Emery’s reaction to his sale suggests that in fact maybe he is not the sort of character that Potter would want at West Ham
When you’re being thrown pointless players for back handers rather than what you need by those useless 3 – I’m glad
“Back handers”? That’s a strong accusation so hopefully you have good evidence……. or a good lawyer 😉
Weve wasted so much money on dud strikers .. cant just panic buy a flop like scamacca/ Haller or a cripple like Fulkrug!
Nobody is gonna sell a decent player mid season generally .
Id rather buy nobody .. we aint goin down and no chance of Europe ,so see the season out and the plan for summer re build when better players mat be available
Does anybody know why the the old transfer system was knocked on the head?? Some time in march was the final day. It seemed to work well and was in place for years. Just asking
Looks like Arsenal are in for Ferguson so if that’s the case I doubt we’ll be getting him.
There are two arguments here.
1..Dont buy for the sake of it..2…Buy now for a strong finish to this season.
Im leaning towards 2..Because to finish strongly usually means a knock on effect for next season….To let it peter out and possibly finish with a couple or three defeats doesnt bode well for morale next year…
We seem to be playing much better under Potter generally..So to get a young forward in ie..Ferguson seems like a good idea….If its possible.
The January window should be no more as it unsettles players and clubs.
Potter is doing the right thing ,making sure as much has he can, bringing the right players in and if that means waiting for the summer window so be it
In Potter we trust ! Let him do his thing.
Why make statements and then deliberately void them.
At start of transfer window it was stated that Potter wanted Dewsbury-Hall/Chukwuemeka and was promised them.
Karen Brady also involved with Banzuzi related a convincing story that a faux story about Reis meant Banzuzi was literally on his way.
Related strikers have been a joke, Guessand/Boniface who are both very eligible no attempted bid.
Defence as bad as it is an area which needs reinforcing has stagnated.
Loss of funds in attempt to move Guilherme without giving him some playing time.
Out cry because they have a game on last day of transfer season. What have they been doing on other 30 days?
What a shambolic state of affairs.
Jeeps you would rather they threw around money?
You have no idea what is going on inside the club
A typical football so called suporter that does nothing but moan
Guilherme has’nt been played for a reason, perhaps he is not good enough or maybe he will cost to much in playing fees and the Manager(s) don’t rate him to play him
lastly who promised those players, you in your frigging head
good night
Then why have him on the bench?
The board, keep up with the news
That is all well and good Gonzo, but begs the question why we no longer have anyone NOT afraid to make a decision and use the analysis and experience available. Instead we just sit on the fence and procrastinate for fear of making a mistake.
Personally I’m in no rush to add players for the sake of it. I’d rather Potter and McCauley take their time to get the right players. If that means waiting til the summer, then I’m good with that.
We need someone in to cover the loss of paqueta if he’s betting allegations go tits and that is not going to be easy
I won’t mind if we don’t bring anyone in, and he completes the season with what we have. Players will return, and others are already giving more.
We’ll have enough to get to the end of the season comfortably, having blooded youngsters and identified what we needed.
We cannot lambast the club and criticise them for not being well organised and savvy, then complain when they take their time to get things right!
I fully agree with this statement. Why buy someone who doesn’t make us any better when in the summer there are plenty more players available?
If we bring nobody in and the results start to go badly I’m absolutely certain all of you advocating for no new recruits will remain sanguine and you won’t be critical in any way, shape or form. It’s possible we could lose the next 3 fixtures but you will all say don’t worry we saved money for sulli to prevaricate over signings in the summer
Dean, i honestly don’t care if we bring in someone or not, UNLESS they are a great striker who will bang in 15-20 goals a season. I don’t see anyone within our price bracket out there right now. If you know of them i’m all ears. Plus, i don’t see us losing three games in a row, i see us progressing under the current manager. But if we DID lose three games in a row, the season is pretty much a write off anyway; we won’t go down, we won’t get into Europe and we’re out of the cups so is it really that big a deal who we bring in over the next 4 days!?