I don’t have the patience to report some of these ‘player pursuits’—what must it be like for the Steidten / Lopetegui / Sullivan team as clubs hike their own prices so that even if a report is filed and personal terms are agreed, no deal is forthcoming? From an outsider’s point of view, it is easy to see the negotiations as polarised: I find myself thinking, ‘IF a player won’t lower his wage demands, move on—leave him.’
We’ve all seen examples of prima donnas in Claret and Blue who have caused rifts in our dressing room and on the pitch. Arguably, Manchester United, for the last few seasons, has been handicapped by player egos rather than coaching.
Hopefully, West Ham will lean towards signing players who actually want to come to East London. No more ‘Lingard’ style fruitless pursuits. When I read about the ‘Jean-Clair Todibo’ rumored interest and negotiations, I find myself scratching my head, as over a week ago the player stated he’d rather move to Juventus. So, how much of this is recycled news sites simply churning out clickbait for us all to read and disseminate, trying to bring news to our own readership? Most, I’d guess. Trouble is, nobody wants to miss the ‘blip’ far away on the radar screen that becomes a confirmed new signing.
Wan-Bissaka and Kyle Walker-Peters would again be a case in point. I can’t believe that quite early on in discussions regarding a player transfer, the buying club wouldn’t work out if they could afford the targeted players’ wages. However, it is blazoned across many sites that ‘excessive £90k-a-week wage demands’ of a ‘selfish’ player are blocking a move. I doubt it. We won’t know for sure until one of the In-The-Know Journalists trumpets it, but I sense the RB quest is nearing the end game and the two ‘prime suspects’ which West Ham are very publicly considering will be used as sticks to beat the price down of the other. Patience again, needed for us all.
Amongst all the words written, transfer claims made, and the frustrating apparent lack of activity to back up the rumours, it could be easy to forget that there is live football going on again this weekend. After an initial 2-2 draw in Austria, West Ham appear much closer to home against Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday at 3pm. In the corresponding fixture last year, the two teams drew 2-2 with goals (collector’s items!) from Max Cornet and Divin Mubama.
One interesting statistic worth highlighting: It is now 13 games since The Hammers kept a clean sheet, and only one win in seven. Whilst the outcome is kind of irrelevant, it would be good to see The Irons growing more secure at the back and the continuing evolution of the team’s tactics.
I’m hoping for growth of the trends first noticed last week: Pressing the ball as a team when not in possession, the back four getting higher up the pitch, and more ‘through’ passing via the midfield instead of endless side-side-back.
The Club is streaming the game via the app and the website, though of course, after the ‘gift’ of the YouTube Austrian game, it is NOT free. Official passes for the game are available at the club web site whufc.com at £4.99. Lots of overseas packages are streaming club friendlies for free, so fingers crossed one of the options will work.
In the meantime, the smart money would expect one of the RB options to ‘firm up’ in the next few days. Which? I’m not even going to hazard a guess, but either would be an upgrade on a loyal but creaky Vlad Coufal.”
Unfortunately, this place is part of that rumour factory.