West Ham are this morning being reported as looking to sign New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long.
And that squares with suggestions currently doing the rounds that the boss is looking for a defender to challenge Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid for the back up spot in the Hammers squad.
The 26 year old – with a price tag of between £3m-£4m on his head – has also interested Marseilles, Fiorentina, Rennes and Lyon.
But according to Sky Sports Dharmesh Sheth the Hammers have triggered a clause in the player’s contract but are struggling to get the work permit rule sanctioned with the Home Office where the non regular internationals with exceptional talent are the criteria.
However, Long’s representatives are reportedly pulling out all the stops to get the 11-time American international to the London Stadium.
It remains difficult to see how they can circumvent the Home Office rules and it will come as a surprise to many that the boss is keen to add a defender rather than striker or defensive midfielder anyway.
But maybe things became clearer during the friendly against Hertha Berlin when three of the team’s five goas came out of midfield.
At the back however, it was apparent there was work to be done and with Ogbonna still producing some indifferent displays and Reid nowhere near full match fitness, a defender seems to be Pellegrini’s priority.
Long played 31 of 34 games for the Bulls last season and was also named the MLS defender of the Year becoming the first player in the MLS gam’es history to lift the award.
He also reorded a career-best three goals and two assists and was the rock at the centre of a backline which kept 14 vlean sheets – four in the last five matches.
So how can we “swoop” if we can’t get a work permit?
WE eon’t swoop
Last season 55 goals against in 38 matches, Fabianski 137 saves in 38 matches, pre-season 10 goals against in 5 matches! There’s a big hole in our defence crying out for Winston Reid at his belligerent best and if he’s not ready yet I just hope this lad can come in and do the business for us!!
The problem is the team has to defend as a unit. The idea is that the formation moves up and down the pitch together. Keeping similar distances apart whether attacking, defending, or holding the game up to get a breathe or playing for the final whistle.
Pelle’s tactics worry me because we seem to start half asleep. In the friendlies against Newcastle and Her Ber we just were not fired up. Surely, the whole point of pre- season friendlies is to get in the groove – ready for the real thing.
Last season we were so asleep at Watford, they scored from the kick off at the start of the game and at the start of the second half – luckily one was ‘offside ?’
We need a Boss, Nobs does it, but when he isn’t playing we play park football. We need aggression, we need someone to get stuck in, someone to shout and get excited – we are tooooo polite. Playing park football in the Prem will have only one result WHU 0 – MC 5
If I’m not mistaken he started his career as a midfielder so perhaps Pellegrini sees him as cover for both positions. I don’t know a lot about him to be honest. As for the work permit I think he is only a couple of percentage points shy of the threshold of playing percentage in international games which he will almost certainly surpass next international break. Also as MLS defensive player of the year he may get additional consideration.
With the current players, formation and philosophy we need the attacking wingers to occasionally help out defensively when backs are running up and wenlose possession. I think we are better equipped to do this on the right side due to woek rate and physicality of Snoddy/Yarmo/Antonio but I worry about the left side in these scenarios. Witg offensive backs, like Pelle wants, it would be beneficial with similar players on left ad on right. Andersson and Lanzini are not physical enough compensate. Thoughts on this people?
All we need is for consistency and a decent back up to B and D. When Balbuena and Diop remain fit and re-establish the partnership that was effective last season, there’s little problem IMO. Balbuena is a leader and organizes the back line superbly. However, when Balbuena got injured last season, our defence caved. Ogbonna is not consistent enough and doesn’t seem able to command the back line; Reid – as good a servant to the club as he has been, is done. He never was quick enough, and now with his long-term fitness a major question, he is not the answer. Our left back position is suspect, although Masuaku showed glimpses of much better form and consistency for the last four matches last season. Cresswell is not looking promising; he was at fault for HBs first goal on Wednesday. Aaron Long may be the man we need to back our first two up. Sanchez is looking better, but he is not a long term partner or stand in for Rice. BTW CranHammer – I agree with much of what you say, but the reason we have looked slow in pre-season is that the players are not willing to risk injury. I believe we will see better this weekend as Pelle has not really made it clear who is to start yet…there is a lot of competition for places, especially in midfield… Last thing: I worry about a club captain as Mark is going to be benched a lot this year. Who, do we have that has the force of character, WHUFC roots and language skills to turn the squad into a team? Balbuena’s English is not good enough; Zaba will be a squad player this year and is gone next year; Rice has a good head on his shoulders, but perhaps is too young to command the respect of the senior players yet; Fabianski is in goal…; maybe Snoddy…but will he play enough? Fornals is too new…
Sticks out like a sore thumb we need to sell cresswell oggy and chich and Antonio and use the money on these too old or in cresswell case just useless and get in another striker young back up centre back experienced but still young and a left back who is Greek koutris who at 4mill is a steal with a knowledge of how to defend and mid defender asp job done and top four here we come. Imo
Really good question on captaincy. I’d prefer Fab, great last season, speaks and knows the league well and seems to have full trust of the team and not scared to speak up. Rice long term, but agree he needs another year or two in claret and blue (even a little rhyme there, not bad!)
IMHO watching from the outside, I’ve never really seen the other players interacting that much with Fab. They tend to just let him do him and viceversa. He might lead by example but is that the kind of Captain we need right now?
Was just reading Pelle is interested In Gary Cahill coming in on a free would be a great addition short term IMO plenty of exp and as won it all got a raw deal at Chelsea under Sarri
Two of Hertha Berlins goals the keeper should have saved, the first he had lead in his boots for and the second it appeared a small child had been substituted into our goalies position because he was easily chipped.