Having moved on several of his problems players in the summer window, West Ham’s head coach is left with a couple of thorns still in his side: The want-aways that didn’t get away.
Whatever the exact circumstances surrounding Edson Alvarez‘ predicament- opinions vary – the midfielder has been left high and dry after reportedly U-turning over playing in the second tier.
His midfield colleague Soungoutou Magassa‘s circumstances are more transparent.
The French youngster admits to looking for an exit this summer – in no small part fuelled by his agent, apparently – but has now made his apologies to the Hammers’ head coach and to the squad. He’ll have some bridges to rebuild with supporters too after removing every trace of all things West Ham from his social media accounts last month.
But that may still not be enough for the player to get back on the pitch this season, despite his apparently contrite behaviour. At least, that’s the opinion of greenstreethammers.com, who claim:
“The apology itself may turn out to be the easy part. The much harder question is whether there’s actually room for him…
The numbers back up exactly why Magassa felt squeezed out. As things stand, Arne Engels, Divine Mukasa, Lewis Orford, Mohamadou Kanté and Tomáš Souček are all currently ahead of him in central midfield. That’s a five-deep queue for what amounts to two or three starting spots.”
Magassa could find, despite his contrite attitude, that a way back into the squad is blocked
In any case, as the report points out, Nuno is not a man keen on changing his mind, as James Ward Prowse fount to his cost: Once you’re out, you’re out for good:
“Between a five-man queue ahead of him in his best position, a manager not always known for second chances, and a summer’s worth of damage to repair with teammates and coaching staff alike, Magassa’s route back into meaningful minutes at West Ham remains, by any honest assessment, a very steep hill to climb.”
Best he can expect is to get his head down, train hard and be ready when the inevitable Championship injuries start to bite deep into the squad as the games rack up.
I’ve wondered why none of the four managers he’s played under has thought to use Alvarez at CB. He’s played there for Mexico and played well, and his slow-footedness would be somewhat less of a concern
If that was true West Ham wouldn’t have refused to sell him. Nuno clearly saw a role for him and let’s face it the financial situation we were in wouldn’t have allowed us the luxury of keeping a player we had no intention of ever playing especially when that player still commands a decent transfer price. Alvarez and Cornet are different and would be sold in an instant if a buyer came along and the players personal terms could be agreed.
We need Magassa or Alvarez or both, we don’t have a CDM and are imho a soft centre waiting to be exposed as it was against Wolves time and again.
The good thing is we look more creative and have better options now with Mukasa, Orford and Engels.
Hopefully we keep Magassa am not fussed by Alvarez and we find some systems whereby we can play defensively as well as offensively.
If a coach freezes out a player he’s diminishing the value of a club asset. Tactical awareness isn’t one of Nuno’s fortes and the same can be said for his man management skills.
Alvarez and Magassa are different players to the others listed, more holding CDM, and playing one of them would likely protect our fragile back four better, and stop us conceding goals. I think one of them should play, perhaps alongside Engels. I think most fans would forgive them if they came in and gave their all.
This would also preserve their market value, as won’t get much for them in January if they’re not in the squad.
I don’t think we should burn any bridges here. As you say injuries and exhaustion are common foes in this division and to have Magassa, Alvarez and even Cornet to call upon, could give us an advantage over other clubs
Alvarez/Magassa/Fearon should be utilised in cup game to ease tensions and give rest to regulars.
Nuno doesn’t need to view it as a climb down just a senssible move.
he’s done no more than 10 of the others, he just didn’t get a move because we overpaid and put him on a good long contract.
might come in handy in a couple of months when suspensions and injuries kick in.
Reminds me of the Defoe situation back in the day…
Good to know that the manager does not need to spend his valuable time persuading reluctant players to motivate themselves to play football.
Every additional minute demanded by these extras means that the bread and butter guys receive less time and attention. That would breed discontent amongst the squad if some were to be special needs cases. This is all to the detriment of the club.
I am sure that Alvarez, Magassa and Cornet know the situation and the way back to playing consideration is in their own hands and legs. David Beckham at Real Madrid and the England team should serve as a supreme example of professional behaviour and proof that head down, hard work will ultimately gain the rewards.
In reality the Winter window isn’t that far away. Time for Alvarez’s agent to earn his cut and find someone who will pay up for his ‘talented’ client. And if the agent can’t find anyone perhaps his client needs a wake up call?