Sam Allardyce remains very much in the driving seat on deciding who and who doesn’t arrive at Upton Park this summer!
Those who believed the board were set to take over the decision-making process on incoming signings after the dramas of early summer appraisals and board meetings had it wrong.
Thus far, each of those who have arrived at the club are very much hand-picked Allardyce players.
The manager made Cheikhou Kouyaté his priority target and was in total agreement that Mauro Zarate should come to the club, receiving 100 per cent backing on both.
And Aaron Cresswell too was very much his choice of left back along with Charlton’s Diego Poyet.
A top source at the club told ClaretandHugh exclusively: “Sam is driving the bus – make no mistake about that and that’s exactly how it should be given this may be the biggest season of his career.
“Even though there was a massive hue and cry about bringing in Timothee Kolodziejczak, Sam was always swaying towards a top Brit and Aaron was his man.
“There’s a lot of pressure on him this season but that’s more about what happened last season than anything else.
“He knows that the expectations have changed – the board want success with style and it’s been made crystal clear that survival itself is no longer seen as an achievement.
“He is picking the players but that’s a double-edged sword with the board making it clear they want a top season.
“Should it not happen the pressure is going to be on big time given that Sam’s contract runs out in the summer.”
However, it is important to note that these players don’t seem to be coming in via Curtis. So, even if it is Big Sam pulling the strings, it seems that the talks may have cut off the Curtis string, thankfully.
Do you have any inside news on the Yevhen Konoplyanka bid? Is it real? I’d love it if they brought him in.
Agree totally with all of that. The bid is very real. Story at site
Despite all the rubbish that has been written and said about BS and the club recently it should be remembered any well run club, and WHUFC is now a well run club, the following facts remain the same.
The manager picks the team, decides the style of play and identifies likely transfer targets.
The board/owners evaluate those transfer targets and decide how their money is go be spent.
BS was given a clear plan. Get us up, keep us up and be in the prem when we move to the OS. He was also told to develop the squad and develop a team that was ready to grace the OS.
All that has changed is that we have had a truly terrible season for whatever reasons, that have put us back a number of years and shocked both management and supporters alike.
This has lead to a focusing of minds and a realisation that what went on last season was unacceptable and could never be allowed to happen again!
Also, that the team rebuilding was not being supported enough and it needed to be accelerated if we are to have a team good enough to play at the OS!
I know it is very early days this time but IMO we are already righting the the many wrongs of last season! COYI?
Ps.. I am just witnessing what we all thought about Brazil, a poor team that has been getting away with it! They are now receiving an unbelievable football masterclass by the Germans! 5-0!half hour gone! WOW!