It’s difficult to understand precisely why West Ham have not signed a central defender yet, something that was surely a priority at the beginning of the transfer window.
Depending on which side you believe, the delay is either down to David Sullivan not spending the money or Nuno refusing anyone and everyone who isn’t a Jorge Mendes client.
Either way, West Ham find themselves one injury away from a real problem. Jean-Clair Todibo and Dinos Mavropanos performed well against Tottenham, but both have had their injury issues this season. The backup is Max Kilman, who is nowhere near the level required for a backs-to-the-wall relegation scrap, and cover is clearly needed.
A Growing Risk at the Back
Charlie Cresswell remains available and, if the club had ever seriously wanted him, I’m sure he’d be here by now. That leaves a number of underwhelming loanees, such as Axel Disasi, who are unlikely to improve the first team.
Which makes me wonder just how serious the club and manager are about surviving this season. Surely the urgency of the situation would focus minds in the same way it did with striker recruitment at the beginning of the window.
Much has been said about “rebalancing” the squad, but as things stand West Ham have lost a winger, two strikers and a midfielder. Keiber Lamadrid has just signed, but by David Sullivan and Nuno’s own admission he is “not ready for the first team yet”.
I’d argue we’re less balanced now than we were three weeks ago, and we’re still waiting on that all-important central defender.
Unbelievable, we are a joke club !!
Everyone knows we desperately need a centre half and yet club politics seem to come first !
Are we looking to get relegated ?
Sullivan shape up or ship out ffs
Magassa & Soucek should be tried at CB
They are like a couple of school kids in a sweet shop pondering what to buy.
So much choice it’s confusing.
In their case choice is no longer a suitable argument.
It’s no longer a lottery due to availability (maybe cost).
Nuno has asked for fans to support him.
Fans have asked Nuno to bring in defenders.
Unfortunately this is going towards a no win for either.
Biggest loser is whu.
Don’t think we are less balanced personally, we have 2 CF’s and our full backs are returned.
We need an attacking midfielder, 2 CB’s, arguably a keeper and cover on the wings, not sure if these rumours of Nnaadi are true at CDM would seem odd seeing as it’s the 1 position we have an abundance in but you wouldn’t put it past Sullivan…
Frankly we have left it too late, The defense was a problem before the season began. Even if they got someone good in now we still need 8 wins to reach 41 points. As we know that might not be enough.
Who wants to sign for a club that is playing Championship football next season.
Sue …. Couldn’t agree more.
When you wonder how serious club is about surviving this season Gonzo, many decisions seem to be taken accepting that there is a strong possibility WHU will be in the championship next season and the likelihood is, just my supposition, Nuno would be manager. Obviously club hope Nuno will avoid relegation, but I sense there seems to be a longer term agreement in place already, relegation or not. DS, Nuno and de facto Mendes. Hope Max Hahn has some say, or input, otherwise he’ll leave too.
Otherwise, like everyone else, was expecting defensive reinforcements (Cresswell or a Max Hahn gem) and also wondering why Igor Julio is never seen.
The club just has a few more days to waste before matters are taken out of their hands. Once the window closes, the discussion ends and we stand or fall with what we have. That seems to be Sullivan’s gamble. I am not convinced this club deserves the fans it has but I do know the fans don’t deserve this version of the club, it sucks.
So if it’s Nuno get on with it mate doesn’t have to be a client of a specific rep get real. If it’s Sullivan spend the cash and try and save us. Just get on with it mate doesn’t. Cresswell looks ok to me but what do I know
The hammers should try to bring doglous luiz if lucas leaves. He would be the answer of a handful of problems. One central defender is earnestly required.
Who do you suggest we should have signed? We’re not in Europe and historically those clubs in the various European competitions tend to be the first choice of anyone looking to move.
It’s easy to say the club should sign x, y, and z but the reality, as always, isn’t straighforward.
It really is down to what Sullivan wants and his own researching of players and use of his own “trusted” agents.
With Moyes it was there was the comment that there were no players available that improved our current squad. With Potter we heard we didn’t need a striker and now with Nuno it’s talk about players not coming via Mendes. Even Allardyce stated “David will have his own mind on his own players. I always found dealing with David when I was there was the order of the day.”“You get the odd present from David now and again where he fancies it so he brings him [a new player] anyway, but you have to live with that.”
This is what our chairman does. The club is like his own version of Football Manager. Sullivan does not have the acumen to dabble in the market and in his mind the manager, tech director or scout doesn’t know any better than him.
I honestly feel he has realised the lack of striker appointment, ate humble pie and now has little funds to give the manager a choice on choosing the right defender.
Look at LeMadrid, even Nuno would argue why have him at the moment when I can’t use him.
With Nuno I feel we are getting a more honest and transparent account of the background mechanics of Sullivan’s inept running of the club.
Surely re centre halves – would any want come to WHU at present? I expect it’s not for the want of trying on the part of WHU
I agree – a defender and leader has always been a priority – especially as we don’t keep the ball up the other end for very long!
What a feel good factor it would be to sign Charlie C – would give everyone a lift – and even if we did go down – I would have more confidence in us coming back up with someone like him commanding at the back!
100% we have the worst defence in the premier league and we do our load on two strikers ?
same old Sullivan cheap skate and a liar
This is the same a sthe striker situation. We would not buy a striker leaving a huge gap in that space or instead buy players who are not of the calibre in that role.
We have now shifted this problem to defence. Every time we dabble in the markets it is mainly in the wing positions and not the core spine of the team.
I don’t believe at any point the manager is to blame, as any manager will see where their squad is lacking it really is down to what Sullivan wants to spend and how he wants to spend it which we all know he has poor judgement on what the squad needs.
I wonder.,
Is it possible that we are looking to sign one (or two) quality players, contingent upon the sale of Paqueta?
(I’m clutching at straws here…)
The clusterf–k that is Westham continues . Get Cresswell on a high loan to sign contract price with relegation clause to protect Westham and Cresswell ( he doesn’t want to play for a Championship club on low wages ). If Nuno won’t accept Cresswell ( the best available CB ) , then Nuno must be sacked because he would be guaranteeing relegation through his intransigence . A Todibo/Cresswell defense would likely prevent 10 goals conceded in the remainder of this season and would get Westham close to safety . Paqueta , no product , a liability , just sell him .
can’t see why anyone decent would want to come, players these days are happy to sit and not play rather than take a risk and end up in the championship….
I can not understand why we keep looking at every position but not the defence
We should go all out to get Cresswell and prove to the fans they are serious about trying to avoid the drop
We need defence and now