West Ham’s January transfer window saw the Hammers throw money at an attempt to secure Premier League survival – most fans in hindsight will deem it ‘too little, too late‘. Combining squad deficiencies, VAR interventions, poor finishing, bad management and bad luck, the Irons have been in freefall for most of the last two seasons.
It did seem, briefly, just back in those optimism-fuelled days of January, that the Hammers had indeed ‘finally got it right’ by bringing in not one, not two, but four recruits to the survival’ battle.
Adama Traore, Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos and loanee Axel Disasi joined and the Hammers immediately embarked upon a new style of ‘pressing from the front’ football which for a while looked as if it might turn around the clubs fortunes.
Taty has goals, Pablo has one magic moment and little else.
With two games to go and two points the deficit, the mountain to climb might just be too great. Nobody can doubt the impact of Disasi but the jury is still out on the striker duo of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe. The least said about Traore the better, other than ‘we told you so” as Nuno’s favourite has done nothing to justify that faith.
At least Castellanos has goals to his name. Pablo has one assist. Scant return for one who created waves in Portugal but looks terribly out of his depth in a Premier League attack.
Yet strangely, despite just one assist as his tangible reward for miles and miles of pressing, it seems that Pablo Felipe has multiple admirers in the Premier League who are planning to dive in for the Brazilian this summer. According to sports boom.co.uk:
Bournemouth Identify West Ham Forward Pablo as Eli Junior Kroupi Replacement Option
If Bournemouth offloads Kroupi for an astronomical figure (rumoured numbers are in the €80-100 million range), they will enter the transfer race for Pablo.
Surprisingly – and here Hammers fans will have to rub their eyes and ask themselves the obvious question of ‘why all the fuss‘? – Bournemouth aren’t the only club planning to leap in for the bearded wonder:
“One of the most serious contenders for Pablo is Brentford. Keith Andrews’ side has been closely monitoring the player since his Gil Vicente days.
They believe a second chance has now emerged for the young star they lost to West Ham in January.
The Brentford camp thinks Pablo would be beneficial with his physical strength and finishing inside the penalty area. There is no official bid yet, but “elbow contact” has been established with the player’s representatives behind the scenes.”
Which will at least see West Ham recoup the £20 million they blew on their ill-fated gamble. You just know Pablo will lace up his PUMA Ultra Ultimates on the correct feet for a change and suddenly become a world beater at his next club, despite currently having exhibited the finesse of a Giraffe wearing builder’s boots.
I’m not in the slightest bit surprised that premier league clubs that are known to be excellent at scouting talent are interested.
He’s brought so much to the team, and only people who still think forwards are only judged by goals would be surprised.
He’s a brilliant defensive forward, incredibly hardworking and I’m sure goals will come in time.
Either you’re his agent or your response is a parody reply worthy of Monty Python.
I agree.We should not be having a go at a very talented young player, with years to improve. Let’s hand it to the guy he came to our club to try and help us get out of a total mess.Good on him, he has put some life into the attacks and never gives up, he might not be scoring goals but just his movements have made space.He just needs time to settle in and it will be a shame if again we sell a descent young layer with loads more to offer.We just don’t give them a chance to settle in.
We should not be pointing fingers or singling out players,they are all responsible for what happens on the pitch. I hope tomorrow we show that we do care about this club and get the win we need to a least put Spurs under some pressure.
We only have the poor recruitment of players and the past it players we have signed,on stupid high wages and long contracts,which has cost the club dearly.Just Hope Jarrod can get the team well motivated
Come on you Irons
Throw money in jan by making a profit?
Nonsense
January transfer window saw the Hammers throw money at an attempt to secure Premier League survival
Wh make a transfer profit in January
“A Giraffe wearing builder’s boots” is a bit cruel, Martin. I’d love for Pablo to score the winner against Newcastle. No doubt so would he!
If we can just step back a bit..Dare i say forget where we are in the table…Many players take a while to adjust to the PL…His second season could be a good one…We just dont know..He is playing under massive pressure at the moment..IF we stay up we should hold on to him ..If he still a donkey by January then get rid..Although i can see Sullivan selling him if someone is interested…Probably what this article alludes to anyway.
Most of our players would come into their own under a manager who knew what he was doing, the recent crop of ” managers ” including Nunoclue haven’t exactly been inspiring anyone, limited inspiration , limited achievement I’m afraid….🙏🏻
Pablo might not be the most gifted but at least in every game he plays he try’s his heart out for the club. So rude and unfair to refer to him this way . You don’t become a professional footballer without talent required.
Hilarious 😂 Another Pablo agent or parody account 😜
Lets play him as a 9 and not a 10 and then we will see the real Pablo
I agree. He would be much better as a 9 and Tatty could easily play the 10 role.
If only we had the comfort of a few more Premier League games to experiment.
Pablo is our joelinton not the greatest striker but a hell of a defensive forward who’s movement helps tatty get space to get strikes on goal if Bowen had been on his game Pablo’s work would be much appreciated, tatty would have had two more goals smacked the woodwork twice I personally think he gets a bad press from some of the fans
Spot on Keith! He looked a really decent target man v Brentford in the FA Cup but Nuno always plays him behind Taty who’s too small to hold the ball up. Incomprehensible!
Yeah, even worse if that’s possible!