Reports continue to suggest there’s frantic recruitment research going on behind the scenes belying the impression of the good ship West Ham United being dead in the water: Whilst shareholder power moves are still carried out in secret and there’s no news regarding an appointment as head of Recruitment, evidently the backroom team are working hard to provide options for Nuno’s – and a future Director of Football’s – consideration once the impasse in the boardroom is resolved.
Top of the list of targets appears to be Brighton’s winger Amario Cozier-Duberry as West Ham go searching for pacy players – should Crysencio Summerville depart then a replacement suitable for the Championship will be absolutely essential. ExWHUemployee amongst many others has referred to the winger as being one under consideration.
Several other names – some familiar, others less so – were named in the same report: Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu, Watford’s Othmane Maamma and Stoke City’s Million Manhoef all wingers under scrutiny at this early stage of the window.
Dan Neil – ex Sunderland skipper finishing a loan at Rangers – again linked with West Ham United
Outside of the EFL, ‘ex’ suggests Espanyol’s Tyrhys Dolan and Matteo Cancellieri of Lazio who has apparently been on Brentford’s watchlist.
A plethora of pacy youngsters in that list suggests the common theme: West Ham are looking for young, up and coming talent rather than heading down the “Adama Traoere’ rabbit hole once again. Amen to that.
As far as midfielders are concerned – according to insidefutbol.com, West Ham United are linked with Cardiff City ‘standout’ Rubin Colwill whilst free agent Dan Neil , the former Sunderland skipper currently odds-on to stay with Rangers where he was on loan, is also mentioned.
Both are attacking midfielders and players who would be useful additions to West Ham’s Championship squad, both being familiar with the second tier. Again, both young, up-and-coming but with good experience to hit the ground running at London Stadium.
Of course, this being the Championship there’ll no doubt be loanees and free signings as the Hammers look to remodel and rebuild. But the core of young, pacy players being mentioned at present at least offers hope that the Irons have ambition in this division rather than merely plugging the gaps with old warhorses and free signings.
I am very curious to know what kind of team setup NES is envisaging. There is a lot of exciting football being played by different teams (Coventry) – in the PL I’m not so sure, more tactical perhaps, or I did not watch enough games of other teams?
Sometimes, very briefly, WHU played some nice football, but you automatically thought it was the start of something good, that it looked promising. However, whether it was Potts & Magassa in a 3 man midfield looking good, or the later setup of 4-2-4 with Soucek & Fernandes in midfield, it all fell away and the standard/quality of football was poor to average. Like a glorious looking home baked loaf going flat out of the oven – that level of disappointment😁
They talked of team spirit as much as Potter did positivity, but WHU fell apart as a team, looking more like individuals playing together, except in defence where you sensed the unity between players; well some anyhow.
So I am very curious how many youngsters, Academy and 1st team players there will be in the squad and whether WHU will be an attacking team and who in the team will beat players, will academy GKs play? Also who will create from midfield because without Fernandes we have no passers of the ball, which is novel to say the least, actually criminal and a reflection of our standard of play last season.
Would love to see a team that plays on the front food, but no idea what to expect from NES, who has a lot to prove, but a great chance to do it.
I was wrong really, in the PL had teams such as Crystal Palace, Brentford (direct & attacking), occasionally Liverpool, Villa,…
So quite a few styles of attacking play. Which is why I’m curious what NES will come up with. Hope there will be some real quality in midfield, it makes such a difference.
There must be a number of Premier League youngsters who need a loan in the Championship, what better test than trying to make it at a big club like ours?
No director of football.
Looks like usual scenario of ‘Pin the tail on the donkey’.
Shut your eyes and hope for the best.
Roll out the list of those who may be available and give fans the usual ‘We tried’.
Sorry we couldn’t get them for pre season matches.
Potter said that last year and first six months was disaster.
More like “exWHUemployee” being given lists by agents (remember he’s an agent himself)
We will see if Adam Webster rolls up that’s that theory down the swanee