West Ham’s new boss, Graham Potter, may not excite fans with his cautious transfer policy, but his calm and considered approach feels like a refreshing change for the club.
One only has to go back 12 months to the desperate recruitment of Kalvin Phillips to see the contrast in strategy. Of course, nobody could have foreseen quite how poorly Phillips would perform, but at the time, then-manager David Moyes had decided the former Leeds United midfielder would be crucial to the Hammers’ run-in.
Whilst Phillips’ move to West Ham was only a loan deal, the overall package cost a whopping seven million pounds for six months, during which the player made a negative impact.
Fast forward 12 months, and Potter is said to be keen not to repeat the same mistake. In many respects, by the time Moyes recruited Phillips, he probably knew he was leaving and, as a result, didn’t care much about depleting the following summer’s transfer pot by £7 million.
Potter, on the other hand, will be acutely aware that being frugal now enhances his chances of securing genuine targets in the summer. This game of football patience may not be the most exciting way to spend a transfer window, but it does seem Potter is waiting for the right player rather than any player
Sorry Gonzo, no offence meant but what is the point of this article?
Surely it’s just stating the bleeding obvious 🤷♂️
The club doesn’t want to waste money like they did on Philips… does any club?
It’s like reading a post by ‘Central’ post on twatter
Tw@tter
Phillips in someways is typical of a Moyes transfer window. Too indecisive and at the same time capable of blowing a load of money on bad choices. We needed more than just Phillips even if he had of worked out and that was all we got. A lot of money for zero benefit when we needed radical action for the aging squad nearing contract end and an over used core first team group. But he didn’t do it. Over and over many windows. Just occasblew a load of money on players he had no clue how to use (Scamacca and the rest). That’s a big factor in why he had to go. Along with never using academy players.
If we’d got him when we still had Rice and they were the England midfield duo it would have worked a treat. A year later after sitting on Man City’s bench all that time and he’s the same player.
Not the same player.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When we got him I was very happy & thought he would only improve the first eleven. Surely no one thought he’d stink the place out like he did.