Now, Iām fully aware this latest West Ham update will go down about as well as a slap in the face with a wet fishāso brace yourselves.
Callum Wilson is looking increasingly likely to sign for West Ham and, keeping with the fish theme, the deal will reportedly be cheap as chips.
Before anyone starts shooting the messenger (this is neither the time nor the plaice), let me be clearāIām not a fan of the move. Iāve already said plenty about why we shouldnāt sign Wilson, and I wonāt labour the point. But in Callum Marshall, the club seem to have a genuinely talented young striker who could be on the verge of a breakthrough season.
The deal for Wilson would see him sign a contract that is 90% performance-related, with a basic wage believed to be under Ā£10,000 per week. There are suggestions that there would be no signing-on fee or agent commissions until certain performance parameters are met. It also appears the player is keen to join.
Where this leaves Michail Antonio is anyoneās guessābut for me, thereās no clear benefit to signing Wilson, even on a reduced wage.
The Hammers already have a young, fit, and exciting striker in Marshall who looks like the real dealāso why bring in an older, injury-prone version?
Slap received. Edging is the operative word in this title, and it makes me wonder why, if the powers that be think it is such a great deal, it is taking so long. Maybe WHU think they are the only game in town. The reason for the lack of commitment to the youngsters you mention is probably due to a lack of conviction on the part of the management. I am wondering if after the friendlies are over, we will see more than Scarles and possibly Potts this side of May.
Like it or not the main reason for the signing if it happens is that it is a typical West Ham scenario,itās a cheap low cost deal ,probably others in the pipeline without spending to much!
Spot on shame the only people who can’t see it is the board, very worrying for our future being led by people with their heads in the sand
Couldnāt agree more that Marshall is showing the qualities that indicate he has what it takes.
If Wilson is a reserve and Marshall takes priority then I am ok with it, FĆ¼llkrug will likely get injured at some point and itās possible that Marshall could learn from him because he has a lot of skill as a CF.
Like virtually everyone I am not a big fan of this move and if it happens we all should be rightly furious if Wilson gets a place on the bench and Marshall does not. But we also need to be realistic about the dire financial state that our previous transfer dealings and our poor league performance has left us in. We sold Kudus and looks like we will be spending most of the remaining money from him on a much needed keeper. Paqueta has been cleared and the mood music seems to be he will stay unless we are offered big money. And if we have any spare cash we still need more athleticism alongside him and perhaps Potts. Marshall and Cummings are hopefully the future so we don’t need another inexperienced youngster. So you are either hoping for a free or a decent loan or paying fairly big money, which we don’t seem to have, on someone a bit more proven. It is of course all a big gamble as realistically you can’t expect Fullkrug or a Wilson or Antonio to stay fit for long so you are just an injury to Bowen away from a major problem.
We do not need to pay out for someone who takes up a squad number when we have a perfectly good youth player
Please think again
Too old for the squad, injury prone and lacking in pace,
Would suit championship club
It looks like we are again talking about young players and are bringing in players past their best
Very concerning for the players as well
If Marshall is good enough he’ll play.
Never seen a manager not play a player if he’s good enough and will improve the team.
I rate Fulkrug and Marshall but they will not get us enough goals to stay up. We need another but I donāt see how Wilson is the answer.
We played a better passing game the other night which is all well and good but you need an end product and as things stand there are not enough goals in this team
We need 3 strikers. Recent history at WHU has gone against that – which is why we end up being forced to play with a false 9 – when it isn’t really the plan.
Fulkrug is the man with the jersey this season. Subs are Marshall and – it looks like – Wilson. Then there are injuries. Marshall will play for sure.
As for Michy…? Let’s be honest, if we take injuries out of it – Wilson is the better striker.
If Wilson and Fullkrug are our two senior strikers for next season we are in trouble as purely from a fitness perspective neither bring stability. We need a striker that has been playing regularly in his first team, with pace and still room to develop, and there are plenty of those about who will not cost the earth, and alongside them get Marshall some managed game time as well. Signing Wilson would not be a good deal .
I agree Iād prefer Marshall to be given game time but Iām also aware that I tend to look through rose tinted glasses when it comes to academy players. If I step back and look at it logically Wilson is a proven goal scorer at the highest level as he has proven against West Ham on many occasions for different teams. He didnāt play much at Newcastle because they had Ā£150 million rated Isaak. Then there is always the chance Wilson could have a Craig Dawson/Jesse Lingard like season. If I step back and look it I wonder whether Wilson on an incentivised to play contract might not be a bad idea. There is also the thought that Marshall is still very young. Maybe one more year on loan at a championship club or a year learning from the likes of Wilson and Fullkrug and getting on for the last ten minutes or so as a sub might be a good way of easing him in. If he did well and scored he could also leap frog Wilson or Fulkrug into getting starts of course. Itās a difficult one for me. Iād probably not sign Wilson, think Iād rather bring in a top young striker from elsewhere but maybe Potters thinking donāt sign an expensive striker, sign a top goalkeeper instead and bring in a cheaper option in Wilson safe in the knowledge that thereās Marshall as a back up.
You are obsessed over this,we cannot go into a season with one experienced striker however good Callum Marshall is,he won’t play that many games,cup games etc, We need probably Antonio and Wilson as good value options and to help Marshall, stop being so negative, I think potter knows what he’s doing.
We have the young forward in Marshall, we have the older player in Fullkum surely the logic is to get an experienced player between these to challenge both age groups. This deal stinks of Sulivan and will waste more money. I would have rather kept Antonio.
Tbf if the wages are true a season wonāt hurt not that Iām a fan of his (wilson) but Marshall can learn of 2 different strikers and progress his game with the injury record of both strikers he will have his chances this season. I would of preferred the short term solution if there had to be one Vardy but I also think Wilson has a point to prove
Agree with this Wilson especially has skills Marshall can learn from, though I still would like Marshall to be first choice, he deserves it and has a bit of the Craig Bellamy about him, needs experience to refine and hone his capabilities.
I’m no Wilson fan but It could be that eel do ok. After all he could be a dab hand at scoring or he might flounder. I need to mullet over before deciding
I might skate on thin ice with my language but I reckon he’ll be a load of pollocks
Sounds fishy to me.
No one wants him not even the manager. Wilson should not be signed.
AGJ, perhaps you could expand on how you know that Graham Potter doesnāt want Wilson in the squad.
Is it brainless repetition of made up internet nonsense or do you actually have proper inside knowledge?
In the saga of the two Callums surely having seen Callum Marshall in pre-season Potter must realise that having Wilson at the club is pointless. If Wilson is accepting this deal it implies that he is short of offers. So much for trimming a bloated squad and giving youth it’s chance, if this deal happens.
Agreed Marshall needs the chance
š please fail the medical.. please fail the medical
Cod knows!
ha ha . . .they’ll be buying older defenders to displace Ollie Scales next
Gutted like a fish and yet at the same time very angry.
No need to say anymore; so why am I commenting ? I suppose it is because I (still) cannot believe what, apparently, goes on at West Ham.
You know well enough Sullivanās fingerprints, his desire to take a punt and impulsive purchases for strikers in particular. 60 odd none of which have worked out.