West Ham United’s squad rebalancing act has been the subject of considerable fan comment on and off our own Claret and Hugh forum. The depletion of the Irons’ midfield contingent has been further continuing today with the news that James Ward Prowse has been undergoing a medical at Burnley prior to a loan move.
According to Nuno – and evidently some of our readers – this is no bad thing.
Here is a thought provoking ‘guest post’ by Claret and Hugh reader ‘AndyD‘ who nobody could describe as ‘pro’ the West Ham board…
“As much as I hate Sullivan and everything he has done, rebalancing doesn’t mean replacing outgoing players with the same type.
We had four central midfielders on the bench Saturday with only two central midfield positions in the starting line up – and that excludes Rodriguez who was outbound and Paqueta who should follow.
Before the window we had at least eleven (yes Eleven!) First team central midfield options in: Potts, Soucek, James Ward Prowse, Fernandes, Paqueta, Rodriguez, Orford, Kanté, Magassa, Earthy and Irving with seemingly six of them being left after the window. Replacing them with nobody is actually rebalancing the squad!
James Ward Prowse – heading to Burnley as Nuno ‘rebalances’
On top of that, it appears Nuno has found attacking balance by using two strikers and two very attack minded wingers. Since we also rely on fairly attacking full backs, we can’t afford for our Central Mdifielders to be too attacking, so I suggest the money would be better prioritised elsewhere. Obviously, if a good deal comes up then maybe we look at.
While we started the window with 11 central midfielders chasing 2 positions (or at most 3), we now 3 players for 2 wing positions and 3 players for 2 Striker positions. Putting the money there would be rebalancing the squad!”
Good points well made, and perhaps only now do Hammers fans get to see the ‘lopsided’ squad that Nuno inherited.
The jury is still out on the ‘rebalancing’ act-depending on who comes in between now and the end of the window, principally to sort the frailties of a back line with Max Kilman in it.
I’ve said all along that we’ve got enough central midfield cover.
Potts and Magassa are natural DMs, Fernandes, Soucek, Kante and Orford can cover where needed. Pablo has shown he can play in the “10” role too.
But it works out all around. For example, we’ve ended Igor Julio’s deal and now only have Todibo, Kilman and Mavropanos as senior CBs. And if we’re seriously chasing a deal for Kinsky then how is 4 senior GKs balanced?
Unless we’ve discovered some previously unknown loophole that allows us to play with two GKs at the same time and Nuno is thinking that’ll guarantee us clean sheets then sounds like the football equivalent of politician speech. Or more accurately and topically, utter BS.
All well and good but this means that we are only going to be able to play in the current formation. No proper playmaker #10 anywhere to be found. that lack of versatility may be a problem at some point.
Yes good point made but Pacqueta going leaves a creative hole especially if Fernandes can’t play for whatever reason.
We have to have at least a new steady and reliable centre back if we can’t get a brilliant one. Mavropanos has runs of good games then goes backwards, who knows if Todibo can keep performing – then injuries or suspensions and we are looking at Kilman.
Why would we aid Burnley when we’re fighting relegation unless they really believe Ward Prowse will do Burnley more harm than good.
We would be mad to let JWP go to a relegation rival for peanuts after all the other midfield outgoings.
Granted he’s slow and has his limitations as a player but I see no value in freeing up his space in the squad without significant profit when we’ve already had an exodus in midfield.
“Re-balancing” … another one of Nuno’s daft ideas, “killing us softly” as we waltz on to the Championship ….
All well put and understood Martin, but as you also point out, if the theory is not applied to all three areas, it is fundamentally flawed. A standout central defender remains an essential requirement.
Sadly I fear we simply have to accept that we’re going down regardless of any “rebalancing”. Failure to pay the price for Creswell in the summer was a grave error of judgement.
I really hope Nuno can pull it off and prove me wrong.