Without wishing to dwell on relegation until it is formally confirmed, the Hammers will doubtless be planning for all contingencies next season.
Several key players will be leaving the club in order to fund the massive cash shortfall and debt on transfer payments still owed – so there will be genuine pain ahead for supporters- but opportunities for both academy youngsters and seasoned pros alike, who had been written off as Premier League has-beens.
Which suggests the Hammers may find uses for their quartet of senior loaned-out players next season. Clearly nobody is interested in buying three of them for anything close to what West Ham paid: With the ‘relegation clause’ inserted presumably in every player’s contract, should their salaries suddenly become more affordable these unwanted, expensive discards might still be of use to West Ham in a championship campaign.
Almost like a ‘repurposing’ of unwanted assets, the ‘scrapheap challenge’ of bringing discards back into useful service may be a necessity this summer.
Niclas Fullkrug will be returning after a failed loan spell at AC Milan. He costs nothing to buy and with a 50% wage cut on relegation suddenly looks as if he might be a decent option to lead the line in the second tier.
Maxwel Cornet lands back at London Stadium next month with the worst injury record in the club having failed dismally out on loan at Italian side Genoa. Could Cornet actually serve a purpose as a winger in the championship if West Ham’s current incumbents get sold?
Second chance- in the Championship – for Edson Alvarez
Edson Alvarez will be desperately hoping for a good World Cup and a summer sale back to former club Ajax (rumoured last window) rather than being anchored to West Ham in the championship. There’s no doubt he could do a job if a buyer can’t be found.
James Ward Prowse could find his level as a championship midfielder. Of course, largely dependent upon Nuno moving on – but the former Southampton midfielder could again provide a season of service in the second tier.
The fact that all four of these hugely expensive West Ham players – failures in the Premier League – could find their level in the Championship is a massive indictment of the club’s recruitment policy. Being pragmatic they could yet find themselves needed as the Hammers try to find their way forward in the bewildering world of second tier football come August.
I like your positive thoughts although that’s all they are one thinks. Injuries don’t just stop because you drop down a division and although the championship may not be as quick as the Premiership it’s looks to be too fast for this quartet. And remember there are alot more games to play in the Championship for them injuries to raise their ugly heads.
Wow thats something to look forward to then…
Jeez….league 1 here we come if thats happening
There’s no way on gods green earth though that Fullkrug will want to stay with us,he doesn’t want to play with us in the Premier league yet alone the Championship so thats a non starter straight away.
who will buy him, realistically, ‘E’? Milan turned down the chance at €4 mil! He’ll still be on 45k a week in the championship at West Ham (50% wage cut) so do you think anybody will be in for him? He’ll be the next Danny Ings
Just watch the crowds drop when they are playing in the second division Sullivan if still there will have night mares with a ground half empty just think he promised to be in the champions leauge in six years what a joke of a man
I believe will all leave, Fullkrug is nowhere near mobile enough to play ay any level in England and Cornet couldn’t hack two games a week with his injury record. JWP is interesting (if Nuno does go). I think the appointment of Jimenez mid-season was to make sure someone could hit the ground running knowing the team if relegation did occur. Nuno will certainly leave and lead a team playing in europa league/conference league something of that level. For me personally the relegation was a long time coming and he is a small part of a wider issue (Lop, Potter, sacking Moyes, and signing utter dross players like the aforementioned).
spot on Dave, we need young players that have something to prove and will give everything for the team, not some player that thinks they are it.
sullivan hope you are pleased with yourself, ive only been supporting westham for near on 70 years and this is some of the worse in my life time
It is bad but its been worse. Getting relegated in 78 was bad and we had Bonds, Brooking and Devonshire in that side. Mind you the infamous trip to Rotherham in Aug 2003 a game which included James, Repka, Hutchinson, Carrick and Defoe was really bad. The team refused to get changed in the Rotehrham’s changing rooms and went back to their hotel to change. You just knew we would lose and so we did !
If wre relying on the likes of Fulkrug, JWP, Cornet & Alvarez to get us out of the Championship then the only route out will be to League 1
Too Right. But no one will buy any of them ! my concern is to balance the books after the firesale of any of the half decent players we will have to sell some of the youngsters as they will all book profits.
We will land up underselling Summerville, Bowen and others as we will be a price taker to balance the books. A £100m loss this year and a fall in revenue of c£120m on dropping down. That isn’t easiy recovered.