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NEVER SAY DIE 9:05 Wed Dec 31
The problem with letting squad players go in January

I see currently that the board is filled with sell/loan out Jarvis, Cole, Nolan, Vaz Te etc

The problem with that is:

1. No-one wants to buy them, they only want to loan them to see how they perform over the next 5 months and then make long-term decisions so in reality you're only freeing up wages. That is of course if there's any interest in the player at all.

2. Within the current West Ham set up there are very few if any youngsters that can step up and take the place of an outgoing squad player such as Zarate or the players named above.

3. You've developed and bedded in a squad over the past 5-6 months which in our situation has been very successful. Why on earth would you mess with that at this stage of the season and say bring in 2-3 more players to replace outgoing players and start the whole process over again with new faces. How exactly did that work last January when in reality the 3 serie A based players offered very little if anything at all in the run in. It was the existing squad members that pulled us out of the mire.

4. We all know fans love it when a new player comes into the club, we're filled with excitement and cant wait for them to pull on the shirt and represent our beloved club. How many of West Ham's recent January window signings have made any kind of contribution worthy of the initial investment?

Jan 14
Armero - could be argued he made a decent contribution but IMHO he wasn't suited to a flat back 4 and was more of a wing-back.

Borriello - injured/worthless loan

Nocerino - showed some flashes but in truth was too weak for the PL

Johnson - absolute fucking nightmare and well out of his depth

Razak - who?

Jaanai Gordon - youngster is actually on loan at a far lower level from where we signed him from, early days though.

Jan 13

Joe Cole - played pretty well at the start but we all know how that one ended

Chamakh - pure shit

Paulista - who?

Emanuel Pogatetz - terrible defender

Jan 12

The only January window that has bore some fruit under Sullivan/Gold with the acquisitions of Morrison, RVT and Maynard but that was in the Championship where IMHO it is a lot easier to sign players and bed them in quickly.

So in reality why break or even tweak something if it isn't broken in a window that generally bears no fruit at all? You've set your squad up for the season, they are all generally fit and available right now, fair enough we'll lose a couple of players for 4-5 weeks but that's the con when you sign certain players and at the end of the day that's why we have a squad. Players that haven't been playing regularly need to step up and grab their chance when they get it.

Steve P 9:08 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Depressing list. You're right, it's unlikely we will improve the squad, but it shouldn't stop us looking.

NEVER SAY DIE 9:10 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

We should always be looking Steve cos we aren't bringing players through like we should. Probably why we're bringing this young Canadian CB in.

Mr Polite 9:10 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

I think the keenness to get rid of Nolan and Cole is due to them making our team weaker and our manager seemingly enjoying picking them over other, better players!

AKA ERNIE 9:15 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Mr p has it right

NEVER SAY DIE 9:22 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

I agree with that to an extent but as I've said January is not the time to look at it. With Allardyce's contract up in the Summer we may well see another cull of the players most of our fans see as the weakest link like Taylor, Joe Cole, Collison, McCartney and co outed last Summer.

Players out of contract in June 2015

Jussi
Spiegel
Demel
Morrison
C Cole
Vaz Te

Ones we'd most likely wish to retain

Reid
Noble - club option?
Amalfitano - club option?

Nicey 9:25 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

If we could get anything close to £12m or so for Carroll we should bite their hand off. £12m in the bank and £5m a year off the wage bill for a fringe player would free up resource to further build the squad with hungry, professional and high potential players rather than paying for myths.

Willtell 9:52 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

A decent thread for a change. Well done NSD. I think that this mid-season is different to the last few seasons in that we aren't desperate to stay away from the relegation zone.

Zarate was never going to work out was he? I don't think it was because Sullivan signed him that SA didn't play him. That was more simply that SA only wants skill if it comes dripping in sweat... It will be interesting to see his replacement because we do need someone.

If we get loan or nominal offers for Vaz Te, Carlton, Nolan, O'Brien and decent offers for the likes of Jarvis, Noble and one or two others then if we have potential replacements lined up, then great. We should go for it.

The one I cannot get my head around is why Gus Poyet is not coming back to fight for a place. Not as a straight replacement for Zarate and Morrison. With Downing and Amalfitano that is adequately covered for now. But we do need cover for Kouyate and Sakho most...

stewie griffin 9:54 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

In fairness, our previous January business has been indicative of a wider problem with our transfer strategy.
It'd be just easy to pick holes in our summer spending until this summer, which represented a significant change in approach. No reason to think that wouldn't continue in this window.

Steve P 9:54 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Gus?

stewie griffin 9:55 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Gus CAESAR

Nicey 9:57 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

O'Brien shouldn't go anywhere. Versatile, happy to be on the bench and a good lad too. Every squad needs a Joey O'Brien

stewie griffin 9:57 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

He looks like bolty.

On that basis, he can fuck off.

Willtell 9:59 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

I wouldn't dispute that Nicey but improving means those that lack quality are allowed to go if a reasonable offer comes in and a replacement is available....

Nicey 10:02 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

You'd be hard pressed to find another player that can do a job across the back line and also in the middle, is happy to be part if a squad and rarely get a start, costs nothing and is on lowish wages.

I know that doesn't sound like an ambitious player but O'Brien is t there to push other startes for a place he us there to cover should it be needed. You take a risk looking to replace a player like that as they are hard to find as many would just be happy to pick up their wage and not make the effort to be ready when called upon or would be kicking up a fuss over not being in the side.

Honest Hammer 10:05 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Never understood the negativity around Roger Johnson.

He played a couple of games when we were fucking desperate and in those games he wasn't that bad at all, far better than Joey and George at centre half.

Nicey 10:28 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Ask his previous clubs.

Nagel 10:35 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

"The only January window that has bore some fruit under Sullivan/Gold...was in the Championship".

How about Jan 2011? The signing of Demba Ba would have been enough to see us safe from relegation if we'd had a halfway competent manager at the time.

The main difference this season is that we don't really need anyone to go straight into the first team - just to improve the squad and the only place the squad is really weak is in defence. If we keep Reid and get Doneil Henry then the centre back positions are fine but i'm concerned about the full back cover. O'Brien and Demel have been fairly decent in their time here but are totally out of their depth in the new role required by our narrow midfield formation. We need attacking full back cover on both flanks.

Apart from that I assume that Zarate is being shifted out because Sam sees him as a troublemaker so ideally we'll have get some cover for him and hopefully knock Cole down the pecking order.

Honest Hammer 10:38 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

Nicey, that has nothing to do with his time at West Ham.

He was very popular with the squad as well.

Nicey 10:44 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

I understand our skipper and record signing like a good night out so I imagine Johnson would have been very popular.

Russ of the BML 11:10 Wed Dec 31
Re: The problem with letting squad players go in January

1. That is, of course, unless you take a hit and sell them at low price so clubs take the risk and buy them. It would free up squad places and wages.

2. Agreed. This needs to be addressed sharpish.

3. Sort of agree. But let's be honest Jarvis and Vaz Te aren't even getting a look in when we are short. May aswell get rid and look to get in a couple of young players that can be drilled and moulded.

4. If you call Demba Ba recent then there is your answer. But, you have a point.

I think the benefit of this transfer window is that we are not looking to purchase a player or players to get us out the shit. We can tinker with the squad and bring in a few fresh faces but we aren't in a position to be desperate.

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