Rate the transfer window...

[stubbo-admin]

So our last chance to affect the run in through squad make up has been and gone...but was it a net positive or negative?

We started the window with a squad somewhat 'unbalanced' to coin the Manager's phrase....bloated with substandard squad fillers picking up big wages and unlikely to get meaningful game time.  At the same time we had a Brazil international on the books and a young Brazilian winger who surely deserved more game time despite only being 19.  

At the end of the window we have more senior forwards, but key areas of the squad still look weak.  So are we better off, or was it the usual Sullivan cluster fuck?

1. Goalkeeper

Ins: N/A
Outs: N/a

No change in goal. We still have a first choice keeper who hates the ball in the air and is if not the root cause, at least contributes to our high ball susceptibility, and a second choice no one trusts with stunted arms.

Rating: C...no stronger, no worse. Would ideally be stronger.

2. Defence

Ins: Disasi
Outs: Igor

Say what you like about our new "French International", but he's an upgrade on Igor and comes in at a time when the cupboard was bare. Whether he's Craig Dawson reincarnated, or more Roger the Relegator remains to be seen, but technically we're stronger here now, with the new man a much better box defender and aerially dominant. Will it ultimately make our defence any better remains to be seen, but it is an improvement, all be it minor.

Rating: C+...better, but with the leakiest defence in the league, we needed major surgery and not just some Botox.

3. Midfield

Ins: N/A
Outs: Rodriguez, Irving, JWP, Paqueta

Whether you put Paqueta in attack or midfield really dictates the outcomes of those sections, but with a lack of open play goals and assists to his name in recent seasons, midfield feels more appropriate. Arguably, midfield has been a successful window with deadwood on big wages shifted, a sizeable fee received for an unhappy underperforming maverick, and all players of note retained.  Trouble is the wages saved won't save our season, and the fee received for Paqueta is only useful if reinvested in an improvement, who given he got notable game time when available, means we're an option and potential match winner down. Where's the money gone Sullivan?

Verdict: D... we're weaker, all be it from the loss of players who were not great performers, but Rodriguez had helped us see some games out, and Paqueta in glimpses was still a potential difference maker. Not replacing him when it was clear he was off a dereliction of duty. We all know we won't see that transfer fee again 

4. Attack

Ins: Pablo, Taty, Traore, Lamadrid
Outs: Fullkrug, Guilherme

Rightly or wrongly, the loss of Guilherme can't be seen as anything but neutral since he was getting no game time, was untrusted by three managers in succession, and should have been part of the U21 squad despite his inflated fee. Fullkrug's departure for me is a welcome exit. The 'big' German came with a reputation for injury and physicality...only delivered on half of that, and ultimately was a huge waste of money with an overinflated opinion of himself.

The arrival of Taty and Pablo has brought renewed energy to the side, allowing us to defend from the front in the first hour of games, and whisky they don't look like prolific goalscorers has had an undoubted impact in improving the side. Traore it's too early to call, but so far he's cost us Todibo for 3 games by starting a ruck, and looks like his 'roids addiction has got the better of him...he'll likely have more impact in the Rush Green quasi-gymnasium than he will on the pitch. As for Lamadrid....welcome lad. Nice goal for the U21s. Good luck when you return to your parents club ...glad to have helped your development.

Verdict: B+...we're notably stronger up top, no weaker out wide, but really needed a other bench wide option to affect games, and the drop off when Pablo or Taty Go off knackered harms the side's ability to play a 90 min game.

----------

So where does it leave us? For me it's a C+ window. We are stronger in terms of the first XI and marginally so in terms of our bench options. But will it move the needle and bring us back from the precipice of relegation? Fucking unlikely.

Jarrod Bowen....suit up! The future of West Ham is once again resting solely on your shoulders!

BSOut....where's the money gone Sullivan?!

 

[Mad Ferret]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore. 

You've never heard of Disasi?

Really?

[Massive Attack]

For example was keeping an eye on Duran who Fenerbache were open to letting him go who I think could have turbo drived us up front. Or even tempt Toney back from Saudi if we used the money for either of them, be it an initial loan which we could have done potentially leading to a permanent transfer in the summer. Not that they are the only Strikers to go for around the world either.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/notting ... y-42349043


Instead we only evet entertained Mendes stock instantly as soon as the window opened for almost a combined £50M.

 

[El Scorchio]

And if I'm being honest..

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. 


but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure

100%. The calculated gamble would have paid off. I do think the money could have been better spent and ideally on getting in at leaset 1 regular proven goalscorer but if it has the desired effect of keeping us up anyway, then it would have been worth it. Still time to find their shooting boots because we cannot keep relying on just Bowen and Summerville - who is known to break down at some point with dodgy hamstrings the way that he plays full tilt.

Totally agree- and it is very much a calculated gamble because neither had pedigree. Better that than Sullivan buying another Danny Ings I suppose. I do wonder if more 'quality' subsequent signings were promised at the start of the window and mysteriously failed to materialise along with a barrage of excuses. We knew Traore would rock up after Afcon was over and Fulham had their player(s) back but it cannot have been the plan at least in anyone aside from Sullivan's mind to only get a centre back as the window shut. Harwood Bellis was clearly absolute panic stations at the last minute probably due to Todibo getting sent off. Circus indeed

[Massive Attack]

And if I'm being honest..

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. 


but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure

100%. The calculated gamble would have paid off. I do think the money could have been better spent and ideally on getting in at leaset 1 regular proven goalscorer but if it has the desired effect of keeping us up anyway, then it would have been worth it. Still time to find their shooting boots because we cannot keep relying on just Bowen and Summerville - who is known to break down at some point with dodgy hamstrings the way that he plays full tilt.

[El Scorchio]

And if I'm being honest, the jury is still out for me on whether the £45M plus 130k combined wages were best spent on both Pablo and Taty in our situation. I won't criticise their work rate and it is true they do bring others more in to play, I'm just not sure that'll be enough. They need to add or make goals before the end of the season. Hopefully it will be enough and they soon add goals to their game in the League.

IF we stay up then the answer is yes. They've been a big factor in those two wins despite not scoring and frankly they can carry on not scoring if it means Summerville and Bowen carry on at basically a goal a game and it makes the rest of the team click.
I've already said I don't know what the fuck we've got in Pablo because he does some very useful things off the ball and in easy possession like laying it off but seems to have the first touch of an epileptic being tasered when under any sort of pressure but it's sort of working at least from an attacking point of view and they clearly must start every game when fit and available.

[zico]

Very underwhelmed with it as only one I had heard of is Traore.  Gonzo got it right last night when he said West Ham haven't spent to try and stay up and they also aren't planning for promotion if we do go down.  Once more totally amateur non preparation of effort from the board.  

[Massive Attack]

Igor hardly made an appearance for Brighton or us so why pay him £40 k a week, let Brighton pay him for doing nothing 

Exactly that. He aint demanding anything from anyone, other than possibly a new colouring book in the Creche as the rest of the Footballers get on with it. I will never get over him being caught out fannying about with his Barnet at the Training Ground of all things. Fucking pampered cunts.

Wait for it..

[Massive Attack]

And if I'm being honest, the jury is still out for me on whether the £45M plus 130k combined wages were best spent on both Pablo and Taty in our situation. I won't criticise their work rate and it is true they do bring others more in to play, I'm just not sure that'll be enough. They need to add or make goals before the end of the season. Hopefully it will be enough and they soon add goals to their game in the League.

[fraser]

Mugassa is a CB converted to DM so he's another who can play there... Igor hardly made an appearance for Brighton or us so why pay him £40 k a week, let Brighton pay him for doing nothing 

[Mad Ferret]

I still cannot fathom going through the rigmarole of getting Igor back to Brighton when we didn't even use our second loan spot. What utterly shit, shit planning and failure from Sullivan. Clearly the idea was to get two loans in in January and he couldn't even do that. Might as well have just kept Igor as last choice centre back for emergencies. It cannot be a financial decision. Just dismal, dismal embarrassing pointless 'transfer strategy'.

Igor wanted to play mate.

[El Scorchio]

I still cannot fathom going through the rigmarole of getting Igor back to Brighton when we didn't even use our second loan spot. What utterly shit, shit planning and failure from Sullivan. Clearly the idea was to get two loans in in January and he couldn't even do that. Might as well have just kept Igor as last choice centre back for emergencies. It cannot be a financial decision. Just dismal, dismal embarrassing pointless 'transfer strategy'.

[Massive Attack]

CH Pool:

Todibo
Mavropanos 
Kilman
Igor - Swapped out for Disasi


However I would have preferred them getting in 1 extra Centre Half to cover for competition, suspension, form and potential injuries. It's no secret that all our CH's have struggled for either form or ill discipline. The only thing we have managed to avoid so far is injuries which I never take for granted at this Club and would take no risks especially in a relegation battle. 

With that in mind I still would have added 1 more CH and 1 that's more youthful, proven fitness, up to speed and could realistically arrive. We also cannot rely Disasi is up to speed and cannot wait to find out especially with Todibo already suspended for at least 3 games.

We need fresh faces at the back to stir up the competition or improve with the new additions. Only 1 who has barely played for about a year wasn't enough for me for our current desperate situation. 

With regards wages...

(On loan generally is regarded as half wages split between Clubs)

Fullkrug - 50K (on loan)
Guilherme - 25k
Earthy - 5k (on loan)
Marshall - 5k (on loan)
Rodriguez - 75k
Julio - 40k (on loan sent back)
Irving - 40k
Ward Prowse - 60k (on loan)
Paqueta - 150k

= £450k 

Taty - 80k
Pablo - 50k
Disasi - 40k (on loan)
Cresswell/Harwood-Bellis - 80k
Gomes - 50k (on loan)
Sterling - 75k

= £375k

Something like that I reckon could have been achievable and set us up for the remainder of the season so to give us the best chance.

[Mad Ferret]

From the New York Times:

"Palace had agreed a deal in principle to sell Eddie Nketiah to West Ham for £27m early in the window only for the striker to sustain a hamstring injury in training, meaning any possible January move was moot. He has not featured this calendar year.

They would have proposed securing West Ham’s Callum Wilson in a separate deal, but Glasner was initially unconvinced.

By the time he was more open to securing the striker, Wilson had scored a winning goal against Tottenham in the middle of the month and his reintegration into the first team had scuppered any chance of him leaving."

[honky cat]

Cresswell is this years Will Still. He must be good because he's in France.

[fraser]

Are Cresswell and HB any better than Disasi though? 

The French have a very good pool of defenders and I doubt neither would be good enough to force their way into the same squad, I'll wait and see him play... Hardly ever seen Cresswell Tbh, but HB I have and definitely not what we need IMO... I'm quite happy with Disasi. 

[El Scorchio]

You don't guarantee anyone a starting spot. That's how you get into even worse situations than we already are.

Sullivan won't have wanted to fork out for either of them so won't have entertained it. That will be the sole reason. He obviously only very grudgingly got Disasi at the last minute. I bet he was playing silly cunts until 6.59 pm trying to wangle an advantageous deal or 'win' the loan with Chelsea and the player and barter them down figuring they'd be more desperate than him, and then bent over at the last minute when he realised they aren't.

[Mad Ferret]

Don’t forget peeps, still a chance we bring in Lingard.

[Massive Attack]

Had they tried going for them, that would be the job of the manager/Club to persuade them which is always possible if they can tell them what they want to hear. 

[onsideman]

Not suggesting they wouldn't improve the squad but of those I imagine Gomes and Sterling would both demand guaranteed starting places, which we would be unlikley to offer in their positions. 

Sterling is still an option... for someone at least

[Massive Attack]

Massive

Had they added the likes of:

CM - Gomes - Loan to perm

CH - Harwood-Bellis - Around £15M (or Cresswell for around £20M)

Winger - Sterling - Free 


Then I would have felt a lot better thinking we had maximised what we could in the window with realistic attainable signings. Sterling recently turned 31, has a load of experience and I'd suspect would lift the general mood in the Squad with his star appeal that I think the players would take to. Not saying he'd be anywhere as good as he once was, I just think he'd be the best available for costing no transfer fee which Sullivan is loathe doing and could add something in support of both Summerville and Bowen. 

​​​​​​But would these players come to West Ham? 
This is what i have been asking for years. I've seen clubs that on the face of it seem to offer 'less' than west ham, but manage to attract better players. The usual suspects will say its because of sullivan etc, but there has to be more to it.

Gomes went to Wolves. I can't see him not had we seriously went for him over them. I think they fell asleep not paying better attention to him if Wolves of all teams ended up getting him in their predicament. 

Cresswell or Harwood-Bellis I think would entertain the step up from Southampton or Toulouse and would want to play in the Prem. 

Sterling I reckon wouldn't mind being we are based in London so no upheaval, would probably enjoy the adulation if he coukd help keep us up and prove he still has what it takes in the Prem. His wages would have to realistic now he's available on a Free and we did clear a lot of players (wages) so reckon I deal could be done. If he got too greedy then he remains without a Prem Club. 

[honky cat]

Massive

Had they added the likes of:

CM - Gomes - Loan to perm

CH - Harwood-Bellis - Around £15M (or Cresswell for around £20M)

Winger - Sterling - Free 


Then I would have felt a lot better thinking we had maximised what we could in the window with realistic attainable signings. Sterling recently turned 31, has a load of experience and I'd suspect would lift the general mood in the Squad with his star appeal that I think the players would take to. Not saying he'd be anywhere as good as he once was, I just think he'd be the best available for costing no transfer fee which Sullivan is loathe doing and could add something in support of both Summerville and Bowen. 

​​​​​​But would these players come to West Ham? 
This is what i have been asking for years. I've seen clubs that on the face of it seem to offer 'less' than west ham, but manage to attract better players. The usual suspects will say its because of sullivan etc, but there has to be more to it.

[Massive Attack]

For me there were two main failings in the window, probably driven by one main action.

1 - the failure to replace Paqueta with a creative midfielder
2 - the failure to get any kind of cover for Fernandes

I think you can lay the blame for both those failings on us paying way over the odds for both Taty and Pablo.

Whether we did that in order to force the deal through at the start of the window, or to line Mendes pockets...who knows. I don't dislike either player....but they were clearly too expensive and that money could have worked harder for us.

If I had a 3rd criticism, it's that we have a domestic and a foreign loan slot available, and neither have been used.

I don't really see the outgoings as being of huge significance. I'd have kept Rodriguez as I think he had utility and was trusted for a specific role. But can understand his departure. We were bloated in central midfield with 3 players that added neither variety or real utility and the chance to cull there was a good opportunity to take.

Lastly, Disasi feels like a lazy option. Not disappointed he's here....more just disappointed that was the best we could do. Makes you wonder why we bother with a scouting or data setup at all.











 

 

Had they added the likes of:

CM - Gomes - Loan to perm

CH - Harwood-Bellis - Around £15M (or Cresswell for around £20M)

Winger - Sterling - Free 


Then I would have felt a lot better thinking we had maximised what we could in the window with realistic attainable signings. Sterling recently turned 31, has a load of experience and I'd suspect would lift the general mood in the Squad with his star appeal that I think the players would take to. Not saying he'd be anywhere as good as he once was, I just think he'd be the best available for costing no transfer fee which Sullivan is loathe doing and could add something in support of both Summerville and Bowen. Gomes and either Centre Half in particular I think would have added a lot of quality and reliability in both positions well up to speed.

[Manuel]

Leaving two loan slots free is borderline criminal really, particularly with the big save on wages. Can only assume it was a case of ''can't be asked''.

[onsideman]

Surely Disasi is an improvement on Igor... I reckon by a considerable distance, been having a little look into him and despite what some have said on here I've read a few comments that he was decent at Villa. 

On the subject of not replacing Paqueta, it isn't really a failure as they in my opinion never wanted to and always intended selling him despite their protests, the reason they wanted to sell and loan back which was never going to happen but they needed the money for the two forwards. Let's not forget they tried to sell him to Villa in the last window. 

I think Disasi can be an improvement on Igor and still be a  lazy and disappointing choice

As far as not replacing Paqueta is concerned, whilst failure is perhaps the wrong choice of word if, as you suspect, it was never intended,  it could obviously still be classed as a mistake. 

[fraser]

Surely Disasi is an improvement on Igor... I reckon by a considerable distance, been having a little look into him and despite what some have said on here I've read a few comments that he was decent at Villa. 

On the subject of not replacing Paqueta, it isn't really a failure as they in my opinion never wanted to and always intended selling him despite their protests, the reason they wanted to sell and loan back which was never going to happen but they needed the money for the two forwards. Let's not forget they tried to sell him to Villa in the last window.