You would think that with £105 Million on its way to the club following the protracted Declan Rice to Arsenal transfer that West Ham would be eyeing up several top notch replacements, however despite plenty of excruciatingly poorly reported 'click bait' headlines the players realistically being linked with a move to the Irons are distinctly underwhelming and that might NOT be a bad thing!
Hammers track record when spending big is hardly illustrious, in fact it is just short of appalling, so maybe buying the 2nd cheapest wine on the menu might work to the club's advantage? New head of buying, or whatever new title has been dreamt up for him, Tim Steidten seems like a man who likes getting a good deal, if the flavour is too rich he is not above walking away.
Steidten's stance on transfers obviously appeals to David Sullivan, otherwise the club's majority shareholder wouldn't have sanctioned the German's appointment, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out. Will Sullivan take a back seat regarding transfers? Based on past occurrences definitely NOT, but times change and Sullivan seems to want out, not from the club but from the day to day aggro of dealing and wheeling.
Whichever way you look at it, West Ham are NOT a rich club, neither is the club poor, but it cannot compete with the likes of Man City or Chelsea or a good deal of other clubs that are owned by Nations or healthy hedge funds. Dining at the Premier League's 2nd table may not be glamorous but it is still a place others would love to occupy, just ask the supporters of Leeds, Leicester and Southampton.
The difference between this window and the last is that Hammers can offer 'proper' European football, not only that but there is the basis of a really good team on board, if only a certain Scot cold only shake of his shackles and utilise the talent he has at his disposal properly. There is also the fact that Tim Steidten is a man who means business and will not be overpowered by David Moyes when it comes to transfer targets, and who knows, maybe Moyes might perform to a higher level is he is NOT in control of transfers, because let's face it, he isn't that good at them!
For the time being, Hammers supporters can live in hope of what might be, and not in despair of what has been. - Ed
Comments
Tonka/Orr/Mcavennie/Rieper/Devonshire/Parkes
All non Marquis players all unheard of but West Ham through and through maybe Parkes stands out as the cash splashed at the time a world record for a keeper......todays supporters all want instant gratification and if they have never heard of a player or he is not worth tens of millions of pounds then he must be crap......so going this way for me is better than buying a "NAME" overpaying them and realising that they are not that good...Coufal and Soucek though the latter not so much of late show that there are players out there at decent prices and ones where the big fish dont go looking...so hopefully more thought than just cash put into our transfer business for a change
Totally agree Mac
It's the way of the world nowadays everything has its price
add to that list in recent
add to that list in recent times Bowen and Antonio...
Spot on Dartford
Bowen,Hull City v Chelsea in the Cup we had to have him.Ants right back left back in the changing room put him in goal he will try his best,over head kick for a goal against shitty nuff said my friend
Antonio
Has been an absolute steal and only 7 million too. Bowen, I'm still not overly mad on him.He's ok suppose but not a patch on Antonio back in the day when he was played in his best position. Also Mark Ward, 'Arry Redknapp, Van der Elst are other right wingers I remember with fondness
Its a must have society
Its a must have society,instant entertainment,instant gratificatiion,all came about with this credit system and easy finance.No one wants to wait and work at something,has to be immediately there..