Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten have been working wonders as they set about recruiting virtually an entirely new team, one area in particular that was in urgent need of an overhaul was Hammers creaking defence that 4th worst in the League.
The other area in need of improvement was the forward line with only an ageing but still useful Mikey Antonio and an incredibly overpaid Danny Ings who managed just FOUR Prem goals since he arrived from Villa in what must have been the deal of the century for the Villa directors of football!
News that Kurt Zouma will undergo a medical this week as a new Shabab Al-Ahli player cannot be more eagerly anticipated, his massive wages along with those of Danny Ings are truly eye watering.
The club is haemorrhaging £1/4 Million per week for the pair of them, that is an astonishing £13 Million per year! To put that figure in perspective it represents the income from 32,500 low band season ticket sales!
Initially, at the end of last season it was hoped that BOTH players could be shipped out, however due to their ludicrous wages each player has refused to take a pay cut as they intend winding down the last year of their respective contracts.
Ings was offered a transfer to his old club Southampton but refused to accept anything less than his collosal wage and Zouma made it very clear that he too wouldn't take a pay cut, both appeared to want to add to their bank accounts rather than playing football!
The combined salary of Ings and Zouma would pay for up to an astonishing FIVE players wages of many signed in the new J Lo and Super Tim era. With Zouma on his way it is to be hoped Ings might follow, the club is unlikely to receive ANY money at all from their exits and indeed the club might end up having to pay them off to get them off the wage bill.
It is to be hoped lessons have been learned and that the club is no longer seen as a retirement home for the sick and the lazy in the future! - Ed
Comments
For the grace of God, please
For the grace of God, please don't let anything scupper this Arab Zouma deal.
The day that Cart Horse cat launching clown gets out of my club. It will be up there with 3 FA Cup wins, the 65 ECWC and the Conf trophy. Never has a player been despised by me, since I donned my 1st West Ham kit aged 5 in 1968. Complete wet wipe, who should never set foot near our club again.
take it
he isn't your favourite player then boogers , but like you i hope that this deal goes through he has trouble turning and certainly running .As for ings if he stays i think our new manager may be able to get more out of him than moyes did but would wish him well as we say goodbye c.o.y.i
I know for the clubs finances
I know for the clubs finances it would be beneficial if Ings went. But like you, I feel El Loppo could get a shed load out of him compared to Moyes. I've actually got a lot of time for Ings, I know there's a player still in there!
If Zouma passes his medical
I will believe in miracles! on the Ings front like boogers i think he can still make an impact if only from the bench....Moyes style was never going to be anything other than a hindrance to him so lets see.....Spuds after a striker maybe we can butter up Levy a bit and he can take him off our hands!
Yes Bikey, if Zouma passes a
Yes Bikey, if Zouma passes a medical it must be more bent than uncle Harry's transfer bung fund. But who cares? I shall be having a party!
Miracle.
If we can shift Zouma on by passing a medical then miracles still happen and i will be the first in the door at sunday morning mass.
Ings is 32
Fullkrug is 31. Antonio is 34. Trust me, none of 'em are going to be 90 minute Premier League footballers, they're all going to be needed at some point. I say get off Ings back re his wages, what's anyone going to say being offered silly money. turn it down? He's nearing the end of his playing days so needs to extract as much he can as would anyone. You say only "managed FOUR goals". Hey Nev, he's only started 15 games and 12 of them he was subbed. That to me is bad management and I have a feeling he will do better under Lopetegui.
Yes, Zouma needs to go. Is Kilmer the answer though?