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Winston Reid - a litmus test of resolve and ambition

There are lingering rumours in the media that Arsenal have made Winston Reid a £8m priority transfer target for the summer. These rumours originally commenced before Reid picked up his ankle injury and it was anticipated that a approach would be made in the winter transfer window. As far as I am aware, Wenger has never actually confirmed an interest in signing the player, but who could blame him if he was interested. Winston Reid is a top class central defender and a leader on the pitch.

That last statement is one that most Hammers fans would now warmly endorse. However, that was not always the case and many will clearly recall his deeply unconvincing debut season of 2010-11. A (undisclosed fee) signing from Danish club, FC Midtjylland, Winston had a disastrous PL debut, in an abject 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa, and went on to make a mere 12 first team appearances throughout that relegation season. At the time, Reid’s signing was often put forward as evidence of yet another negative aspect of the Avram Grant managerial regime. Yet Ironically, over time the contrary has proven true, Reid’s capture is the one major positive legacy of Grant’s period of management.

Reid stayed with the club in the Championship and rebuilt his confidence and reputation with some outstanding defensive displays. In that 2011-12 promotion season, He flourished under Sam Allardyce’s management and become a regular first teamer, as the club were promoted ‘at the first time of asking’ via the Play-off Final victory over Blackpool. There were some who thought that he may have just found his level and that he would struggle on the club’s return to the top flight. All such thoughts were dispelled by Reid’s outstanding performances last season, as the Hammers secured a very creditable 10th place finish. And he started the current, 2013-14 season, in a similiar vein, until an ankle injury, sustained in training, in November 2013 resulted in a three month absence. It is no coincidence that the West Ham’s results seriously declined with Reid’s absence and his return on 1 February 2014 was certainly a factor directly contributing to our recent revival.

Winston Reid is an excellent all-round defender, strong in the air and the tackle, with good positional sense and distribution and a decent turn of pace. Moreover, he demonstrates good leadership qualities and could very well be a future club captain. He always strikes one as a dedicated professional, who works on his game and seeks continual improvement. It is a great testimony to the player that he forewent the opportunity to play for New Zealand in their 2012 Olympics team and instead chose to participate in West Ham’s pre-season. It is also to his credit that he so successfully manages the periodic long haul trips to play for his country, without it seeming to adversely impact upon his West Ham performances.

At 25 years of age, Reid has not yet reached his peak as a central defender. He can only get better and must be one of the key building blocks that we use to build a team worthy of West Ham’s move to the iconic Olympic Stadium. If the previously expressed ambitions of the board are to be believed, that they wish to incrementally build a top class team, then Reid must be signed on a new long-term contract. The rumours are that Arsenal are prepared to offer £8m for Reid, a figure that does not nearly compensate for the loss of such an important player. There is further conjecture that a raised bid of £10m plus could convince the club to accept the bid. Once again, so influential is Reid, even an increased fee of that level would be a sufficient catalyst to justify a deal.

The West Ham board should not wait for Arsenal, or anyone else, to submit a bid. They should, as a matter of urgency, sign him on a new improved, long-term deal and kill off their interest. We need to show ambition and build a team that can compete for honours and Champions League football. If we are to do that then we must keep our best players as a foundation upon which to build. Only in that way can we hope to challenge for a top six finish and eventually aspire to Champions qualification. It is always difficult when a top four side shows an interest in one of your players, particularly in terms of managing the player’s ambitions. Champions League football is of great attraction for most players and one can fully understand that. However, Reid is a good professional, who has hitherto shown considerable commitment to the club. As such, it should be possible to sell him an improved deal, linked to the club’s future ambitions and his central role in achieving them.

To me, retaining Reid is a litmus test of the board’s prior rhetoric about its future ambitions. I am not totally sure about Winston Reid’s current contract position. But some sources state that he will be entering the final year of his current contract in 2014-15. If that is true, then West Ham should seek to get a new contract in place now, as a matter of urgency. One may well question whether Reid would sign before West Ham’s PL status is secure this season? If necessary, offer a new contract with a transfer clause in the event of relegation, if that is what it takes to get his signature on a new contract ahead of the conclusion of the current campaign.

SJ. Chandos.

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