It is axiomatic, get the summer transfer right and you have a good season. Then January is just about adjusting the squad, but get the summer recruitment wrong and we are inevitably in crisis territory. And then, in January, other clubs know you are desperate and play hard ball financially. We have (rightly) praised the club for the last two or three summer transfer windows, but this season we fell badly short. We recruited players that have blatantly failed to adjust to the Premier League. Zaza, Tore and Calleri are not up to the required standard. Fletcher and Martinez have huge potential and I feel that Ayew and Feghouli have the ability to impact positively. As for Nordtvelt, we need to give him time to settle and show what he can contribute to the squad. What I really like about Nordtvelt is his adaptability and ability to cover a number of different positions. Yes. I know that Hammers fans are not overly impressed, but give him a bit of time for goodness sake. Who knows you might be pleasantly surprised.
What we need is ‘iron surgery.’ We need to dispose of Tore, Zaza and Calleri as quickly as possible. I would keep faith in Ayew and Feghouli and hope that that the forthcoming African Cup of Nations improves their fitness and form. Yes, there is the danger of injury, but the player I really worry about is Kouyate. Losing him for 3-4 weeks is a huge challenge for the club, such is his importance. Just pray that Kouyate stays fit and returns early from the competition. I do not know about you, but I worry about such a key player being in the hands of Senegal’s physios, given what happened to Sakho and its continuing legacy.
As for acquisitions, I really hope that the rumours about our interest in Robert Snodgrass is correct. He is class and would provide cover both out wide and through the middle. This player is so under-rated and he could make a major contribution, not only whilst Ayew and Feghouli are away, but long term. He should have murdered us during the recent home match Vs Hull City, his creative play was so good. He is in the final year of his contract and a reasonable offer should encourage Hull City to do business. I would also like to see us reinforce our full-back positions by securing Carl Jenkinson, on loan, and Charlie Taylor (of Leeds Utd) on a permanent deal. We probably also need another centre-back and Kouyate has already alerted us to the ability of one of his former Anderlecht team-mates. Perhaps we should follow up on that, considering that James Collins on approaching the end of his top class career.
Up front, we need two new strikers. I would go for Icardi (from Inter-Milan) on loan, pending a summer permanent deal, and take a gamble on Brentford’s Scott Hogan. The talk about Rashford and sturridge is all very good, but one is inexperienced and, the other, is injury prone. Do we really want to gamble on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge, with Carroll and Sakho already on board?
We have had a major revival in recent matches. We must keep that trend going. That means getting positive results against Leicester City (away) and Man Utd (home) and pushing in to the top ten. It is perfectly possible and we need to, build on recent results, and make it happen. COYI!
SJ. Chandos.