As the 2014/2015 Premier League season draws to a conclusion, West Ham United find themselves in a comfortable mid table position, far away from the relegation scrap they were involved in last year, but also just as far from the European qualification that they flirted with before Christmas.
Whilst almost anyone associated with the club would have taken this position at the start of the season, there is a strong feeling of disappointment after only taking 12 points from the 16 league games since Boxing Day.
The fans and presumably the board are concerned about this collapse and a big decision needs to be made now regarding the management. It is my opinion that if the club is to twist and say thanks and goodbye to Sam Allardyce, but then the incoming manager must have proven credentials at a higher level. Otherwise the club could be asking for trouble, just a year before the move across the road to the 54,000 capacity Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
It needs to be someone that can take the club forward and challenge for Europe, but that can also identify and connect with the fans. The latter is what Sam Allardyce has failed to do and will be the reason that he probably will not be retained at The Boleyn Ground for its final season.
There are some exciting names being banded around, some maybe unrealistic, like Jürgen Klopp and Rafael Benitez and other ones like Marcelo Bielsa and Slaven Bilic who may be more tempted. David Moyes would be a sideways move from Allardyce in my opinion.
However, whilst the board are preparing to make that huge decision, I am now going to play the role of Manager and Chief Scout and say who I think we should let go from the playing staff and give a select few, exciting options that the club could bring in.
OUT– Jaaskelainen, Demel, Nene (all out of contract and released) Maiga, Jarvis, Nolan, Zarate and O’Brien.
OUT (on loan to a Championship club if possible) – Burke, Potts, Poyet and Oxford (season-long with option to recall)
Maiga, Jarvis, Nolan, Zarate and O’Brien could well be difficult to move on as they are not out of contract. Maiga could maybe be sold for a much smaller fee than what was paid for him but would probably not take a wage cut, so could be loaned out again to a club in France. Time for Matt Jarvis should be up and there could well be a few suitors that are willing to take him at the lower ends of the Premier League. However, I suspect that the club would not get much more than £2.5m for the 28 year old, a significant loss on what was paid out, due to injury problems and poor form.
Club captain Kevin Nolan has been a fantastic servant for the club. He helped drag them from the Championship and establish them as a Premier League Club again and he must be remembered and commended for that. Again however, I feel he should be moved on and given a free transfer as age seems to have caught up with him when it comes to Premier League football, but his £50k a week wages could well be a stumbling block for other clubs. For that reason he will probably elect to stay for one more year but his leadership would still be useful. Maybe he could be given an Assistant Manager/Coach role in the future?
The controversial Mauro Zarate should probably be moved on again, although if Allardyce leaves he may well be given another chance to get fit and impress the new incoming manager. He is a good player no doubt, but questions remain over his attitude and fitness.
Joey O’Brien has been with the squad since the Championship days and has been a good signing for West Ham, but better back up in the full back positions is now needed.
So if the club can free up space by finding clubs for the players mentioned, then I make it that 8 squad places need to be filled if the club is to compete for a European place in the 2015/2016 season.
1 Goalkeeper, 2 Right-Backs, 1 Defensive Midfielder, 1 Box to Box Midfielder, 1 Playmaker/Attacking Midfielder/ 1 Winger/Attacking Midfielder and 1 Centre-Forward. It seems a lot and the club may not be able to do all this business in the summer or indeed have the money available, but most of it needs to be addressed. If they can only bring in half of that, then they will need to carefully prioritise.
I’ll give three options below for each position that needs to be re-enforced. One ambitious, one very good alternative and one young British option.
GOALKEEPER OPTIONS
SERGIO ROMERO (28) Sampdoria & Argentina – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Has 53 caps, was a World Cup Finalist in 2014 and won ‘Man of the Match’ in the Semi-Final as he saved two penalties in the shoot-out win over Holland. Won a Dutch league title with AZ Alkmaar in 2008/09 and would be a real coup for West Ham if they wanted to upgrade on Adrian.
MATHEW RYAN (23) Club Brugge & Australia – £4M-8M
Succeeded Mark Schwarzer as Aussie No.1, appeared at the 2014 World Cup and in Australia’s 2015 Asian Cup win, winning best keeper of the tournament. Not expected to stay in Belgium amid reports Liverpool are looming. Would be excellent competition for Adrian but the fee may be too much, with there being bigger priorities.
OWAIN FON-WILLIAMS (28) Tranmere Rovers & Wales – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Former Crewe academy product that has been named in recent Welsh squads by Chris Coleman. Could be a good cheap option as back up for Adrian, although wouldn’t give genuine competition for a starting place.
RIGHT-BACK OPTIONS
CARL JENKINSON (23) Arsenal & England – £8M-£12M
After a highly impressive loan stint this season and the emergence of Bellerin at Arsenal, it looks certain that the move to Upton Park will be made permanent in the summer, although Liverpool are now reported to be interested.
Alternative options – GLEN JOHNSON (30) Liverpool & England – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract), SAM BYRAM (21) Leeds United – £5M-£8M
BACK UP RIGHT-BACK OPTION
LINUS WAHLQVIST (18) – IFK Norrkoping & Sweden U19 – £650k-£1M
The most obscure player in this list for many if not all readers, but due to my interest in Swedish football I’ve noticed how good this youngster is. Was a star in the U17 World Cup in 2013, where
Sweden won a Bronze medal and has earned rave reviews at the start of the Swedish league season this year. Not one for first team Premier League football just yet, but moving for him now would be a smart move as he is going to be a big star in the future I believe. Can also play at centre-back.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD OPTIONS
ALEX SONG (27) – Barcelona & Cameroon – £8M-£13M
When the former Arsenal man signed on loan at West Ham at the end of August it became the catalyst for a superb run of form that took the club into the top four of the Premier League. A top class player on his day, the performances have tailed off since Christmas. Has looked tired and a shadow of his former self, but he is available for a cut fee and a rest over the summer before a new start in 2015/2016 could see him find that form again.
RIO MAVUBA (31) – Lille & France – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
A player that was once coveted by all of Europe’s major clubs, never quite fulfilled his potential as the new ‘Makelele’ but has still been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal recently and could do an excellent job for the Hammers should they not seal the Song deal.
Alternative British option – Nathaniel Chalobah (20) – Chelsea & England U21 – £5M-£8M
BOX TO BOX CENTRAL MIDFIELD OPTIONS
JAMES MILNER (29) – Manchester City & England – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Likely to either stay where he is and sign a new deal or sign for Arsenal or Liverpool, but whilst he isn’t guaranteed first team football at any of these clubs there may be an outside chance of him agreeing to sign for someone outside the elite. 90k a week might be a stumbling block but. Might be tempted by a central midfield role and the captain’s armband.
YOUSSOUF MULUMBU (28) – West Bromwich Albion & DR Congo – £3.5M-£5M
Has fallen out of favour under new boss Tony Pulis but he has been playing at a high level in the Premier League for a few seasons now and may need a change of scenery to freshen up and find his best form again. Has been linked with Arsenal in the past and could be available at a cut price.
Alternative British option – Tom Cleverley (26) – Manchester United & England – £5M-£7M
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER/PLAYMAKER OPTIONS
ANDRIY YARMOLENKO (25) – Dynamo Kiev & Ukraine – £15M-£20M
Tall, skilful and explosive, whose performances versus Everton in this seasons Europa League really caught the eye. Has been linked with a move to a big European club for a couple of seasons now but as of yet hasn’t taken the plunge. Would take a very large chunk out of the budget but his style looks tailor made for the Premier League and would be a big star. Can play on either wing or behind the striker.
YOANN GOURCUFF (28) – Lyon & France – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Tall elegant playmaker in the Brooking mould, that hasn’t reached the superb potential showed earlier in his career which lead to a move to AC Milan. Has been back in France for a few years and has been instrumental in Lyon’s rise to the top of Ligue 1 going into the run-in. French international and available for free in the summer.
Alternative British option – Will Hughes (20) – Derby County & England U21 – £10M-£15M
WINGER OPTIONS
YEVHEN KONOPLYANKA (25) – Dnipro & Ukraine – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Another gifted, attacking Ukrainian talent. Has been an integral part in Dnipro’s run to the Europa League Semi-Finals this term and is set to make his way to one of Europe’s big leagues in the summer. West Ham were linked with him last summer and will hopefully renew their interest this time around with there being no transfer fee.
ANDRE AYEW (25) – Marseille & Ghana – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Son of Marseille legend Abedi Pele, he has had a stunning season this term under the management of Argentine, Marcelo Bielsa. That form has alerted a number of Premier League clubs and is also out of contract this summer.
Alternative British options – PATRICK ROBERTS (18) – Fulham & England U19 – £8M-£15M, DEMARAI GRAY (19) – Birmingham City & England U19 – £3M tribunal (out of contact)
CENTRE-FORWARD OPTIONS
DANNY INGS (22) – Burnley & England U21 – £3.75M tribunal (out of contract)
After a really impressive debut season in the Premier Leagues, scoring 9 goals so far in a struggling team, the England U21 International has attracted the attention of a lot of clubs home and abroad. With only a low compensation transfer fee needed, a move for Ings seems to be an attractive option, although Liverpool would probably get their man if they want him.
ANDRE-PIERRE GIGNAC (29) – Marseille & France – FREE TRANSFER (out of contract)
Another player that has thrived under Bielsa’s attacking mentality at Marseille, his 18 league goals earned him a recall to the French national team and would be a bargain for the Hammers or anyone else as a free transfer. Tall and powerful, would be an excellent focal point in any attack.
Alternative British options – CHARLIE AUSTIN (26) QPR- £8M-£12M, JORDAN RHODES (25) BLACKBURN ROVERS-£7M-£10M
I appreciate that this is an ambitious list and the club would probably need to fork out around £60M, plus keep hold of their best players as well to challenge for Europe. Do we have that money? Would any of those players come anyway? I don’t know. The clubs share of the new £5.1B TV deal will not be received until the start of the 2016/17 season, but knowing that the money is coming in and with the new stadium on the horizon, now would be a great time to really invest in the transfer market and show ambition.
