What to make of the fiasco that is West Ham’s summer transfer window? Less than two weeks to new season kicks-off and still no sign of fresh blood at the London Stadium. And this in a squad that only narrowly avoided relegation in June, is now without its standout player over the past three years, and has a handful of other players way past their best.
The eventual loss of Declan Rice was inevitable and his importance to the team cannot be understated. He was far more than a defensive midfield shield with the strength of his positional play, ability to make interceptions and ball carrying were integral to all aspects of David Moyes uninspiring tactics. His departure was an open secret but the significant overhaul in personnel and approach necessary to compensate for the loss has yet to start. Time is running out and a season of struggle beckons!
Transfer speculation has developed into its own industry in recent years. Media outlets spurt out a steady stream of teasing, sensational content to attract the clicks that drive advertising revenues. Any relationship with or pretence at truth is purely coincidental, making it almost impossible to separate fact from fiction. Most rumours are lazy and recycled speculation and allow us to pick and choose those we want to believe and react to. They are best regarded as entertainment even if, ultimately, that reliable journalist’s story will turn out to be spot on – it’s spotting them that is the challenge.
Meanwhile at West Ham, we are told the club are working tirelessly tracking players, holding talks, and preparing bids – but so far, without success. Most Premier League clubs have finalised at least some of their summer business, although fans of Everton, Palace, Fulham, and Wolves might be equally as frustrated as those at West Ham.
Confusion about what is happening behind the scenes is compounded by the lack of clarity on who now does what when it comes to the identification of transfer targets.
When West Ham appointed Tim Steidten as Technical Director it was a welcome positive move for a club so often paralysed by a repeating cycle of haphazard recruitment and discounted dead wood clearance. At last, there would be a structure and plan involved in transfer dealings. But for that to work smoothly the footballing philosophies between the Technical Director and Manager must be aligned. The distance between the search for new players and the person responsible for deploying them cannot be too great. The worry is that the individuals concerned are on very different wavelengths.
There is sure be a certain degree of friction between the roles as their respective time horizons differ considerably. The Manager’s job security depends solely on the here and now while the Technical Director is concerned with strategy, planning and succession. It doesn’t need a genius to recognise that alignment in styles would not exist between the ultra-conservative Moyes and the progressively minded Steidten. The irresistible force has met the immovable object.
So is there a standoff between Moyes and Steidten? Moyes prioritising Premier League experience (the most expensive option) after failing to integrate last summer’s signings into his squad. Making the likes of Ward-Prowse, McTominay, and Maguire right up his street. While Steidten has been appointed to introduce a data driven approach for scouring domestic and overseas leagues to unearth emerging and undiscovered talent. If the stories that Moyes has a veto on all signings are true, then creeks and absence of paddles are the order of the day.
Then we must consider the position of the owners, for whom, it is assumed, Sullivan is still the one the pulling the strings and leading negotiations. A desire to spend wisely is not unreasonable. He would be negligent in spending big money on players late in their career where there would be little or no resale value at the end of their contracts. Or committing a large slice of his budget on any individual player. The club’s position outside the rich six or seven clubs requires a more imaginative transfer strategy if we hope to compete. That may mean players using West Ham as a stepping stone for greater things. The risk with Sullivan, however, is that he cannot resist a haggle and putting in low-ball bids. I wonder how many have slipped through our hands because of that.
So, all in all, the situation is a mess. If, and when, players are signed – and I believe we need at least six – the pre-season will have passed by. Moyes will adopt a cautious, safety-first approach to bedding them in and the opportunity to get early points on the board (or introduce a change in playing style) will be lost. Unless, matters change quickly, excitement for the new season off the back of European trophy success will be terribly subdued. COYI!
Under The Hammers 
Geoff, a very fair and balanced view of an almost inexplicable situation. What are West Ham doing? How is it possible that we have reached this point in the window without bringing in one single player? I just can’t get my head round what might be going on behind the scenes , but suspect your analysis is as close to the truth as we are going to get. If we haven’t brought in one player so far, how there’ll are we going to get four, let alone six, in the next two weeks? It just isn’t going to happen.
As you say, the club has known for at least a year that Declan was going and yet doesn’t seem to have made any sort of plan to deal with that. Arsenal,of course, messed us about as long as they could before securing Rice just in time for their own pre-season games, knowing we would find it hard to move until the Rice deal was done. We would have done the same to them – if we had that much nouse. We needed Amrabat and Gallagher, we are going to end up with Ward-Prowse and McTominey! What happened to Jack Harrison? Why not Max Aarons? What the hell is going on at the club. If we go into next season with the same squad, minus Declan, we will be relegated and it will be a case of gross negligence, although hard to say whose between Moyse, Steidten, Newman ( remember him?) , Noble and Sullivan. COYI
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I can partly understand that transfer strategy would depend on the Rice sale being completed. But once it was, I would have expected for us to spring into action – having already had deals ready to go. As you say, it is inexplicable. How long will it take Moyes to fully integrate whichever players eventually come in?
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Great article as usual, Geoff 👍! Personally, can’t see anything but a season of struggle. Great we won a trophy last season, but football was abysmal. Need some youth and pace all over the pitch – can see early struggles and Moyes on his way. Just getting eleven men behind the ball and hoping for the odd break to score a goal not football as far as I’m concerned, and we haven’t even got Declan to get us up the pitch ! As you mentioned, as far as football philosophy goes think Moyes and Steidten on different solar systems.
Keep the faith, I suppose.
Cheers, Ken.
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Thanks Ken. Yes, on current trajectory we will be down deep at the wrong end of the table once the season gets going. No time to get players introduced to each other. And no opportunity to improve the style of play – even if there was any appetite to do so.
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5 guys all pulling in different transfer directions is more akin to The Three Stooges slap stick comedy than any professional football team . Chaos surrounds Moyes , and Sullivan is too proud and too old to fire him . Both should go and make way for a new board and manager that can bring the success that such a hugely supported team should have .
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True, comedy meets tragedy. The long suffering, loyal fans deserve much better. Agree that Sullivan and Moyes need to go before that can happen
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I’m not sure why we have to accept this situation like cattle queuing in an abbatoir. We should be outside the ground with banners demanding action. If any company in any other industry-
behaved as WHU is behaving the Chairman and CEO ( Moyse) would be sacked by the investors ( us). If we don’t take serious action in the next two weeks the club is in trouble. Imagine starting next season with the same size that finished the last one, only with Downes replacing Rice! Imagine Moyse in charge dictating the same negative tactics that resulted in 20 lost games last season and months of relegation misery. Luckily, there were three sides worse than us, but not this time I fear.
More than any of this,and I speak as someone that has supported the club since my first game in 1957 at the age of 12, can we please come out and play decent football.
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It’s desperate when your best hope is that three teams will be worse, isn’t it?
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Yes, it seems to be another Deja Vue experience for us fans. I would say the market seems quiet and most of our competitors in this market are all but sorted, so we should have a clear run at the targets. We also are having a decent pre-season which is opposite to last year. I think we will be fine, as long as we avoid Brighton in the cup competitions!
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Leaving transfer business until late in the day is always a worry. But with Rice gone and someone as dithering as Moyes in charge it feels like the season is written off before it starts. I hope you are right we will be fine – and avoid Brighton (and Brentford)
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Mr Sullivan has played well to keep West Ham ticking over through recent years but now is the time to deliver depth to the club. Simply hiring people to roles in which they are held back is not good enough. Let’s bring in the young blood required to let David Moyes show he is a manager capable of bringing out the best in his squad. Eleven young players giving 100% and playing well is better than a bunch of experienced old timers struggling to give 90% in my opinion. Yes a few experienced players helps, but a majority makes for a boring team.
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I’d love to see a band of young players give new life to the squad. As long as there is a blend of experience. We really need an injection of pace throughout the team.
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Hi Geoff, thanks for another great article summing up the latest baffling situation. The man in the velour jacket seems to have set up a kind of masonic triangle: Moyes versus Steidten, with Mark Noble as referee. All I see at the moment is: no Declan Rice + played 38 lost 20…They’d better get cracking!
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The Games Lost statistic is really damning for a coach who sets his team up not to lose. Reflects badly on both our defensive and attacking capabilities. I doubt we have ever lost that many games (out of 38) and not been relegated. Hoping for a miracle this time around
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Moyes has now explained that the transfer window was limited by the visit to Australia…though it did produce a photo of Cresswell (who’s pushing to leave) with a koala…Meanwhile Rice has talked about joining a club with a completely different (winning) mentality…
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The jolly to Australia is just an excuse. The club signed up to it knowing the window was short and that Rice was leaving. Moyes could easily have stayed behind to deal with the greater priority of refreshing his squad. Can’t believe Wolves are interested in Cresswell – must be desperate
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Hi Geoff, great article, thank you.
There must be a common denominator here, if many players are wanting out, some gone, some going, backroom staff are leaving, coaches have left, and now the new super man of transfers is not happy, along with supporters, is it not obvious to our board, that someone is upsetting the apple cart.
Who could it be, well you would like to think that those in the top spots at west ham, are well educated people, with enough knowledge to identify the fly in the ointment, the common denominator, they cant all be wrong and one is right.
It astounds me how someone like Karen brady, having been bought up on cut throat T.V shows, [ like your fired ] has not stepped in to address the situation, with a womans wrath, its farcical.
The only reason i think it may not have happened is, because our board seem to be pulling in the purse strings, saving money by off loading fringe players, sticking with Moyes to avoid a compensation pay out, blaming the arse hold up as an excuse for not signing players, it did not matter how long the arse took to agree the rice deal, it could still be going on now, nothings changed.
I am usually very good with my predictions, i am spot on for 3 years running, this season i predict we finish 10th, but crash out of the Europa league early, unless we sign some better players, dont hold your breath.
Take care my friend.
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The funny thing is that there did seem to be a very good spirit among the players. Whether that was despite the manager or because of him is a matter of opinion. I’m fairly confident Moyes job was saved by the Europa Conference win. I’m guessing the Board felt unable to sack him after that. Of course, had Moyes been fired earlier in the season we may have still won the Europa and finished comfortably in the top half of the table. All rather depressing when we should be looking forward with excitement at a new season
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