To paraphrase the Lloyd Bridges character in the Airplane movie: “it looks like I picked the wrong month to quit drinking.” The good intentions of keeping off the booze in January being thoroughly tested by lethargic performances on the pitch and (so far) by the lack of activity in the transfer window. With winter breaks and cup exits, today’s visit to Sheffield is a last chance saloon for David Moyes to sidestep the worst manager of the month award.
As Richard described so eloquently in these columns yesterday, the cup exit to Bristol City wouldn’t have come as a great surprise to seasoned supporters of a club that has cornered the banana skin market for many years. The real damage for this year’s ignominy was done when sitting back to defend the early goal advantage in the original tie. What the replay confirmed (as if it needed confirming) was how thin the squad is in quality, how the team lacks leadership on the pitch, and how clueless Moyes is with his use of substitutions.
It is an unusual situation we find ourselves in at West Ham. Sitting an impressive sixth in the league and in the last sixteen of a European competition but riddled with discontent on style of play and entertainment value. Although ‘outsiders’ might be understandably baffled by the reaction of fans, their ‘careful what you wish for’ warnings mistakenly suggest it is a binary choice. That the only options for West Ham are the limited crumbs of success that dour, backs-to-the-wall, unimaginative Moyesball can deliver, or the inevitable relegation battles that would follow a move to a more progressive, open, and expansive approach to the game. There is plenty of ground in between if the club gets to grips with its youth development and scouting strategies.
As ever, we are seduced by the notion that solutions to current problems might be at hand from the winter transfer window – even though experience tells us that little business is ever done in January. That doesn’t prevent the rumour mills, live blogs, and clickbait sites going into overdrive on potential links, talks, deals, and swaps. Perhaps this year will be different and we will be pleasantly surprised for once. With Thilo Kehrer already gone and exits predicted for Said Benrahma, Ben Johnson, and others then the next ten days may well be busier than usual. The suggestion from Moyes that West Ham need to sell before they can buy was an unnecessary message to put out. It only encourages the brinkmanship and delays that so often lead to deals collapsing in the final hours of the window. The seat of the pants approach has rarely worked in the past, so why not get business done early for a change?
We are none the wiser as to what the club’s transfer priorities might be this month. There is no chance that each of the many squad shortfalls can be addressed in a single window. If the plan is to strengthen the starting eleven rather than the squad then an upgrade on Tomas Soucek would be my personal starting point. When Soucek is not scoring, he becomes a passenger whose control and passing are well below Premier League standards. In that respect, a loan move for Kalvin Phillips makes a lot of sense. But Phillips will want a guarantee of starts in advance of the Euros. Will Moyes give him those assurances?
In defence, there are surely growing concerns over the long-term fitness of Kurt Zouma. His mobility seemingly deteriorates on a weekly basis. The rearguard is not built for speed in any case which is a problem for any manager preferring to play a higher defensive line. But I don’t see any centre-back changes for now unless Nayef Aguerd leaves for Saudi Arabia once his AFCON duties are over. Should Johnson – who is out of contract in the summer – depart then cover at full-back would be seriously compromised.
The forward positions continue to be an enigma. The trident of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, and Mohammed Kudus has been the standout feature of the Hammer’s season to date. Clearly better backup options than Michail Antonio and Danny Ings are required but is a new Moyes-style target man exactly what is needed right now? How would Bowen and Kudus be accommodated in that scenario? In fact, it is interesting to speculate how things might have developed had Antonio not picked up a long term injury. Spending big money on a player like Broja from Chelsea would be a big mistake in my view. The ideal would be unearthing a Tim Steidten pearl or, failing that, giving a proper opportunity for Callum Marshall to stake a claim with regular bench appearances.
The apparent pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto is an interesting development. I do have a phobia about speedy wingers who can do little else other than running fast but maybe there is much more to his game – I haven’t seen him enough to judge. He would certainly be an upgrade on Benrahma although as a principle we should be looking to pick up exceptional players, not simply finding someone who is marginally better than what we have already got.
Games against Sheffield United have taken on a pantomime quality ever since the Tevez affair, and no doubt there will be plenty of booing and hissing at Bramall Lane this afternoon. Even at this stage of the season, the Blades look to need snookers to avoid relegation. Their most realistic escape route might be if three clubs above them get hit with massive points deductions as a punishment for financial irregularities. They have yet to see a new manager bounce from the return of Chris Wilder but are facing traditionally generous opponents today as they seek to finally put their points tally into double figures. One-time alleged Hammer’s striker target Brereton Diaz will be making his Premier League debut for the hosts. Always a worry!
West Ham have a good recent record in this fixture having won the last three encounters without conceding – including a dreary 2-0 win at the London Stadium in September. Apparently, if the Hammers keep a clean sheet today it will make it five in a row setting a new record for the club in the Premier League era – an achievement that Moyes would surely love to add to his CV.
Recoveries from injury will be key if West Ham are to return from the steel city with a point or three. The team that got intimidated and outmuscled in Bristol would surely meet the same fate against a determined Sheffield side. Our hopes, therefore, are pinned on at least some of Bowen, Edson Alvarez and even Pablo Fornals being fit and ready to start. Benrahma is, of course, suspended but reading the names Ings and Cornet on the team sheet will see me reaching for the bottle of wine which was being saved to celebrate the closing of the transfer window. COYI!
Under The Hammers 