West Ham’s motley mish-mash squad of players has been assembled by three managers, one technical director and de-facto director of football David Sullivan. Karren Brady had a go in January too but failed dismally with her ‘take it or leave it’ stance on Ezechiel Banzuzi which his Belgian Pro League side Leuvenwisely ‘left’ as he was sold to RB Leipzig in preference to the Hammers.
Consequently, with no coherent long-term strategy, more a series of short term knee-jerk buys, the squad list has no discernible form to it. Players are added seemingly on a whim rather than as required to fill in the gaps or complete some form of identity or vision.
The chances are the Hammers will end up making the same mistakes this winter as panic over the club’s league status grows.
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Fortunately, one ‘luxury’ signing appears off the radar and out of temptations’ way.
Brazilian wonderkid Endrick would be a very ‘West Ham’ addition: Young and talented no doubt but likely a pointless loan, inasmuch as he’s not a player in the ‘street fighter’ mould, which at present is exactly what is needed between now and the end of the season.
Endrick in Real Madrid kit points to his badge
Endrick to West Ham is off the table now, Real Madrid will loan him to another La Liga side
So the news that ‘Real Madrid only want to loan Endrick to la Liga‘ as reported by Spanish site fichajes.net might seem on the face of it disappointing, but the cold hard reality is that West Ham need a sturdy, reliable work horse ready to lead the Hammers attack instead of a young thoroughbred, tentatively easing his way towards superstardom.
Endrick would be an expensive loan signing at a time when the Hammers need goals, not a young wonderkid -in-making just sitting out the winter at London Stadium.
A luxury that Nuno cannot afford: In a relegation fight, the ‘bruiser’ beats the ‘tippy tippy talent’. Sad, frankly, that it has come to this but there are no points for style this season.
Survival is the name of the game and a more robust, experienced frontman is urgently required. Don’t for one minute take that as a suggestion that the Irons go and find another past-it injury prone journeyman – West Ham already have a pair of them up front.