This year seems slightly more coordinated, but still can't help thinking they're buying players that no one else wants. I've never been a massive fan of Hart as he's flattered to deceive with good defences in front of him and having no real competition. I see Zabaletta the same way. Arnautatevic again looks like a player that is a bit like Tadic, he's only considered to have a good game about 30% of the time. When he's good, he's very good.... but when he's bad he goes missing for long periods of the game and occupies a space. If you take away Tadic's penalties, his stats (without checking) don't look as good. Occasionally there's a rumour about both Arnie and Tadic going to a European club, but nothing ever comes of it because no ones quite convinced. With Chicharito, they may get a great player, they may not. Sullivan said he's the best West Ham striker of recent times, but I think that says more again about their recruitment than anything else. Having said that, I suspect he will have a good season (12 plus goals in the league) I shudder to think about the balance sheets at Wet Spam....
Did you mean Arnie's penalties and not Tadic's. Wouldn't removing Tadic's penalties make his stats better!? You mention their balance sheet but don't those total wage lists usually say our wage bill is higher? Or do you mean that they are paying similar wages but have much lower assets due to players on loan or signed for free? One thing that confuses me about West Ham is that they never seem to sell that many first team players, sign loads of players every year but always moan about not having a big enough squad and never seem to go over the 25. Obviously I do not follow closely...
I'm a bit like you, I don't follow closely enough, just speculate at a distance. It just all seems very messy to me, I suspect the club is funded from the owners rather than the clubs assets-largely because they don't have any. Whereas we try abd live within our means, I suspect that the signing on and agents fees for them are greater than ours. I guess Arnies and Tadics stats are similar plus or minus penalties, just seems as if we sold Tadic, his fee would be £10-£12 million rather than Arnies extortionate fee. Must be painful being a hammer....
I don't see what the problem is here? If they can't sell Fonte he gets to sit on his pile of cash and slowly retire.
I'm not at all impressed by WHU's transfer deals this summer. They're in for the same results as they had last year.
I really feel for Liverpool. It must be awful having your best player tell you that he wants out? Like f*ck do I. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-ready-sell-philippe-coutinho-10939038
I would be interested to know why. I generally agree. I just bring it up because I remember reading a recent article on Football365 that commented on their scattergun approach - and then they last week claimed to now look stupid because of the transfer business they have done (and that they didn't need any more signings...)
I think they only marginally improved their squad with these signings. Playing in a strong City squad for years mostly hid the fact that Hart is not that good of a keeper. He's good, but not really something special. Zabaleta was really good, but he's like 34 now and not on that level for couple of years. Arnautovic, as someone already said, shows up only about every third match. And the already have good option in that department, is he really any better than what they already have? I don't rate him any better than Lanzini, Antonio or Snodgrass. Hernandez I haven't followed him since he left United, but he has a good pedigree. He's a typical poacher though and his numbers will largely depend on the rest of the squad. And besides, Carroll is still their best forward because he's great at what he does.
If Liverpool were to pay £80m+ for VVD then I'd take it. Although personally I think Coutinho is nothing special, their fans will be full on meltdown if he leaves and the pressure will be on Liverpool to spend, much like they ended up doing after selling Torres
I think that might be the case. They sell Coutinho for about 100 millio to Barca, than launch a huge bid for Van Dijk to soften the blow of losing Coutinho. If we manage to squeeze 70 million or more from them, that would be a great deal for a player that wants out.
Respect your opinion, buy Coutinho is up there with best attacking players in the world at the moment. Easily in the top 10 for me.
He's at least a bit special, there aren't many player of that quality around. He's not worth 100 milion, but then again, no one is, and that's a completely different matter.
This is what I think may happen if they sell Coutinho. They come in with a huge offer for VVD that we accept, probably on deadline day.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40827185 Interesting article about Neymars dad influence in his career
Koeman said after their game today that a deal for Sigurdsson is close and that they want 3 more players aswell. A striker, a defender who can play centre back and left back and a winger.
