Doubt he will be with us next season regardless of what happens but a good signing nonetheless. Hopefully his food poisoning wasn't serious enough to mean he can't start this weekend. He should know the system better than anyone else so if he is fit then I expect he will start.
Martin was delighted the club were able to complete the move and he is excited about the qualities Downes will add. "He's a brilliant character, he's a winner, someone who's aggressive and a brilliant athlete too,” he said. “We've got a great relationship, myself, Gilly, him and the rest of the staff, so he knows what he's coming into and that will speed him up, because he knows the work and he's done it before. “He's a real winner, a brilliant teammate and someone who's got a lot of quality on the ball, which is obviously why West Ham took him to the Premier League and I think he feels really hungry to get playing football again because he hasn't played as much as he would have liked in the last year. “So he has hunger, he has character, he has a lot of talent and he has a lot of physicality as well. “He was a massive favourite with the players, the staff and the fans at Swansea and I'm sure he'll be the same here.”
But Downes wouldn't get straight back into West Ham's team like Tella has with us unless they go down which won't happen. If we go up he'd have so many more opportunities to play in the PL with us as we know Martin loves him.
Fair point. But they could actually sign Tella, they’re just being cheap. If they pay what he’s worth I am 100% sure we will let him go. Same thing with Downes IMO except we will probably pay it if he’s been as good as we think he will be
Yeah, this. Downes would have to overtake JWP / Alvarez to even get a shot at some regular minutes. A promotion to the PL would mean Martin is still here and the chance to play for his favourite coach in the top flight (and presumably we'd then be in a position to offer him a nice pay incentive, too). There is zero incentive for Downes to do anything other than a straight loan at this point, and kick the can down the road on his longer-term future. (given West Ham are likely in the final year of Moyes' tenure now too)
That's impossible to say right now. The situation could, and more than likely will, look very different this time next year. If he has a great season for us and we go up I think West Ham will want him back. They're also a bigger club that will pay bigger wages - plus he is a Hammers fan! Still though, will be a top player under Martin
Let’s just wait and see if he’s any good before getting all worked up about making the deal permanent
Well it's not. Alvarez and JWP are their big money signings - he isn't displacing them unless one picks up a serious injury. And the fact he's a West Ham fan isn't going to stop him leaving them for the good of his career.
I was about to say this. Tella actually proves our point. If we want Downes on the back of promotion, and West Ham don't need him, we will have the funds to make it happen.
A really top midfielder, I'm going to enjoy watching him dominate midfield. Must not fall in love with a loan player though.
He joined Swansea in the summer of 2021, West Ham in 2022 and now us in 2023. If we manage to go up (and he had a good season), signing for us might be a bit of stability for the first time in four summers
