I do think Pembele be ready, at least fitness wise, and we can have a look and see if he can still play. Huggins and Cirkin are quality, as is Alese and if those 3 were fit, and Pembele capable, we’d be mad to turn down big money for Trai. I do love Trai though so would be sad for him to go, but we need sales to truly progress and it would be a one we could cover. Full backs aren’t the hardest position to fill by any means:
If we can sell Trai and Clarke for top dollar : £40 mill realise that Jobe is actually an excellent No 9 and go with that for his future development Triantis comes back with experience to slot in as CDM and injured players come back into contention, esp our full backs a striker, centre half and Amad on loan (option to buy) doesn’t seem to far fetched to progress and really push on next year. I haven’t had a drink and no it’s not an Aprils fool message !
With a big summer coming up, how would you analyse the individual squad players? I've categorised them as follows: Good Championship Players, Adequate Championship players, Unproven players and Others. The others being the players you would move on in the summer if the right offers came in. This is how I see it NOW. Some players may turn to ****, others blossom into world beaters. Good: Huggins, Ballard, Cirkin, Alese, Neil, Jobe, Clarke, Pattison, Rigg, Hume Adequate: Rusyn, O'Nien, Ba, Aouchiche, Seelt, Evans Unproven: Hemir, Mayenda, Mundle, Triantis, Styles, Watson, Kelly, Johnson, Bishop, Pembele Others: Matete, Embleton, Roberts, Hjelde, Ekwah, Dack, Taylor Burstow will thankfully be returning to Chelsea.
Good: Cirkin (but unreliable), Ballard, Onien, Hume, Alese (but unreliable), Roberts, Neil, Adequate: Patto, Jobe (good next year), Ba, AA (for now), Ekwah (must improve), Unproven: Pembele, Hjelde, Mundle, Rigg (in squad next season though), Rusyn (not seen enough to have him higher or lower) Other: Bishop, Huggins (long term injury), Seelt (long term injury), Evans*, Embo, Taylor, Clarke (resigned to him leaving), Styles, Dack, Hemir, Burstow *give one more year? Relying on players to make a step up next year and some to keep injury free. As always recruitment massive.
Claret and Hugh - a West Ham website (no idea on the reliability), reckons we’re in for Divin Mubama in the summer. Heard positive things about his potential, but unsure if he’d be the man ready to make a step up for us as the goalscoring centre forward?
I have to confess that I know nothing about him, but being a teenager and no doubt cheap, he'll fit the model perfectly.
Supposed to be a decent prospect. It would make sense for us to be after him. Wouldn't be surprised if our centre forward options next year are Jobe, Hemir, Mubama and someone like Sam Gallagher. Late 20s and out of contract soon, will come in thinking he can make a difference but will mainly used off the bench and cover. Edit. Left Rusyn out coz I think he'll play wide left.
I’ve also limited knowledge. That said, he is very highly rated by many. He’s another that would need an adjustment period, though (I would assume).
All these potential superstars are great in theory. I actually do like our model but we need to add some experienced steel alongside that. Just my opinion so don't shoot me down.
Yeah, I've got no idea who it'll be. But I don't think we'll be shelling out big bucks for him. I think Jobe will be classed as a centre forward from now on, and probably the main one. We'll bring in an older option, just like you said, for him to learn from.
I think we'll see a completely different striker department next season. I expect Hemir and Mayenda to get loaned, with Rusyn to be kept as a option across the forward line. So theoretically we need 2 out and out strikers. If Mubama is the backup/bench striker i'd be more than happy with it. We play around 50 games a season so its not like game time would be an issue. Just need that main forward signing alongside someone like Mubama.
Exactly how I feel about the model and future signings. I have serious doubts that Hemir is going to come good, so maybe this guy has been identified as a replacement?
He's been on the edge of the West Ham team and always looks lively. I'd take him and Leaburn at Charlton
I'd imagine the tribunal would lead to a fairly decent transfer fee and with him being a free agent he will command a big wage and signing on fee. Certainly won't be the 'cheap' signing some will claim it is.
Sure he’s scored for West Ham’s first team, definitely played in Europe too, I can’t pretend to have watched him loads but watched him once when Ekwah was linked and he stood out a mile I think he’d be a good addition but understand concerns if he’s the only striker addition after the way this seasons panned out 1 goal in the conference league
3 goals at League 1 level this year and currently out after a hamstring operation, not sure I’m convinced.
He looked to be settling in well at the start of the season, he was getting decent reviews. But I'm no scout
