Is West Ham’s transfer policy right?

Andy Carroll has been ruled out for four months, meaning he will most likely be out until December. As our main signing last year, he has failed to live up to expectation. Despite being in my ‘FIVE guaranteed starters’ article, it might turn out to be a blessing that Andy is injured.

It’s not a secret that quite a few Hammers fans are now beginning to get fed up with Carroll, but there’s no doubting his strength when it comes to playing the style of football Sam Alladyce wants to play. With Enner Valencia just waiting on a work permit, it looks like he will be ready in time for the first game against spurs, to lead the line. While he is similar to Carroll, I think he brings more than the long ball tactic. He is quite quick, and can really head a ball and can finish well, too. While Carroll is one of the best in the business when it comes to heading the ball, apart from a cannon behind his left boot, his finishing and other dimensions of his attacking game leave a lot to be desired.

Will Valencia do well in the Premier league is another question? In hindsight I think that one or two experienced Premier League strikers would have been a better buy then Valencia this season. Whilst Valencia was no slouch in the World Cup it’s another big money signing like Carroll was, and with Carlton Cole the only other real striker in the squad let’s hope Valencia keeps fit for the season and impresses.

Overall I think the transfer policy this season has been better than previous seasons. We have bought in plenty of depth in the midfield area and if it wasn’t for Carroll getting injured our strike force would have been well stocked too. What’s more important is that most of the players we have brought in have plenty of experience playing in England, bar Cheikhou Kouyate and Enner Valencia, but with European and World Cup experience between the latter two it makes for an exciting transfer window thus far.