Are West Ham still a big club?

As always, the transfer window brings nerve-racking times for all West Ham fans. The fans are always hopeful that their best players remain at the club and that they can attract quality players to play for them. Over the years the fans have witnessed quality players such as, Scott Parker, James Collins and Craig Bellamy leave the club. Furthermore, the transfer window has also seen the club make dreadful signings such as, Mido, Benni McCarthy and Savio. The fans have also witnessed a number of linked players failing to sign for the club, such as Jordan Rhodes, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Nikica Jelavic. Why do players refuse to sign for a club that has great football heritage?

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Being in the second tier of English football does not help, but there is a growing concern over the number of players that the club have failed to sign. West Ham United is a traditional English Football Club that has great football heritage and have always produced quality young English players. The club is considered by many a ‘big club’ that has failed to reach its potential in terms of success. The club had three World Cup winners from the successful England team in 1966, the club has been recognised for playing a style of football that the current Barcelona team would be proud of and the team has always played in a stadium full of passionate fans that love the club regardless of what league they are in. Furthermore, news regarding West Ham is always headline news concerning transfers, Olympic Stadium debates and managerial changes. However despite this, the club over the recent years have failed to even sign average footballers.

One big disadvantage to the club is their current debt, which is in its millions. This debt restricts the club to pay huge transfer fees and wages for players. During the Icelandic era, the owners paid extravagant transfer fees and wages for average players. The club offered massive wages and managed to sign quality players such as, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. However, this did not last long and the club realised they were heading towards big debt. The club stopped paying excessive money for players and as a result, players started to leave on the free such as, Lucas Neil, Kieron Dyer and Matthew Upson because they could not agree new contract deals. Players like these are no longer needed at West Ham.

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Players that are wanted are the ones that are willing to play for West Ham. Young players signed from other clubs would jump at the possibility to play for a club that has a reputation of given youngsters an opportunity in football. Frank Nouble left Chelsea and ignored interest from Arsenal to join West Ham in 2009 because of the club’s excellent youth policy. Recently signed Perry Ruddock told the club’s website that he signed for West Ham because of their commitment to develop young players. Similar to Nouble, Ruddock also ignored interest from other clubs to join West Ham. These players are for the future and may not feature for the club for another couple of years however, it is the failure to sign experience players which has raised the questions whether the club can be considered a big club.

Being in the Championship, constantly fighting for relegation and failure to win trophies has a negative effect on the club. Quality players want to play at the highest level and win trophies. This is the reason why many West Ham players have left the club in the past. Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Scott Parker, Paul Ince, Carlos Tevez and Joe Cole have left the club to play at the highest level after the club’s relegation or failure to win trophies. The club can not compete financially with many clubs in the Premier League and it becomes difficult for West Ham when these richer clubs or Premier League clubs show an interest on their target. For example, Nikica Jelavic looked set to sign for West Ham before Everton expressed an interest. Everton can offer Jelavic Premier League football and possibly offer higher wages than West Ham.

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Had the club been in the Premier League we may have signed most of the players we have been linked with. Most importantly, we need to hang on to players that understand what it symbolises to play for such a great club like West Ham United, no matter what League they are in. For example, local player James Tomkins has reportedly told the media that he wants to play at the highest level but only in a West Ham shirt and being loyal is a far bigger currency to him than money. It is attitude like this that could potentially make him a legend of his boyhood club. On the other hand, this transfer window has revealed that players are still willing to play for club after luring talented Ravel Morrison away from Manchester United and signing Nicky Maynard from the under the noses of Premier League clubs. This signifies that West Ham United can still be considered one of English Football’s big clubs.