Sam Allardyce has come out in the last couple of days and said the next main bits of business for West Ham United in the January transfer window is a left back, a centre back or a left back who can also play at centre back.
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With the injury to James Collins at Sunderland at the weekend, and with George McCartney and Joey O’Brien both picking up injuries, we look a little short at the back to say the least. It leaves us with James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Guy Demel and the youthfulness of Jordan Spence and Dan Potts.
Demel has hardly been a picture of health since he joined us, so we are relying on him staying fit. Spence is untested at Premier League level, as is Potts, and although Potts had a promising game against Manchester United, he seemed out of his depth against Sunderland, and struggled. He also made a glaring error for the second goal, trying to chest it back to Jussi Jaaskelainen instead of hoofing it clear.
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So after strengthening the forward line and midfield this window already, I feel the defence, up until now, had taken care of itself. However, a few more errors are creeping into the games, and we are still conceding goals each week. A new left back is definitely needed, as is an extra centre back. I don’t really know too much about Martin Olsson from Blackburn – I remember him being quite an athletic defender who can get up and down the line, which would be good for Matt Jarvis (or Joe Cole, whoever is playing on the left) as this would create more space for them. A natural left footer too gives the team balance, rather than playing O’Brien who always has to get it onto his right foot to pass or clear.
Another player linked is Gaeten Bong – again, another player I’ve not heard of and know very little about. I would rather we stick to a player who knows the Premier League, and who knows what it takes to perform, so Olsson would be my choice. Stephen Warnock is another mentioned, and I know Allardyce likes him from their time at Blackburn where Warnock got into the England set up.
A new centre back wouldn’t go amiss either, whether it is a loan until the end of the season, or a permanent signing. I’m not a fan of Collins anyway, and if we are to move up the league, then we need better quality in every area. I would love to see Allardyce bring Christopher Samba back to the Premier League with us, but that’s one for the summer I think. For now though, a couple of defenders will be enough to see us through to safety and another season in the English Premier League.
COME ON YOU IRONS!!
By ChelmoHammer
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i have to disagree about potts, he was good against sunderland as well, apart from the second goal, which nine times out of ten, would have worked. the problem wasn’t our defense as much as our midfield was dogs#*t. diarrhea was useless, we missed Noble big time!