With Sam Allardyce’s recent announcement that defender Emanuel Pogatetz’s loan deal will not be extended past this current season, West Ham fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Pogatetz has been on loan to the Hammers since January, from German club Wolfsburg. This was an agreement that initially showed promise and respite for a defense struggling with injuries. Pogatetz arrived at the club with a reasonably good-looking CV and reputation – the man even came with the promisingly aggressive nickname of ‘Mad Dog.’
West Ham had been looking slightly lacking in aggression defensively, so the arrival of a player who had been given a 24 week ban by the Russian Football Union for a bad tackle, received 20 bookings in two seasons for Middlesbrough, and hospitalized Manchester United’s Rodrigo Possebon after another horror tackle, showed signs that a tougher defensive strategy was on the horizon.
Unfortunately, Pogatetz failed to live up to the hype, playing in claret and blue for less than 150 minutes during his 4 months with West Ham. He made only six appearances for the club (5 of which were as a substitute.) In the only game he started, West Ham lost 2-1 against a struggling and, at the time, relegation threatened Aston Villa. His name is barely mentioned in any match reports from the games he featured in, with the exception of the yellow card he received for unsporting behavior in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
After a loan spell that has produced dire results in defense, Big Sam couldn’t even wait until the last game of the season to offload the dreadful defender. Allardyce also stated that with regards to any other end of season exits he would “decide on the others after the game.”
He clearly felt no need to wait to announce that West Ham would no longer need the services of Mr. Pogatetz.
Written by Emily Pulham
He was ONLY ever signed on loan to boost our numbers of defenders in the event of a crisis.
1. Transfer Window
2. Player Availability
3. Finances (West Ham’s NOT Chelski’s)
Simples!
Big Sam, has to get andy carroll, that is a must, 10 or 12 million, I would also go for roades, 6 million, Lusaka, on a fire from Chelsea, I would also look at jossi from Chelsea on a free, bring back revel morrisson now, and also give Jordan spence a run in first team, as well paulista, another goalkeeper, and maybe a defender. Macca westham.