It has been leaked by many “In the know” agents that West Ham are trying to sell some of their players to bankroll the Andy Carroll deal that was announced last week. These included Stephen Henderson, Modibo Maiga, Alou Diarra, Ricardo Vaz Te and Matty Taylor. From what I’ve seen on Twitter and in match day programmes, Taylor seems like a perfectly nice bloke but his performances in the past two seasons haven’t been good enough for a team that are aiming for European places in the next few seasons.
When we were relegated to the Championship, Taylor was quite a good capture by the club, although he lacked pace he was well known for his crossing ability and of course his free kicks and long shots were a plus point too. However he didn’t set the Championship alight, especially when he featured in defence, where he put in some shocking performances.
The signing of Matt Jarvis last summer meant that Taylor spent most of the 2012/13 season coming off the bench, it seemed that with the presence of Andy Carroll upfront, Taylor’s crossing would be extremely effective and help us score a lot of goals, this however didn’t materialise, most of his crosses this season were incredibly poor. Nevertheless he did play a key role in team wins vs Stoke, Fulham and Chelsea.
His season was summed up with one cross in my view, when we were losing 1-0 at the Etihad to Man City, he was brought off the bench to take a free kick late on in the game in a great crossing position, he had big men like Reid, Collins and Carroll to aim for but his cross rolled along the floor and was cleared, City went on to score a second a minute later.
It is certainly time for Taylor to go, as well as Vaz Te, Diarra and Maiga. He would be well suited to a team heading for the Play-offs next season in the Championship, like Brighton, Leiciester or Forest, at least he would be making an impact there, his Premier League days are well behind him, in my view.
I understand that Taylor himself has asked to be released, because he wants game time, even if he needs to drop down a division. I bet Bolton would have him back ….
Taylor, yes, Maiga, yes, Diarra, yes, Henderson, yes. Each of them I agree, it’s certainly time for them to go
But Vaz Te? Not a chance. He could be a key player for us next season. Last season was very much disrupted by injury, but he still showed glimpses of what he’s about. He gives us a very decent option in the wide attacking areas, and offers something quite different from our other wide options. Not least a real goal threat. If Jarvis is whipping the ball in from the left, Vaz Te is most likely of our wide options to attack the back post and give us a genuine threat in the box other than Andy Carroll.
I’d be very disappointed if the club think he is surplus to requirements
As long as there all replaced I’d be all for it… Not sure on Maiga tho, think he could offer something.. Just hope these guys aren’t getting shipped out to accommodate Carrol’s transfer- as good as he is, I don’t think he’s worth 5 players..
taylor was crap
If Vaz Te leaves then i hope we bring someone in who has some pace. We also need a dead ball specialist as Taylor isn’t cutting it and we haven’t really had one since Diamanti
It hasn’t been leaked by so called ITK’s it’s been made public by the club. Some newspaper reports have said that we’re selling these players to pay for Carroll but that’s rubbish. Both G&S and Big Sam said at the end of last season that we were looking to bring in 3 or 4 new faces to improve the squad. The 4 players that you mention are being moved on, along with Gary O’Neil and Carlton Cole to make room for the new signings and help fund those transfers and wages. Diarra is obvious, Taylor hasn’t really cut it this season, Maiga by all accounts doesn’t train well & he’s very lazy and Vaz Te is just so inconsistent so my view is it’s the right move to shift all 4. some of the players we’re being linked with are quiet exciting and I can’t wait until the new season gets underway. COYI
The press will have us believe that its all down to andy signing..its all crap…if they are not in sams plans he would of sold these players anyway…vaz te id personally like to see stay..andy will more than likely not play all season.hes bound to pick up knocks so it doesnt make sense to sell him..hes an ok(ish) back up…
Maigayes.henderson yes.taylor yes. Diarra no because he has potetencial and looks likly to start next season but R.V.T NO!!! If you give him game time he will score did big sám notice every game vaz te started he scored……… Andy carroll had little impact this season , wellington paulista around 30 goals in the brazillian league and he made 2 bench apearances and no pitch apearances all becasue andy carroll was there, chamakh is good but didnt do as much impact, tbh u would be better off with wilfred bony……….
Sorry chaps but Vaz Te just doesn’t cut in in the Premiership. Too inconsistent, lacking in self-belief and determination (watch how many times he just gives up after losing possession) and lacks that spark that would have made him a decent player. If we are to start looking upwards of 10th then this guy is the type we need to be moving on.
It’s the same old story! “Little clubs” (ie, clubs out of the top six) are not allowed to buy million pound plus payers! And if you have the bloody cheek to pull it off then you have either mortgaged the clubs future for the next hundred years or sold of the best part of your first team to afford it! The reality of it is quite different. All the players earmarked as for sale would have been sold anyway, as they are simply not good enough if the club is to progress to the next level. The only worry is that we suffered last season from a squad that was too small and we are looking to sell at least six players from that small squad. I am worried that we don’t have the money to bring in enough quality to replace those players being sold.
i agree that these players are not up to scratch and i see we are linked with Jefferson Montero and i expect this is the replacement winger we need, although i like vaz te and will never forget the goals he scored for us in our promotion year the premier league is a step too far for him
Don’t know how Taylor made it on the pitch. Vaz Te far too lazy but can play when he wants. Maiga, waste of £4 mil and not given the chance and O’Neil good ankle biter and er a good ankle biter. Bye. Hopefully keep hold of Hall cos its gonna bite big ed Sams fat arse.
Vaz Te is a poor player but his height may means he is needed an emergency striker so may have to stay. All the others mentioned need to go. Maiga looks very good but we need a much bigger man for when Andy is out. My punt would be Kenwynne Jones who is better than Carroll when he’s on form. Whoever we get as Carroll’s deputy he needs to be like-for-like.
Selling Tomkins may also come into play if we can replace him with someone who costs less thereby freeing up funds for the two midfielders and at least one winger that we need. Getting Chris Samba would be a great move in this scenario but it would likely mean free transfers only in the other positions if Monterro arrives.
I’m not so sure about Hall.
He looks a good prospect but he’s no Joe Cole, Carrick, Lampard, or Defoe is he?
Everyone said the same when Sam let Hines, Stanislas, & Sears go. And they have done what since?
I do feel for Maiga though. Looks decent when he comes off the bench but at spurs away he was totally out of his depth, got bullied off of every ball, & was subbed after 20mins. Sam obviously sees things in training that we don’t. That must be taken into account.
Totally agree with the 4 to let go though. Vaz can hack the prem, Taylor’s days are done, Maiga (granted not given the chance) is out of his depth it seems, & Diarra is just a typical stroppy frog.
In big Sam we trust
Don’t care who goes as long as we replace them with better players and they must be hungry to play for us and not just to improve their value and then shoot off !!!!!! Been reading that a lot of people are saying that its gonna be hard for us to get another decent striker cos Carroll is first name on the team sheet and proven players will wanna start week in , week out and not sit on the bench and wait for a cameo spot !!!!