Transfers this summer have been an interesting experience for West Ham fans. I fully understand the difficulty that we are facing with trying to build a squad whilst remaining inside the particulars of Financial Fair Play, and I gained even more respect for the club this morning after the ‘Davids’ and Big Sam released their official club statement on the fair play situation and how it affects us in the transfer market.
I am so proud to be a supporter of a club that engages in this level of transparency and honesty with their fans. Their openness is incredibly refreshing, and I appreciate the communication, and respect how difficult their jobs are to try to balance the books and deliver quality players to us without risking fines and points deductions.
But having said that, how does this rumored loan signing of Honduran Roger Rojas fit into our plans?
He’s a player that I imagine most English football fans are not overly familiar with. Wikipedia (the least reliable source in the world, I know) has very little to say about him except that he is 23 (please be true) from Honduras, currently playing for Olimpia, and that he is a striker. He appears to be a good one at the Honduran league level, as he is the youngest player to have scored 50 league goals in Honduras. This is promising, but of course the Premier League is quite a challenging league.
What I’m hoping though, is that if he does join us, he won’t also join the likes of fellow footballers George John (American), Brian Montenegro (Paraguayan), and last years great Brazilian hope, Wellington Paulista, in coming all the way across the Atlantic just to sit the bench (a list we can actually chuck our old buddy Argentinian Javier Mascherano into as well.)
George signed a loan deal with West Ham in January 2012, and even scored in his first reserve game, but never played with the first team. Paraguayan Brian Montenegro spent time at West Ham between 2011 and 2012, but featured in just 1 first team game as a substitute. Wellington Paulista was a very confusing part of last season. He signed a 6 month loan deal in January 2013, and scored consistently in the reserves – yet even though he was named on the bench for two games, he never saw a sniff at first team football.
There is a worry among fans that Rojas, a player who most of us are unfamiliar with, may follow the above examples when dropped into a league that he is not familiar with. The truth is that we cannot afford to pay another player who isn’t going to play. We have to take Rojas only if he has stronger scoring potential than Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te, and that we are certain that he will get game time. We cannot waste wages on a player who is not Premier League ready. We will have to have a one in, one out policy, so we cannot sign risky players at the expense of current players, who have scored goals (just not as many as we would all like.)
If we sign him, I hope he’s good – not just because I want to see goals and wins, but also because I respect the powers that be, and after all their hard work and honesty, I don’t want any fans to find fault with their summer signings.
What do you think – have you ever seen him play? Is signing an unknown on loan the best use of our last few pence? Let me know below, or tweet me @makingthemarrow
I couldn’t agree more!
We need a PROVEN goalscorer, not yet another gamble on an unknown striker from somewhere no-ones heard of.
Oh my god! Look at his you tube video. This guy is simply awful. Wouldn’t even get in a league 1 side. fact!!! Maybe league 2! Please sign sane!! Rather play cole up front than sign a guy like this. Fingers crossed for the juventus guy on loan for a season. No more though please no more over thirty somethings signed on 3 and 4 yr deals!
as david said it aint that easy,if it was taylor vaz tee linda and a few others would have gone a long time ago,
Agreed!
I’m sure that there will be a suprise or two before the window closes. . Just hope they’re nice suprises.
I feel that casual business which other (high profile) clubs carryout on a regular basis by getting players in on loan to have a look at them, is viewed as “major” by some of our supporters.
I’ve been a supporter for a very long time and the openness with which our club now does it’s business is breathtakingly refreshing, so what I’m saying is that I’m fully aware and up to speed regarding our dealings and dilemmas in the transfer market and the fact that in an ideal world with the new financial regulations permitting, we would probably have that elusive second striker by now. Lets hope they can move a few fringe players out to bring a new striker in.
I think the 2 daves ate trying to fool everyone. Come on . We let Carlton go, his wages should cover some of downings. We were already paying most of carrolls last season is Adrian the keeper on over 50000 a week? The Daves say we have 4 million more to spend on wages I think there is more to come in players. Also how the hell are saints,Norwich,even spurs getting away with it ?so prepare for some news soon. Coyi
Diarra has come back along with his 60k a week wages which rennes were paying last half season, rat is on 30-40k. Signing on fees and loyalty bonuses etc… also all count towards the 52 mill.
We were paying chamack wages last season . We paid out bonuses at end of last season . Hmmmm still all adds up as we have extra 4 million this season. Rat 30-40 thou a week ? Your having a laugh
Rat was playing for A top european club for many seasons, you think we would get him on less then 30k? We were paying half of chamkhs wages which is less then diarras. You also dont seem to know much about bonuses. Loyalty bonuses, signing on fees, goal bonuses appearcnce fees all come in to account with this limit.
Demba Ba will be our player soon.
We always knew we were light upfront so I cannot understand why we did not offload a couple more players in the midfield where we have far too many.To keep them all happy is going to cause problems has we have seen already in the last 2 games.Maiga is not strong enough and I would be playing Vaz Te upfront until Carrol is fit or another striker comes in on loan
HOW CAN SPURS AFFORD THE WAGES OF THERE NEW PLAYERS, IT DOES NOT ADD UP GARETH BALE WAS NOT ON 5 PLAYERS WAGES ,COME ON WESTHAM SPLASH THE CASH LETS GET ONE GOOD STRIKER
Ask Dan he will explain all
Because they havent maxed out all other streams of revenue. They have alot more extra sponsorship money though various deals and partnerships and get money from Europa leage which means they can go past the extra 4 million given. Why dont you read what sullivan hs been saying and you would know why.
Its actually embarrassing that people refuse to read about the ffp rules.
Its embarrassing when people think they know better than others
it just a rumor probebly not true anyway just another stricker west ham are arparantly linked to like so many others this summur
We have nothing to lose by taking him (cheap). This kid is compared with Honduras greatest ever goal scorer In his country. Who knows could be we uncover a gem a future tevez. Could also be the next Sam baldock but hey
The next Tevez? WOW !
6 goals in 26 games, yipee.
ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS !!!!Another Barry Silkman bum of the month.Cheapie is not the word !Desperate more !Sullivan thinks we are mugs !I see even young Jack is part of the spinning team !On twitter he says :”Signing Rojas , DECENT !Everybody at the club says he is the next Tevez !”Then to another fan “He,s low risk ,if he’s rubbish ,he cost little money “Lol !You couldn’t make it up !.Stop hiding behind the FFP and pay the money ,get us a decent striker !Christ !Even Southampton are splashing the cash.Points deduction ?Possibly if you have not got your house in order !But the compliance test only comes into effect ,in February 2015
He is another chicharito Hernandez. You figure that one out.