Since David Sullivan and David Gold took control of West Ham in 2010, they have relied heavily on loan signings in the transfer market.
The majority of those have been made during the January window as the Hammers have looked to avoid relegation in two of the three full Premier League seasons the pair have been in charge.
The likes of Wayne Bridge, Robbie Keane and Ilan have previously been signed on loan with all three having departed at the end of the respective season.
This January has seen a similar sort of intake after Christmas, with Roger Johnson, Abdul Razak, Pablo Armero, Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello all called in to help the Hammers avoid the drop.
In truth, they’ve done very little as the injury crisis has subsided and several key players have returned and with confidence high, the loan signings have been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch.
However, following the defeat to Everton last time out, manager Sam Allardyce has an excuse to change his side – something he was not keen to do having seen his side win four games in a row.
There’s every chance Armero will get an opportunity to impress at left-back and Nocerino should be given a chance to show he can cut it in the Premier League, in place of Matt Taylor.
While we’ve only seen glimpses of Nocerino, he hasn’t looked out of place and having experienced playing Champions League football for AC Milan, the Italian international has the pedigree.
There’s certainly a place for him in the side, which somewhat lacks a touch of guile and creativity in the centre of midfield. Mohamed Diame and Mark Noble are both good ball winners and are strong runners going forward, but they lack that killer pass to unlock defences.
Armero has yet to feature since signing on transfer deadline day, but his debut is eagerly anticipated by Hammers fans who are keen to see his pace going forward and how he links up with Matt Jarvis. Since moving back to left-back, George McCartney’s form has rapidly improved which has coincided with West Ham’s run of shut outs at the back. Yet he’s getting no younger and at times his lack of pace, particularly against speedy wingers, can at times expose the West Ham back line.
Allardyce is a fan of Joey O’Brien and doesn’t mind playing him at left-despite him being right-footed, but while the Irishman is a whole-hearted performer, he’s unlikely to be real competition for Armero.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if Nocerino and Armero feature before the end of the season and do enough to earn themselves a longer contract at Upton Park. We’ve yet to see enough of Borriello and with Andy Carroll back fit and hopefully firing to earn a place in the England squad for Brazil, it’s highly unlikely the Italian will get much of a sniff.
Abdul Razak could be one for the future and with Joe Cole and Alou Diarra expected to move in the summer, he could yet earn himself a short-term contract.
As for Roger Johnson….as they say in Dragon’s Den: ‘It’s a no from me’.
Apparently, the club are already in negotiations to make Armero’s deal permanent. I don’t think we’ve seen, or even will see, enough of the others to form an opinion.
Btw, you’re mixing up Dragon’s Den with BGT so “For that reason, I’m out.” 😉
I read that too….. I don’t see the point of keeping Johnson or the Italian pair. I do think that Joe Cole, Diarra, Taylor and Collison might depart after May.
Having seen Armero play live for Columbia, I’d say- act quick and sign the deal! He’s a fantastic talent and Linda makes me nervous on the ball anyway. O’Brien doesn’t even factor in since he’s being played out of position. (Besides, he’s nowhere near as good as Armero!)
Nocerino?… My gut tells me he’s going to be a stellar playmaker! I think he would complement Noble extremely well! So yes, sign him too! (Plus he has a fantastic attitude!)
And then Borriello… It pains me to say it, but from what little I’ve seen of him, I can’t see him being anymore effective than Maiga… Pass.
By the way, England will probably have to play Columbia in the round of 16 in Brazil this year. So keep your eyes on Armero.
Here’s to hoping he doesn’t shut out Carroll and England!
COYI!
it would help if these players got some game time, but BFS wont give them the time.
barring little snippets.
he would rather stick with his ex trotters players!!!
AC wont be going to the world cup, he is getting his hair cut once the season ends!!!!!!
Who’d be a football manager? From November onwards we were crying out for re enforcements! Especially strikers! Jan comes and a raft of players duly arrive to help plug the gaping holes in our squad. At roughly the same time our horrendous injury crisis eases. Then we go on a marvellous run largely with our original squad and all our new signings can’t get a look in! Injury crisis? What crisis?! Lol. Anyway, despite all this Armero should be signed right away! Nocerino given a bit more game time and be signed as well. As for borriello, he will have to do much much more and Johnson has no chance! I think much is expected of Armero and nocerino and hopefully they can provide much needed quality to both the first team and the squad. In the summer it will be even more vital than ever to both increase the quality throughout the squad whilst increasing its numbers. For Our main problem has been lack of quality in numbers. Our first eleven is well capable of holding its own in the prem. but it’s when we need to rotate the first team our quality is exposed. Some of the squad isn’t up to it and that forces those who are to play to often without a rest. This leads to burnout and unnecessary injury. Which in turn can lead to the horrendous injury crisis we have suffered for the last two seasons at least. The trouble is quality players cost lots of money, even loan ones. So for teams like us building a strong team/squad takes time. But with the move to the OS now looming time is something we no longer have a lot of! So as I said who’d be a football manager! COYI!
Hello Phil!
As usual, I agree with everything you’ve just said.
By the way, as per our friendly wager as to which striker would start last week’s game- I was secretly hoping (just to foul up the bet) the Sam would, just for once, switch it up and play a 4-4-2. And start Cole AND Carroll. Now THAT eould have been funny!
PS- I prefer Old Peculiar but really I’ll drink anything.
Haha! Cheers!