If West Ham’s interest in signing Phil Bardsley on a Bosman this summer, is to be believed, it surely has to be another indication that Sam Allardyce really can’t be trusted in the transfer market.
The Sunderland right-back is coming to the end of his contract and reportedly, the Hammers and Hull City are keen on signing him.
Bardsley has had a fairly low-key career thus far and as it stands, he’s set to ditch Sunderland as they prepare for life next season in the Championship. His actions, turning down contract talks with the Black Cats because of interest from other clubs, might say something about the man but it’s credentials I’m most concerned about – He has been part of a Sunderland side that sits bottom of the Premier League and one that has also shipped 53 goals so far this campaign.
I’m far from being Guy Demel’s biggest fan, but surely Sam should be looking to improve on the squad for next season and introduce real competition for places. Would Bardsley increase competition and would he be better than what we’ve already got? Not in my view.
It’s therefore hardly surprising the owners are now wanting to have the final say in all transfers and are going to be suggesting names of their own. It hardly puts Allardyce in a strong position, does it?
What’s also of concern is that David Sullivan has a big of a chequered past when it comes to suggesting players in the transfer market. It’d been widely reported in seasons past that he was hugely influential in the signing of Ilan, Mido and Benni McCarthy – all three were flops – and froze out Valon Berahmi and Alessandro Diamanti.
In a season in which the Hammers have struggled because of their flawed transfer policy, and one that has left them at times over reliant on the loan market, there’s going to be a huge amount of scrutiny of who West Ham bring in this summer.
Is Allardyce, Sullivan and David Gold up to it? A change of policy and a joined-up approach might be a good starting place.
The Chairmen and the manager are the reason why we are where we are and soon to be moving onwards and upwards (seriously look around at all the other clubs around us!)
I guess I trust them because I’m NOT……..Deluded!
Look at the transformation since he took over. We could always go back to Players like dyer, boa morte, Kovac, upson, Spector, faubert. ? The players we have now are all better. The likes of Carroll downing armero. Ravel. I think I trust the board and Sam to continue the upgrading our club because I for one wouldn’t want to go back to how it was before Sam in the days of avram grant for instance. People have short memories
I do have a concern that Sam has a default setting, when it comes to transfer dealings. He seems to like end of career Pro’s, no pace, no resale value and injury prone, this window is vital that we assemble a squad to move us into the Olympic Stadium. Am likeing the names being linked at present. COYI.
We have no option but to trust them, but let’s just hope they have learned by their mistakes, they are good businessman so im sure they will, only one big mistake they’ve made such joining us is BFS but they will lean .
If he can’t be trusted then why is he the manager? Bringing in new players is all part of a manager’s job. He is the one who is out on the training field with the squad every day. It is he who would know what positions need to be improved upon, not the owners who see things from a distance. I would also say that Sam has a large squad of scouts & contacts in various parts of the world with the latest on who’s available & who would fit in with the current squad. This is not a one man operation, give West Ham’s academy of coaching, scouting & recruitment some credibilty will you. I know, as fans we do have a right to have a say (we virtually had no say many years ago), but geez every single function the club does & reports like this is sort of putting the club in a goldfish bowl. Each to his own job, that’s what I say, we give support. They run the club.
You are absolutely right JB we as fans have the right to our say , myself and my 5 friends all season ticket holders say BFS OUT !! , we all spent about £50 at the palace game and £70 at the forest game enough is enough no more away games until BFS has gone. I for one am working out how much I would have spent on away games and put the money away for The grandchildren to go to Disneyland Paris. They are loving it , they keep saying is fat Sam still there ? I say yes, they say YES YES YES !! While jumping up and down. No more of my money will be spent on or at West ham, and that includes away games i will buy my next season ticket for 14/15 but that is it until BFS has gone .
Allardyce can only attract rejects and players coming towards the end of their careers
West ham need to accept they are a poor premiership side. They’re only getting players as they are London based and pay over the top wages. As previous poster says Sam has taken u forward, be grateful
Quite possibly one of the poorest articles I have ever read. It makes me wonder if the people behind this site have any clue at all?? Big Sam should be commended for the work he has done not condemned! Championship to two consecutive mid table finishes in the premier league, what more do you want or expect???
Spot on Vinnie!
It’s ill thought out, conceived & written articles like this that give a wide audience an insight into what the most knowledgable supporters in the land have amongst their midst……(I’ll hold my tongue).
Also to those who abuse our club, I say SAVE your money and the rest of us an earache and STAY AWAY!
Supporters ENCOURAGE, they DON’T pay good money to upset the team or fellow Supporters who ARE there to Encourage the team & respect the Claret & Blue! The Johnny come lately’s are part of the crassness of todays society where because they pay their money it gives them the right to abuse the team & disrespect the club.
If your the very same “Match Report” Vinnie, I’ve read your articles (Which are Excellent) and I think that you should open a workshop to teach some of these posters what BALANCED, TRUTHFUL and OBJECTIVE mean.
This tome last year, I wrote an article playing down Morrison over Nolan and I’ll repeat the point of that article…
I’d rather have a team full of Big Dam oldies than a bunch of Sunday league kids.