Much of the transfer talk coming out of West Ham has been about addressing the lack of attacking intent within the team. Therefore, the signing of Cheikhou Kouyate may then seem somewhat of a surprise.
But there is clear rationale behind the purchase the 24-year-old Senegal international, and it could prove a masterstroke by the club’s management.
Sam Allardyce was always going to be sceptical about committing to all out gung-ho football. So signing a defensive midfielder with height to screen the defence and break-up play will ease his nerves.
Given the reported £7 million price tag, Kouyate has undoubtedly been brought in to fit into the starting XI, and everything points to him being the insurance policy for the proposed brand of attacking football.
He can offer support to the backline, and observers will hope he can fulfil the same enforcer role we have seen players like Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure perform in the Premiership.
Mark Noble, who will be many people’s choice to start alongside Kouyate in the central positions, should then be freed to play a more advanced role and revert to the sort of player he was earlier in his career.
Kouyate’s arrival also immediately creates competition for places, and that is sure to bring the best out of everyone.
Some say this clearly signals the end of Mohamed Diame, but hopefully the club retain his services to build strength in depth now Matt Taylor has left and Alou Diarra remains out in the cold.
The directive from the board is for more attacking football. But the transfer policy at the moment indicates a clear objective around building a team while remaining focused on keeping the club on the right course longer term.
With a 90% passing accuracy in the champions league he will be more than just a defensive midfielder. With a midfield trio of Morrison, Noble and Kouyate we will have a good balance between defense and attack. The defensive assurances of Noble and Kouyate will hopefully allow/encourage Allardyce to play a more attacking style.
I agree tommy, that sounds like a solid midfield
Another key reason was that with the departure of Johnson, and the poor experiences we had with injuries in our back four last season, the Board see Kouyate as a player who can deputise in central defence. I don’t think personally that his arrival puts Diame’s place in jeopardy, the person who will be looking over his shoulder is Nolan. If he is unable to provide a reasonable amount of goals next season, his captaincy alone will not be enough to guarantee his place, with Noble taking the captaincy in his absence.
Agree. Kouyate’s arrival will allow Noble forward enhancing the new ‘forward looking’ thinking. We are so short of a three dimensional play maker up the pitch. Nolan and Carroll combo clearly excellent when it works but there is no plan B. Nobes will give us a new dimension. However Kouyate as centre back cover could help as a back up but we would lose Noble going forward so big Sam needs another CB. However Kouyate deal v clever as clearly Diame not seen as good enough by top 6 sides to start as he only plays well against the big boys and is lazy tracking back. Not only is Kouyate an international team mate so could link up well on the park and upping Diame’s game, Mo may realize that the best way to achieve his dream of playing for a top 6 club is to stay at West Ham over the next 2 years.
If diame don’t leave us, why not try diame noble and kouyate in a 3 midfield with kouyate holding back Letting noble n diame to push forward.Nolan would be more affective coming off the bench in my oppingion! Noble should with out a doubt be captin, he has sat back long enough and watched others take the roll from under he’s nose he is mr west ham!