Signing an overseas striker midway through the season is often a risk.
Aside from the potential of them not being fit and ready for the rigours of the Premier League, there is often a pressure on them to perform from the off.
West Ham find themselves the privileged position of not being in a relegation scrap and in desperate need of a saviour to help secure the points which will rescue the season.
Instead, there is a desire to push on over the final games with the prize of a European place not yet unattainable. To achieve that, however, the team will need to ensure they have an abundant supply of goals to win games.
With injuries coming to Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole, the club has recruited Brazilian winger Nenê to boost the attacking options available to Sam Allardyce.
Although no stranger to European football, the 33-year-old is untested in the English game, and will have to adapt quickly if he wants to make a positive impact. The benefit is, the team doesn’t have to hang it’s hat on him.
Recent seasons has seen some desperate January striker signings by the Hammers, including Mido, Marouane Chamakh, and Wellington Paulista.
The latter was also a Brazilian, who came with a decent scoring record and the hope of proving he was “one of the best strikers in Brazil”.
He failed to make a senior appearance for the club, and his overall time at the club was clouded in mystery.
Nenê is older than Paulista was, but does come with a greater pedigree. As a winger, he has scored regularly and has been praised for his set pieces and crossing ability.
Given these attributes, and West Ham’s ability to score headed goals, it would seem Nenê’s presence will offer a greater over-all goal threat compared to some of his predecessors.
The hope is he can make the sort of positive impression more akin to his South American counterparts Ilan and Guillermo Franco, and give extra impetus to the European push.
