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Episode 049 - Chelsea Reaction and January in Review!
27 Plays25 days ago
Josh and Tom look back at our recent performances under Potter as well as our transfer window business.
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Transcript
Chelsea's Game & Potter's Strategy
00:00:10
Josh Keech
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Daily GSPN West Ham broadcast. Thomas, how are you doing?
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm doing okay, mate. The previous result, Chelsea, wasn't ideal but I think there's a lot positive to take from the game.
00:00:24
Josh Keech
That's it. yeah I feel like we're looking back at when we were in September because every yeah every big game at the moment we're sat there that potters put you know is managed and we're like okay give it benefit of the doubt it's we're not even a month into him playing games yet for us and and looking after you know all the tactics so at the moment it's one of those where we have to just brush every defeat or draw or if we're lucky enough to get away and we have to take everything with a bit of pinch of salt so i'm I'm the same as you it's one of those where I would have liked to have seen us at least when I draw it because you know obviously Chelsea and London Derby but it's one where
00:00:58
Josh Keech
we're gonna have to get a slide and see what happens. We've got some tough games coming up, which we'll talk
West Ham's Resilience & Tactics
00:01:02
Josh Keech
about later. But ah but yeah, not, not the best result we would have liked to have seen. because I thought to start with, it looked quite decent. It was one of those games where, you know, we were playing defensively with injuries at the moment, but I think the chance that we did have looked quite good. I thought we had a good chance of actually getting a good result from the game.
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, if if you look at the the game by the stats, it's a lot more equal than I think people would realize. You know that there were so many points in the game where we were properly under the course, I think, particularly like towards the end of the first half, we were really under pressure. And I thought we actually were quite resolute in the way we defended. It seems like Graham Potter has come in and he's focused on making sure that we are difficult to break down and also allowed us to be kind of more creative going forward, which I think is one of the reasons why our
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
performances have been so much better.
Individual Performances & Adaptability
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you look at the way we're starting in games, we're not starting really slowly like we were in the past. We're we're coming out of the gate strong. We're looking positive. We're looking like we can compete straight away. And then throughout this whole show, again, we looked like we were always in it. There was always a chance that we could win. And I actually was really disappointed that we didn't get anything out of it, to be honest. um I thought we did really well. We have some really good performers. I'd like to highlight Paquetta's performances as of late because they've been so good. Without us having a recognized striker, he has kind of played that strange up front role where he's kind of leading the line, but then coming back and um receiving the ball and driving forwards. And also his hold up play has been really impressive. I think because he's technically so good and he's able to dribble out of difficult situations really easily.
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that paired with his kind of classic Brazilian flair and also the fact that he's physically quite strong. His whole play has been really good and it's allowed us to get forwards when we've weve struggled without having a focal point. So he's done really well in there and I'm really happy that he's had this kind of uptake in form because he is an un unbelievable player obviously. um But generally I'm More disappointed than upset, to be honest. It it just seems like that's a chance, it would have been a chance for us to get a point where previously we just would never have even imagined getting a point from Chelsea. You know, under La Pate, we, no one would have thought us getting a point from Chelsea was impossible, but under Potter, it does feel like we can compete
Potter's Leadership & Young Talent
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
with a better team. So yeah, slightly disappointing, but not at the end of the world. And then definitely a lot of positive to take from it.
00:03:30
Josh Keech
That's it. I mean, the first thing I think you need to give yourself a bit of a pat on the back because you you've been, I know we all have anyway, but you've been the one leading the charge. I think what they're saying about the packet, I was improved, but we need to you know he'll be the one that will step up at some point in a future.
00:03:42
Josh Keech
And we need to give him the most in time out some time back in again. And and it you know you it seems to be working at the moment because he has been on fire for the last couple of games. And I, I picked up on one thing.
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:54
Josh Keech
Firstly, I'm going to say that I thought Bowen's goal was absolutely lovely. I, I
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, oh, isn't it so good.
00:03:59
Josh Keech
I couldn't have been more happy to see that he was he was playing at least that game a bit of reassurance that this game could go a different way to what I was anticipating from the last recent form. But yeah, love lovely goal there and good to see him back and hopefully that gives us a bit more of a yeah ah breath of fresh air now into the team because everyone knows he's back and that's... as I guess I've got a bit more confidence but someone I want to talk about just from the Chelsea game obviously that hasn't played too much recently but one that I think it's worth noting because his performance for the very brief time he did play was incredible and that was ah that was Luis Guillermo
00:04:33
Josh Keech
Now, one that we don't really talk about too often, because one doesn't get the chance, I think, more than, you know, it doesn't really have that chance since you signed for us. But, but, yeah, Potter's given a bit of a chance with the ah ah four minutes, mind you. But I think it's worth mentioning the four minutes, because if I go through the stats, it's something that I thought was quite drastic. So passes into the penalty area first in the team in four minutes of game time, crosses into the penalty area first in the team.
00:05:03
Josh Keech
crosses second in the team, blocks second, chances created second, interceptions and progressive carries also second for the whole of the game.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, are you sure this is the whole game?
00:05:14
Josh Keech
And for me, Honestly, honestly, i've i've i've read I've read it here and I cannot believe it.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:21
Josh Keech
<unk>ve I've literally saved it to come back to when I was looking at my post match reactions and it's something that I was a bit shocked by. It literally is. Same, some incredible numbers against Chelsea and I am 90% confident that they're from the game, from the whole game.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I'll take those.
00:05:38
Josh Keech
That's a 90% we'll say. But ah but yeah, is regardless of the the full semantics of the the stats, I do think that it's a bit of a an underrated performance is probably going to go into the radar a little bit. I think we should be giving it some more minutes. And my, my overall theory is we've already got one great Brazilian, you know, adding, adding some more flair into the team would be absolutely incredible.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. I really like the the fact that Pot has been using the younger guys because when we are struggling, you like to think that the guys that are kind of most desperate to make an impact are the guys that feel like they're ready to to make the step up into the first team. And I think the way that they have played when they've come on the pitch has shown that they have that desire of an academy player who wants to break into the first team. Obviously, you think about any academy player in any academy in the world, it their dream is to try and fight for the first team spot and it seems like we have players that are ready to do that and have the ability. like I've sung Ollie Scales' praises so much. I think he's so good and I definitely think he should be competing with Emerson for that starting spot because I think he's good enough. um Lewis Orford as well has come in and looked really steady. I think from him I'd like to see him sometimes be a little bit more kind of
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd like to see him go for it a little bit more. It seems like sometimes he does take the safe option, but that's not a bad thing. And I think as his confidence improves and his minutes improve in the league, I think that will start to see a more kind of... more his actual personality come out, which which I think is definitely in there. And yeah, the same with Luis Guillermo. He has such quality and you can tell when he plays and his touch and his technical ability is so good that you just think it's only a matter of time that if he does get the minutes, he'll definitely be able to provide some some massive utility for our squad. And when we have, you know, relatively depleted attacking options, I know that Somerville has been injured, Bowen's been injured, um obviously Fulcrum and Antonio, having someone else that can provide um a more kind of attacking option and someone that's maybe slightly different and isn't weighed down by the
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
the pressure of knowing what it's like to be at that lee or that level. I think that's the good thing about academy play is they come through and they just want to try and do their best and they're trying to push into the team and make that step up. So I think it's the perfect
Team Improvement & Challenges
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
opportunity for him. And and I love the fact that Potter has been been using it on guys. It's amazing.
00:08:01
Josh Keech
Yeah, it's definitely why I think that's reassuring from a fan standpoint because the one thing we've seen in recent and in in the recent sort managerial campaigns has been that there's been no youth development as much as what we'd like to have seen. I think we're one of the worst in the last couple of seasons next to Man United levels at the bottom of the table when you look at minutes played by anyone under 21. So for me, that's always been a worry that I've said is concerning, but it would be nice seeing everyone that's you know, ah even I saw in the news, actually, it was Potter went to go into a teens game with his coaching staff this week. And I thought that was a really nice touch of then you want it, you don't see too often. And and it doesn't get talked about enough where we get to see, you know, everyone's getting considered. And I know that we we are all start taking the point now and focusing on what's going on with our youth Academy, because there's something that we pride ourselves on being good at. So
00:08:48
Josh Keech
One thing that's a nice, I think my kind of running theme at the moment with this week is it's been a nice breath of fresh air despite the fact it's been a very rough set of games. So i'll I'll talk to you next as we go into our next section about the kind of the the recent takeover and review and then and then later and we'll talk about some transfers as well.
00:09:08
Josh Keech
but that
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I might cut you off a little bit there, I apologise, but adverts out of the way, you crack on.
00:09:35
Josh Keech
that's uh that's lovely it's uh always typical when uh my my wi-fi and your wi-fi seem to always be best mates and pick the best times to annoy us so uh so yeah my next bit i want to bring to the agenda i want to talk about the kind of just the the kind of the takeover at the moment that's been going on and and potter's work it's been tough because we've said it every time we speak it's always the same that you know, tight set of fixtures, not that much time, barely any training sessions in between the games because they're coming thick and fast. Now, looking back, obviously the results we've seen aren't the most positive. But I think what we can see so far is that we are seeing a bit of an upturn in what's at least from the individual performances on the pitch as well as the overall team play is my opinion. I want to hear your thoughts about how you think the teams performed.
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. It's like I kind of alluded to earlier, the fact that we've just been a lot better.
Injuries & Defensive Needs
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
we've We've looked like we have a kind of idea about how we want to play. It seems like players are more confident in what they have to do. I think defensively, we've looked a lot better. Obviously, we've still not necessarily been picking up as many points as we'd like, but these things take time, you know, and when you do get rid of a manager in January. You know that the rest of the season isn't necessarily going to be massively fruitful. I think it's, unless you're like at the top and competing, it's very unlikely that you sack a manager and get a new manager in, in a position where you can actually challenge for anything, you know. so
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
With the situation that we're in, I think it's a really positive start, to be honest. It's not like an an A star, but like it's good. And it's better than what we've seen this season, which I think is the main thing when you look at how the squad has been playing. You just want to see improvement. And that's the thing we were asking for under Lopategi so much. It was consistent improvement, just making it look like the team know what they're doing a little bit more each week. But we didn't see that. But under Potter,
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
from the beginning it seems like there is an identity and there's um good understanding of how to play with each other and the system that Potter wants to play. So generally I'm really happy. And I just ah just wish we could have had less injuries. I think it would have been the ideal situation for Potter to come in with a squad that's fully fit because we've had center back problems, we've had striker problems,
00:11:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
the midfield has been an area what we've been relatively strong in generally but you can't just play a team of midfielders like you need defenders and you need attackers so it's been tough i think overall generally i'm happy With the situation that we're in, I don't really think we could ask for too much more at this point, to be honest. so Maybe are a couple more signings, maybe the signing of a centre-back. If you were being kind of relatively picky, I would have liked to see a centre-back come in. like ah Maybe a younger guy who can be more of a squad player, but to to get Evan Ferguson, I'm really happy.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
would have liked to buy option, but at this point, I think we have to kind of be happy with it. You know, we we have a striker now who can play. He's going to break my heart if he's really good and we don't get to Simon permanently.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's going to be heartbreaking. Yeah.
00:12:49
Josh Keech
I think I think we know that's happening like with the way it was to improve and the caliber of player we've got on loan.
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is he going to be Jesse Lingard 2.0?
00:12:55
Josh Keech
I'm very gutted. Oh, maybe maybe even 4.0 to be honest, mate, because I just know it's going to be sod's law is going to happen. We just know it's gonna it's gonna one of the things that will it will just happen and will be all gutted that we didn't have the option to buy.
00:13:10
Josh Keech
And it'll be a typical Western fashion where we've got a good strike, but we can't sign them because the price is too expensive.
Formation Strategies & Constraints
00:13:16
Josh Keech
and the price would have gone up for him playing with us so it's going to be one of those where once again we're cursed at a striker and we're going to have to deal with it but i'm i think if that did happen there'll be a big question as to why there was no option to buy whether it's because the amount for the option would just be to obscene that's the only thing that i can think about based on rffp but that's even then i think if he was that good and we needed to get the option and trigger it, we we would we would do something with the players we've got to try and generate that money and to make sure we're still within line with the ah with the spending regulations. But yeah, you're right with injuries because that was my next my next thing I wanted to talk about because it has been tough. Obviously, full group being out and not having the chance to make his impact. Bowen's gone, which is obviously it's monumental, the fact that our captain's out and
00:14:04
Josh Keech
with Antonio, which has always been the thing anyway. I mean, I don't think that for me was the most drastic thing of of all, but i say I'm um quite a big preacher of Somerville. So that, that to me would have provided a lot more options for us with what we could have done with our formation. So I'm very gutted that he's been out for it because he has looked good. And I think he'll play particularly well at the potter in my in my future predictions but uh but yeah with the formation as well at the moment then I wanted to ask you OCI I'd like to think I'm relatively clued in but I'm i'm not too sure on how the recent sort of formations played out we've obviously been playing that sort of kind of wide
00:14:38
Josh Keech
five back kind of situation at the moment where we sort of chop and change it depending on where the possession is but do you think that's going to change when the injuries and start resolving and we have players come back from recoveries? Do you reckon we'll look at changing formation again? Do you reckon we'll just stick with what we've got now?
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I don't know, I'm relatively conflicted about this, to be honest, because I've liked how defensively solid we look, to be honest. I think the only issue we've been having and with the five at the back is the lack of attacking threat. I think that's something we've struggled with. When you know when you're playing with Aaron Wambasaka and Emerson as the fullbacks, they they both, I think obviously we know that Emerson is is really good in in the attacking sense, but Wambasaka this season has showed that he is an attacking threat.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
They do want to get forward at any opportunity. I think it's obviously a good thing, but they still are fullbacks. They aren't actually wingers. Sometimes we do lack a slight bit of quality when it comes in the final third.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So with the addition of Jarabbo and back from injury, I think having him in the squad elevates our attack so much so we can maybe not suffer the consequences of playing the five at the back with the full backs that are more attacking, if that makes sense, because
00:15:57
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
bowen is able to contribute so much in the attack and with him linking up with kudos and linking up with paketa it kind of negates the fact that the fullbacks aren't quite as adept at playing in the final third so i would actually like to see us keep the same formation stay the same i'd liked bowen being up front So if we can have Kudos and Paquetta in behind Bowen, I think that little trio can play quite fluidly and then the fullbacks can bomb on and be kind of cutting crosses back to the edge of the box or just whipping the ball in.
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really like that. um It's also the centre back issue, isn't it? When, you know, we've only had one fit centre back.
00:16:35
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
The ability to play Aaron Creswell and Kufala centre backs is kind of making the best of a bad situation.
00:16:41
Josh Keech
see Yeah.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
so it's kind of adding more bodies to make up for the lack of actual recognised centre backs. So I kind of like the way we've been playing. In a best case scenario, I probably would prefer a back four, but for what we've got, I'm relatively happy with it and I wouldn't hate it if Bottas stayed with his formation for the time being.
Transfer Window Reflections
00:17:06
Josh Keech
Yeah I know it's one of those things where um but right now I think the four backs I think nice to see we're capable of doing it because with the injuries I think we have been pretty limited with what we can do but I do see your point I don't think that this formation has been something that's thrown us off our guard it has been one where we've actually been we've looked impressive and I think the Villa game is a good example of that where despite the team we're playing against where at the moment Champions League, doing well in the prem, we should be, you know, one we were expecting to not get a good result from. And ah a draw is, even then, I think that was a bit of a, you know, one we should be winning as well. But a draw is still better than a loss like Chelsea. But once again, that formation has proved we have got that solidity at the back where we can do it if we need to. But you're right. There's also a lot of risk playing with all these setbacks. because We don't have many. And as you say, with the aging score we've got, anyone gets injured.
00:17:57
Josh Keech
but it's even more dangerous the further we get into this part of the season where we can't have anyone else to bring in. So yeah, I want to talk about a few of the potential room with signs we could have got because I saw one link that I thought was incredible and I would have loved to have seen it. But ah but yeah, we'll go on to that shortly. I think that's one where it's time for another word from one of our sponsors. so
00:18:40
Josh Keech
So we've had a lot of transfer business rumours and there's been a lot of news that's happened in this window. The first one we need to celebrate because we've called it and said we should be doing it and we did it. World Prowse, we can celebrate. That is some lovely lovely news that we said we should happen, it's happened. I feel like we're in career mode again now.
00:19:02
Josh Keech
because that is something that is, I'm really happy for, gives us an option instead of your best mate Guido and for me that's one where I think he'll he'll shine and potter a lot.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like a new signing, isn't it?
00:19:14
Josh Keech
It is. It feels like a new signing. You're right. It really does. it It's refreshing. Players know what he can do. We already know that he's he you know he's done well in the team before, and I think with a bit of Potter's guidance, I think that'll be really good. And it's another option, should we get any injuries down the line with no costing money, which everyone loves. So that one for me was something that was quite big. Now, obviously, the the bigger and more super-stelling one that you know, show we could get some players was Ferguson coming in and we spoke about it already. For me, I want to see him start against Brentford. I'm going to be bold already. I think he's got the time. He's got the the gap now where we've got this really lucky wint week where no one's playing where we can get him settled. I think it'll be perfect to get him in against Brentford and I want to see him do incredible.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, imagine the front three of him, Bowen and Kudos.
00:20:06
Josh Keech
Oh,
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a really nice front three, isn't it?
00:20:09
Josh Keech
little bit naughty that that's a that is that is filthy so I really wish we we beat Redford I'm i'm skeptical because I know we struggle against them normally same with Brighton is one of those where I think we do end up our records not been quite good against doing their in recent events so i Still want to see him start and I do want to see it as you say kudos Bowen and Ferguson is what I want to be sitting up top and then I want packets are behind and This is where I asked you out formation because I think this is where now we do have to go back to the formation We know we're good in and it's four two three one and that's or a four three three depending on where you play the midfielders, but But that's that's why I think you'll get suit checked playing with a bit of freedom forward if we need to swap them around That's when world crowds could now come in and help out
00:20:57
Josh Keech
Pack a tar behind those three up top and we're asking for some goals. So that's, that's what I want to be seeing. But what what were your thoughts on the window so far then? Obviously I know it's closed now, but I wanted to hear your take.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think generally it was good to be honest like if you look at how much money we spent in the summer it's really difficult to expect us to go and make a big money signing again like we don't have infinite money but in the same vein I would probably like I mentioned earlier would like us to have maybe signed a centre back
00:21:21
Josh Keech
No.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that there's so much, I think ah particularly when it comes to like the championship, I think there's so many good young centre backs in that league. I would have loved to go and pick someone up. Someone like Tyler Harwood-Bellis is someone that I think we could have got in for, you know. ah and under 21's captain for England from the Man City Academy, which obviously obviously produces brilliant players.
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone like that is someone that I would have liked to have seen us going for. Obviously, I know he signed for Southampton. I think it was the start of the season or maybe last season. I just don't think we show enough intent to go and get the players that we want to get.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It seems like we do all of our business so late. um I know we're probably going to touch on Tim Stein a little bit later, but
00:22:08
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a little bit frustrating that we don't just go and do our business and then just leave it at that. It seems like we do wait ages to get stuff over the line, which is a bit frustrating, but generally pretty happy with the window, to be honest. Two players in, obviously James Hall Prowse is alone, that we've cancelled, we've terminated the loan, but it does feel like a new signing to me. It's bolstering the midfield, someone that has obvious quality.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last season he was so good. He was really good. It seemed like a strange decision to loan him out in the first place, to be honest. So I'm really happy he's back. And then, yeah, Evan Ferguson, he has quality and I think he will be able to flourish in a team that really needs someone of his calibre and of his profile.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know He's like more of a classic striker than I think he's really out there.
00:22:53
Josh Keech
Hmm.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know we've got Nicholas Fulgrok who I'd probably say is similar, but
00:23:00
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
but not really being able to rely on him for fitness so Evan Ferguson coming in I think is a really positive move and I'm yeah just happy to see him get started. I was just want to see him score some goals man.
00:23:10
Josh Keech
Yeah, i see I see having Ferguson in as the kind of, it's the one more step need that we don't need to play Ings because we have someone else there that will stop us substituting him on. It's just an extra wall where we don't have to bring Ings on to do it try and do something in two minutes of the game. But ah yeah, there's a couple of plays I want to talk about because there's a few where we spoke about leading up through the window that I kind of said if they happened, I thought they might be good. Some that I've seen recently where I thought, oh my God, if this happens, Mike mike just cry with happiness.
00:23:39
Josh Keech
um and I'll talk about that one first because it goes very nicely with what you said about getting a defender in. About a week before the windows closed I saw a massive link and I've learned now why why should I bother listening because I saw saying that there was a room we could get a Dawson back for ah for just until the end of the season and I would have absolutely loved it and I was jumping at joy. I couldn't have shared it to anyone quick enough um But we've talked about the hypotheticals and what ifs.
00:24:06
Josh Keech
And for me, that was one where I thought, if Dawson comes back, I think top 10 is achievable instantly.
Villa's Market Moves & Rashford
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just the partnership of him and Max Killman would be epic as hell and I think especially going forward like attacking set pieces He's just such a threat, isn't he?
00:24:13
Josh Keech
It's just really good.
00:24:18
Josh Keech
really went
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, I love that so much
00:24:25
Josh Keech
um I'm gutted, we couldn't. I saw it was alone. I thought, well, no money spent. That's okay. You know, we he trusts us. He knows we're a good club to go to. And he knows he can do well with us. I thought that was it. I thought there's no chance that doesn't happen. And the fans would love it because everyone loves Dawson. So I'm gutted that was not coming through. Now, I'm going to ask you the question, but I'm going to give you my thoughts first. I keep getting asked who I think has had the best window of the January.
00:24:51
Josh Keech
Now i ah don't I don't think there's particularly many options out there but being one of our teams we've played against recently I do think Villa probably had the best of the window. I think that obviously they've signed three great attackers, one of them being one we were linked to as well of of a Rashford on loan. We spoke about if it was on loan it's something we'd think would be good because it's regardless it's someone else there that can can play well, play in various positions and one I think if it's alone, there's no harm in doing and it has ended up happening for Villa. We've jinxed it. So it seems to be everything we've said in January has happened. So i'm i'm um ah I just don't understand anymore why why we but but we just need to say that we're going to win the league and then it'll happen. but
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm not sure about that logic to be honest, mate. I wish that happened because I've been saying that a lot, especially in my dreams, us lifting the Premier League and it hasn't happened yet. So, I'll keep trying. The Rashford stuff, as a signing, as a player, I think it would be really good. Now, I think it's a really good move for him to go to Villa. The one thing that makes it difficult is the finances behind it. He's on such a lot of money. isn't It's about 300,000 a week, isn't it?
00:25:56
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when you're you're paying paying a player that much money, you you're basically just, because there's no one at West Ham who's on 300,000 pounds a week, nowhere near, probably not even on a third of that, barely,
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um saying that you would bring him in and and pay him that wages. Obviously, we probably wouldn't even have paid all of his wages, but we would have paid a lot of it. It's then the case of do we just like we've complained about with e and Evan Ferguson, don't have an option to buy, which means if he does do well, he's just gonna go back and if you try and buy him, he's gonna be absolutely extortionate money. Even if we did have an option to buy, let's say it was 40 million, which is I think is what it is at Aston Villa, you then sign him, you don't have to pay all of his wages because he's not gonna take a wage cut. So then we've signed a player who's on 300,000 miles a week for however long of a contract he's on.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
just to potentially them not succeed as well or not have the kind of long-term success that you think they might. And it's really difficult to gauge a player's ability from a alone than going on to sign them. and like It's not a guarantee that they're going to play as well as they did when they were alone.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
the finances behind it make it a really big risk. If he was willing to take a pay cut, then I would say i we should have definitely gone for it. But because he's probably not going to take a pay cut and you're not actually certain that he's going to be amazing, it's it's a risk. But I think Villa are in the position where you know with Champions League football and The the way that they have been competing so frequently in in European football or trying to get European places They are in the position to make that sort of a risk and I think we probably Should be in that position, but we just aren't right now.
00:27:22
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't think I'm ultimately that unhappy that it didn't happen
00:27:38
Josh Keech
that's That's fair enough.
Loan Moves & Market Caution
00:27:39
Josh Keech
i think I think you are right with the financial standpoint about why there's more hesitation and from the from a competitive point as well because if it's us versus Villa and who to go to, aside from the fact that Lingard's his mate, he's picking Villa because he can actually play some Champions League and there's always the joke of you know him going there and getting ah getting some kind of medal or trophy and then going back to Man United and getting all the boys to see what it looks like because they won't see one in a while.
00:28:02
Josh Keech
but for For the rare occasion, I might disagree with you about signing him on loan just a harmless loan. Now wage points I can see. But the whole point I think of one of the loans for us at the moment is more of the fact that we need some short term, we need some short term help. And Yeah, the 300k is the bit I do think is the sticking point. But if we're bringing someone in for interim help, it wouldn't matter. I wouldn't i wouldn't be worried if we... I'd be more bothered with Ferguson getting ah no option to buy than if we signed Rashford on just a harmless loan. And that that's pretty the way. is I think it's a harmless loan if we get him because yes, we're paying a bit of money. But if he if he gets the goals, happy days, he saved our season because we've got nothing else to celebrate apart from the fact we we can get 10th.
00:28:48
Josh Keech
But if we if if he does awful, then he he's gone anyway and everyone will know he's awful. But that's I do see the bit of kind of, I think it's going to be hard to pull the wallet out to spend money on someone who's nowhere near the quality they have been. So I do see that point too. But it's very rare that we have we have disagreeing or contrasting viewpoints. So I thought we may as well.
00:29:09
Josh Keech
Um, but yeah, it has been a weird one for us. And I do think there's, I think a lot of clubs have a bit of it scared. And I think genuine mobile scared to spend anyway. It's always in the summer when everyone's contracts tend to always run out, but, uh, but yeah.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I think especially with the, you know, the new PSR rules, it makes it so difficult to, most people want to spend big in the summer because it means that you've got the players for a whole season.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not many clubs have the sort of finances that allow them to spend big in January because if you've got the money, you're going to spend it in the summer.
00:29:34
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not going to save it until January.
00:29:38
Josh Keech
yeah
00:29:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't really make any sense unless you have a big sale in January, which has happened, but but not really so much recently.
00:29:47
Josh Keech
Yeah. And no one's buying because you're all these players you could do a big sign in January, but no one's buying because they don't want to spend money in January. So it's a, it is acquired to market. I do find, and I think we've seen that because it's not been as high as what I thought it would have been in terms of the moves. So yeah, it's one where I'm not, I'm not surprised we've not done much, but, uh, but yeah, I think maybe some, something in the defensive part, whether it's something we're lacking and hopefully that's something that can get addressed. I mean, I keep forgetting a word still exists. Um,
00:30:14
Josh Keech
Yeah, it's one of those we've got we've got players around and I do think it might be one where a youngster just deals that spot in the future to be honest But well, ah we'll see how it plays out for the rest of the ah but for the rest of the season really but I know we'll be be speaking next in a a future says about that the build up for our Brentford game and how we're gonna hopefully Try and have some points from them. But ah but yeah, I think that's everything I can summarize from the window
00:30:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, that Brentford game, I think, is really important for us. it If we are going to start to climb the table a little bit, we need to be beating the teams that are in and around mid-table. That's just what we have to do. and And Brentford are a really solid team, and attacking there are really strong. But I think defensively they are there to be got at. I really think they are. And if we're going to have any sort of intent about what we want to do this season, if we want to try and turn the form around. We need to be beating teams like this because if we can't beat Brentford, then how are we going to try and catch them in the table? You know, it's just it's a really good opportunity. So I'm quite optimistic and I'm excited about the game. We'll just have to wait and see. I think that's going to conclude today's episode of the Daily DSPM West Ham podcast. Thank you very much for joining me, Josh.
00:31:23
Josh Keech
Yeah, take care, everyone. Thank you for listening.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
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