It’s a big word, “if”. But just for a second, suppose West Ham had taken different decisions in the summer regarding several loanees now banished for a season away from the club: Compared with the current incumbents, there is a greater strength in depth still contracted to the Hammers who could have save them a fortune in the January window, IF Lopetegui had acted differently during August.
As we sit and digest the news that Max Kilman may be out against Liverpool and West Ham now have just two fit centre backs, it irks me that Nayef Aguerd was kicked out on loan to Real Sociedad on deadline day last Summer. He has re-launched his career and would dearly love to stay in Spain. Credit to him after being ignored by successive Hammers managers. But – how much better would the squad look now with Aguerd as the fourth centre back.
James Ward-Prowse was never a favourite of mine but banishing him to Nottingham Forest on deadline day simply to accommodate Carlos Soler looks a dreadful decision in hindsight. The £30 million man might not have been the most dynamic but he makes Guido Rodriguez look like a traffic cone by comparison.
George Earthy should be in the senior Hammers squad.
The decisions that most irk our readers – according to comments made – were to send George Earthy and Freddie Potts out on season-long loans. Earthy certainly was ready to continue his Premier League career and how he is needed now with Paquetá a shadow of his former self, Soucek and Rodriguez suspended and Soler injured. Potts, also, is getting rave reviews and should be racking up the Premier League minutes in midfield.
With these four still in the squad, there’d not be the need to spend cash on bolstering the midfield or back line. West Ham could have a decent budget for just one acquisition of a quality striker in the January window: These loaned players are already owned by the Hammers and bar some shortsighted knee-jerk decisions to bring in overseas players of dubious quality, Lopetegui would have committed, young ( in the case of Earthy and Potts) and ambitious players at his disposal without having had to pay a penny.
