According to a number of sources, we are close to finalising a deal to sign Jiménez on a one year loan deal with a provision to sign him permanently in 12 months time. If true, this looks like a clever piece of business: we get a player worth £7m without having to stump up the Euros, giving Straumar enough time to find a buyer both for the club and the player.
Most importantly, Jiménez is the attacking midfielder that we have been yearning for since the defection of Yossi. Two footed and fast of thought, "El Mago" should give us the guile that we have been missing in midfield, but his record to date does not suggest that he will actually fire the bullets himself. 32 career goals in over 150 games is not bad but early reports that this guy is an out and out forward are clearly as wide of the mark as a Luis Boa-Morte shot. We will still need a forward to play off of Cole or Ashton.
Is this where Sturridge and / or Caicedo fit in? The rumours connecting us to a move for one or the other are so persistent that I am beginning to believe them. I would love to see us sign both personally. Suddenly, with Behrami, Collison, Savio, Noble, Jiminez, Cole, Ashton, Sturridge and Caicedo, we would be blessed with attacking options. We would still need to sort out the right back berth and add defensive cover for both full back positions but an exciting squad would suddenly emerge almost overnight, at very little financial outlay.
It may not happen of course but, at the moment, things are looking promising. Who knows, somebody might even come in with a bid for Luis Boa-Morte!
17 comments:
finally, a blog that i am interested in reading. I don't see why you don't write most of them like these.
On the subject matter, i think Sturridge is best suited to the left wing as he has great pace, and possibly put Jimenez in the supporting role for Cole and Ashton, operating as that creative midfielder everyone wants. I think Caicedo is just too similar to Ashton in that he has strength and perhaps a good finish, and can use his left foot. If we sell Ashton and bring him in that wouldn't be bad but not both IMO. Stanislas on right wing, noble/parker/collison central midfield, bye bye Kovac, Behrami right wing back, Faubert replacement full back.
Im sure many will disagree as i may be wrong in some areas. I would also like to see Savio on loan somewhere, with Collins and Gabbidon tried in our friendly game against Napoli to see how it works out. (I'm not Welsh by the way)
Good reply. The blog site is intended to be a mix of news, comment, banter and satire. You won't like every article. Those you don't like, either ignore or criticise. However, you should keep in mind that not everybody has the same taste / sense of humour. Others enjoy the tongue in cheek posts.
What about Tomkins? Are you accepting the sale of Upson? If we sell him, we need to buy a quality replacement IMO. Can't see Behrami as the right back personally. I think that was tried and rejected. He offers a massive amount in midfield, if only due to his grafting and persistence. What about Collison?
He is a midfielder
That's what the article says!
being the only person in england who actually used to watch italian football on a regs, i can tell you that luis jiminez was a regular under title winning sides when roberto mancini was manager and is NOT a striker but an attacking midfielder "the wizard" is a decent player im sure you can check him out on you tube..........mind you faubert looks better than pele on that site , oh the magic of TV!!
DREWSKI
Hello! I said he is an attacking midfielder!
Yh i think Tomkins is tricky, thats why maybe rotate them around in the friendlies and first few PL matches. I think Upson must be off, nobody sells their home in essex to move somewhere else in Essex, they all look similar to me, plastic doors n windows. I think Behrami not at right back or right midfield but in-between, so he can operate as both as he has very good stamina and decent tackling i believe. That centre of midfield should be competitive, hopefully their will be an injury lol.Not sure if many youngsters from reserves will get an opportunity next season, don't see to be many great prospects talked of yet, Bondz n'gala? Josh Payne?
If any of the kids are good enough, Zola will play them. He seems to like them young!
15 June 2009 21:47
N'Gala, Payne, Kearns, Spence, Eyjolfsson, Stech, Bajner, Abdulla, Grasser and Montano
Sounds like an American baseball team doesn't it!
lol yh it does. to be honest i don't think players such as Eyjolfsson will make it as he was brought in under Curbs and ageing (i think). As for the others you may be onto something. We should actually, do what tottenham are doing and not submit a reserve team enxt season and send everyone out on loan. Could be alot more beneficial for West Ham than tottenham as we have a higher rate of academy players who make it.
I take that back hes only 18 lol
Well corrected. Think he might have been a fop to the Icelandic market however.
HF 21:29 Behrami didn't work at RB because he spent too much time covering for the hapless Neill... that equation will change somewhat so it is possible we could see him at RB in the 'new' formation
Gordon Zola
Gordon Zola, when Behrami played at right back, Lucash was over on the left so how could the one be covering for the other? I accept that, at times, Behrami lloked like an auxiliary RB because of the need to protect Neill.
You miss my point HF, now that LN is not here it is quite possible we will see Behrami in the RB position. When the two of them played on the same side of the field, even the once or twice Lucas came inside or central mid field Behrami spent most of his time covering. Now that LN is gone it is possible that Behrami could fill the RB pos
Gordon Zola
Lucas Neill may yet decide to accept our offer and stay. But overall I think the article is good and correct - it does seem that we are headed for an exciting time as West Ham fans.
As HF says we've done it on a shoe-string as well. Maybe by getting started early while everyone else is on holiday we've tied up deals that others have missed out on?
According to the press we are making 3 signings in the attacking areas so I wonder if we are keeping Dyer, Ashton and Cole? I hope so as it gives several options. I also hope we do not cash in on Upson! That would give us an unbelievably good squad.
Let's not forget that Behrami will take time to get fit and isn't due to be back training until September so he won't be a replacement right back.
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