ARTICLE | A Winter of discontent...leading to a Summer of foreboding

[stubbo]

Well with the Winter transfer window now closed, the squad finalised until season's end, and the equation understood of what remains of season 24/25, it's a good moment to take stock on where we find ourselves, and what is to come.

This Winter has seen a dramatic change at the Club after the great Summer of hope that we took into this season.  Lopetegui and his crew have been sent packing after 5 months of trying to get across to an unreceptive audience his philosophy.  It could be argued there were some mitigating circumstances, with an unsuited squad assembled by the 3 stooges (of which he was one), and challenges in communication freely admitted.

Post his departure it became clear all had not been well from as early as Pre-Season, with the season's preparations descibed to Roshane Thomas of the Athletic at the time by current playing squad members as a shambles, bust ups with key senior squad members, no discernible cohesion in the way the squad played, tactics that lurched from one extreme to the next and a general sense of confusion across the Club.

Finally Sullivan did the right thing, despite a points haul at that point that would have seen predecessors remain in post, performances and the sense of Team simply weren't improving, and what had been clear to many for months finally came to a head.

But this was to be no admission of a failure of appointment by Sullivan...focus turned to who the scapegoat would be for the debacle, and firmly in the sights were Tim Steidten. A divisive character who it's hard to know how to judge.  A tranfer guru not truly in charge of transfers, a Technical Director without authority for the football technicals, and an appointment Sullivan never truly believed in (with the claim it was foisted upon him by Kretinsky out there if you look).  But all the same, having hired his underqualified brother, failed to recruit in the way the Club or new coach needed, all whilst seeking to promote Tim Steidten at every opporunity.  Few will mourn the loss of the big German (although the loss of the Club structure his appointment appeared to herald...possibly a greater loss).

So onto January.  A new manager (listed as 'Head Coach', but clearly with all the powers of his pre-Lopetegui predecessors, having selected his own Head of Recruitment).  A manager we'd clearly been talking to for months....and yet come January, not the first sign of a recruitment plan in place with all the old failings pre-Steidten reintroduced.  Sullivan 'at the wheel', "Razzle Dazzle", false bids, low ball bids, scattergun bids....all played out in the media spotlight.

Leading in, clear deficiencies had been identified.  Lack of mobility in midfield.  A strikeforce that was merely in name, with one lucky to be alive, one severely broken, one obsolete, and the make shift cover with a snapped foot. A new manager that favours a back three with just three senior centre backs (one of of whom is a walking gift to the oppo, and one not fit properly since August).  Two goalies that with the ball at their feet are about as comfortable as an inflamed haemorrhoid.

So surely with that in mind, and a precarious position in the league, there would be a desire to support the new hire with early, quality reinforcements?  It soon transpired no...somewhere between an egotistical owner adverse to paying the going rate or understanding his own place in the football foodchain, the shortsightedness of sacking the combined head of recruitment AND chief negotiator, but not replacing the negotiator part, and the enlisting of "Sports X"...charged with bringing to the Club ready packaged 'deals' that just needed to be signed, and then never being happy with the terms or players presented, the Club would flail about hopelessly throughout January.  Sullivan at his worst.  Potter no doubt exasperated but presenting a united front the for new employers.  A squad ravaged by injury and no one through the door until last knockings.

And last knocking it was.  A talented young and pretty inexperienced striker with a recent record of being stuck in the treatment room, the last minute return of a player few were lauding in August when unceremoniously shifted out on loan, Four league fixtures and the FA Cup 3rd round completed...and just one win to show for them.  The King is dead, long live the King (although few will expect him to live a healthy well nourished 'West Ham' life in football terms).

But this is where all the waffle is leading to.  The sense of foreboding for the Summer to come....because far from it being darkest before dawn, and us having hit rock bottom from a recruitment perspective in January 2025...the next big storm is in the horizon....and it's a doozie!

To caveat this next bit...it assumes we retain our Premier League status.  With Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester all looking like poor advertisements for the Championship being the 6th Major league in Europe, and an upturn in performances if not results since the arrival of the studious Potter, it *should* be unthinkable that we fall through the trap door.  But with Moyes having picked up 3 wins in a row from a lacklustre Everton outfit, bogey team Brentford and title contenders Arsenal up next, and others just above us having strengthened, a few nervous glances over our shoulders by the time we play Everton in just over a month's time can't be ruled out.

So...the Summer.  Fuck.  Even now, the prospect looks beyond grim, with the squad arguably needing more surgery than ever.

Outs can be expected to be: Fabianski, Cresswell, Coufal, Rodriguez, Antonio, Ings, Soler and Ferguson as a minimum.  And that's before the discussions of Paqueta's court case, Irving and Guilherme's ability to make it in the league, Fullkrug's ability to contribute outside of German reality TV shows, Mavropanos' right to ever grace the Claret and Blue again, or Ward-Prowse, Soucek's and Alvarez's suitability to make it in Potter's midfield.

That's 16 of the current squad either nailed on to depart or with shadows over their suitability to be in the squad.  Eight almost nailed on departures from this season's playing staff. A further eight it could be argued need improving upon.

On top of which, our Summer spending has already commenced with the compulsory purchase of Todibo.

So if we assume that Paqueta goes in our favour, Irving remains as a makeweight alongside JWP, and that Fullkrug, Soucek, and Mavropanos remain as key squad members...we've got a fuck-tonne to do:

1 x Starting GK (Replacing Fabianski)
2 x Senior Centre Back (including Todibo's purchase and replacement of Cresswell)
1 x Starting Central Midfielders (Replacing Rodriguez)
1 x First Choice Strikers (Replacing Ferguson)
1 x Backup striker (Replacing Antonio)
2 x First Team Attacking Midfielder (Replacing Soler, and assumign Guilherme departs on loan)
1 x Utility Defender (replacing Coufal)

But the reality is we know that JWP + Irving + Soucek + Alvarez does not form the basis of the midfield we need. So surgery is needed there too.

And how much do we expect to be added to the coffers by the departure of all our beloved but battle weary squaddies?  Precisely zero.

And how much will we have to spend is anyone's guess, but the Declan Rice windfall is long since frittered.  The chances of high profile rich suitors for Kudus...bleak.  And realistically £150m of spending required (including Todibo) to do little more than stand still, assuming just £15m average per player.

So next Summer presents a problem.  Sullivan at the transfer wheel.  Brady in the background 'advising'.  Kretin(sky) firing postmen.  No lure of European football.  No saleable assets of note.  And potentially the loss of our Brazilian Magnifico to Johnny Law.

Another fine mess you have got us in David.  Bring out the clowns.
 

[stubbo]

What a fucking boring echo chamber this site has become with the the likes of Stubbo and Sir Alf droning on ad nauseum adding the square root of fuck all to anyones comprehension of what is happening to the team. 
You both seem to regard yourselves as experts when it comes to all matters concerning WHU. Well let me tell you you’re not and very far from it. The pair of you are every bit as boring as the cunts on KUMB.  Shame on you. At least Vexed makes me laugh occasionally. 

Do enlighten us! What IS going on with the team? 

[Gank]

Angry Old Iron!

[Any Old Iron]

What a fucking boring echo chamber this site has become with the the likes of Stubbo and Sir Alf droning on ad nauseum adding the square root of fuck all to anyones comprehension of what is happening to the team. 
You both seem to regard yourselves as experts when it comes to all matters concerning WHU. Well let me tell you you’re not and very far from it. The pair of you are every bit as boring as the cunts on KUMB.  Shame on you. At least Vexed makes me laugh occasionally. 

[Gank]

What, any player?

[goose]

No way should we be spending £40m on a player, nor should we be buying players from Manchester United.

[Gank]

I see media reports are saying we’ve identified Hojlund for £40m in the summer.

I’m not sure how to feel about that. Been a flop in a Manchester United team where none of the big money players have been any good at all, but he’s young and commanded a bigger fee at a different club, could just be in the wrong environment. Definitely a player in there but at £40million that’s a much bigger risk for us than for many other clubs - like Manchester United.

[LJC]

I see media reports are saying we’ve identified Hojlund for £40m in the summer.

[Sir Alf]

Its true results have yet to improve markedly. It depends on whether we value better performances as a pre cursor to better results. And how big an impact the injuries are having or had  on his first 4 league games. 

[Gank]

Well, the simple fact is that though our performances under Potter are better the results have stayed the same and we are still conceding two goals a game. To be fair to Potter as long as he keeps us clear from the relegation zone this season us fans will put up with it as long as we don’t get rag dolled.

So we await the home game against Brentford. I am confident we won’t be played off the park and at the same time aware that we are playing a side that has already scored 42 goals this season ( 5th highest in the EPL ). Will we outscore them because we are unlikely to keep a clean sheet?

Whilst that is true, you could have also used that as an argument for not sacking Lopetegui.

[Lee Trundle]

The performances will eventually yield the results, I reckon.  Our squad is decimated as well, you have to remember.

We've not looked like we're going to get tonked 5-0 under him so far, compared to the last two previous managers.  That's a huge improvement.

[,]

Well, the simple fact is that though our performances under Potter are better the results have stayed the same and we are still conceding two goals a game. To be fair to Potter as long as he keeps us clear from the relegation zone this season us fans will put up with it as long as we don’t get rag dolled.

So we await the home game against Brentford. I am confident we won’t be played off the park and at the same time aware that we are playing a side that has already scored 42 goals this season ( 5th highest in the EPL ). Will we outscore them because we are unlikely to keep a clean sheet?

[Sir Alf]

No surprise I agree with you on the example of Gibbs White and Rodgers. Exactly what we are missing. Someone or two that can cover the ground at speed and with strength. We never replaced Rice properly. Alvarez is a decent player but he needs someone like the 2 you mention alongside because he aint the quickest. 

The player we were linked with, Banzuzi?, looks to have the correct profile or at least according to reports. There is rumour that he’s lined up for a summer move? 

[Manuel]

Not read the article yet, but is Soler a plodder, I still can't work him out? If he is then send him back. With JWP back, Soucek, Rodders etc we have far too many of that type already here, even Orford looks like a sideways backwards merchant. We desperately need some dynamism/legs in midfield, somebody like Gibbs-White, Morgan at Villa. 

[LJC]

We signed Josh Landers from Hibs - 17.
We’ve apparently agreed personal terms with Daniel Cummings who is out of contract in the summer from Celtic (offered a new contract) - 18. We’ve apparently offered over the odds to get him this winter but Brendan chucked his toys out of the pram at his agent. Big backing from Noble on this one.

Potter gave Ferguson his debut at 18.

[Mad Dog]

Also the article negates the fact that we're
bringing some youth through 
Scarles, Orford, casey.  Not to mention potts and the other loanees.  Didnt we get some Scottish lad on a premier contract thingy?

[Mad Dog]

I'm starting to quite like soler

[Rusta]

Thing is it feels like we have pretty much been in this situation for most seasons that I remember lol 

[Sir Alf]

The one thing we have spent on is CBs and midgiekd but yet to have a midfield with pace, athleticism, strength. A couple of quality additions in that area will transform us imho. Yes we need other areas improved but we are desperate for “legs” since Rice went. He was a big reason we did so well early doors under Moyes for 18 months and we have missed a player of his profile that can “eat up the ground” as they say. In fact, we stumbled upon Rice via the academy as he was actually a CB as a youth.  He’s been the only player we’ve had like that since Benrahmi? In a Potter system they are essential and we need 2 of the same type ideally.  

Benzuzi ? allegedly lined up for summer for that role? A beast, real engine according to stuff written about him when he was listed as an interest we had early in this last window. Get this area correct and Imo our scope for improving league position next season grows exponentially. 

[LJC]

Squad '25/26 could look a bit like....

GK: New GK, Areola, Foderingham
RWB: Summerville, AWB
LWB: Emerson, Scarles
CB: Kilman, Todibo, Aguerd, Mavro, Casey, (AWB)
CM: Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, New CM, Orford, Potts
AM: Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, New AM, Earthy, Guilherme
FW: New CF, Fullkrug, Antonio?, Cummings
Utility: Soler, New DF.

If that's what we went in with next season, assuming the new players were capable, would that be enough?

Feels like a 10th - 12th level squad.

​​​​​

 

Surely that depends on who/how good the new players are? Add to that how the rest of the players and youth perform over the remainder of the season.

What I do know is that we have a manager who has massively improved performances and is starting to connect to the fan base. He is also not scared to use youth so he is already a marked improvement.

When you look to the summer I guess you have to look at what went on in this window with Potter vetoing an aging striker and going after a youth from Scotland that Noble had been behind. Shows how he wants to work.

if we have pre agreements with both Gomes and Cummings then that will have a positive effect on the war chest.

There is always the hope of a takeover… or…

[RootsRadical]

Can't believe we didn't sign a CB, sounds like we didn't even try. 
IF your going to play with 3 CB then you need at least 4 in the squad. Even if you play with 2 CB you still need 4.
We started the season with just these 3 which I thought was odd, it's cost us a lot of points and it has transpired that Todibo has barely been available and Mavropanos is an even liability than he was last season.
Madness that we had a chance to address this and we didn't bother.

What's the master plan if Kilman gets injured?

[stubbo]

Feels like a 10th - 12th level squad.

​​​​​
 

 

I don't disagree on the whole, but surely Potters job is to make the squad greater than the sum of its parts? Something which I think he is very capable of doing. 

Personally I think that Kudus will be sold in the summer to bring in new recruits in other areas. 
When Bowen isn't playing the strikers role, Kudus is going to either be on the bench. or playing in a position which doesn't particularly suit him or add the greatest value to the team.
That's assuming we actually buy a proper striker...

I don't disagree. Only thing is I dont think Kudus will bankroll a spending spree unless he hits form over the next 3 months, and that might mean we choose not to sell.

[pulhampete]

Feels like a 10th - 12th level squad.

​​​​​
 

 

 

I don't disagree on the whole, but surely Potters job is to make the squad greater than the sum of its parts? Something which I think he is very capable of doing. 

Personally I think that Kudus will be sold in the summer to bring in new recruits in other areas. 
When Bowen isn't playing the strikers role, Kudus is going to either be on the bench. or playing in a position which doesn't particularly suit him or add the greatest value to the team.
That's assuming we actually buy a proper striker...

[stubbo]

Squad '25/26 could look a bit like....

GK: New GK, Areola, Foderingham
RWB: Summerville, AWB
LWB: Emerson, Scarles
CB: Kilman, Todibo, Aguerd, Mavro, Casey, (AWB)
CM: Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, New CM, Orford, Potts
AM: Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, New AM, Earthy, Guilherme
FW: New CF, Fullkrug, Antonio?, Cummings
Utility: Soler, New DF.

If that's what we went in with next season, assuming the new players were capable, would that be enough?

Feels like a 10th - 12th level squad.

​​​​​
 

[stubbo]

I reckon Solero has a good end to the season, and we sign him permanently.

Quote possibly. But he's still an 'out' that then needs to become an 'in' as part of spend was the point. 

€20m I believe is the agreed fee.

[Mad Ferret]

I reckon Solero has a good end to the season, and we sign him permanently.