Thursday 16 April 2009

No To Cavani May Mean No To Progress.


I have no idea how good the guy is, but Nani describes the Uruguayan Cavani as a "great player". However, it seems that £14.2 million to sign him is "too expensive".

Now this could be read in one of two ways. Maybe this "great player" is not worth as much as the less than great Bellyache. Maybe we have looked at him and thought, no there is better value available elsewhere. If we are saying, good player but not good value at that price, we can do better, then fair enough. Maybe this is a bit of haggling on the part of both clubs?

However, it could also be that £14.2m is "too expensive" full stop. Possibly this sort of outlay is beyond our current means. If that is the case, then we need to be worried. Without the addition of 3 quality players, we are not going to compete with the top 6 or 7 next season. Villa, City and Tottenham will all be getting out the cheque book in the summer and Everton will strengthen. We have to invest to stand still, never mind progress. If the Board are saying we cannot afford to pay £14m, irrespective of the ability of the player, then we are going to struggle.

Zola will be watching this situation closely. He will know that the current squad is not good enough and will be looking for the Board to make good promises to fund his "project". If we are going to balk at a fee that Tottenham were happy to pay for several players LAST summer, then it is hard to see how Zola can expect to compete.

9 comments:

Scott said...

You've put far too much importance on just a silly rumour.
Your point is more about principle I understand though, and if we can't afford to spend £14.2m on a player then we aren't going to be able to compete with the teams around us.
I disagree though, he will have a budget that he will need to juggle and he might decide that he can bring in a striker for £10m good enough to fit in with our current stuad and leave him enough funds to strengthen elsewhere.

Hammersfan said...

Scott, I agree. We have to wait and see. I am speculating but Upson will be watching the situation and thinking, "We got £14m for Bellamy so why haven't we got £14m for his replacement?" Interesting times!

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure we're saying we haven't got £14 million to spend, I think they're possibly saying we don't want to spend that kind of money all on one player, which is fair enough.

£14 million spread on 3 players would be good money and some quality players could be brought in for that if spent wisely

Scott said...

Well not necessarily Hammerfan, but I see your point. We've needed a clearout for a long time, since the last one a year or so ago too!
We did buy Savio remember, so maybe next season, with a full pre-season under his belt, with a fit Dyer, Ashton and Cole, things will look different on the attacking front. Certainly we need better replacements than DDM and Tristan though.

Scott said...

I mean not necessarily in regards to Upson looking at the situation as I also believe that the Upson rumours have been blown out or proportion. He wants to progress with West Ham, if we finish 7th he won't leave as it'll be steady progress and something to build on. So I'm sure he will see the progress despite no direct replacement for Bellamy.

Anonymous said...

Hope you are right mate. I wonder if a deal was agreed in January. Stick with us until the end of the season, then if Wenger wants you, we wont stand in your way.

Hotshot C said...

I do think its worrying if he the club can't spend that amount on a top striker - and we really need two top strikers to come into the team (if nothing else), Ok savio was brought in for 4 mill, but that money was easily covered by ferdinand, mcartney, ethrington etc, bellamy another 12 mill (and another 8 mil left over from the above mentioned), that's 20 million - enought for two decent strikers found by a wheeler and dealer like Nani.......But knowing the hammers they'll buy 4 average players.... Look at the spuds, pav, defoe, bent, keane - four very decent strikers!

Anonymous said...

This site seems full of misfits and pervs, think I might sign up....Gary G

Hammersfan said...

Is that right Gary. Would you care to explain?