Reflecting on a critical January
As the dust settles on another January transfer window, it is time to reflect on whether West Ham have done enough to secure our Premier League status. We opened the month aggressively, securing two forwards in Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe. Both were heavily pushed for by the manager, and the early signs are promising. Their work rate has injected much-needed energy into a front line that had become stagnant.
Crucially, we also retained the experience of Callum Wilson; his value as an elite option from the bench was proven during that vital win away at Tottenham. To facilitate these arrivals, we sanctioned Niclas Füllkrug’s loan to AC Milan. It is fair to say his time in east London will be filed under the ever-growing list of “forward disasters” overseen by the current ownership. While the long-term quality of our new duo remains to be seen, their raw enthusiasm has already made us a more potent attacking threat.
Defensive reinforcements and Traore’s return
Beyond the front line, the priority was always a centre-back. It took until the eleventh hour, but we eventually secured Chelsea’s Axel Disasi. While some rival fans have been quick to mock the signing, we are talking about a French international who has played in a World Cup final. He is aggressive, powerful, and dominant in the air – attributes we have sorely lacked. Fitness is the primary concern given his recent lack of minutes, but if he is sharp, he will be a vital addition, especially with Jean-Clair Todibo’s looming suspension.
The manager also got his wish with Adama Traoré. Having worked with him at Wolves, Nuno has long been an admirer. Traoré offers a terrifying counter-attacking outlet that should, in theory, create more space for Jarrod Bowen to exploit. We also added young Venezuelan winger Lamadrid, though he is viewed as a project for the Academy rather than an immediate fix.
The reality of the outgoings
However, I cannot ignore the numbers. In the midst of a relegation battle, we have signed just four first-team players while allowing a significant number to depart. It is staggering to think that the club actually turned a profit this January while fighting for survival. Looking at the outgoings, most were necessary. The headline departure was Lucas Paquetá.
In truth, he hasn’t been the same player for some time. We will always have that ball in Prague, but lately, those moments of magic have been replaced by inconsistency, petulance, and a tendency to give the ball away. The final straw for me was his conduct during the Liverpool game, right after the passing of club legend Billy Bonds. He made it about himself, and his display cost the team. The dressing room spirit will likely be much healthier without him.
Balancing the books versus survival
Elsewhere, Andy Irving’s departure won’t be felt on the pitch, and James Ward-Prowse’s exit was inevitable given his lack of minutes under Nuno. It was a surprise to see him go to a rival like Burnley, but they are far enough behind that it shouldn’t haunt us. We also saw bright sparks George Earthy and Callum Marshall go out on loan; while I rate both, they need the senior minutes we simply can’t guarantee right now.
The Brazilian winger Guilherme also moved on – a bizarre transfer that resulted in a financial loss. While he didn’t get a fair crack of the whip, Traoré is a far more reliable option for a survival scrap. The most surprising exit, however, was Guido Rodríguez. He had finally started to show his quality in the wins over Spurs and QPR, but when Valencia offered a permanent deal, the club chose to clear his wages. I fear we may miss his stability when trying to close out tight games.
The final verdict on the squad
When you weigh it all up, I am concerned that we haven’t quite done enough. I still believe the squad is a centre-back and a creative midfielder short. If we stay up, this window will be seen as a masterclass in balancing the books while addressing key areas. If we go down without a fight, we will look back at that January profit with immense regret.
On our Patreon, we exclusively revealed every arrival and departure before any other platform. We pride ourselves on breaking the news first and would love for Blowing Bubbles readers to join our community. We are also delighted to announce the return of our pre-match events at the newly improved Colour Factory in Hackney Wick.
Our next event is ahead of the Bournemouth match on 21st February (1:30pm – 4:30pm), hosted by Martyn Allen with special guests James Collins and Julian Dicks. With drinks at £5, it’s the best matchday build-up in east London.
Tickets are available here: https://t.co/mhATlnW32i
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