West Ham United boss David Moyes failed to sign a new striker in the January transfer window.
As a result, the Hammers are stuck with Michail Antonio as our only option through the middle between now and the end of the season.
Read also: Report claims West Ham are chasing ‘exceptional’ £14m ace but he’s in talks over new deal
As good as the 31-year-old has been for West Ham over the past 18 months, he cannot be expected to keep producing the goods on a consistent basis when he has zero competition or cover.
Antonio’s forum has dipped badly over the past few months and as a result, the Hammers have slid down the Premier League table.
Moyes continues to flog a dead horse with Micky though. Not only is he suffering from a lack of confidence and is obviously badly fatigued but it could also be argued that he has been found out this season.
Failing to sign a top-class striker in January may well cost West Ham dearly this season. We will almost certainly not finish inside the top four as a result of our failure to strengthen up front. Even a top six finish seems unlikely at the moment.
And there is a bitter irony to the Hammers’ embarrassing current situation…
Moyes striker decision could cost West Ham
David Moyes possesses a really admirable trait.
He will not sign anyone for the sake of it, and that makes a welcome change from some of the managers we have had previously at West Ham.
However, there is a huge problem with that approach.
Let’s assume that Moyes was backed to bring in the players he wanted – has has said many times that that was the case.
The Scot also insisted on numerous occasions that January is a hard month to strengthen and that he prefers to wait until the summer to do so.
Let’s be real though, plenty of other clubs managed to get the signings they needed.
In January, West Ham had a great opportunity to attract a truly elite striker. We were sitting inside the top four and generally were in a very strong position, especially midway through the month.
Because of our failure to strengthen our centre-forward ranks though, we have already begun to struggle and are now sitting in fifth spot in the table.
Every team in and around West Ham in the Premier League table have numerous games in hand over us.
The Hammers boss didn’t buy a striker in January in order to ‘wait for the right one in the summer’. But, chances are that because we didn’t strengthen in January, we may not get European football, and therefore not get that top striker.
How ironic is that! And the fact that Moyes either didn’t realise that or didn’t consider it could end up costing West Ham United dearly.
Football clubs always need to strengthen when they are in a position of strength. It makes things so much easier.
The Hammers may well have missed the boat to do just that in January. Hopefully we are wrong and Moyes manages to guide us to a top four or even top six finish.
At the moment though, things are met looking good. And Moyes’s failure to sign a striker in January could very well come back to haunt us for a very long time to come.
Read also:
Report: Club are now demanding £40 million from West Ham for ‘brilliant’ 20-year-old
Moyes must be ruthless and sell £17.6m West Ham man after ridiculous contract demands
Insider claims West Ham will try to replace 2020 summer signing before next season
Moyes must replace £4m West Ham man in the summer after succession of costly mistakes
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
