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There were an awful lot of West Ham fans left disappointed by the lack of activity in the recent January transfer window – and very vocal in sharing their feelings across social media. Although it’s also fair to say for those of us with reasonable memory it wasn’t totally unexpected.

What’s that old saying - ‘A fool and their money are soon parted’ – and like him or loathe him (I wont ask for a vote on it) David Sullivan is certainly no fool, and as we all know only too well he hates parting with his money!




So the events – or maybe it should be non-events of January – were pretty much par for the course at this time of the year. In reality, there were only two ‘deals’ which directly affected the first team.

Firstly, the return of James Ward-Prowse from a loan deal at Nottingham Forest. A no-brainer really. I don’t believe JWP should have been allowed to leave in the first place – and probably wouldn’t have if current Head Coach Graham Potter had been in charge.

A fact clearly illustrated by Potter’s comments on Ward-Prowse’s return. “He is very popular around the dressing room and around the club,” said the Head Coach. “He knows how to act and how to be.” High praise from someone who is clearly intent on rebuilding the camaraderie, team spirit and togetherness of the Moyes years.

By and large JWP’S return was welcomed by the fanbase. While the second major arrival in the window, the acquisition of Evan Ferguson, was actually met with a degree of criticism in some quarters.

Not so much the fact that Potter had brought in a young striker to boost our depleted front line. We could all see we needed to fill the void left by the absence of Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug – but some were questioning the nature and detail of the deal itself. A straight loan, with apparently no option to buy.

The criticism being we would be giving game time and opportunity to a player who had suffered a tough time with injury recently. Nursing him back to form and full fitness which could ultimately benefit his parent club who would be free to recall him at the end of the loan. In other words, us doing the dirty work with nothing to show for it at the end.

It's obviously a scenario Potter would have considered carefully. He knows the player. He knows his ability – and he’s also well aware of what West Ham’s need is right here and now. The will he sign, won’t he sign saga seemed to drag on and on.

Potter was always convinced the big Irishman was his top target, the problem was West Ham’s reluctance to commit to a written obligation to buy at the end of the loan period. In truth not an unreasonable position to take given Ferguson’s injury problems. Imagine the furore if we’d splashed the cash up front and ended up with another sick-note on the books.




In the end it appears it was Ferguson’s own desire to reunite with Potter which eventually pushed through an acceptable compromise, much to Potter’s obvious satisfaction. “I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Evan in on loan,” he said.

“He’s a player we obviously know very well. He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.” In other words he believes the youngster can do a job for him and for us. That’s good enough for me.

It is the coming months that will concentrate Potter’s mind most. A strong showing in the remainder of the current season will be essential in putting the Head Coach in a strong position to reshape and rebuild in his own style come the summer.

We were of course linked with a number of what were claimed to be alternative striking options – mostly overseas players it has to be said. There were those who would have preferred seeing one of those ‘names’ brought in.

But were any really on Potter’s shopping list? Or merely banded about as click bait? We’re constantly being told money is tight. Forget the ‘ghost’ £50m plus offer we were said to have made for Jhon Duran. Was that ever a genuine possibility? I doubt it.

Reading between the lines, Ferguson was always the player Potter had set his sights on. Now the trick is to keep him fit and use him to best effect. I have no doubt Graham Potter is more than capable of achieving the latter. He might just need a sprinkle of helpful magic from namesake Harry with the first.

No different really to so many other managers right now with their fingers firmly crossed around player fitness. You only need to cast a glance across at north London to see a manager bemoaning his luck with injuries. Not that I have any sympathy with Ange on that score?

We eagerly wait to see in what way Ferguson and JWP will be used by Potter this coming Saturday against Brentford. 3 points is the obvious goal against a club who have been something of a nemesis to us in recent years. Simply by being available, an option to the Head Coach, has to place us in a far better position than we have been recently. That in itself is reason for encouragement.

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