SIX worthwhile signings when managing West Ham on FM15
Anyone who plays Football Manager will know that managing West Ham can be a stressful task.
Over the years us Hammers fans have had to put up with a starting transfer budget of zero and players that are down right average on the game compared to real life. But this season’s version of the game offers us a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
You start off with around £3million to spend if you set a realistic target of achieving a mid-table finish in your first season, but you can push that to around £4million if you tell the board you can finish in the top six, which is risky business.
So although £3million isn’t a lot of money in Football Manager terms, there are still a number of top bargains to be had to ensure you get off to the best possible start to your virtual managerial career at the Boleyn Ground.
And if you can sell a few fringe players, as well as the likes of Matty Jarvis – who can fetch about £5m – there’s scope to bring in some quality to go alongside the lot you already start with.
So here’s SIX players you should definitely consider signing for the Hammers on Football Manager 15…
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Federico Bonazzoli
Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho are goal machines when used in the correct system. You get Andy Carroll back from injury during later October, early November but you’ll find you won’t want to use him if both Valencia and Sakho are scoring the goals. In that case, Carroll is without a doubt going to get annoyed and will push for a move in January.
Should you decide to cash in then you’re still going to need to a decent and affordable back up and, regrettably, Carlton Cole is not that man.
Step forward Federico Bonazzoli. The 17-year-old can be got for around £1million at the start of the game and will provide decent back up to the strikers. He’s mostly one for the future though, so you could always bring him in and loan him back out if you do have plans for Carroll.
Itumeleng Khune
Unfortunately Adrian just isn’t at the standard you’d hope he would be on the game, so it’s worthwhile making a goalkeeper a priority as soon as your get your feet under your desk.
The cost of some keepers on the game a pretty ridiculous and you’ll find it hard to get a well known keeper for less than six or seven million quid, which you just haven’t got.
Fortunately there’s South African stopper Itumeleng Khune, who can be got for less than £1million and will do the job for you between the sticks without any problems.
Luis Pedro Cavanda
Like it or not, Joey O’Brien and Guy Demel aren’t exactly up to scratch on the game. You’re going to need back up at both right-back and left-back, particularly with Carl Jenkinson only being on loan and pretty injury prone.
Cavanda is believed to be one of the best bargains on the game this year and is both transfer listed and available for loan from the word go, so you can get him for practically nothing and you’d be silly not take up the chance to make him a Hammer.
Pablo Sarabia
The Getafe winger can be a bit of a gamble, but he’s a better option that Matty Jarvis and will provide decent cover during injuries.
He’s technically good, but his pace let’s him down a little so bringing him as a first-team winger would be one hell of a gamble – although there’s no reason why it’s be a gamble worth taking.
Pavel Savitsky
Savitsky is available on a free at the beginning and he has everything about him
You have few natural left wingers so we would suggest bringing in a couple more to strengthen that area. In terms of building for the future you can approach Savitsky on a free and he has all the attributes to become a top inside forward.
He’s one for the future, so be patient. But a front line of him, Valencia and Sakho has the potential to be pretty lethal a couple of seasons down the line.
Cedric Soares
Another very good player to bring in to cover your wing-backs and perhaps slot in as a first-teamer when Jenkinson heads back to Arsenal at the end of the first season.
And he’s cheap – you can get for about £600k at the start of the game. Which is a snip when you consider you haven’t got a lot in the bank in the first place.