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Would Scott Hogan improve the current West Ham side?

By Scott Johnson

Dec 4, 2015; Cary, NC, USA; Rutgers goalkeeper Casey Murphy (23) on the ground as the ball is in the back of the net in the first half at WakeMed Soccer Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Cary, NC, USA; Rutgers goalkeeper Casey Murphy (23) on the ground as the ball is in the back of the net in the first half at WakeMed Soccer Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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West Ham’s search for a striker looks no closer to being resolved. But there does seem to be some movement for Scott Hogan. Is he good enough for the club?

When the board first started talking about signing a striker, they went a little bit heavy. There was a lot of talk about current Champions Leauge strikers, and players who were going to be firing West Ham into the top four. The result? Calleri and Zaza. Not exactly the answer to all of our problems.

So when the news came out that the board were hunting Championship striker Scott Hogan, I had mixed feelings. Yes this was a gettable target. But was it going to change the face of the club? Would the Claret and Blue army suddenly be Champions League contenders?

Scott Hogan

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It’s always hard once you’ve raised expectations. West Ham’s fans were told that the board were after big targets, so when it emerges that a Championship striker is the one closest to joining, of course they’re not going to be happy.

However Scott Hogan certainly isn’t a poor player. He is a natural finisher and is very willing to run beyond the line of defence to get in. This would be a new attribute to our attack, because currently we only play in front of their defence. If you suddenly have to contend with a dangerous player willing to get in behind it’s a worry.

But having not played in the Premier League, his ability to adapt is a worry. To be honest, I’d rather take a Championship player with his record than a Ligue 1 or La Liga player, as the defences there are more comparable to the EPL style.

At the end of it all, the only way the fans will be happy is if the player end up with a hatful of goals.

My opinion

It’s going to be hard, but Scott Hogan looks a nice finisher. If he can step up then West Ham will improve, because there’s no-one in the squad quite like him. Jermain Defoe is obviously proven in the Premier League, but until you get a chance how can you prove yourself?

Next: What Can West Ham learn from Spurs?

If the club do end up signing him, as it’s looking increasingly likely, the fans need to get behind it. It’s a huge move for the young Englishman, but we’ve seen a few lower league prospects do well in recent seasons. Jamie Vardy? Dele Alli? It’d be nice to unearth the next one.