Hammers Look to Have Dodged Another Bullet

West Ham wasted a large part of last season's Summer transfer market trying to lure Colombian striker Carlos Bacca to the Olympic Stadium. Their efforts proved in vain as Bacca repeatedly snubbed the club and seemed to be manipulating for a better position at AC Milan, where he ultimately remained.

 

Then, as West Ham floundered in the early part of the season, Bacca hit fine goalscoring form and it seemed that the Londoners had missed out on a big opportunity to finally push on to the next level. However, things have turned sour as despite scoring the goal of the month for January with a delightful strike against Juventus in the Cup, Bacca has scored only once in open play in the League since last September.

 

His relationship with coach Vincenzo Montella has deteriorated as Bacca comes under increasing criticism for his 'lazy' style as he is a classic striker who operates almost exclusively off the shoulder of the opposing defence or inside the penalty box, contributing almost negligibly to other aspects of play - an attribute that would be unpopular in the all-action Premiership!

 

Bacca has only completed three games out of seventeen, and appears to be dropping down the pecking order at Milan after yet another bust up with the coach as he was substituted at the weekend. Hammers fans had better brace themselves for another will he-won't he centering upon Bacca come Summertime, but given his style and attitude perhaps they need to look for a younger talent as he will be 31 years old come the start of next season.