Bargain Loan Signing, Excessive Weekly Wage; João Mario Is No Solution To West Ham's Attacking Deficiencies.

West Ham might have improved substantial under David Moyes who has restored a measure of solidity to the Hammers defence having recalled Adrian in favour of Joe Hart in goal . With the side now 11th in the table (five points above relegation); it is logically that Moyes is supported in the current winter transfer .

Though he has shown some flashes of talent, it is shocking that West Ham are signing João Mario on loan from Inter. With his fee at £1.3m, it is a bargain in the current inflated transfer market ; yet what is mind blowing is that the Hammers will pay his weekly wages of £137,500. Signed by Inter after an impressive Euro in 2016 where he played all games as Portugal won the tournament, the former Sporting Lisbon attacker has been inconsistent in Seria A scoring only three goals in 44 league games. Good in set-piece as well as dribbling; Mario's inability to finish off moves and weak tackling means he is sometimes  a liability in both defence and offence.

In East London, Moyes is not a manager who favours flair players or creative players as he loves players with physical talents (tough tackling , shooting, aerial duels to mention but a few) which is the reason he plays attacking midfielder Marko Arnautovic as a false 9 as well as starting three defensive minded players as central midfielders (Mark Nobel, Pedro Obiang and Cheik Kuoyate). In a 3-5-2 formation where three central defenders are started and two wing backs (Zabaleta and Masuaku), it is puzzling where exactly Mario will play considering he is a right attacking forward or a central attacking midfielder; two positions Moyes play defensive minded players . With Lanzini in hot form at the moment and improving every game, it is unlikely Mario will start ahead of the Argentine .

Make no mistake, João Mario is no flop, but in David Moyes he is the wrong player for such a manager. Mario excels in a team that he has little or no defensive responsibility where he can use his pace and trickery to unlock defences, creating big chances; a responsibility he carried out perfectly while with the national team . At Inter, Croatian  Marcelo Brozovic starts ahead of him coupled with the signing of Rafinha from Barcelona some days ago which complicates his problem having fallen out of favour with Luciano Spalletti.

Earning in excess wages around £137,000 is not an easy baggage for a side like West Ham who are struggling to offload the likes of Dede Ayew, Sahko Diafra and Chicharito to mention but a few. West Ham seems to be fixing a square peg in a round hole with the signing of the Portuguese who has started only five games for Inter  as well as nine substitute appearances with three assists  in the League) but time will tell.