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This season has been one of disappointment in general at West Ham United, but perhaps even more so for one player in particular in goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The Manchester City man joined on loan in the summer with hopes of consolidating his place as England’s number one ahead of the World Cup in Russia, with the Hammers content to pay half of his £120,000 per week wages.
Instead, it hasn’t all gone according to plan. The goalkeeper has consistently made mistakes and on more than one occasion has been benched by David Moyes as the Scotsman has shown that he clearly feels he can’t rely on the loanee.
Now, say that the Irons have turned down the opportunity to make that loan move permanent and will also allow second choice goalkeeper Adrian to depart before his contract expires next summer.
That means that whoever is in charge, which remains unclear with uncertainty over Moyes’ future in the dugout as his contract expires at the end of the season, is clearly looking to start from scratch between the sticks.
In truth, that has seemed an inevitable truth for some time now. Joe Hart’s high wages and inconsistent and unreliable form mean that he is a risk not worth taking for West Ham, and seemingly most Premier League clubs, this summer.
The World Cup in Russia looks like it will be Hart’s England bow and whilst his experience can be valued, it is nowhere near worth the investment that his wages would mean for a club in the bottom half of the league.
As an alternative, Adrian’s days have been numbered ever since Hart’s arrival proved that he was not trusted.
Change is on the horizon for West Ham, and that starts by building out from the back.