West Ham United were maimed, marginalised and mutilated by Manchester City who thrashed them 5-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday. Their league form has been miserable too and they are placed thirteenth in the league table after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in their last league outing.
To indemnify their lacklustre form and to make a final push in the remaining games of the league, Slaven Bilić is reportedly trying to lure Brentford attacker Scott Hogan in the ongoing transfer window. In the light of the prospective transfer, we have compiled a brief SWOT analysis of this supremely talented player who very much appears to be bound to a move to the Premier League.
Strengths
At the onset, it must be underlined that Scott Hogan is an exceptional player up front. He is quick, very lively and always on alert when it comes to making an impact. He has registered 21 goals from 27 appearances so far in the Championship for Brentford which gives a testamentary evidence of his sharpness in front of the goal. Pace is a decent weapon in his armoury and besides this, he is a relentless mover, quick thinker and a calm finisher with notable consistency. In an era where there is a plethora of budding stars, Hogan appears to be one of the few who are destined to make an impact.
What is good about his prospective move to the London Stadium is that he will bring a brand new attribute to the Hammers, i.e., the knack to run beyond the last line of defence to get in the groove. His movements are precise, sharp and venomous for the opponents. Actually, he loves to sneak into the box to confuse the defenders and arrives at the dangerous areas in the right time which makes him so clinical in front of the goal.
Weaknesses
Though he possesses a variety of good qualities needed for being a poacher up front, he isn’t pretty good when it comes to holding up the game by showing his back to the goal. Further, he isn’t very tall (5’10”), which implies that he is going to struggle in out-jumping the opposition defenders.
Opportunities
Frankly speaking, he is a dangerous asset and is wanted by both England and Republic of Ireland’s national team. Many claim that the 24-year-old is the best striker in the Championship and if the transfer to West Ham United materialises, the Hammers would strike gold. He has had his share of injuries in the past but they have failed to contain him as his aura is certainly on the rise.
His control and passing reflect his high calibre and he has age on his side. A move to a well-famed side like West Ham United can up the ante of a footballer’s desire to reach the pinnacle of the football world. He is a team player and no wonder he has become the talk of the town in the ongoing January transfer window.
Threats
The tug-of-war between Brentford and West Ham United of keeping him and buying him, respectively, might put pressure on him irrespective of the direction the rope goes. Of course, he has been smashing goals this season, but if the deal actually materialises, it would be interesting to see whether he would succeed in the Premier League which is totally a different ball game.
