Is Samir Nasri a good signing for West Ham?

West Ham have signed former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri on an initial contract until the end of the season. The midfielder joins as a free agent after he completed an 18-month doping ban. The 31-year-old is available to West ham boss Manuel Pellegrini straight away. However, it is unlikely Nasri will be thrown straight into the Hammers team, despite claims he has been training hard to get match fit.

Talented but temperamental

Prior to his ban, Nasri gathered a reputation for being a highly talented footballer. Throughout his time in England with both Arsenal and Manchester City his temperamental nature negated his talent at times though. His talent was never in doubt. However, seemingly his attitude was a completely different story.

There was always a feeling that he was never quite fulfilling his potential, that there was always more to come from the midfielder, maybe a touch more consistency or him moving to the next level.

No manager ever managed to wring that last drop of talent out of the moody midfielder, despite him undeniably having purple patches at Arsenal and Manchester City during his career in the Premier League. He did enjoy some very memorable moments at both clubs, though.

West Ham like a gamble

West Ham seem to love a gamble on a player. The Hammers are not at the top of the football tree when it comes to money, so sometimes have to take a gamble, like the majority of Premier League clubs.

The clubs hierarchy backed boss Manuel Pellegrini big style in the summer transfer market. However, the Irons tend to have a history of taking in the Premier League’s waifs and strays. The two main examples at the club are striker Andy Carroll and midfielder Jack Wilshere. Both players are undoubtedly talented footballers, who on their day can be very effective for their team.

The problem is they are so injury prone and struggle for consistency when they are fully fit. A club can take a gamble on one or two players, but the Hammers now have three players who are unreliable, in different senses of course.

However, as every good gambler knows, if you put enough bets on, one is bound to come good eventually. Nasri has spoken positively about his move to West Ham. His boss Manuel Pellegrini has also spoken about the quality the Frenchman can add to his attacking options.

To be fair it is a gamble that West Ham can afford to take at this stage of the season. If Nasri fails to impress he leaves the club in the summer and West Ham have lost nothing but his wages for the six months.

West Ham in the middle tier of the Premier League

The Premier League has split into a three-tier league this season, which is usually the case. The top six teams, then the midtable teams and the ones fighting relegation. The Hammers are very much part of the middle-tier. The Irons are currently odds of 4/6 to finish in the top half this season, which would have been the bare minimum they would have expected in pre-season following the big investment in the team.

Whether Nasri will improve the Hammers chances of achieving their objective only time will tell. The Frenchman’s signing could truly go either way. He could be a massive success and perform brilliantly or he could flop like a wet jellyfish on a mattress.

I suppose West Ham have very little to lose from the deal, so it may well prove a shrewd move on the Londoner’s part.

Will Samir Nasri be a good signing for West Ham?