Many supporters, last year, publicly declared themselves ready to see West Ham relegated to the Championship as a price worth paying to rid the club of the Brady – Sullivan millstone.
Although the departure of the dreadful duo was in fact more linked to the BBC allegations than relegation itself, the club has since embarked on a refreshing new era.
One Claret and Hugh reader sets out his own hopes for the way that West Ham’s direction might shift after a tumultuous summer.
Guest post by ‘Peter WHU’:
Relegation is what this club needed and come the last 5-6 games, I felt we fully deserved it, like a pie in the face, with players showing no energy & the manager no endeavour, regardless whether he spent 8 hours a day at the club.
Came to the conclusion we needed to keep a core set of players who were committed (like KWP, Dinos who always keep playing and trying) and only them, getting rid of those who might be very good, but sometimes did not want to bother for whatever reasons (and some quite natural/understandable). Then rebuild with only 3-5 players remaining. Remaining in the PL we’d have just hobbled along, in a financial straitjacket struggling to keep our heads above water and Academy players were in all honesty, unable to step in and plug the gaps in the team – it takes time to develop.
Fernandes – made of the right character but now sadly long gone
Easy looking on to say these things, but it is the same old story of players of character (Fernandes has both) and attitude being as important as talent, as well as leadership on a pitch. Throwing money at it through US/Saudi big money execs & getting star players to come in, does not do it for me, not one iota, for a 1000 reasons.
Bill Shankly (watched a video documentary) came to Liverpool who were in the 2nd division in the 60s and cleared out 12+ players & rebuilt. He had an eye for what players could become, bringing in Ron Yeats (CB colossus), Ian St John and later Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe who were in the 4th. Keegan & St John certainly had talent & character. Just thought the parallels were interesting – he also had the training ground rebuilt as it was a dump. He also instilled a style of football that was great to watch & attacking, ensuring the fans became what we know Liverpool fans to be.
I think we are basically hoping for something similar to happen here at WHU, including a style of attacking football that uses players’ talents. Plus we have talent in the academy who instead of being out on loan can actually play for the club at this level, then develop along with the team – they all seem to be players of style & character, but obviously it will be tough.
Well put, I could not agree more, like you said, The Liverpool Team got ripped apart and 12 players were shifted on, if we have to rip apart the whole club and stitch it back up corner by corner, piece by piece-if this is what is needed then so be it to get our beloved club back to where it needs to be.
PPiece by piece we will rebuild and yes again I agree Rome was not built in a day. Everything takes time, you need the right characters of players as you’ve said and they need to be committed and all singing from the same hymn sheet, And in our new owner in waiting Mr DK and I’m not in reference to donkey Kong that was the previous owner. I believe he will sort out the men from the boys and get our club into a more suitable place from the ground up removing each individual problem one by one including ownership of the football ground too
Shankly, Nuno? Absolutely no comparison is there? Right now, despite all the promises and guesswork, I am not seeing a club ready to take on the Championship and crush it, just more of the same. Nuno is having far too much to say for someone who has achieved nothing so far.
Dave W, is spot on.. I am old enough to have watched Trevor Brooking’s first few games for us. And to say it didn’t go smoothly for him wouldn’t be a lie. I can even remember one particularly vicious sports hack, describing him as Bambi on ice, seemingly unable to keep standing upright. And Alvin Martin’s first few games weren’t much to write home about either, but they both went on to became club legends.
Shankly played front foot pass and move football. Greenwood played it similarly but with more rotation of players positioning in games.
NES plays pragmatic, counter attack football. No comparison regrettably.
Hammers will not get the reset required until a manager/coach is allowed to have a long period of systematic change with little regard for results in the beginning.
With finance now dictating league position, regrettably the reset craved for vintage Hammers playbook looks unlikely…sighs
I know what you mean – you might be right in everything you say.
I think NES deserves his chance because he worked for it and had a lot to contend with, but I’m not a great fan. I’m hoping that Championship football is so attacking & open that NES will be forced to play an attacking team, with a strong backbone. Also, financially the Academy can change everything. Anyhow, could talk and talk about this for hours.
Now I’m waiting to see how the team plays, the setup, the style of play they’ll adopt in the C. Thanks for the comments.
Being good enough is not just about age, its about required physical skillsets, mental attitude and a pathway. Too often developing players see seasonal professionals brought in rather giving them a run to prove themselves, so they go elsewhere Until you give them 3-4 matches to prove they have it, we will never know if they have that potential to really kick on or sit endlessly on the bench. You cant expect them to produce that 1st team performance after just 1 match or 10 mins here and there weeks apart. Someone needs to give them match time, accept the odd mistake, they need proper 1st team football. If they fail more often than not, show them the door.
Its the hope that kills u!
I see a club in the championship that will be lucky to make the top half of the table.
I see a club that has signed no players less than 3 weeks before the seaon starts.
I see a manager that got us relagated due to poor tactics.
If fans are happy with that then no wonder we are in this position. Surely ambition is what motivates every other club and fan. This is where west ham are different. If it were any other club the stands would be empty next season.