Well, after so long on the dark side I supposed some of us should be used to West Ham life.
A summer that started in a blaze of happiness and optimism with the appointment of our new manager is slowly slipping gears into neutral or reverse even.
There weren’t many who weren’t well pleased with the appointment of a stunning (by our standards anyway) manager on a salary at between £8m -£10m.
It was a stunning deal coming out of left field when all the usual suspects were being named with Benitez and Emery high among them.
Soon after his arrival it became clear that the new boss’ requirements were much the same as his less exalted predecessor David Moyes – a couple of midfielders, central defenders and a right back.
We got Ryan Fredericks, lost the most influential player in the squad and now appear to be stuttering along making bids which are described as bringing us close to a player before reading a report saying the opposite.
Meanwhile the players are away on holiday, the manager’s in Chile and his number two is in Spain so asking what is going on seems a more than reasonable question.
It’s now been a month since we played our last game, the transfer window closure has been brought forward this season to August 9 from August 31 and thus far we have brought in one free transfer in Ryan Fredericks from Fulham.
Im my view that is a good signing but our management team and board need surely to be bang on the case given the time frame and I’m not sure that with time so much shorter that it’s a great idea for everybody to be scattered around the globe.
The issue becomes even more critical given that Manu Lanzini is now completely out of the picture for a season or more thus making urgent reorganisation and priorities an urgent matter.
We still have no sign of Pellegrini returning from his holiday so one can only assume the telephone bills between London, Spain – where currently his number two is located would be the equivalent to a month’s wages to most of us.
The reality is that the transfer window slams shut in eight weeks time following the manager claiiming he needed four or five new faces – and that was before the Lanzini disaster.
Come on lads fingers out
Bang on Hugh it’s just so unprofessional we are asking for trouble already
“Im my view that is a good signing but our management team and board need surely to be bang on the case given the time frame and I’m not sure that with time so much shorter that it’s a great idea for everybody to be scattered around the globe”…. really !!…. Our manager is far more involved working for the benefit of our team than any other in living memory. He was hired from China in their mid-season, introduced to the club & then went on a 2 week holiday, which should see him back this coming week. We have signed Fredericks, extended several contracts, released several players, & been involved in approaches to several notable players (if the sources are to be believed), & all whilst he is away on holiday. Yet still you have the temerity to question him being away during the summer window. When would you have him take his holiday? Mid-season?
Guys right really but we are a impatient lot given what our club has done before but I think when pelle returns this week your see plenty of action
I think everybody needs to calm down.
The concern is understandable given recent events, but everyone is entitled to a holiday – I don’t care what their job is. What’s unprofessional about taking leave?!?
Second, have you seen our counterparts making tonnes of signings yet? No. Everyone is in the same boat. Let’s judge them on the 10th August, and stop fuelling all the angst.
Finally, we’ve all cringed when our board is loud about our transfer activity. Now that they’re keeping quiet and getting the job done, we’re questioning them!! They can’t do right for doing wrong…
They know what’s at stake and want to do a great job – let’s keep the knives in their sleeves for now, eh?
Poor old pellegrini. All those millions burning a hole in his pocket and no time to spend it. Of course he needs a holiday.
I don’t expect any new signings to be announced before the players we want has finished the world cup. thats 15.07. latest and gives the people responsible more than enough time prepare deals well in time of the 09.08.
Caveat unless the player is not at the world cup for his country.
Season ticket renewal time has gone and lots of people renewed on the hype that was put out just before the weeks leading to deadline day ??? We are more or less in the same position apart from one loyal player given his cards and we got a freebie right back in from Fulham? I must say in fairness to all other teams in and around us, no one seems to be in a hurry either??? I suppose it will all be a mad rush on deadline day? A bit like all the end of the winter deadline days in the past ?? So being a long hammers fan expect nothing, and then any thing else if it happens is a bonus? Keeping the faith C.O.Y.I
Sarcasm has it’s place – reasonable discussion does too LOl
We’ll work it out one day.
No agent worth their price would sign for a club with 8 weeks of a transfer window to go.
The bidding has only just began, any half decent player will have 5-6 clubs after them, the more desperate the clubs become, the more silly the wages go.
The pecking order;
Champions league teams get first dabs.
Next comes the clubs with money to burn and chasing the dream (all over Europe).
Then when all the that is done (after the world cup), we will get a chance to nick a few players.
Fredericks had apparently being negotiated since January, so they had all their bids in and we blasted the others out of the window in wages.
Until the elite clubs chase the Bales , Pogba’s , Salah’s and settle them, the cascade down is a long way off.
Sit tight and watch us get desperate and blow money, then the new manager can have a moan ….
Its gonna be “don’t go to bed” on the 8th August and a big scramble near the end.
There is little point making panic buys at the start or end of the window, if we want Pastore And Anderson just pay the price better to get quality than a load of mediocrity