Looking aback at the mid point in the summer transfer window, it seemed that West Ham were haemorrhaging players whilst there were few hopes of summer signings. Nervousness grew as the window neared its last few weeks. Sixteen did leave the club and even as the pre-season friendlies kicked off, it seemed West Ham were something of a one-trick pony: Stop Jarrod Bowen and you’d stop West Ham from scoring.
Quietly, without splashing Troy Parrot-like cash on a striker, West Ham have used their existing resources well and brought in ‘horses for courses‘ such as Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon on modest money – and have created a strike force to be reckoned with in this division.
Opposition managers now have multiple headaches – such as todays Millwall who will have to reckon with six different West Ham scorers from their last Championship game, along with a newly bubbling Pablo who has finally got on the scoresheet too.
As Nuno claimed:
“We always look to our forward players to score, to increase [their output], and he [Pablo] gives us more solutions than options..The goal was missing, so it’s going to be a big boost of confidence for him” (whufc.com)
Nuno appears – finally – committed to simply outscoring his opponents whilst not over stressing on defensive errors which keep cropping up at the back.
Pablo has finally joined West Ham’s goal scoring party
In this division, that is likely to be enough. Nuno and Koppen actually deserve huge credit for creating this line up with a pretty modest summer budget – and just a couple of weeks to bring it all together.
Just don’t expect the clean sheet tally to be boosted today though. It seems the norm for the Hammers to gift their opponents an early goal lead but with the likes of Bowen, Solomon, Taty, Pablo, Piroe and Austbø plus Mavropanos from set pieces- the Hammers have goal threat aplenty to take the game away from their opponents today.
“…found his solution to West Ham’s frailties”. The hell he has.
Exciting football, loved that brief period under Moyse where it felt exactly like that.
You score 4, we’ll score 6.
Seems like there is that feeling bubbling again.
A team that gives it everything, leaves nothing on the pitch.
Hopefully there are no Muppets in the crowd wanting to cause trouble today, I think there is enough in this team to do all the talking that needs to be done on the field.
1-3 the Irons.
COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
Pablo does graft, he makes a massive difference to the team and is a unselfish player who sets up others for the goals
Now he has got one I am sure his goals will come aplenty.
He has never let his head drop, that’s what I like about him, he brings energy to the rest of the team
So let’s get behind him
That is one way of looking at it !! Alternatively it is building a squad for mediocrity. A squad that might get to play offs but will be totally inadequate should we get promoted so all the money spent will be wasted again or we will come straight back down. We should have invested in quality that could go forward in the prem . A total lack of forethought or ambition as far as i am concerned.
Seems a bit harsh, Peter, seeing as WHU are sitting on top of the Championship at present. However, we’ll see where we end up come May next year before passing judgement I guess..
It is not the getting into play offs I doubt it is the ability to stay up with the players we have purchased .
Today, Peter. There is no tomorrow without today.
We will sort out next season when we get there.
COYI
I think the club did a good job in the transfer window to be competitive in this league.
We have to be realistic as once you are out of the prem, it is a different footballing planet.
The best players that went sold, gutting as it was, we got really good money for.
Convincing Jarrod to stay is a stroke of genius, don’t forget we are top of the league and if we can stay there we will undoubtedly strengthen when we go back up. COYI ⚒️
I’m not counting Pablo as a goal threat on the strength of one goal scored, he’s still low quality to me and will need to change considerably to convince me otherwise. He grafts which can be useful I’ll give him that but not a lot more until he shows otherwise.
We’re gonna score one more than you 🎶🎶🎶
I just hope mindless morons don’t spoil the day.
yep, 100% agree with that.