Observing the transfer madness that has swirled around West Ham United in recent days, I found myself pondering Julen Lopetegui’s starting eleven for a moment.
As the old saying goes, one doesn’t notice small change, and maybe that’s true, but what West Ham has gone through in the last few weeks has been rapid and drastic.
What we’re witnessing at West Ham is a complete squad and first-team overhaul, the likes of which we’ve not seen too many times in the past. It was most certainly a revolution rather than an evolution that was required, particularly given the small size of the squad and the age of some of the players.
It was also one of the reasons David Moyes was ill-equipped to oversee the drastic restructuring required at the club. Quite frankly, the Scotsman was too cautious and took far too long pondering transfers—and who could blame him? After all, he had a team to coach.
This is why the Continental method of a head coach accompanied by a director of football is utilized by almost every football club in the world. In essence, there is just too much to do for one omnipotent, Fergie-like figure.
One has to congratulate Tim Steidten for the efficient way he has gone about his business, much of which would have been started as early as 12 months ago. There is now an efficiency and ruthlessness in the Hammers’ transfer dealings that wasn’t there before. It is certainly gratifying to witness the club you love acting in a professional, decisive manner, rather than the dithering and delaying of the old ways, which undoubtedly made us lose out on more talented players than I care to ponder.
Exactly so, but such an influx of talent comes with a great number of intriguing selection issues. Surely Summerville and Bowen wide, Fullkrug down the centre but where do you play Kudus and Paqueta? Various permeations in midfield and with a high press lot’s of potential substitutions needed. Defensive seems revamped with obvious starter’s so a few clues today, hopefully. Outstanding transfer window and congratulations to all involved in the rebuild which I thought would take this plus the January transfer window.
I think we will see much more rotation of players and formation game to game than we did under moyes, the system will change depending on who we’re playing, and as the system changed jlo will find players he believe suits them more,
Steinden and Lopetegui deserve the plaudits and hopefully the success that comes with it !!! Moyes has been shown in a different light due to him not accepting steinden. Lopetegui is a class above and conducts himself well. Moyes winges and dithers and makes excuses! He also is a stubborn and self important individual with no people skills.Lets hope that Lopetegui becomes our greatest ever manager and shuts up moyes for good COYI
Not buying a single player in the winter window has definitely helped. Having such a small squad has enabled us to go out and buy without worrying about selling players first. We are now spending money we didn’t spend in winter window as well I’d imagine.
Agree great work behind scenes our signings with our already great players we have makes for exciting season ahead cmon you irons
Has to be one of our best transfer windows ever, if not the best,this is what happens when you have a manager working in tandem with super Tim,unlike dithering dinosaur Moyes.
Could you imagine if he was still manager he’d be starting Zouma as captain and probably look to sign the Yorkshire Pudding Phillips permanently.
Looks like we are getting our West Ham back…finally.
After the last 2 seasons of not even wanting to go to the games cos I was so disillusioned and bored and ****ed off watching the negative dross that Moyes was serving up to us West Ham fans,I am genuinely excited and looking forward to seeing us playing football again……As for Dinosaur David Moyes I don’t see a que of clubs banging on your door to be there next manager,so pipe down in your interviews as well saying ‘I don’t know what the West Ham way is’ comments like this just highlights the fact that you never got us fans,our history our heritage,so to all you Moyes supporters in the media saying to us West Ham fans be careful what you wish for can I just say a massive XXXX off to you…..COYI
And it was all going so well until 5 words from the end…
Stuart Pearce commented recently that he thought he knew about football until he met David Moyes, he was in absolute awe of Moyes’ football knowledge. In addition, at every recent major football tournament David Moyes has fulfilled a role of Technical Advisor for EUFA commenting on, amongst other things, trends in tactics and playing styles. You may not have liked his usual playing style but he was anything but a football “dinosaur”.
Anyway, far from using this transfer window to castigate David Moyes you should be thanking him for it. Without our massively improved European presence and profile from 3 consecutive years and a trophy in the cabinet the current crop of Todibo, Fullkrug, Rodriquez et al would not be giving us a second glance. By all means be pleased that he has moved on but give the man some credit for the part he has played in our recent progression as a club.
They say knowledge is power. Until you can’t use that knowledge and power to your advantage.
His knowledge worked great in Europe but bread and better, not quite so.
Still, get is regarded as one of the best managers in the premier League era according to so many pundits, despite only ever winning one trophy.
Football is a funny old game at times.
Brilliant window watching West Ham play teams below us at home and have 30 % possession are over all credit to owners and board for backing new manager
It’s good to see all those transfers in. I hope J-Lo knows how to stick that squad together on the pitch.
such wonderful problems we have now! who gets to play? players to choose from at least! as Fabrizio says….
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* at last ( not at least. guess they both work)
All I can say is “Wow!” Have we ever had a West Ham team as strong; as talented and as experienced as this one. Not in my memory. Surely this will scare the living daylights of any team who plays us now.
Areola (French International – World Cup Finalist)
Win-Bisaka (England International)
Todibo (French International)
Emerson (Italian International / Champions League Winner)
Alvarez (Mexican International / Captain)
Rodriquez (Argentinian World Cup / Copa America Winner)
Paqueta (Brazilian International)
Bowen (England International – played in Euros)
Kudus (Ghanian International)
Fullkrug (German International scored in Euros)
At the risk of getting lynched, fair play to the board too.
They’ve backed this TS and J’lo to the max this window.
Isn’t this what we’ve been crying out for for years? Drastic changes to a poor squad?
As long as these are the managers choice of players in, shouldn’t be an issue. Zouma and Aguerd just aren’t premier league quality as has been shown time and time again in recent years, we needed a left sided winger, we needed to bolster up front and there other issues a bit more minor to sort out but mustn’t grumble.
Barring a management miracle, it’s going take time for players to gel.
This wonderful new defence, for instance, may look like strangers to each other for a while. Because they are.
I’m reminded of Forest signing virtually a new squad. It’s taken a season for them to see the wood for the trees 🙂