Expectations were incredibly low at West Ham following May’s relegation disaster. Fans knew that loanees and short term contracted- players would be leaving and feared a large scale exodus in a repeat of 2003 – which fortunately hasn’t come to pass.
The events of ‘that’ weekend in June and the wave of euphoria that swept across supporters, knowing that Sullivan was out and Kretinsky was ‘in’ have set the bar high in terms of West Ham’s white knight charging in and fixing everything.
So when there are ‘zero’ incomings just a couple of weeks ahead of the season opener, alarm bells ring for fans who have seen half a first team depart and just a handful of youth team players shoe-horned into their positions.
Better get used to it: There’s certainly no sign of new players arriving before the final pre-season fixture at the weekend which means even if the Irons bring in a winger and a midfielder to replace Summerville and Fernandes, it’ll be too late to bed them in during practise games.
Another one bites the dust? Winger Matteo Cancellieri
Another ‘target’ – this time Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri – is reported as likely heading off to Celtic rather than east London by thelaziali.com in what is becoming a familiar story of decent quality players being spurned by West Ham’s recruitment team.
You just have to hope there is some plan at work which will see the mythical trio of a winger, midfielder and centre back materialise, Tardis like, at London Stadium in the nick of time to get Nuno’s squad up to scratch.
Stop fretting already will ya?.
Here is the line-up we already have + extra players needed. Simples:
This is for fun, but I was curious to see, plus stopped me from working – always a bonus.
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Hermansen/Areola/Herrick
Diouf, Mayers, academy – Dinos, Golambeckis, Casey, Kilman, new left CB – KWP, Battrum + new wingback
Holding midfield: Kante, Magassa, Potts, Soucek (once fit again), new recruit – each is capable of driving forwards & encouraged to do so all the time.
Box-to-box: Magassa/Kante(?) + new recruit in Jan
Playmakers: Earthy, Orford, Fearon + 1 experienced recruit + a 2nd in Jan if necessary
Upfront: Ajala, Lamadrid, Cornet – Marshall, Taty, new quick no 9, Pablo as a no. 9 (has to show what he can do), Bowen/new quick RW
Setup: Need very experienced midfielders in order to play 4-2-4, so instead WHU play 4-4-2, or 4-3-3
depending on opponent and team strengths, rarely 4-2-4.
Style of play: that of the U21s, (who are mainly in the centre of the team), which is skillful, quick passing, give and go, high press.
Ambition: Challenging in the top half come January window, playing attacking, possession football.
Manager: NES is given real chance to prove he can do it – he deserves it. Keep tabs on Bellamy and others.
This is the same attitude and outlook we had in the prem and we fell Carry on like this with no improvement we could well fall another division JUST LOOK AT LEICESTER AS AN EXAMPLE THE SIGNS ARE THERE BE WARNED
Don’t forget a new forward unless we are expecting Pablo to regenerate as Haaland. We’d be lucky if he would regenerate as Jordan Hugill 🤣