9 Comments

Leroy’s back and reckons the Irons are well and truly on their way

It’s a genuine joy to welcome back our most popular blogger since C and H started life seven years ago this evening – the one and only Leroy Rosenior! Lee has become an ambassador for the West Ham Foundation since he was last with us and is also greatly involved with the Premier League on match days. He will be joining us for the new season but in this exclusive blog he looks back on last season and as an active anti racist campaigner gives his views on taking the knee.

 

West Ham has become an entirely different club over the last few months as a result of an empty stadium due to the pandemic and the arrival of David Moyes as manager. There is no question in my mind that he is now entirely in charge of recruitment, team affairs and has done a magnificent job.

However, it has to be said that the pandemic has allowed the club to take far less emotional decisions which is not always possible when the fans are justifiably piling on pressure of praise. Next season will be different but I think we are now all supporting a football club which is at last well and truly on its way.

There was an awful lot of pressure after the club left the Boleyn for the London Stadium and hey, listen, nobody loved Upton Park more than me but I think we can all agree now that it was the right move to make.

As for next season and who we are going to bring in I think James Tarkowski will be a major target. Craig Dawson was magnificent but with the Burnley boy coming to the club we will have three great central defenders with those two and Oggy. I’m not sure about Diop so it will be interesting to see what happens on that front.

As for a striker, I think Tammy Abraham – at the £30m to £40m Chelsea will want – is not the right guy – he doesn’t hold the ball up, or link the play like Mikey, and isn’t as great as running channels like  Jarrod Bowen – who at £20 million was a sensational buy. If we could get Tammy on loan fair enough but I would’t pay big money for him.

I’ve seen Adam Armstrong develop at Blackburn – he’s quick and agile and could easily be the one for David Moyes who of course makes a habit of dipping into the lower leagues.

No more needs to be said about Tomas and Vladi – out and out West ham players who sweat blood and tears whilst so called luxury players like Haller and Anderson provided no luxury at all. Selling the French boy for £20 million was great business despite us taking a loss on him – he was never going to hack it at West Ham. Anderson looks unlikely too either.

Getting rid of those players is just as important as who you sign and in David Moyes we have a manager who is adept at doing so.

I believe there’s a great season ahead and see the club going from strength to strength.

Taking the knee

There’s been plenty of discussion about the effectiveness of otherwise of the players’ decision to do this and as somebody who has been very involved in anti racism activism I can assure you it has been extremely effective for the issue at large.

Ivan Toney at Brentford and the squad – along with Wilfried Zaha have spoken out against it and the Bees will presumably not be taking the knee in the PL next season.

My question to them both is: “What would you sooner do.” I’d love to have a conversation with both of them and get their ideas.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

9 comments on “Leroy’s back and reckons the Irons are well and truly on their way

  1. Taking the knee is virtue signalling at best and does nothing but divide our society in my humble opinion.

    • lee has been in anti racism most of his life – I respect what he says

    • How does it divide society? I’d honestly like to know?

      Leroy Rosenior was my favourite West Ham player growing up. I remember his headed winner against The Arsenal in a 1-0 win. Gave everything for the shirt. I can’t wait to read his views this coming season, what a great treat.

  2. I think Leroy is spot on with his assessment of our 2020/21 season and not only the transformation that Moyes has made to this club, but the organisation and the direction of the whole club infrastructure going forward.
    There have been a lot of comments regarding our past pursuit of James Tarkowski… but since being linked with him, I have watched him very closely and he is a leader and a great defender and I wouldn’t mind him coming to the club, if we can now get him for the right price.
    Again regarding Tammy, I agree that at £30-40M…I wouldn’t blow the budget on him and I do like the look of Armstrong and feel that he would/could be a fit for us.
    We will have to improve and change our game with new additions as standing still would mean us being less effective this season and losing that surprise element.
    Totally agree with Leroy on Toney and Zaha not taking the knee, if they disagree is it because they are doing something to improve the situation of which they are integral…outside of game time? It would be interesting to know as you would think that they would publicise it?
    COYI

  3. Racism is abhorrent, and any right minded individual should be happy to condemn it, whatever form it takes. The killing of George Floyd was also an affront to civilised society. However I think that making George Floyd the “poster boy” , for want of a better term, was a mistake and one which has, by and large, spawned the opposition to knee taking. George Floyd was unlawfully killed and his killer will, I believe, be sentenced by a US court this week. But let;s not delude ourselves into thinking he was an innocent man going about his lawful business when he was murdered. He was a career criminal being arrested. I feel sure there are many, many more individuals more worthy of having injustices they have suffered highlighted than George Floyd.

  4. I think it would be a much better gesture for the 22 players and the on pitch officials to link arms for a short period. This is a much more overt sign of unity and solidarity.

  5. It is often hard to understand, something which “Doesn’t Affect You”…… Injustice has nothing to do with politics and you can’t politely expect it to disappear!
    Lest We Forget…….seems to be forgotten.

  6. chatted to Leroy a few times on TV, gives a fair view, knows West ham well.

Comments are closed.