Forget for one second all of the boardroom shenanigans yesterday and concentrate, as Nuno Espírito Santo must, on the football. West Ham completed their pre-season work up with a 1 – 1 draw against second division Magdeburg, thanks to an unlikely first half Max Kilman goal, cancelled out late on by the German Bundesliga 2 side when the Hammers had rotated through to their youth XI.
So no great significance in the result: Casey, Golambeckis, Earthy and Co are unlikely to feature as heavily in the Championship season, unless the Irons are really in a mess injury wise.
However: Not at any stage did West Ham look like mounting a serious, concerted goal threat on either of their last two opponents, Rangers and yesterday’s industrious German outfit.
Nuno’s side have been deprived of last season’s two most creative players in what was a relegated side – without replacement.
So the question remains: Where will the goals come from that will spearhead a promotion challenge?
Cut through all of the previous positivity and ‘new-era’ hope that has seen 55,000 fans renew their tickets.
Twenty goals in the Championship? Right now it looks like there’s more chance of Mark Noble coming out of retirement.
Cut through all of the bookies’ nonsense that places West Ham at the head of the Championship race before a ball has been kicked.
Taty, Pablo and Jarrod Bowen managed zero in the ‘goals’ column yesterday, as they did at Rangers.
It is an uncomfortable truth that Bowen on his own can’t produce the goals to win games, and the squad is devoid of goal threat other than the disinterested Taty and the unskilled Pablo.
It seems as clear as day that urgent attention is required to the sharp end of the squad yet Nuno perserveres with his Brazilian ‘Bambi on ice‘ who has more chance of hitting the corner flag than the back of the net. Why? Because there’s nobody else.
Much like the tale of the Emperor’s new clothes, nobody appears to be calling out the ‘naked’, talentless Pablo, preferring instead to nod sagely at the £20 million spent and blindly plod on, hoping he’ll come good one day.
Bring back Fullkrug, I’d say. A dreadful waste of £26 million but he’d carry more threat than the two-left footed Pablo who must now rank even lower than Jordan Hugill in the annals of useless alleged ‘goal scorers’ to wear Claret and Blue.
Can’t run, can’t pass, can’t control, can’t shoot. Apart from that, he’s brilliant.
So, not a fan then?
Midfield seems to be Pablo pressing and shutting down the opposition, with Kante as a DM while Orford is in the restricted role Fernandes had. I think ball is meant to be passed through K & O quickly, or around them down the wings. So all in all, not a lot of creativity from midfield, as with Fernandes (best WHU playmaker), O has little time to break forwards etc., while I would like to see him go forwards with the ball and the no 10 drops back or better, a defender steps up into the gap – this needs to be rehearsed in training.
When Earthy came on, you have the possibility of a more creative midfield, more interplay, but Earthy, Fearon probably not ready and an experienced no. 10 would bring more creativity from midfield during the season, while giving Earthy & Fearon a chance to develop as players.
Sometimes before it was 4-2-4 with Soucek & Fernandes in a restricted creative role, but mainly breaking up play, just like now. I like the idea of Pablo switching with Taty, ranging across the pitch, racing into the box to overload as a tactical switch during a match, not a starting XI setup.
This is due to the manager, the roles he assigns players, no doubt about it. Not much freedom to play in the middle of the park, to interchange is my impression. It as if we are nearly there, with some good elements, but the handbrake is securely on.
West Ham not signing anyone we can go on . The board need to buy a midfielder at least 1 with some pace, winger with pace , striker with pace , a solid defender . Theres no pace anywhere is Nuno so stupid he can’t see it. We won’t get promoted unless we buy talent .
There’s nothing to indicate we’re likely to get off to a good start. Start thinking in terms of at least two seasons in the Championship.
a writer who lives in the real west ham world.its all about the team the rest is froth.new expert in this/that has arrived whoopie doo.we will be found out immediatly no settling into this league.no time for experiments on who are best players are.3 or 4 at the back.that should have been decided the day after relegation.im sorry for the season ticket holders you have been sold a pup.im afraid like our dreams they have faded and died.oh dear such negativity from me give everyone a chance i hear people say.i hear frazer in dads army were doomed.the old transfer policy was bad but this one week to go and nothing.you cant put this on david sullivan.dont be seduced by the new world that is supposed to be coming.they are not the answer.the answer is a proactive not reactive plan.direction and leadership on and off the pitch.young hungry players nott ones looking for final pay days.bring in hurst.brooking devonshire.frank lampard senior.pop robson.alan taylor in as an advising comitee if they would do it to draw up the plan.first item on the agenda become west ham again.
I’ve been a supporter of Nuno but I do worry that the Pablo thing is becoming a blind spot. For me, as he has shown no form in pre season, we should have atleast being trying Earthy from the start in an attacking midfield role. Just up front we need 4 signings to be ready for what will be a slog of a season. Expecting alot of last minute loan signings that may take a while to bed-in leading to a late run to the play offs.