IT has been clear for months – in fact, ever since Graham Potter’s ‘seniors purge’ – that West Ham lacked leaders on the pitch. With Tomas Soucek injured and Edson Alvarez no longer featuring, the Hammers on occasion look rudderless and without natural leaders prepared to grit their teeth and get stuck in to this Championship campaign.
A smattering of youngsters throughout the starting eleven makes this trend more apparent with the inexperienced Ollie Scarles, Mohamadou Kanté and Lewis Orford looking in vain to their senior colleagues for a little bit of steely determination.
However, on first showing, it seems the Irons have got several of their pieces of transfer business spot on with their recruitment of ‘old hands’ Manor Solomon (27) , Joel Piroe (27) and Joel Veltman (34). All three look to have the ability to put their hands up and lead by example and help pull West Ham out of their early season wobble and have cost the Hammers virtually nothing by current standards.
Piroe is ready made for the Championship slugfest ahead
Indeed, apart from achieving the ‘nirvana’ of a goal on his debut (how many West Ham strikers can boast that accomplishment?) Piroe looks to have the right mental attitude for a Championship slugfest over the coming season.
Speaking to whufc.com the new no.9 made it clear – albeit with a bit of bravado (AKA leadership) – that Saturday’s defeat can be forgotten soon enough:
“Piroe: I’m confident we can bounce back quickly:
Of course we are frustrated, and we will reflect on the performance and how we can improve quickly,” Piroe said. “We need to make sure we don’t concede too cheaply, and we need to score more goals of course.
“When you concede from an early set-piece, then you’re chasing the game and of course they then sit back and try to counter. That makes it a horrible game, so we have to try and avoid that.
“We did have plenty of good moments, and we just have to be more ruthless.”
At 27 years old, Piroe adds a level of depth to West Ham’s attack and a fox in the box mentality, if his manager will just allow him to play there.
In addition, the forward’s body language in the Charlton game was of one prepared to put himself about a bit: Unlike Taty, he didn’t overstep the mark or get himself booked for an embarrassing dive. And someone tell Nuno, he tales penalties too.
You sound like your in sullivans pocket mate open your eyes up !
Taty should never have taken the penalty. I hate all that faffing about. Bowen would have done a proper job (and probably Piroe too) and at least got us a point.
What did we really expect this season.Half the team couldn’t wait to get away,the rest really don’t want to be there,some we don’t want to be there.I don’t feel the manager is too soft and has a lack of ideas.Everybody talks of Eddie Howe,I think Scott Parker would be a good choice,but while the atmosphere in the dressing room must be dismal,its gonna take a “Billy Bonds” to turn this around.
Players may have right ideas it’s the manager that needs convincing.
I don’t always agree with what you say Martin but you are spot on here and you were also spot on when you said that sorting the defence out is now the priority. I was in the camp that thought that £40m Kilman would surely be good enough for this league, but it is clear we need an experienced no nonsense defender to settle Dinos down again. Hope he gives Veltman a start soon but he is also cover at right back so we must recruit. Not sure when Soucek is back but his experience and attitude is also needed to compliment the young talent we have in midfield. In the long run I remain optimistic that we will come good and at least we are fully aware that further strengthening is still required in this window.
Typo. New no10….
Jimbo, you should have gone to Specsavers. Piroe is definitely our no.9. Solomon is no.10. No worries, you’re welcome! PS.