Continuous reports of more multi-million signings for the Hammers over the coming days and weeks this summer should be taken with a large pinch of salt. Last season Manuel Pellegrini stated publcily he prefers quality over quantity and with Pablo Fornals and Seb Haller signed this summer he has certainly got that.
Manuel Pellegrini has already admitted he is essentially happy with the squad with the big additions this summer.
Pedro Obiang is unlikely to be replaced when he completes his exit to Italy this week with the squad already midfield heavy. An exception to rule of replacement would be the departure of Javier Hernandez which would require West Ham to dip into the transfer market again but it could be difficult for Pellegrini to find a striker of better quality with the funds available to him.
Historically Pellegrini has shunned loans in the past in his previous football management roles and it remains to be seen whether a loan striker would be a realistic option if Chicharito did move on.
Many supporters will say we need another centre back, left-back, defensive midfielder as well as a striker etc but ultimately it is the manager’s decision and we should trust his judgement. He is his own man and not pushed around easily.
The positions we were told we needed at the start of the window were Striker, Defensive Midfield and a Left Back maybe a Centre Back. And after spending £69million these are the same positions we need to improve.
I trust Pellegrini and Husillos in their judgement but Pellegrini’s face so far in pre-season says he’s not happy either with things as they are. Despite the constant call that the cupboard is bare blind freddy can see more signings coming. How many and how much, if they are free or loans who knows but there will faces coming in especially if a few more move on.
Hopefully not. We need to strengthen defensively or it wont matter how much attacking talent we have. If nothing else, even just bringing in a quality left back would be worth our while. That is the weakest area in our team.
A LB and a CDM would set us up for a very good season. I don’t quite know why Pellegrini would believe that our shoddy defence will improve without doing anything to improve it. It’s a personnel issue.
Well said Don, I follow you regularly on WHFTV, and like you are concerned if all at the club believe that we have a quality enough squad that can compete through a tough Premiership season (never mind step up) I personally believe e that we have regressed as much as we have improved during the pre season and this takes into account that We all have to believe that both new signing can hit the ground running once the season starts in earnest.
Different Don. But thanks 🙂
What a load of rubbish anyone can see we need a box to box midfielder and a back up forward bare minimum just the boards mouth piece trying to convince fans theres no more money a 32 million net spend is peanuts in this day and age Bournemouth will probably spend more than us that says it all about our money grabbing chairman
Sorry Sean but most fans are right here and I’m guessing its sully putting brakes on not pelle. Sticks out like a sore thumb mate we need another striker mid def and left back all a must get in as it will unfold and show that sully is wrong again. What’s the point in getting in top players and top coach who they will want to leave if were still using useless players like Sanchez in case rice gets injured oggy in case diop or rocky gets injured cresswell in case masu gets injured and chich 140k a week 8mill thrown away and goes for free end of season that’s supposed to be good business. If sully doesn’t want to push on then he shouldn’t have got in pelle and stop the rebuilding process that was started as for sure it’s never worked before when bringing in cheap buys and top quality wont want to come to our team . Imo
Don’t forget Winston Reid is playing pre season. I know it’s a stretch to imagine the same player of two seasons ago, but, if he could recapture that form, we don’t need another CD. Striker worries me most. We can make do at LB with Cresswell, but there’s a lot riding on just our new signing at striker who has never played in the Premiership. Chicharito (if he stays) is ok as cover, but not good enough to lead the line regularly.
Unless Pelligrini is blind than surely he can see we are weak defensively . Well at least another CDM short. We are to wide open at the back , the defence are not protected enough. It won’t matter how many attacking midfielders we have unless we can defend properly. Why can’t the David’s even see this they are not stupid , they are in fact very astute. So I believe a rethink is needed about other players we need at least 1 more . BTW Ben Johnson looks class and should be given a chance in the first team ! COYI ⚒
Hugh, I am going to come back to this article after the window closes to remind you of it. In Pelle we trust but we need quality additions to the squad, everyone sees it and I assume the manager does too. To me we need a defensive mid and an attacking player who is a winger but can also play up top.
Come back to me John as it is my blog
Keep Hernandez for crying out loud . Our tactics and game plan have many more options with him than without him . I always thought it strange to talk of selling him .
Absolute garbage we haven’t strengthend in the positions we spoke about all summer I don’t understand what is going on.. With the players we have sold and let go now can they say they have no money it’s ridiculous..I’ll tell you now if things go tit s up because of lack of quality the fans won’t have the same old excuses li!s last year m.p and the powers that be won’t have a leg to stand on..it’s doubtful but if we get injuries like last year how can this squad cope…IT WON’T is the awnser and with all the big expectations they gave us at the end of last season will cause problems in the stands again..I really hope I’m wrong and we hAve a great season but I’m not very confident..they are putting alot on haller and he is not even proven in the premier..and Hernandez is just not good enough and no r is Antonio in that position…
Pelle likes to play with 1 up front, Hernandez cannot play in that role. We may as well play without a forward and flood midfield. Sell him while we can still recover some money. His contract runs out at the end of the season and he walks for nothing.
If Pellegrini is happy with the squad I have serious question marks about his judgment !
A blind man can see we need a quality left back and at least a couple of other additions.
He only seems to worry about one half of the pitch and if the defence isn’t strengthened we will again have one of the worst defences in the Prem’ – let’s hope we score enough goals to keep us up !!!
I don’t buy this at all. Okay no more big fee signings as we havd splashed out but there’s room for a bosman and/or loan signing now that our wage budget has come down drastically. We always always have injury issues so a backup striker and def midfielder are an absolute necessity for starters!