(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
As ever it’s been a summer where the backside has been torn out of every move – or lack of them – made in the transfer window.
The Fornals arrival – after all the acclamation – was quickly replaced by the Gomez stuff with the moans and groans quickly replacing the young Spaniard’s arrival.
In comes Seb Haller and all is more than well except for some moans about money being needed to buy at left back.
And I’m quite realistic in admitting that I was among them!
ENTER BEN JOHNSON!
Now before anyone tells me to calm down, to give the boy time and not put pressure on him, the point of this piece is not to discuss whether he will start in the first team.
It’s to explain that in a world dominated by huge signings, Manel Pellegrini has been true to his word and long term philosophy of giving youth its chance and ensuring that he is bang on top of what’s going on at every level .
Everybody knew/knows there may be a problem at left back and that in Pablo Zabaeta, a fine defender who is in his last season of PL football, we need another option at right back.
Johnson has quickly shown in pre-season that whilst he favours his right side he can also perform with excellence on the left – what a find!
This manager is on top of everything and has given himself the opportunity of putting the teenager under serious examination in each of the games so far.
Whether the boy gets the shout at the start of the season is a question which doesn’t need answering at this point although if he doesn’t he is only probably one injury away from doing so.
He has repaid the manager’s confidence in him big time in the early games and looked perfectly capable in his time on the pitch at the Etihad last season.
Like Declan before him he is clearly a discovery – a two footed defender who is going to save us a lot of money in the transfer market.
After the talent drought at the academy over the pre-Rice years we now have him, Diangana and the boy Johnson rubbing shoulders with the big money elite of the club and resurrecting the ‘academy of football’ tag which was ours for so many years.
These boys are all products of the Terry Westley years and we all owe the man a big vote of thanks after he arrived in the daunting shadow of legend Tony Carr.
But centrally the acclamation goes to Manuel Pellegrini who clearly has his finger on the pulse of everything that’s happening at our great club.
In times when huge money dominates the game his achievement in this area must not be under-estimated.
PROPER MANAGER!
I think the moaning is more about the net spend of 24 million and money saved on wages if the chairman really want to break into the top 6 a defensive midfielder and a centre forward is definitely needed it’s up to the chairman to show ambition like they told us all the move was about
Net spend – sigh
Why is this a sigh
Surely net spend is a valid talking point
I’m very excited for the new season and love the business done but if you want top 6 you need net spend close to those around top 6.
We have a great squad and two for each position but in this day and age we are still a top 8 squad, unless there no injuries
Because it’s wearying year in year out mate and because probably our four best players of last year – Fabianski Hammer of the year, Rice, runner up, Balbuena and Diop – cost £33m collectively. The very best players opt for the CL clubs anyway and won’t come – look at Gomez so I believe net spend is not the entire answer. I really don’t think football is that simple. I think we have a great team/squad capable of pushing for top 6 at expense of Arsenal and Unted.
Hugh, we have a good squad, a top 10 squad just about. We don’t have a great squad. We have not replaced Arnie, we have not a left footer winger and we do not have a top box to box mid and we certainly don’t have a top left back. If we want to be top 6 we needed to invest in at least two quality signings a DM and a left footed winger come striker who could play up top, |The current squad is challenging for top 10. Forget players lilke Wilshere,
You don’t think Haller is an adequate replacement for the Austrian? MP obviously thinks Masuaku is a decent left sided winger by giving him another 4 years. midfield looks fine to me but I take the point. Wilshere if he stays fit is one of the best in this country in my view and I think top 6 is do-able
Must agree with Peter’s post personally but good post and Ben Johnson certainly a step up towards giving our youth if good enough the chance to improve and shine imo
Capable but unspectacular is how I would describe Johnson based on the limited performances I’ve seen. Looks immediately better on his preferred side and once Zabaleta moves on next season, he has a real good shot at nailing that position down. The jury is still out on Fredericks, but for now I think the position is his and with Ben Johnson breathing down his neck, he’ll need to step up and deliver or he could find himself out the door next summer.
To have a young player capable of playing both sides is useful even just as back up and we certainly need a first team left back, I’d suggest sooner rather than later. This is West Ham and we’ve all seen that certain sections of the support seem to enjoy nothing more than giving stick to our homegrown players. Rest assured, if he doesn’t deliver, the same fans who are over hyping him now with be @replying him on Twitter to tell him he’s crap. Being a West Ham player means dealing with a new generation of bipolar fans who don’t really know their own opinion. Hopefully Johnson has both the mental and physical attributes to be a first team player for years to come.
I think you mis-sepelt Twitter – Twotter
Glad for the boy. Still unconvinced about him as a right back but he’s not a sulker and the stats tell us he’s better then Cresswell, who hasn’t been the player I loved watching cross on the run a few years ago for 2 seasons now! Bring Johnson through the ranks, keep faith with Arthur and I’d let Cresswell.
Left back *
Johnson i thought looked pretty average in the Asia Cup, mind you so did Diop – Fredericks will be a revelation this season – pace is premium in the Premier league and he’s got bundles. COYI