As we come towards 11 pm it’s fair to say this has been a revealing and fascinating couple of days when much has been learned as the Hammers head into what appears an entirely stable and exciting future.
David Sullivan has got the loan signing of Alex Kral across the line making it a fantastic window for him and the club.
Yes, alright, I can hear the “board lovers” howls from miles away. Sorry and all that but those who disagree are probably living in an alternative reality. Water and duck’s back come to mind.
So what have we learned:
1/ that David Moyes, like most of us, doesn’t see a back-up striker as a necessity. He saw plenty of goals scored via Mikey – despite injuries – and attacking midfielders Soucek and Lingard last season. They managed 30 between them so why would he change his attitude and tactical approach this time around?
2/ that he has been following a Lingard-type player in Vlasic who looks as exciting as it gets having scored 14 goals for CSKA Moscow last season.
3/ that Moyes has managed to keep things entirely under his hat until the deals are all but done and thus free of any serious media interference,
4/ that he is busily reducing the squad’s age level – as he said he would – in signing four players aged 28 ( and that’s young for a keeper) 23-year-old Vlasic and Kral and Kurt Zouma (25).
5/ that refusing to be hurried and sometimes changing his mind – as was the case with Kral for Ruben Lofts-Cheek – he tends to get more right than wrong. It’s a virtue, not a drawback.
6/ that in appointing Rob Newman as his Head of Recruitment and imminent deal doer, he has made sure he has someone who is proficient in French and Spanish – a must in the modern game
7/ that he has appointed a new contact in Russia whom we are told is responsible for ensuring the Kral and Vlasic deals were done.
8/ that once his mind is made up – as was the case with his priority signing Zouma – nothing including widespread antagonism will make him change it despite his reputation for often doing so.
9/ that he is now well and truly in charge of everything that happens in the Hammers deal doing and that will become even more the case when his chosen man takes over David Sullivan’s role.
and
10/ that Pai Capital have as much chance of taking this club over as there is of me walking naked down the street with a teapot on my head. STOP BEFORE YOU START LOL.
This club is changing FAST and is looking more professional by the second and for that a round of applause for everybody from top to bottom!
Honestly, I was getting concerned with the apparent lack of activity. I’m still not convinced of the wisdom of Kurt Zoumas reported wage. I really hope that’s lower than we’ve been told.
That aside, the window seems a great success. Connor out to Peterborough and Kral now confirmed is the cherry on top for me.
Moyes has become the new Alex Ferguson. At a time when everyone is saying that the old style manager who runs a club from top to bottom is dead, David Moyes is doing just that.
He has transformed the whole organisation from top to bottom. Nothing happens unless he say’s so. He has transformed the backroom staff into a top team of ultra professionals who are moulding the team into Moyes vision and at the same time creating a team spirit and work ethic that hasn’t been seen at West Ham for a very long time. No one now get’s signed unless he says so. He personally overseas all transfers. We have gone from being a joke, signing over the hill, past their best players at over inflated prices, to signing young talented and hard working top quality players. His insistence on the appointment of an experienced head of recruitment is again a sign of his professionalism. This will free Moyes time to concentrate on the team, knowing that once he has identified his targets the signings will be handled professionally, quietly and behind closed doors.
We are now a shining example of how a football club should be run and it is down to David Moyes. Congratulations to him.