West Ham’s out of contract player departures ahead of the summer made serious dents to an established back line. Both left and right-sided full backs Aaron Cresswell and Vlad Coufal have left the club. Sadly the same cannot be said for accident-prone Konstantinos Mavropanos but we live in hope. The Hammers travel stateside to take on a sterner test than that offered by Swiss side Grasshoppers: Manchester United await in the first summer friendly on Saturday night.
West Ham’s new-look back line will include £20 million signing El Hadji-Malick Diouff who has impressed in his 45 minute first outing, and at some stage, free signing Kyle Walker-Peters who, along with Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be shoe-horned somehow into a right-sided defence. Nayef Aguerd – now returned and apparently here for ‘the duration’ completes the defensive options which Potter can deploy along with Jean Clair Todibo and Max Kilman.
So it could be a very different-looking West Ham with three plus two wing backs that takes on Manchester United.
Who in turn, have brought their new big guns out to the USA with them. Compared with West Ham’s total spend of £20 million so far, Man U’s €150 million spend on just two players looks like a David versus Goliath encounter: According to sportbible.com,
“United named a 32-man squad for the US tour, with new signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon all included. As expected, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho all remain unwanted and will be left behind to train by themselves”
Thirty two? West Ham don’t even have thirty two senior players. Maybe Twenty two. There is no way Manchester United can be as inept as they were last season even though Manager Ruben Amorim hasn’t had long to lick his new players in to shape. So it’ll be one to watch from behind the sofa, I fear.
But, then again – a five nil drubbing in each of the three friendlies might convince the West Ham board to get their cheque books out to support the manager! Now I’m conflicted.
Come on you Irons. I think.
Our defence is actually not new looking except for Majick D.
I think we will be found out this season and we will struggle.
We should have been rebuilding right after the cup win with younger players.
So it’s too late now
Extremely Rude regarding Mavropanos. The guy is a seasoned Professional Footballer. Maybe he is liable for odd error but no ones perfect .Hope he stays and proves all his critics wrong .COYI
Speak for yourself – personally I like Mavropanos and hope he stays and if you properly analysed his performances, especially in the 2nd half of the season, you might be inclined to agree. I was appalled when he was booed coming onto the pitch as sub at a match I attended last season and really don’t think it helps that he’s regularly ridiculed by yourself on this site which is read by thousands of fans. I wish you could just reserve your criticism for players who don’t give 100% which certainly can’t be levelled at Mavro.
Totally agree Clive.
Agree completely. Martin keeps writing rubbish everyday criticising players and demanding we bring in more. He can’t even count by my reckoning we currently have a squad of 25 first team players with very little likelihood of moving any on at a decent price
I’m not nearly that pessimistic.
We’ve gotten rid of the deadwood (Inghs) and the negativity (“Starboy” Kudus).
We’ve brought up some of the younger lads and, made a couple decent signings.
Granted, I would have preferred that both Coufal and Fabs got a 1 year extension but, that just my opinion.
I believe if we set up in a 4-3-3 , we should do well.
Here’s to hoping…
Cheers!
It’s more important to keep your best players rather than buying overpriced average players as we all know from last season .
I’m really not that negative about this season .
Our front 3 if Summerville , Bowen and Fulkreg is ok .
We really need to sign a no 10 – mount would be very good signing !
Potts and Paquetta as our holding and no 8 ….
Need a new keeper too !
I like our fullbacks …
Potter has to pick a more adventurous team and not do a Moyes and try and hang on to 1 nils for 15 mins ….
Man U are a very poor team and will struggle again this season
You want Mason Mount
He’s rubbish