By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham United have enjoyed a fair degree of understanding from supporters since the ownership model changed following David Sullivan’s resignation as chairman. Fans have been reasonably supportive whilst the sales of Mateus Fernandes to rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Crysencio Summerville to the Saudi Pro League went through. I’d even go as far as to say there has been a relaxed feeling amongst many supporters, despite the fact the season is now less than two weeks away.
Even though we all understand that not too much should be read into pre-season friendlies, there comes a point where, realistically, our attention turns towards what is going to be an incredibly important campaign. No doubt the Hammers faithful are grateful that Jarrod Bowen has committed his future to the club, and we all hope others will follow suit.
The Squad Still Looks Short
Looking at the starting line-up Nuno Espírito Santo chose against Rangers at Ibrox, it’s quite clear that West Ham are a few fries short of a happy meal. Not in Premier League terms, of course. Once again, there is an understanding amongst many supporters that we have been relegated and, as such, can’t expect top-class players. The problem is that West Ham are short of a balanced team, and that is something which is crucial at any level of football.
Realistically, the starting XI in Glasgow contained only six established first-team players as I see it. Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos. There are simply too many others who are not ready for the beginning of the Championship campaign.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Hermansen |
| RB | Walker-Peters |
| CB | Kilman |
| CB | Mavropanos |
| LB | Scarles |
| LM | Ward-Prowse |
| CM | Mohamadou Kanté |
| CM | Lamadrid |
| RM | Bowen (C) |
| CF | Pablo |
| CF | Taty Castellanos |
Without sounding like a scratched record, Espírito Santo’s team are concerningly slow. I don’t just blame him, of course. There has been a reluctance over the last few years to buy genuinely quick players, and I’m not just talking about outright pace either. Too many of the team pass slowly, don’t turn quickly enough and generally lack agility.
Diouf will come back into the West Ham team
Time To Act
I’m not basing those opinions purely on a friendly. That would be foolish. I certainly didn’t need to watch yesterday’s game to discover that Max Kilman, Ollie Scarles and Pablo are going to struggle for mobility in the hustle and bustle of the Championship.
Surely even the most optimistic supporter would concede there is now a pressing need for signings. No doubt Tomas Souček will work his way back into the team, but he’s not even training at present. El Hadji Malick Diouf will become the regular left-back, but that still leaves a centre-back, a central midfielder, a left winger and a striker as immediate priorities.
No doubt if David Sullivan were still at the club, we’d already be hearing that famous old line of, “We tried.”
I’m sure West Ham’s owners are trying too, but they’ll need to step things up this week. Because if we start the season ponderously and look off the pace, patience and understanding will turn into frustration very quickly.
Kilman is more than good enough, Golambeckis looks more than good enough too. He is a rolls Royce of a defender and we need to give him time on the pitch to physically acclimatise to the Championship.
Lamadrid or Cornet should be wide left which will be adequate and Orford should have more time in the middle, he has the skill and ability to unlock defences and he moves the ball quickly.
Much of our problems can be linked to a lack of direct running / pace and midfielders that are not press resistant, Orford is pretty good but he needs a partner the rest of them can all be got at.
We heard that the strategy was to buy Pl ready players and that is what I am expecting not the has beens we are mostly linked with.
Not that it changes the sentiment one bit, but it is actually just under 3 weeks (just clutching at straws). It is not that some of us have a negative attitude, we’ve just seen it all too many times and there is a point where trying to be positive is just ignoring the obvious. The trend is set by the people at the top, and their priority at the moment is purely financial. Rebranding West Ham as a team of the future is going to take time, more than a season.
Well said Ray
For me, the worrying thing is our lack of creativity in the middle. In the championship, we can expect teams to sit back and hit us on the break but we have nobody with the ability to unlock a defence or take players on through the middle. The fact is, we haven’t replaced our two biggest performers (aside from Bowen who was poor in the final stages of last season) and we are still stuck with the deadwood that let us down. New blood needed desperately before I start looking forward to the new season.
It all hints at us not having money to spend.
I’m trying to keep the faith, in that this board are dealing with purchases in much the same way they dealt with the selling of players. Basically no leaks or even fake leaks to the press before hand. And we will soon announce the signing of some players we the fans knew nothing about. That is the hope if it doesn’t materialise soon I will have to join the naysayers in their negative attitude towards our chances in the coming year.
This is a story going round in circles don’t need to read last chapter already know the ending.
Everybody knows what’s needed apart from management or they just won’t accept it.
Nuno has a stubbornness in his DNA hoped Silva could use his long friendship with persuasion.
Experimenting players out of position should be left at the training ground.
Team already light in numbers which won’t help with a decent sub bench.
Using preseason fitness seems a very thin excuse.
Far too slow no midfield creator , no pace anywhere it’s poor . The board and Nuno need decent players on board and quick. Why are we taking so long , it’s poor.
You had me until you tried to cite Soucek as a solution to our ‘speed’ problem… 😉
There are two issues as far as I can see.. Firstly, that there is a hangover from relegation, which is better served by bringing in new, excited and hungry players, rather than relying on those who are already frustrated by having to play in the Championship.
Secondly, said new, excited and hungry played come from buying League 1’s top performers, the best players in the Championship last season and rising talent from secondary leagues – not PL has-beens or loans…
It’s vital that we bring new energy in to lift everyone. It’s about culture and personality, not just about technical ability.
I don’t really understand this constant commenting about keeping last years core team together. That core team was not good enough because we got relegated. So far, we have lost 2 of that core team from 25/26 and gained no one of same/better quality. I am hoping that Nils has lined up suitable purchases for those four positions you mention (plus a few more), but Ivan already hear the ‘it will take a while for our new players to work their way into the team’. Meanwhile we will be in mid table and end up having to rely on the play offs again. We know what happens next June if we don’t get promoted don’t we.
Spot on Gonzo Imn truly worried for us
And the enforcement of the panic period is beginning for t’internet spewing.
For me Gonzo they should be prioritising a number 10 and a left winger. We must have options here before the season start as if we are mid table end of Aug then it becomes an even tougher sell to get quality in. We have Diouf to come in for Scarles and still think we are more than adequate in defence but yes too reliant on Dinos now. No real cover for Taty and Bowen also needs addressing at some point and if we could get an upgrade in midfield, that would be good also.
I doubt if Diouf or Dinos will stay playing championship football on half pay . Once a decent Premier or European team show interest they will ‘be off. West Ham can say not for sale, doesn’t work like that.
Yes Timbo, both are needed mate
We sure do weeks ago, they are good at selling, but just talk the talk about the rest, we’ve had Sullivan’s BS for years and this is starting to smack of more of the same, link to, keeping eye on, keen on, looking at, all BS fans, over 50 thousand fans brought season tickets, and it’s looking and starting to feel like it was all just to get fans signed up, what’s our new director of recruitment waiting for, what the hell is he doing