NOT even the midpoint in the international break and with the West Ham United team all dispatched for a well-earned break from football, the ‘Hammers’ stories are a bit thin on the ground this weekend. No representation in ‘that’ England team and few stories relating to other squad members in their international sides surfacing at this hour on a Sunday morning provides an opportunity to pause and reflect.
A perfect opportunity, then, for a little honest opinion regarding our sides’ second tier status, looking back on the first couple of months and my suggesting, as many fans predicted last year, that relegation has been a blessing in disguise.
Not, specifically, because it freed us from the BS regime: That was a happy co-incidence of timing, welcome though it was.
The desertion by many players who frankly couldn’t be *rsed to play for the shirt.
The opportunities for academy players like Mo Kanté, Fin Herrick and Lewis Orford that would never have occurred had we struggled along for another season in the Premier League. Teenagers now becoming nailed-on first team regulars.
The installation of a recruitment director who seems to have a plan and works well alongside a manager who, together, are creating a young, vibrant, energetic team rather than a cobbled together group of overpaid egos. A reborn captain who is back scoring and creating goals – and smiling to boot. A far cry from his very public anguish at the side’s failure last season.
But overall, a team that seems to be pulling together: Going behind, yes, but capable of fighting back, scoring goals and allowing fans to look forward to games once again, instead of enduring them. Scoring a shedload of goals helps: And no VAR. Who knew. The joy is back.
The opportunities which relegation has given many young players has been hugely enjoyable to watch
Behind the scenes, West Ham have a new acting chief executive, chief financial officer and recruitment director along with many new faces who are quietly working behind the scenes to heal the supporter – club rift. All of these changes, plus – once the “I’s” are dotted and the ‘T’s” crossed – Daniel Kretinsky’s position as the club’s biggest shareholder, means being part of West Ham United -whether a fan, an employee or a player – is something to feel proud of again.
It isn’t perfect, but for now, the club’s relegation reset has, ironically, created a feel-good factor that I suspect has taken me and many others by surprise.
There are no plus points to being relegated
It will only be worth it if we get promoted and rebuild again, personally I preferred the trips abroad during the European campaigns and a lot of what you say could and should have happened prior to our fall from the PL, unfortunately Sullivan couldn’t run a bath never mind a football club
Every cloud has its silver linings but relegation definitely is a cloud due to the financial implications, especially if we don’t go back up at the end of the season.
None of this was necessary, all down to Sullivans at times frankly deranged decisions.
We needed to get back to our West Ham way of operating (modus operandi) and relegation was what was needed to give many of our supporters a reality check. They say that football is all about opinions, but for me the only opinions that actually count are those of a professional who happens to be Nuno at the helm.
Layer by layer, we seem to be getting things right now, from the top down. I have never seen as many academy players in the first team squad and playing…. NEVER. Nuno has also incorporated former Academy coaches Potts and Prenderville into the first teams coaching team, who are no doubt making the transition easier for the academy youngsters joining the first team squad.
For some, no manager will ever be good enough, if the truth be told. This is the same problem over at the Spuds, changing managers regularly and expecting success, this used to be the main reason why we mocked them as a club because of their delusions.
There was a reason why this club has had so few managers over it’s entire history and some seem to have forgotten this.
Give Evolution a chance.
So much of the good stuff you mention is NOT because of relegation. For all the positives you raise you are ignoring the fact that even this current team will struggle to stay in the Premiership. We all know how hard it is for a promoted team to survive. Where will the money come from to buy quality players next season when we have a £190 million liability that will come back to haunt us.
100%!!
I love that we have been getting rid of the over paid ego’s, just a few more to go.
I love that the youngsters are fitting in so well alongside the seniors: Kante, Orford, Herrick, Golambekis, Ajala, Mayers….. I hope we see more of them!!
I love that there is no VAR and spontaneous celebrations can return.
I love that we now seem to have a bit more spirit, grit, and fight to get something out of tough games.
I love that Sullivan is no longer controlling transfers, and at last we seem to have a transfer policy coming together.
I don’t always love Nuno’s tactics, but we are winning, so he has my support to krep on doing what he’s doing.
COYI