Has it been a good summer for West Ham?

With the World Cup a distant memory and the new season trailers on Sky every 5 minutes, it seems like the right time for me to wake myself up from my summer slumber and start to get into the rhythm of the new season.  I did make a decision not to post every single bit of transfer gossip on the blog, simply because there is too much rubbish around and I’d be here all day.  I’m not sure any of us expect Henry and Ronaldinho to be pulling on the claret and blue and I didn’t really want to be a part of the circus that entertains such ideas.  So I left the speculation to the tabloids and waited for the facts to come home, and now that things are taking shape, it seems like a good time to reflect on the world of the Hammers.

First of all, our new manager Avram Grant.  I’ve not seen him in action in terms of a match yet, but from his press conferences and interviews, he has come across well.  He quietly goes about the job of acquiring the players, rather than speculating like crazy like old saggy face in North London.  He carries an authority with him and does not appear to be desperate to be liked, which was one of old Franco’s flaws as a manager.  And certainly, on the pitch, things have been going well.

I’m not one to get too excited or downhearted about pre season friendlies, but the results have certainly been decent, with wins against top class European sides.  All the reports suggest Hitzlsperger is a class act and will work well with Parker in the middle.  The new additions will give us added dimensions.  I really liked Piquonne when I saw him last season he just seemed to make centre halves un-comfortable and could hold the ball up well.  I’d like to see another right back and centre half and then I think we will have a good enough team for comfortable survival.

The other crucial element of course is who we keep.  There is plenty of speculation about Scott Parker at the moment, moving the club to make a statement that he is the player we build around.  I want Scott to stay – sure, every player has his price and if someone came in with a silly £20m bid, I understand the club would have to sell, but until we hit that level, Scott must remain ours.

Anyway, I’m approaching the new season with optimism and though Villa away is a tricky start, I have a good feeling about our home opener against Bolton.  I think we will see a new West Ham with a real core strength throughout the team married to some genuine flair from some of our new players.  A good reason to be awake in August at last!  Come on you Irons!!!

Comments

[Sam]

Good Post, I think Barrera will be a good player for us also !

[stewart]

Positivity and good vibes new management and a little bit of cash.
Suddenly the garden is looking a bit more sunshiney and also a better future for all hammers fans.
And god how we need it after the last eighteen months.

[Elliott Burton]

not so sure....cole, piquonne and mccarthy...none of them will hit 15 goals a season will they, lucky if its 15 between them...our defense is also dedicedly dodgy and looking vunerable. and none of the deadwood has been shifted, why the fuk was boa morte given a new contract, why are spector and kovac still there, why havnt we flogged upson and got someone half decent in and why hasnt kieran dyer been put down? we've sold no-one, which given the sulliavns dyer warnings about our finances seems unrelaistic, so don't be suprised if the likes of diamanti, behrami, illuunga etc end up being flogged and our squad not looking so great.

[Football Furlong]

COME ON GRANT! PFA Football Furlong Raceday at Royal Windsor Racecourse on Sunday, 8th August 2010.

Come and support West Ham next Sunday for our chance to win some Premiership silverware at Football’s Day at the Races on Sunday, 8th August 2010 to watch the horses thunder past the winning post.

Football Furlong brings together two of the UK’s great sporting passions – football and racing. Horses and jockeys will race in the shirt colours of Premiership football teams. Each result earns points for the club being represented, points that go towards the PFA Football Furlong League table. At the end of the afternoon the winning football club will lift the PFA Football Furlong trophy.

As well as the racing, there will be lots to see and lots to do. Football stars past and present will be there on the day, and Chelsea FC’s Football in the Community team will be providing free football masterclasses throughout the morning. The infamous Mascot Challenge will also take place and we promise this will be a great day out for everyone.

[jbhammer]

1Although I agree about why did we not dispose of Boa Morte and dyer and I also agree that spector and upson should have been sold on also, I would assume that no one else is daft enough to buy them. We could use them in the second team, and they would be useful subs incase any of the main team get injured, I would have thought though that the most logic way forward is to remove the dead wood which in turn would decrease our wage bill and maybe earn a little in sales cash so we will be ready for a swoop at Xmas should we need any position on the field strengthed. Never mind the management seem tobe very competent and they seem to be bringing in some decent players thought thee REALLY MUST STRENGTHEN OUR leaking defense. jb

[bryansmith]

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