This is quite disconcerting. I am a Jeremiah as you know, somebody who will see the dark side of the moon on a blazing hot summer's day, but even I'm beginning to feel uncomfortably optimistic as we head towards the new season.
This happens to me to a certain extent almost every year of course. Two seasons ago I posted how we could challenge for a place in the top four, comparing Cole and Ashton to Sutton and Shearer, and promoting the idea of using Etherington and Faubert as out an out wingers for home games, pinging in crosses for our two big men to bury. Sadly, Ashton's injury put paid to that, but it looked promising briefly as we banged in the goals at home to Wigan, Blackburn and Newcastle.
Last season was different. It was obvious to me that the squad was threadbare and ill equipped to cope with a Premiership season - but the Claret and Blue Klan were convinced that under Zola's brilliant stewardship we were top 10 certainties! How absurd does that sound now?
But everything is different now. If we sign Ben Haim and a full back, I think we have a more than reasonable squad. If we sign a quality striker and don't sell anybody, I think we will be equipped to push for a Europa League place! Hang on, did I just type that? Deep breath. Hasty rethink. Let's try that sentence again. If we sign a quality striker and don't sell anybody, I think we will be equipped to push for a Europa League place! Bloody hell, it's come out exactly the same!
Why the optimism? Well five friendly wins on the bounce is a pretty good inducer of a feel good factor, amongst players and fans alike. True, opponents have included MK Dons and Peterborough, but you can only beat what is put in front of you - and a 1-0 victory at Ipswich in the Cup would be a well received result. The victory over Borussia meanwhile is looking bloody impressive given their victory today over Liverpool and then there is the triumph over Champions League qualifiers Panathinaikos. All in all, that's not a bad nap hand!
But more impressive than that is the way Sullivan, Gold and Grant are addressing the weaknesses exposed last season. Piquionne may not be Klose, but he is an experienced striker who will score at least as many as Franco. Importantly, we are still trying to sign another striker and it appears increasingly unlikely that Cole will be sold. He has been given the number 9 shirt and has worn the captain's armband. Why if we are planning to sell him? Pulis, meanwhile has confirmed that Stoke are not interested. If that extra striker arrives, we will have Cole, Piquionne, McCarthy and A.N.Other, with Sears, Hines and Nouble providing added depth. Then there is Diamanti who, despite all the rumours, remains a West Ham player.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Der Hammer and Barerra has changed the complexion of the midfield which suddenly has much more attacking threat. The persistent selection of Faubert as a wide man on the right is also exciting. Five of our first six goals two seasons ago came from Faubert assists. If Grant can get the guy playing to his potential, he may yet merit the nickname TGV instead of Faux Pas! Incredibly, as I write, Dyer is still fit! If we can get 30 games out of him this season then...OK, I know, that is a huge IF but that's what a feel good factor does to you! And then there is Stanislas and Diamanti to come off the bench! I will not discuss Parker or Behrami here, let's wait and see what happens with those two. And Kovac? Well he is an option!
The defence remains a concern but I'm hoping for new arrivals to toughen us up at the back. Again Ben Haim may not be ideal but he has played for Chelsea under Jose and the Very Special One doesn't suffer fools does he? I'm hoping Ilunga will be back to his best and that Gabbidon can stay fit. He is a former Hammer of the Year remember and, if back to full fitness, is no mug. Daprela is an exciting prospect to cover Ilunga meanwhile. So it is that right back berth we need to fill.
As for Green and Upson, well they have something to prove. I fancy both to have strong seasons. Green will retire one day as the great "If only" keeper!
So with Noble finding his form again, Boa banging in the goals and Collison coming back in January, there are plenty of reasons to look on the bright side of life!
This isn't a great Prem meanwhile. Chelsea and Man Utd remain in a different league to the rest although Man City may yet buy themselves a passport to success. But I don't think that will happen personally. Villa aren't that special and I fancy Tottenham will implode when the Champions League venture goes awry. Liverpool minus Torres are little better than ordinary.
Look at the Fulham team of the last two seasons and I reckon we are just as strong so why shouldn't we do as well as they did? If there are no sales, therefore, I reckon the Europa League is a realistic target. Shit, I've just said it again. I think I may need to lay down!
The only thing you got wrong in that article is the name of "Olympiakos" (we have in fact played the Greek champions who are Panathinaikos). Other than that, I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI also feel strangely optimistic about this season. We badly need a good right back of course. But other than that we are likely to have a better midfield and speed on the wings which we lacked last year. Most importantly AG seems to know what he is doing. That is perhaps the most significant change!
Corrected. Bloody pedantic Greeks! ; }
ReplyDeleteI still think that not one player has left yet and some will go before the transfer deadline. If all the players are for sale as stated by G&S (apart from Parker) then some will move on.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, Parker fancies European football so he will hand in a transfer request at anytime.
This then changes everything and we will be thin on the ground again.
Plus we have many players still at the club from last year when they were so apalling inc. Spector, Kovac, Upson.
I like the optimisitic article but there is still a month until the transfer deadline closes and also we need a RB / LB / Striker and replace any outgoing players like Parker.
You probably got the Greek names wrong on purpose you English ignoramus.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, there isn't a greater insult for a Greek fan than using "Olympiakos" to refer to "Panathinaikos" and vice-versa.
Pete, you seem to be forgetting how good Ilunga looked before the injury. I have faith. he was my choice for Hammer of the Year two seasons back. If Parker goes (which I expect), I fancy we will sign K Prince-B from Pompey. he will do me nicely! I actually think we will be stronger and will bank a tidy profit. Yes the situation will change IF players are sold but UNTIL that happens, let's stay positive shall we?
ReplyDeleteI friggin love this site. You're such an obtuse bastard!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd risk Dyer by putting him in the squad. You KNOW he ain't gonna last thirty games. He won't even make double figures
ReplyDeleteMy God did I just read that HF is advising others to stay positive?
ReplyDeleteHF are you sure you didn't have too much drink or coming down with something?
You can change the squad in January. In fact, I think you can put players in if you take players out at any point in the season, but I may be wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf I had had something to drink it wouldn't be Retsina or Ouzo mate! Nope just two glasses of Chardonay actually. Did you see the Cole goal against Ipswich? Well scrappy! But Carlton scored whilst falling over! Now if he can work on that, he's guaranteed to double his strike rate! ; ]
ReplyDeleteLMAO re Cole. Great article. You must be sick or something!
ReplyDeleteHF,
ReplyDeleteGood point on K Prince-B, I think he will be a good addition.
Obviously the larger fee we command for Parker then the less players we need to move on. I wouldn't take anything less than £10-£12m for him. However, more BS from G&S this week that Parker is not for sale and he is central to the team and the vision etc.
But the reason why I am not positive is that G&S are sneaky bastards. They harp on about a trophy signing and then like in the Beckham case they get found out that they haven't even made contact with him or his agent when they say they are awaiting a response from him.
There statement at the end of last season was clear about them putting most of the team up for sale yet no one has left.
Ilunga, yeah he had a good first season but like any player in our team including Dyer which one's will remain injury free? and then who replaces them from the squaad we have. OK Daprella can cover at LB but I can't see him playing every game at his young age.
Just remember last season in the lead up to the close of the transfer window when we lost Collins. If the same were to happen, and we receive a bid for a player that is too good to refuse then where does that leave us with filling any vacancies? More crappy loan signings?!!
I do like the look of the Ajax striker though and a loan has been touted for him. Not bad for someone that cost €16.5m not long ago.
Europa League your arse. Bloody spammers. Tottenham implode in your dreams. Where you towing your caravan to this summer then.
ReplyDeletepiss of back to the totscum boards. good artical. good season ahead.
ReplyDeleteSomeone tell HF his site's been hacked! All this positiveness?! I reckon it's Dale. This is what gave it away: "I fancy we will sign K Prince-B from Pompey. he will do me nicely!"
ReplyDeleteGee - looks like the doctor has found the right pills for you at last HF. Your going to need them when the new season starts.
ReplyDeleteNow, there's something we agree on. I hate retsina too. But ouzo is really nice with ice. Try having an ouzo with ice before your next article. Who knows what you come up with. You may even write a piece praising Zola! Ouzo is the drink of the Gods.
ReplyDeleteI like this new improved version of HF - no abuse - long may it continue my only criticism "Chardonnay!" (double N) that's a bird's drink! if you're going to drink wine it should be a nice rough Rioja, Chianti or a Barolo.
ReplyDeleteYeah, bought by the wife mate.
ReplyDeleteYour optimism is a refreshing change as I am not a fan of your dooms-day-esque articles and I normally tell you too.
ReplyDeleteHowever you seem to have tipped the balance by going a bit too far into the optimistic camp.
I am usually an optimist but years of supporting West Ham have slowly hacked away at my optimism so that now I would call myself more of a realist.
A Europa place is achievable but we certainly should not be expecting to compete for it. Grant has brought in some good players and we've been pretty positive in the transfer market but the new players will take time to settle and the current players will take time to adjust to the new manager. In theory this could work imediately but realistically we have to look at this transition season as a season of consolidation, with a mid-table finish the goal, and look to build next season.
Again, nice to hear a positive article for once, but don't get too carried away!
Indeed, don't get too comfortable with this Mr. Positive image. In case you get the urge to criticize and doom-say again a good title for your next article would be: "The calm before the storm" or "Exodus".
ReplyDeletePeople seem to forget that Behrami is an international right back. Thats what we signed him as. The only reason everyone now considers him to be a midfielder is because of Zola and its quite clear he doesnt have the offensive qualitys to be a midfielder. So now that Zola has been exposed as a halfwit can we now stop going along with HIS judgement and start playing him at right back. One problem solved there HF.
ReplyDeleteGood point 12.52. I so much got used to seeing Behrami in midfield that I forgot this very important fact. I hope he can be a good right back and used by Grant in that position because we really need to fill that space well. I still think we need to buy another good right back however. This is our weakest point in the team. which, as we all know, was exploited by many teams last year.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is, he has looked crap when we have used him as a full back. His tackling technique is supect and his crossing is hopeless. So by what criteria is he a full back?
ReplyDeleteCaution HF!
ReplyDeleteWe mustn't go on pre-season form. It's a very strong league this year and we have a difficult start.
How is it a strong league Stani? Blackpool, Newcastle, West Brom, Sunderland, Wigan, Wolves, Bolton - none of those are much cop!
ReplyDeleteMutiny abound at WHTID.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what's happened but it's a very odd read today.
HF,
ReplyDeleteWhilst I admit the three relegation candidates will probably be easier to pick out than last year, we hopefully won't be judging ourselves against them will we? So, that leaves the rest of the league and it is that which seems very tough to me. There is going to be some fierce competition from 10-17.
Anon 1537,
Yes, I think people are beginning to realise a lot of things about Dale. Even his past chums like the headmaster. He had it coming though, as I told him.
...and by naming those 7, are you saying we're gonna finish 13th HF? It's about right.
ReplyDeleteNope. I think we are stronger than Blackburn, Stoke, Fulham and Birmingham as well. So what's that, 9th? If Tottenham implode, Villa slump, Everton just do ok...
ReplyDelete...Man utd, Chelsea, Arsenal? :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't say we would win the Prem!
ReplyDeleteWhy not HF? 11 men, two arms, two legs...what the bloody hell are we fearing. It's time to make history :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the spirit Stani! We need more people to believe it. Most importantly the players!
ReplyDelete...nope, I think I've been trying too many of those drinks you guys have been talking about Sav!
ReplyDeleteWell, if it takes ouzo to make us believe then perhaps we should ship a container to Upton Park. This way, even if we lose, it will feel like a win.
ReplyDeleteBut really without believing, it never happens. I always say that the mentality needs to change at Upton Park. Not just for the owners and the players but also the fans. If we believe we can compete at the top then nothing will stop us getting there.
As Man City is finding out, money is not everything. Money does not guarantee you success. Although I must say it is very useful to have some. But I think we have enough to enable us compete at the top. But the hardest part, is how to make everyone, and most importantly the players, believe it.
I probably had too much ouzo myself tonight. See, it works!
Sav,
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you about belief.
And by the way, I'm teetotal! Never have, and never will touch the devil's p*ss. I've always wondered though, what's the fascination with it? How do people sit there and drink jugs of the stuff? I mean, it's just a drink right?
Wonder what the count for positive and negative hits is on this post? Interesting! Or not!
ReplyDeleteStani,
ReplyDeleteIf you never had it you will never know. It is about feeling merry and relaxed while having the impression that you are in full control despite the fact that you are gradually losing consciousness! I am sure HF can describe it better. This is the best I can do.
HF, this post includes so much alcohol, ergo, the positive hits!