Sunday 20 May 2012

Allardyce Draws Up His Long List Of Transfer Targets

So now the hard work starts. In truth, as the final league positions of the three relegated teams shows - third, fourth and fifth - the Championship is a sub standard division that is nowhere near as hard to get out of as some would have us believe. Norwich and Southampton have both gone through the division without pausing in the last two seasons too, suggesting that the gulf is between the Prem and the Championship rather than the Championship and the old Division Three.

The need to bolster the squad is urgent. People got carried away about Demel on the back of a few decent games but he is not fast enough nor good enough for the Prem. With Faubert off - we hope - and O'Brien not good enough, we need two right backs for starters. The left back situation is no better. Taylor is fine as a left back in the Championship but, as Blackpool proved yesterday, he is vulnerable when up against a good opponent. And McCartney is, at best, cover in the Prem

Can Tomkins and Reid hack it in the Prem as a pairing? I would give them a go but we obviously need more experience in the centre of defence. Faye is another who has done a job this year but who will struggle when up against quality, pacey strikers. So that's two centre backs too! We are up to five players already!

The midfield will be controversial. Can Noble cope in the Prem? I think so but his performance yesterday was disappointing. Collison? Not for me. Squad player at best. O'Neil? The same holds for him too. Taylor? Let's not forget that he wasn't good enough for Bolton and where are Bolton now? Nolan? He's been there, seen it and done it. He will still be key to Sam's plans.

And what about the strikers? Baldock? There's already talk of him leaving - on loan at least. Maynard? Not good enough for me. A useful squad player perhaps. Cole? He has looked very impressive in the playoffs and over the last few games of the season. A summer's rest may see him return stronger and more mobile. He has taken his chances well recently so maybe, maybe, he is about to realise his potential. And Vaz Te? He has been the difference for me, a great Allardyce signing.

Which leaves Green. Watch that Blackpool goal again. Green should have been off his line and a yard to his right. He got his angles totally wrong for me and it reminded me of a Wolves goal in that 1-3 home defeat under Zola. I would rather have Robinson and / or Jussi personally.

So here's the rub with Allardyce's strategy. He built a machine to grind its way out of the Championship but that machine is likely to break down badly in the Prem. We need nine or ten new players with the likes of Demel, Faubert, Diop, Faye, O'Brien and Carew being shown the door, Baldock leaving on loan and McCartney (if we sign him), Collison, O'Neil and probably Reid becoming squad players. Blackburn and Bolton players will figure prominently on Allardyce's wish list, but they both came down this season for a reason - and that reason wasn't just that The Ego was no longer their manager.

Yesterday was great for bonding. Fans, manager, captain, players - we were United in joy. It's a shame that sense of unity is about to be lost, but as Alan Sugar twattered yesterday, without new players we will struggle. But for all that, it's great to be back isn't it? Who wants to win most weekends? Where's the fun in that?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's about right HF - good result, with 'luck' going our way. The owners will have to spend and Sam will have to build another team for the PL. And we definitely don't need nonentities like Sugar to tell us what we already know - he's nothing to do with West Ham or football for that matter. Just another mouthy "Ratner" type, stating what is obvious. He should stick to flogging rubbish to the gullible.

Jeffers said...

I agree with just about everything you say. Other than Tomkins, we need a new back line. And assuming that BFS sticks with 4-3-3, we will need a Parker-like player in midfield to sit in front of the back four and behind Noble & Nolan. Vaz Te will be ok on the right side of the forward 3, but we will need a left-sided player to play on the opposite side . The obvious answer for me is bring back Joe Cole! He should be available for next to nothing I would have thought. It would also be a kind of "marquee" signing that I am sure the board will be looking to do. I would also look to "upgrade" Carlton Cole if possible and use him as our backup striker. All depends how much money is available of course..... And of course we'll need a new keeper on the assumption that Green goes - either as 1st choice or backup for Henderson (not seen him play yet so can't comment).

Anonymous said...

In addition the likes of Diop, Spence, Nouble and Sears need to be shown the door. Robert Hall and Ravel Morrison should be able to at least figure on our bench due to the 7 sub rule in the Premiership. A mass overhaul of the squad is needed. I am sure that Sam had a Plan A and a Plan B for his squad make-up before yesterday's game. The hard work does indeed begin now

Anonymous said...

mate why don't you just accept that west ham are back in the big time and acknowledge what the rest of the west ham faitful accept we are never gonna win the prem but lets just enjoy things before scrutinizing and riping the team apart.

Anonymous said...

I noticed the exact same thing about Green. I couldnt understand why he just stood there and reacted rather than try and close the angle down and help Taylor/Reid. I do like Green but that was a bad mistake in my eyes. Bolton have released few players on a free so im sure big sam will be picking up a couple.
AppyAmmer

Johntan said...

Huge Congratulations to the players and especially Big Sam! This isn't the same team that was playing the worst football we have ever seen up until about March. He has changed the style and although we didn't show it yesterday this team now plays good football that we can ne proud of. I can't wait until next season when he gets a better squad together.

USA Dave said...

I was talking with friends about the back line yesterday, and despite a good year in the N we need help at central defense. Left and Right are obvious, so no need to re-hash that.

Up front, I think it would be very dangerous to rely on Cole. Do you think Owen would be worth a look considering he could be had on a pay as you play kind of deal?

It will be another rebuilding job for sure, but I dont believe Sam has ever been relegated. So thats a plus.

Hammersfan said...

1151, you stay still and you fall behind. We are three weeks behind Reading and Southampton already, no point pulling the best bird at a party and leaving her chatting to a handsome new arrival. Strike whilst the Irons are hot!

Anonymous said...

Just enjoy it, yes we need to sign a few and yes we are a few weeks behind but what deals get done early...Collison was obviously struggling so think he can do better

spyinthesky said...

Actually that is the second time recently that Green has been beaten in that way. Far too slow reacting and flat footed a good keeper should rarely ever be beaten quite so easily like that and he was nowhere near a shot that even I in my prime would have hoped to have got fingers to.

Anonymous said...

cul de sac writes...


We definitely need 5-6 players, with the rythm and experience of first division to keep us up there. Demel has shown his limits, physically speaking, because otherwise he is very solid and technically above average. We need another center half, and of course someone left (Mc Cartney is great as a tema player, with great attitude, but remember he's on loan, not ours). There are plenty of affordable players for that position, especially if you look in other leagues (Italy, Germany, Spain) that have defensive experience, skill, and want to come to London and play in the first division (not talking about Fabio Grosso or a Milan player).

Anyway, as the Depeche Mode album says, "Contruction time again". But please, don't bring in losers from Bolton or Blackburn. And don't bring in grandads like Jaskulainen. Also, there are lots of goalies that can do as well or better than Green and also would like to come to London (Proto perhaps, several keepers in the Spanish championship, several in the French league, even a couple of them from the Dutch Championship).

I'll be looking forward to all that !

Midfield, we need a good defensive midfielder. If Only we could get someone like Vertonghen... Plus a couple of other players that will strenghten considerably our midfield. Control midfield, you get control of the game. Just like chess. Lose it, you're doomed. See what happened against Reading, and even yesterday. Lost balls in midfield turned into goals because the opponents dove in our defense and made it look like soft butter.

Forward, maybe we could get Lukaku on loan from Chelsea ? Lad is very good, but hasn't received any credit at Chelsea, and will not get any at all next year, for sure. I don't favour a return of Cole. What motivation will he have ? Will he be fit physically ?

Anonymous said...

who would you sign then HF, it's all well and good identifying areas that need strengthening but it's another matter finding the right players. I'm interested to know which players you would sign as I value your opinion...

Anonymous said...

Personally I really don't think Vaz Te will cut it in the prem. I actually think Maynard is a far superior player to Vaz Te, but Vaz Te is a better winger and Maynard cannot play upfront on his own. In a 4-4-2, Maynard could get double figures in the prem in my opinion. BUT as you point out, we can't play 4-4-2 with Nolan. Did anyone else Nolan out on the right for 5 minutes at Wembley until Big Sam realised that it is physically impossible to play 2 up top with Nolan in the side. I'm really hoping that maybe, the way we played this year (i.e. some horrendous matches, football wise) might work better in the prem. It sounds stupid, but maybe if we play with sheer brute force instead of fancy passes like we did alot of the time this season, it might wrok better in this league. Worked alright for Stoke didn't it!

Hammersfan said...

You are right 1901, and I'm not sure if I am honest. I would have Robinson and Jussi to cover the keeper position, Kevin Doyle from Wolves, Joe Cole, Scott Dann from Blackburn, Bertrand on loan from Chelsea, Tevez on loan from Man City (with a Thrd party paying his wages?)...I supposev it all hinges on who is available and who wants to come. I would never have guessed Nolan before we signed him!

Jezzy jez said...

For every 1 goal that goes past Green,He makes 10 amazing saves that most keepers would not be able to make.He was brilliant all season.It is our back 4 which allows too many opportunities to shoot.People need to lay off him.