Monday 12 August 2013

Full marks to Sullivan & Gold - Again!

OK, I'm not a big fan of Downing, but if he is unveiled as a West Ham player tomorrow, you have to give huge credit to the owners again. After shelling out somewhere between £12m and £15m for Carroll, many of us thought that we would pad out the squad with loan signings and cheapies, but the Board had different ideas. The signing of Downing shows commitment and ambition the like of which we have rarely, if ever, known at Upton Park.

And it seems as if we can expect at least one more signing, with Allardyce demanding another striker. Finding the right man may now prove even more tricky, because with the sudden abundance of offensive midfielders, there's unlikely to be a berth on the flanks when Carroll is back in the team, so we need somebody happy to play second fiddle but good enough to step up to the plate when called upon. That man could have been Grant Holt but he is now at Wigan so God only knows who the club has in mind. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Tottenham's Kane in on loan. He is big, skilful and knows where the net is.

Given Allardyce stereotypically bypasses the midfield, it is amazing how many midfielders we now have in the squad: Nolan, Diame, Cole, Morrison, Jarvis, Downing (if he signs), Noble, Collison, Diarra, Vaz Te...we can now name an outfield of 10 midfield specialists! (Plus Taylor!) And we are still being linked with Barton and a Swedish international! This suggests that one or two might be let go and everybody will be hoping that Diame isn't on his way out for a big ticket fee. And quite a few of us will be praying that Noble stays too!

It seems that the days of us being a selling club really are a thing of the past, however. Duxbury made that claim, and promptly sold Bellamy & Collins, but now any sale really will be because Allardyce is happy to part with the player or because he spies a better value alternative.

We are not alone in spending big, of course. Cardiff and Swansea have invested big money and Norwich have brought in seven new players. The Sky money has encouraged a much greater sense of financial adventure.

Nevertheless, the Board's investment in the squad since bringing in Allardyce has been immense. Nolan signalled their intent. Jarvis shocked us. Carroll, on loan even, amazed us. And now Downing has come like a bolt from the Claret and Blue. I was suspicious of Sullivan and Gold when they arrived, but I was wrong. They really have done a fantastic job so far!

17 comments:

Verywestham said...

Gotta say that the evidence supports your position - has any player left under Allardyce who, in hindsight, we really regret losing - Scotty P seemed a devastating loss at the time but all Parker's rushing about, Nolan's goals got us back and then stabilised our position in the Premiership. Jussi has been a bargain replacement for greedy Green. The rest i can hardly recall...

Anonymous said...

Northern Hammer:

Well said... finally.

Anonymous said...

good sign but how much game time for ravel and cole I ask should have signed vydra on loan and waited to see what strikers were available on deadline my team for Saturday would be

Jussi

JOB Reid Collins Rat

Downing Diame Jarvis

Morrison Cole

Nolan

Subs Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Diarra, Collison, Noble, Maiga

although sam will never pick this team and this is the team I reckon if realistic


Jussi

JOB Reid Collins Rat

Downing Diame Cole Jarvis

Nolan

Maiga

Subs Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Diarra, Collison, Noble, Morrison

Unknown said...

be interesting....Morrison to start....surely...please

Sav said...

Please let Noble go, if anyone would take him...

Hammersfan said...

Sav you are back! Nobes sends his love!

USA Dave said...

I am eagerly awaiting FarenHammer to slam your evaluation of G&S. I agree with you 100%, however. The striker issue will be interesting. Some reports say we are done, with no room left on the wage bill under FFP. Yet lil man Jack tweeted that we are looking at an International striker. Im betting Maiga, Taylor, and Vaz Te will go to free up wages for a better striker than Maiga.

Hammersfan said...

So Dave, the first day of the test showed why many hate the game of cricket but today was one of the best day's test cricket you will ever see! Harris was superb for Australia and Broad immense for England. At 109 for none, I was getting worried even though every logical bone in my body said Australia didn't stand a West Ham at Old Trafford chance of getting 299 in the 4th innings. Magical stuff!

Anonymous said...

What a difference a signing makes! After being linked with just about every striker on the planet and then not get any of them, the transfer gloom was slowly descending! But the signing of downing and the performances of players who had become squad players before preseason has renewed the optimism that was buzzing around the club! So looking forward to seeing a lean, mean Joe cole, Morrison, the classy diarra! The confident Jarvis and mobo scoring goals! (Sorry, last name is a hope to far!). Also praying that we can bring in another quality striker and if Taylor and Vaz te have to go then so be it! COYI!

Unknown said...

huge hammer fan i still dont think we need a striker

we got rav turgott whithead maiga vaz te

if the quality of crosses are to be expected dont we just need someone to get thier body parts on the ball

barcelona dont play with a striker so whats the problem i think we need to just give the guys i named a xhance

Unknown said...

rav whitehead turgott maiga vaz te

do we really need another striker i dont think.we do

Anonymous said...

Liverpool......West Hams feeder club.......strange times

Anonymous said...

Going against the grain but why not Defoe for 5 mil?! Let's forget the past and consider the facts... A proven Goal scorer that could be a right handful up front feeding off big Andy when he's back. It also gives us something different up front if we need to swap things about a bit. Come on West Ham you know it makes sense!

Stani said...

Said it a while back, that once they got the stadium, they had little choice to do anything but invest in the playing squad. Had to be done. So I wouldn't take my eyes off of them just yet.

Stani said...

Did you see his PR master classes during pre-season, Sav? The official video of the OS? Starring Mark Noble. The blog on the site? Mark Noble. Every other post on the official Facebook page? Mark Noble. Photos to articles? Mark Noble. Interviews? Mark Noble.

Sav said...

With 10 midfielders in the squad I can't see Noble getting many games Stani, thank God. But doesn't HF love to annoy us! It is good to hear from you.

fred149 said...

Noble will still be first choice on the team sheet. His competition for the holding role is Diarra and he is awful, he cant even run.