Despite relegation from the Premier League, Bill West is remaining positive about the Hammers.
It’s nice to know that for once, West Ham United are favourites for something. This season, the Hammers are favourites to win promotion from the Championship into the Premier League at the first attempt. If you look at the squad and the manager, you have to say there is no other result possible other than promotion this season.
The first team is full of talented players with plenty of Premier League experience. It was a real coup by Sam Allardyce in signing Kevin Nolan in the summer. To buy someone who was one of the best players in the Premier League last year for a small transfer fee is a great piece of business.
The spine of the team is very strong, Robert Green is a definite Premiership goalkeeper and it would be a bonus if he stayed after the transfer window. James Tomkins and Winston Reid are a solid Championship defensive pairing.
In the opening games this season, the midfield three has been Nolan, Mark Noble and Scott Parker. That is a midfield that would do well in the Premiership, let alone the Championship. A strikeforce of Carlton Cole, John Carew, Frederic Piquionne and new signing Sam Baldock will tear up most opposition defences this season.
It’s fair to say so far this season; results have been a mixed bag. Away from home, the Hammers have been fantastic, racking up wins over Doncaster Watford and Nottingham Forest. However, there has been contrasting fortunes at Upton Park; on the opening day, a last minute Kenny Miller goal condemned West Ham to defeat where a point was the least we deserved. The match against Leeds United was a fantastic spectacle of football, a real joy to watch, but once again a late goal was conceded. The Carling Cup match verses Aldershot was a very poor affair, we looked comfortable with 11 men but once debutant Callum McNaughton was sent off after half time, the team fell apart and defended in all honest, like a bunch of amateurs, which isn’t a very good sign, and the team collapsed to a 2-1 defeat.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, I have no worries about the midfielders and strikers we possess. Scoring goals shouldn’t be a problem, once the team is more blended, I can see West Ham decimating most of the division. Even if Scott Parker leaves the club in this transfer window, the likes of Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas are easily good enough to slot in.
The problem this season could be in defence. I like the look of Joey O’Brien, he has been very impressive so far, but if Allardyce could get another quality right-back, it would do our season no harm. It’s the same story at centre back. Tomkins, Reid and Abdoulaye Faye are decent defenders, but a Premier League quality defender would be a bonus. A couple of bodies at the back are needed because we have been suspect from set-pieces, especially at home.
If Big Sam signs a couple more defenders, it could be a very good season for West Ham. The midfield and strikers looks very good and adding to that some more defenders would mean a very good possibility of promotion at the first attempt.
Up the Hammers!
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I think the players Sam’s signed are quality and l do think we’ll do well. The departure of Upson was a godsend for Tomkins, as l think he’s blossomed and grown into a really good centre back, now Upson’s not holding him back and the partnership with Reid has been excellent so far. I like the look of this Guy Demel, he’ll add some steel to the back four. I really don’t see a weakness in the squad, especially with the acquisition of the likes of Bently, Lansbury and the pacey Baldock and Montenegro, like you say Bill….all bodes well…………..COYI ‘><'