After claims West Ham were ‘too good to go down’, writer Dean Mears asks the question, are West Ham now ‘too good not to go up?’
There’s a phrase used a lot in football, not one I particularly agree with, but you get the idea of it, it’s “too good to go down”. It was used to describe West Ham’s squad last year, a team with England internationals Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker as its spine, who were surrounded by such talents as Thomas Hitzlsperger, Wayne Bridge and Demba Ba, surely this group of players were too good to be in relegation trouble. However as I always say, it’s not how good your players are, it’s how good you play as a team, which is why West Ham now find themselves in the Championship. Despite relegation they still have quality players such as Green, Parker, Cole, Kevin Nolan and John Carew, so are they now too good not to go up?
West Ham had an appalling season last year, with Avram Grant at the helm there seemed a lack of team spirit, a lack of togetherness and of course a lack of results. There was one shining star though, Scotty Parker. Most say West Ham are nailed on to get promotion if he stays, although as I write this rumours are circulating of a £4 million QPR bid and I’m sure not many Hammers would begrudge their talisman a move. Even if Scotty leaves, Big Sam will seek his replacement, most probably on loan, but even if no one comes in the Irons still have Noble, Nolan and Faye as their midfield options.
Luckily over the summer, West Ham have been able to keep hold of some big players, as I’ve already mentioned, Green, Parker, Noble and Cole have all stayed, all of which are Premiership players. Add to that new signings Nolan, Carew and Faye, you find yourself scratching your head wondering if it’s been a mistake that this squad has been put into the Championship. Big spending Leicester were the early bookies favourites, but lots of new players will take time to gel, unlike those at West Ham, whose core has remained pretty similar.
There was an interesting debate on TalkSPORT, about West Ham’s midfield three that played against Watford and Arsenal’s midfield three that played against Udinese. Song, Wilshere and Rosicky or Parker, Noble and Nolan, which would you prefer? It’s actually a pretty tough one to answer. Parker would take Song’s place, Wilshere would be picked over Noble and it’s down to Rosicky or Nolan, I’d probably pick Nolan. The reason I mention this debate is to show just how good this West Ham squad is and if West Ham fail to get promotion, Big Sam could be out the door.
However, Sam has been there before and knows his football, he built a good team at Bolton Wanderers and in this writers humble opinion he can do it again at West Ham. The Championship is a long, tough season, with probably, the strongest line up of teams the league has ever had, and after the disappointing first game defeat by Cardiff, the Hammers have bounced back strongly with consecutive wins and clean sheets.
The only is way up.
Go have your say on Dean’s article at www.findingrowz.blogspot.com
