Things seem to be coming along nicely under Big Sam. Okay, so we are not playing the most thrilling football, but we have become very hard to beat in the Championship and look in good position for an instant return to the Premier League. We seem to have a squad that includes plenty of Premier League experience and strength in depth. So, assuming we can achieve promotion, are we strong enough to stay where we belong and begin to look forward?
I would just like to say that this article doesn’t aim to count chickens. I am aware that it wouldn’t be un-West Ham like to finish third on goal difference and screw things up in the Play-offs, but we can all agree that automatic promotion is the aim and expectation.
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First of all, do we have the right man in charge? Big Sam has proved his credentials as a Championship manager, and his style suits the competitive and physical nature of the league. However, the Premier League is very different and he will need to alter a few things, but he has a good amount of Premier League experience and his sides always seem tough to beat in any league. He has managed to turn us into a resilient and well-organised team, things you could rarely associate with recent West Ham sides but will certainly be required if we are to consolidate ourselves as a Premier League side. So Big Sam’s job should be safe for at least a few years,perhaps until Paolo is ready to take the reigns.
The next issue is the players he has at his disposal. What areas are strong enough and where do we need to improve? I personally think our midfield is our strongest area and isn’t far from Premier League standard. Nolan has perhaps not fulfilled expectation this year but has proven himself in the Premier League before and Noble seems to get better every week. Faubert has also come on leaps and bounds this year but questions could be asked as to whether he can continue that form in the Premier League. Taylor’s delivery will certainly come in handy so all we are missing is a genuinely creative player. Hopefully Morrison will settle down and become the flare player we have lacked for so long, but whether he will just become a liability remains to be seen.
As far as the rear-guard is concerned,there is no doubt we have a Premier League goalkeeper in Rob Green, and we have 3 decent centre-backs but perhaps one more will be required in a Premier League squad. Joey O’Brien has done a reasonable job this year but I think he falls short of the Premier League standard and a new right back will be essential. McCartney is ‘Mr Consistent’ and should be good enough at left back but we have little in the way of cover for him, although Dan Potts looks like he could become a solid full-back for the future.
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As for the forwards, we certainly have enough of them but how many of them can play at the top level is a different matter. If Carlton Cole and Nicky Maynard can form a partnership then I think we could be onto a winner but that won’t happen if Allardyce continues to play one upfront. Baldock offers good movement, something we have shown a lack of recently at home and Vaz Te gives us something different with his willingness to run at his man and can also do a job on the wing, but can they cut it against the best defences in England?
Personally I would like to see a few more key signings if we do make it up. Although our squad looks fairly strong on paper, judging on recent home performances there is definitely something missing.
We may well certainly have enough to get us up there, but if we want to stay up then David Sullivan and David Gold may have to dip into there pockets again and turn us into a Premier League outfit. Promotion is just the first part of the job and it is imperative that we consolidate in the Premier League and avoid becoming a ‘yo-yo team.’
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Think you’re deluded my friend. Saw bottom 4 in action on MOTD last night – they are all better than us. Green,Nolan,Lansbury and perhaps Faye could hack it in Prem Lge but lets not forget how badly Noble and Tomkins struggled last 2 seasons. Cole has only scored 9 against champ defences. Reid, Collison,Faubert, Vaz Te, Maynard and Baldock are not good enough. ONeil,Taylor, Diop and McCartney are too slow. If we do go up – a big if given this week’s results – then we will need 10 players which will have to be a mix of loanees and the best of the relegated clubs – Moses, Fletcher, Doyle, Zamora would come to us I’m sure
Would nearly agree tony but I would have Nolan in those you picked and Lansbury will be back at the Gooners. For me only Green, Demel, would be left as possible 1st teamers, with, only Tomkins, Baldock and Maynard left as back up, everyone else needs shot of faye has been solid but he is to old for the Prem Nolan has been lazy all season and he wont change next, but all you have to do is look at the 3 teams that went up last year how would we fare for me it would be 6 losses right now
Perhaps I was a little optmistic, certainly reinforces will need to be made, but Noble and Tomkins in particular are still developing and I think Tomkins will certainly be good enough, a year in the champ would have done him good and he is already twice the player that was embarassed by bolton and before that wolves. Cole needs a strike partner but also needs to try and get back to the form he showed under zola. but admittedly on our last 3 home performances the prospect of that team playing in the prem is worrying.
Lansbury good enough I highly doubt it he will be loaned out next season again he isn’t good enough I’m afraid, I think we will make signings and I think maybe we will not have the best team but we have a team hard to beat so I think we should be alright IF we go up
that if has got a lot bigger since i wrote this before the watford game.. i hope i havent put the mockers on it :/
Good enough?…NO! Too few goals in us, too little creativity, little pace and too little depth in defence. We cannot rely on an untried youngster (Morrison), Reid is simply not good enough and worringly we are told every player has been purchased with a view that they are good enough for the Prem. Carew, Vaz Te, Maynard are NOT good enough. Faye has been great but will struggle for a full season in Prem. O’Brien and McCartney may be adequate and Taylor. Nolan will be ok. Of our own, Green (if he stays), Tomkins and possibly Cole as a target man. I love Noble as a West Ham man, but too inconsistent, as is Jack. Rest will not be up to it. A season up guarantees financial future providing Gold/Sullivan hang around but we will not be able to afford enough quality to stay up and definitely will see little entertainment. Promotion, relegation with financial stability and promotion is our best hope. COYI
Dont matter who’s good enough Coz we aint going up !!!!!!
Personaly i think banno hit the nail on the head with his letter to manager article. We are missing the simple pass and move football from our game. We may be more organised and hard to beat but its no good if we are unable to score and finish off teams from a promising position, i dont lay all the blame on the forwards as some responsability lies in the midfield. Too many long balls at times are cutting out the midfield. Lansbury performs for the U21’s as they play good football, Nolan has goals to his name but as a more attack minded midfielder should have more assists to his name. I personnaly think we have the sqaud for the premier league but would need strengthening in defence, a centre back partner for tomkins and full backs. If we can stop playing long ball at times and use the midfield to the ability we all know they have then i believe we can stabalize ourselves in Englands top league.
we need di canio to replace big sam bring in zamora get ethrington back make noble captain get rid of carew if frank nouble was to start we may be able to get a goal or two and give robert hall a chance