Best starting XI for next season?
With the new season fast approaching I want to take a look at what the best possible starting eleven would be.
Everyone has their own opinions on what works and what doesn’t but for me it would go as follows
GK- the goalkeeper would have to be Jussi Jaaskelainen, the proven shot stopper was a fantastic move by Sam Allardyce to add to that the fact he was free it’s a win win, the ex-Finnish international has proven his worth time and time again over 474 appearances.
Left Back- After a fine loan spell from Sunderland George McCartney has returned permanently he is solid and dependable and shores up the defence and gives cool and calm composure to the back four.
Centre Back- We can all agree that James Tomkins is first choice, he shows the rest of the team what it means and what it takes to play for West Ham, he is nearly unbeatable in the air and is a no-nonsense defender, again dependable and strong.
Centre Back- I may take flak for this but unless we bring in another defender for me Winston Reid would be my choice. In his first season he was truly awful, but a season in the championship did him the world of good he even knocked in a couple of goals, he had off games as all players do but was strong and is faster than Tomkins so can cover if he is caught out of position, he would be my choice but only if we don’t find a replacement.
Right back- Another place where we need a signing FAST, both Guy Demel and Joey O’Brien are poor and couldn’t cut it in the championship, but if I had to choose it would be Demel he has played in big leagues and knows what to expect from opposing players though whether he can do anything about it is a worry, so for right back a new signing PLEASE!
Centre Mid- Diame has to be the first choice he is strong can defend and can attack he makes devilish runs through midfield can slide through some superb passes and had a good season for a struggling team and that didn’t go unnoticed gaining interest from abroad as well as Liverpool and Aston Villa, but we beat them all to his signature and his passion for the game would make him my first choice.
Centre Mid- Mark Noble is West Ham through and through he is a solid midfielder and can break defences down with superb passes and he can dictate play. He will cover every blade of grass and will keep running till his last ounce of energy is spent, for those reasons and his ability to break up play he would be there too.
Centre Mid- With Nolan suffering a toe injury I can’t put him in so I would be begging for Allardyce to bring in a new midfield man because even if Nolan was fit and injury free I don’t think he has what it takes his legs are gone and is going down the same steep hill as Bowyer once he lost his legs. So who would I select in the current squad? Jack Collison would be the only option not a bad option but nor is he a great one, he came about at the same time as Tomkins but never could match his attributes.
Left Wing- I’m hoping we do bring in Kieran Richardson but if not Matty Taylor can whip in a ball and can make skilful runs up the wings and caused two own goals with his low driven crosses from the by-line he can hit a free kick and make the keeper uncomfortable, so I would give the Bolton old boy a run in the XI.
Striker- Maiga from the goals I have seen and from the reports I have read he is a goal machine with high potential he scores when he wants one Sochaux fan said, so with his quality in the air and on the floor I believe he would get my pick over Cole.
Right Wing- It has all gone quiet about the signing of Elmohamady who would definitely feature in my squad so I would turn my attentions to the scorer of the goal the sent us back to the Premier League, Ricardo Vaz Te he was sublime for us scored goals and ran defences ragged he scored some superb goals and if he can emulate that in the premier league we are on to a winner.
Gk hendo
Rb spence
cb tomkins
cb tbc
lb maccartney
Dm diame
cm noble
cm nolan
rw magia
cf baldock
lw vaz te
were is the pace!
our team lacks pace practically everywhere, in the championship this was ok… kind off, but in the premier league were pace is well known as a priority WE WILL STRUGGLE.
so we need a pacey defender centre back who is a leader, prefibly douglas a proven centre back who is strong a has decent pace.
we also need a left back (unlikely) because mcartney is weak in the pace department and barely could cut it in the championship.
we need a right back for obvious reason, demel could come in as back up but i do not know how obrien is a right back his as fast as a turtle.
we need a creative attacking mid, i say this because nolan has passed it, collison has never reached full potential, and i dont think we should risk morrison in the big time (premier league!)
we also need to sign back up for many positions for obvious reasons.
I dont know why everyone is being so negative! What did you really expect, us to spend £50 million on a new starting XI and challenge for top 6? Your slating players that performed well last season, in a new league, new manager, new players, just been relegated. Our defense was one of our most solid areas, Green, Tomkins, Reid and McCartney especially. However i agree we need to bring in, and im pretty sure we will, a new first choice right back and center half. Plus give Mohsni and Kazim contracts if they perform well in pre-season, maybe Guti, and possibly a another player later in the window for a lower price or a loan for one of the top clubs fringe players.
Not negative, I think, just realistic. Pointing out that players who were only just good enough for the Championship last year (McCartney, O’Brien, Demel) are going to struggle in a higher league when they are a year older is hardly ‘slating’ anyone.
It does not matter what players we bring in , we have to pay more for decent players, not players who we hope will do well at a cut price. Same old same old at West Ham — record signing 7.5 million (Bellamy), not good enough for Prem top half !!
savio £9m
Savio was not 9M
It was 5M plus add ons which were never added on cause he made so few appearances…
Henderson
O’Brien Tomkins Reid McCartney
Diamé
Nolan Noble
Maiga Vaz Te . Cole
Is everyone forgetting that we are in so much debt that is so far been stableized by G&S? Everyone has seen what’s happening to poor old Pompy!! It’s not the fans fault that the club was spending over there heads and not making progress. We are stable but in debt but was on the brink of emulating Pompy, let’s be happy we’re back in the PL and have a strong enough team and Manager to stay up and give it a good crack. We’ve signed a couple of good players and hopefully a couple more, until we get bought by a billionaire I think we should just let G&S do there thing. A year back in the PL and reducing more debt then let’s see how things pan out the following season. COYI’s
I think we should cut Reid some slack and ignore his first year in Prem. Hes stuck at it and last year was incredible. He got injured and we went through that torrid time of drawing 6-8games. He comes back, clean sheets and wins galore! Strong, quick, reads the game well. we need to spend on full backs (good/young ones) and wingers. Have strength and persistence wn middle and pace all the way up the wings