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.
Is that a serious statement about McCartney ? You must be joking right ? … Unwanted by Sunderland even as cover in the PL speaks volumes. He barely found his level in the Championship against unknown players and will be an absolute liability
in the Premier League capable of losing games on his own.
Not bad, but based on the team we already have and BFS standard tactics 4-5-1, what about this…
GK=Jussi,
LB=Taylor,
CB’s=Tokins & Ried,
RB=Demel,
CDM=Diame,
RCM=Noble,
LCM=Nolan/Collison,
RW=Vaz Te,
LW=Maynard,
ST=Miaga
Taylor isn’t a left back! He really struggled against Blackpool’s pace in the play off final, more of that to come in the premier league. And he strggled with injuries all last season.
I reckon we need a new right and left back before the season starts!
If we go in with that team Matthew we will do well to get 20 points, Jussi has been dross for 18 months, Reid and Tonka as a partnership will be ripped apart by decent teams, Tomkins has to be paired with better quality, no creativity in midfield, and not the best left side in the world if we go with Linda and Taylor. Apart from that we are world beaters especially as we keep buying goalkeepers
R u all serious where is Carlton Cole he is strong he has ball skills and he has and will score goals we need K Richardson in our best side he’s got pace and endurance and 2 defenders and another striker he’s one player l hate but is a goal scorer Forever a Hammer
I’m not sure about Jaaskelainen. Any idea why Bogdan was number one choice at Bolton last season?
Henderson
O’Brien – Tomkins – Reid – McCartney
Diame
Nolan – Noble
Maynard – Cole – Maiga
Subs: Jaaskelainen – Taylor – Spence – Collison – Morrison – Vas Te – Baldock
Dean … Bolton fans will tell you Jussi is a great keeper. Got injured and replacement did well and kept his place. Bit harsh to say he has been dross for 18 months. Anyway, I see Green dropped another embarrasing clanger in QPR’s friendly this week. No surprise there and massively overpaid now. (Well done Gold and Sullivan)
Ok Paul point taken, dross was a tad harsh, I am desperately concerned at the moment with our side though. I really hope that we can bring in a few more quality players, or I fear for a long and restless season
Ausie John, are you serious. Carlton cole is one of the worst strikers I have ever seen ina west ham shirt. Could’nt even score 20 in a championship side that spent most of the season in the top 2. We will get ripped apart in the prem if we dont buy some real quality. Jermaine Defoe has been mooted, and I for one would like to see that. He is a proven striker.
Mark yes your right in he didn’t score 30 goals in the championship but how much assists does he get per game cmon mark we do need him yes we might need the traiter Defoe yes he is a goal scorer but in a team u need a strong powerful striker as well Hammer forever
Jaaskelainen – O’Brien – Tomkins – Reid – McCartney
That’s our best defence, and that scares me. Only Tomkins is a capable Prem-level player and the rest are either past it at the top level (Jaaskelainen) or not able to really cut it.
Dean … yeah I’m worried too mate.
And on Carlton Cole, he will disappoint again in the PL and I kinda hoped someone would have come in for him so he can leave on good terms with the fans after a good finish and a pivotal part in our promotion.
This is based on what we currently have and what we have been linked with, but i agree the defence is awful but we have awful players (excluding Tomkins) im hoping we sign Douglas!
I am worried, the last season in the Premier League under Avram Grant was one of the most depressing years of my life and that’s taking into account 2 divorces, alcholism and a gambling addiction. I feel that the current squad is not strong enough and the only players that would get an automatic place on my teamsheet are: Diame, Maiga,Tompkins, Juskalainen (difficult one to spell) with all the rest being maybe’s so there’s a long way to go and a tough season ahead. Allardyce is a good manager and he will have to do a great job to keep us in the premiership.
That was hard to pick ! the defence picks it’s self at the moment & after the colchester effort sam will know we require left & right backs & a central defender.
I agree with everyone on the defence. Need at least 2 new defenders. We unloaded lots of players at the end of the season so the wage bill must have nosedived -so bring in some quality, Trevor
So we’re all all agreed then … WE’RE DOOMED CAPTAIN MANWEARING. ;O)
GK Henderson
RB Demel(need to sign someone good in this pos)
CB Tomkins
CB Reid (need to sign a qaulity partner for tomkins or we will struggle)
CDM Diame
CM Noble
CM Morrision
RW Vaz Te
ST Maiga
LW Taylor
Attacking wise we should be ok, but if we dont get a Qaulity CB to partner Tomkins and a decent RB then the attack is gonna struggle to score more goals than we concede
Ian its Tomkins without a p, seriously why do people use the p, winds me up, learn the players names pls
You can’t even spell “please”.
Im my opnion our current best XI is…
GK: Jaaskelainen
RB: O’Brien
CB: Tomkins
CB: Reid
LB: McCartney
DM: Diame
CM: Noble
CM: Nolan
RW: Maiga
ST: Cole
LW: Vaz Te
A center back and right back are needed to make that a solid first team for the prem. Vaz Te, Cole and Maiga is a dangerous front 3 with pace power and flair and will be a handful for a lot of defences.
Ironman – well done for being the only one to realise our best strike force and the one that Sam will be selecting (unless he picks up a surprise signing)
Cole will play down the middle with Vaz Te (left) and Maiga (right) being able to cut inside and shoot with their respective best pegs. Don’t expect a lot of width but plenty of quick counter-attacking action and hopefully goals.
Obviously defence is the big worry but surely BFS & Golivan will rectify this in the next 2-3 weeks
I have been a West Ham supporter all my life and I have purchased a season ticket for next season. I really do not think we are strong enough we need defenders badly, I hope I am wrong, but this could be a really bad season to be a hammer.
The lack of defensive signings is really worrying.
With the players we have, I go:
Henderson
Demel/Spence
Tomkins
Reid/Spence
McCartney/Taylor/Potts
Diame
Noble
Nolan/Collison/Morrison
Vaz Te/Baldock/Taylor
Cole/Maiga
Maiga/Maynard
Subs from the above plus Jussi. Henderson has to be first choice goalkeeper – if he is not good enough now he never will be.
It’s a team with potential in midfield and attack but seriously weak at the back – the first choice defenders are barely good enough and if we get a couple of injuries god help us.
We badly need a serious ‘leader’ type centre half to play alongside Tomkins with Reid as cover and two energetic full backs who can also give a bit of width in midfield.
1st:
GK: Henderson
RB: Demel
LB: McCartney
CB: Tomkins
CB: Reid
DM: Diame
CM: Noble
CM: Nolan
RW: Maiga
LW: Vaz Te
ST: Cole
2nd:
GK: Jaaskelainen
LB: Potts
RB: O’Brien
CB: Spence
CB: ?
CM: O’Neil
CM: Collison
CM: Morrison
RW: Maynard
LW: Taylor
ST: Baldock
Seriously weak at the back, content with everywhere else!