Several exits on the cards for West Ham?

Now the dust has settled on a rather forgettable 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season, it is time to enjoy the summer sun and look out for those rumours flying around the media regarding summer signings and departures.

With a great deal of debate still surrounding who will be leading the West Ham side next season, the Hammers squad could look very different come August next year.

If Sam Allardyce does keep his job, however, a recent article by West Ham insider Ken Dyer suggests Sam will have a summer clear-out with nine Hammers players set to leave the club.

Players like Matthew Taylor, George McCartney and Jussi Jaaskelainen will be out of contract and trying to secure new deals, whilst the Irons manager whoever that may be will want to tie Ravel Morrison and Winston Reid to long-term deals.

Whilst we take a back step from football for the summer, Gold, Sullivan – and whoever they decide will manage our great club – are very much on the front foot. So, of the 25-man squad that limped their way through this season, how many will remain in claret and blue next season?

Of the goalkeepers, only Adrian has a certain future at the Irons, the Spaniard prised the West Ham number one spot from Jaaskelainen last season and didn’t look back scooping three awards at the end of season West Ham Awards. His competition between the sticks is ageing Finn Jaaskelainen and forgotten man Stephen Henderson who signed from Portsmouth, three years ago.

Jussi has been a solid servant for the Hammers since arriving from Bolton Wanderers two years ago but entering his 40s means time is against him and, with his contract up this summer, you have to doubt if he will sign a new deal at the club.

As for Henderson, a new manager could be just what he needs, forgotten under Sam, the Irishman will hope a new man comes in and gives him a chance.

At the back, I believe very little will change. However, the Hammers will be in the market for a new left-back, that’s for sure, as I can’t see McCartney securing a new deal at the club. With Joey O’Brien and Dan Potts in amongst the left back ranks I can’t see the club needing four left backs at the club that goes against McCartney’s claims for a new deal.

At the heart of the defence, I suspect there will be at least one new arrival, with rumours of Joleon Lescott and a seven million pound bid for Stuttgart centre half Antonio Rudiger and Watford’s Gabriele Angella already and it’s not even June yet! Aside from that I can see the three main men at the back from last year; James Collins, James Tomkins and Winston Reid would definitely be in my plans if I was in charge. In fact I’d make my priority to sign Reid up for at least three more years.

Right- back could be an interesting position, should a new manager come in I could see uy Demel missing out, although he is strong as an Ox and decent at the back, a new manager, may look for a faster more adventurous option going forward. For me I would keep Demel, as, at the very least, he is a very solid back up to the squad. With Joey as cover, and Leo Chambers in the ranks, right back looks strong enough, but you wouldn’t say no to Micah Richards if he was interested in a move.

On the wings, is where changes might have to happen, whilst Stewart Downing has been solid enough as a fan and as a manager you have to be asking your winger to do more, one goal and a couple of assists simply isn’t good enough. I would persist with him, as he has been one of the few bright spots this season. And in fact, I back him to be a big player for us next year IF Andy Carroll can stay fit. Matt Jarvis again needs to do more, he has been slated in the stands, but it is clear for all to see that he is a confidence player; on his day he takes players on and delivers a pretty decent ball in. Off it, well he can be pretty dreadful.

Then there is Ricardo Vaz Te, still one of the best finishers at the club, in my mind, his future is very much in the air under Allardyce and whilst he remains in charge. Personally, I can’t see much of a future for our Wembley hero. With time running out on his contract he will be one of many knocking on Sam’s door asking what the manager has in mind.

It is fairly obvious that Mark Noble will stay, alongside him is where the question marks lie. Matty Taylor, for me has been an unsung hero in the last four months or so, and it makes me laugh on a match day when the team gets announced on Twitter, reading the grumblings that Taylor is in the team, 9/10 at full time the same people are singing his praise. He is that sort of player, he goes unnoticed, he is a man who will want Allardyce to stay, if Sam stays I back Taylor to get a new deal, and he would deserve it, but a new man with fresh plans may see it differently.

For me, Mohamed Diame is off, he looks uninterested and a shadow of the player we saw a couple of years ago, his final ball is often dreadful, his step-overs predictable. His shots, well the less said about them this season the better. If he wants to remain a Hammer he must buck his ideas up next season, the Liverpool and Arsenal interest may have got to his head this year.

Kevin Nolan, well he will be praying that Mr Allardyce will stay, won’t he?! Captain Kev is Allardyce’s main man, although I think his criticism can be harsh at times, he has at the end of the day been club top goalscorer for three seasons and he is a fantastic captain, no matter what people say. But with Ravel Morrison breathing down his neck, he will want Sam to stay to make sure of a place. A new man will see Morrison as a pardon the Harry Redknapp expression, a breath of fresh air. There is no doubt Nolan will be here next year, no one in their right mind would pay Nolan 50k a week like we are, and Nolan knows his bread is well and truly buttered.

Up top, again, the safe bet is that Andy Carroll will be here, no matter who is in charge, but who will be with him, I have touched on Vaz and Carlton Cole will probably be here next season, and his goals have been invaluable for the club this season, and he deserves to be a part of this squad.

This summer will no doubt have plenty of twists and turns, but first of all the important date to remember is May 23^rd the day that announces the future of West Ham United, will it be Big Sam’s squad or Benitez or Bilic or Moyes the names of the next manager lists are endless, whoever is in charge has a very busy summer ahead of them that is for sure.

Come on you Irons!

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