Michael Gray has suggested that West Ham could become “one of the biggest clubs around” if they utilise the tools at their disposal.
The Hammers are set to finish in mid table this season, but the former Sunderland man believes that given more time and the right sort of backing, manager Manuel Pellegrini can turn them into a serious force.
Speaking on talkSPORT (May 7th, 1pm), he said: “They’ve got expectations at that club, and those expectations have gone through the roof.
“You look at the new stadium. They’ve got a manage run charge now who can attract the better player. They’ve got the right man in charge, they’ve go to keep backing him.
“They’ve go to start acting like a big club, like Arsenal, like Tottenham, like Chelsea. They’ve got the fanbase, they need the club and the players to back it up.
“If they do it, they could become, way down the line, they could become one of the biggest clubs around.”
OPINION
This is a major claim from Gray, but you have to understand his logic. The Hammers have fluctuated wildly in form and standards this season, but there has been enough in their performances to suggest that they are turning a corner under Pellegrini. If the board keep faith in him, which they should, and if he is given the right backing from those in charge of the coffers, which he should be, then the sky is the limit. They already have so much of the infrastructure needed to be a top, top team. Their stadium is massive, and slowly beginning to feel like home, their academy is second to none, and their fanbase is huge and ardent. All that is missing is the team to match. Last summer suggested that the club want to do something about that, however, and if they are wise this time around, they could take a massive step towards challenging the teams above them.
