Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
- 1.8K All Categories
- 1 Site Stuff
- 31 Admin (FAQs, rules, queries etc.)
- The Boleyn Arms
- 46 General Chatter
- 7 Member info & Family Album
- 3 Radio Llama (music videos)
- 520 Fun & Games
- 159 BA Predictor Threads
- 47 Word Games
- 4 Quizzes
- 2 Pun Threads
- 342 Magic Minutes
- 3 Other Fun & Games
- 139 Current West Ham
- 213 Men's First Team
- 4 Women's Team
- 13 PL2 & Academy
- 34 Management & Board
- 16 Stadium & Training Ground
- 31 West Ham Miscellaneous
- West Ham Matches
- 452 Match Threads
- 120 MOTM
- 12 West Ham Nostalgia
- 37 Former Players and Staff
- 5 Past Games & Glories
- 41 Transfers
- 49 Transfer Speculation
- 88 Completed Transfers
- 57 Internationals
- 50 Men's Internationals
- 5 Women's Internationals
- 2 Youth Internationals
- 132 Football Chatter
- 43 Football Chatter
- 280 Other Teams & Matches
- 27 Other Players & Staff
Comments
I am pleased with our business overall. I think our squad looks far better quality overall, we have replaced squad players with players good enough for the first XI in a few instances (Valencia for Zaza, Tomkins for Arbeloa, Moses for Feghouli, etc), so it's been a good window for me.
However, when I look at what I now believe to be our strongest XI (Adrian, Byram, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Antonio, Lanzini, Payet, Zaza), I'm slightly disappointed that we haven't improved the first XI at all.
Are you feeling cheered up yet? ;pray
I am wondering where the likes of Tore, Nordvet and Calleri are going to get chances, and to be honest there may not be too many chances for them in earlier cup rounds if their performances against astra are anything to go by. I think the Plan was definitely to stay in Europe but through bad luck with injuries and the striker business done too late we didn't progress, had Europa not have been in the equation our business may have looked different.
Unfortunately, with one major competition down already those players will be kicking their heels for most of the season.
spot on ;ok
I also remember at the end of last year a lot of the players looked fatigued but we had to field the same XI because Bilic obviously didn't trust the alternatives
Also competition brings out the best of the current cross as the know if they don't perform their place in the team may be lost
Having a bench of match winners or game changers is as important as the first XI imo
Don't believe the hype.
Go to bed.
;wink
I know your comment was a little tongue in cheek but lets hope our fitness record improves! We know we have a first team good enough to compete with all teams but the frustration for me is we so rarely get it out on the pitch.
We always seem to be saying when we get our best players back we will be ok.
When we have a few of our best players out we tend to struggle.
i.e. If Zaza gets injured we will once again be very lightweight up front.
Im still questioning why he wasn't involved Sunday when he's now ok for international duty
He has been training for us and now he's training for France.
It's hardly an X-File.
United, city, Chelsea, Liverpool, Chelsea, spurs and surprisingly Watford spent more than us
Neither palace or Everton spend as much as us despite getting big money for Bolasie and Stones respectively
Pretty sure when we set out our transfer plans we expected to get around £30/40 mil on Sakho, Tomkins & valencia leaving on permanent deals
That didn't happen but we still spent a lot of money for a club like and the lack of that £30/40mil probably could've pushed through moves for slightly higher calibre players
We haven't, on paper anyway, appeared to have signed a player with the X factor, although we didn't know last summer that Payet would turn out as he has. We do seem to have signed a really good LB in Arthur and held onto Sahko, who if he can get his head straight is a good ST.
All in all we have strengthened the squad which leaves the next couple of windows open to recruiting the players to move us up a level.
COYI
He will take a while to get up to speed but he's a classy player, one of Valencias best players for the last 4/5 years and is still only 26/27
Really look forward to seeing him in action when he's back fit he hits the byline well and delivers good crosses into the box
Also think Zaza has the potential to deliver some X factor as well. He was a key player for a bang average Sassuolo and Juventus don't shell out £18mil for anyone, he's in his prime years and has a point to prove after r the Island fiasco and being frozen out at Juventus
Nordveit has been shaky but Xhaka who cost £34mil has barely lit the world up, think if he can recapture his BMG form he can be a real asset for us, just has to realise he won't have as much time on the ball as he used to
My biggest concern is our ability to keep Payet, especially if he recreates his form from last season.