29 Aug 2015 11:12:07
Supporters are fickle folk, but everyone has opinion as they are entitled. Those of us who are baying for the blood of the dgs due to perceived lack of investment, will soon change if we start winning and those of us are championing patience will become disillusioned when we are propping up the league!
Personally I favour the patience route at present and here is why: a fully fit side is better than last year, with one exception - Downing. We all want some width but we didn't really last year when we had our good spell. Downing was central and width came from our wing backs. So I ask what has changed? Downing for Payet? That to me is not a bad exchange either in footballing or business terms!
So let's look at what we really need rather than what we really want (we all want the spending power of Russian or Arab oligarchs. But we don't, fact!). So a fully fit team we are better than last year with AC and DS up front with supply coming from wing backs and Payet. Midfield potentially stronger and defence exactly the same. So with correct tactics and management (which we all wanted) we should do better than last year.
So looking at what we need, it is simply cover for our first team! Joey covering full back roles or Tonks, not ideal, so replacing Demel is important but if we can't afford or negotiate an improvement there what is the point? Only an extra body so why waste silly money? On our whole back four we would need to spend silly to make improvements for example is stones £20m better than Reid? Never I am not sure he is better at all! Up front adebayor could do a job when AC is injured and he is cheap. We need wingers because we don't have options to change tactics without, but have we all forgotten about MA? A closed transfer window will change his attitude I am sure! Valencia back also option out wide and DS backup.
So in conclusion we need bodies for backup as we simply can't improve our first choices without serious investment, but maybe we could afford a marquee signing, maybe!
Maybe the Song deal is really done and the rest of the so called interest is simply paper talk (I suspect and hope). Let's be positive because if all goes well we will forget all this negativity, and if it all goes horribly wrong, well let's face it we will still support our beloved West Ham!

1.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 11:52:57
The point surely is not whether we are better than last year (and we are missing Song )but whether we are better than the opposition who have improved. I don't think so.

2.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 12:20:29
Interesting post and lots of points some I agree with some I don't

Firstly they way we finished the season last year was relegation form so in my opnion the squad wasn't good enough we haven't upgraded it enough for the money we've spent in my opnion

Weve also lost song from the first team and where okbiang has potential don't think he's as mgood at the moment

From what I've read amalfatano is finished at west ham

Adebayor will not be cheap he's on a 100 grand a week spurs will only pay 30 k of that 70 k a week for a back up striker? No thanks (I don't rate him anyway as I've covered in previous posts)

Song is back at Barcelona only way will sign him is in January if no one else buys him

I understand where your coming from though quite a few ifs in there though at the moment like I've said before I hope I'm wrong I'll support us whatever but don't have to be happy about everything hahahaha

3.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 12:44:11
I agree, but how do we know that after 3 games? And injuries? We also have no confidence, no discipline and no idea how to play the SB way. We must be better than Leicester surely (hopefully) but the difference is confidence and belief.
From a negative point of view, premiership football is about money, everyone goes on about how great the sky money is, but it is only good for the players, not for the supporters, or for that matter the national team!If you are Man city or Chelsea and you are not playing well all you do is go out and spend 100 or 200 mil to solve it. This is not about an equal playing field it's about bully boy tactics which in any other industry ( in UK) would be considered as a monopoly or would have controls levied, like the supermarkets have with suppliers. Teams like us are simply here to make up the numbers, our glories are the rare victories against these bullies such as our win against the goners away. We all want an oligarch so we can be one of the bullies! But let's be realistic, this may or may not happen, but even that f it does would we be happier? My vote is get rid of the bullies and let everyone compete on a sporting level, not a financial level. I live on n south Coast and have seen the meteoric rise of Bournemouth, fantastic achievement, but my mates who support them don't care if they are relegated as they prefer the sporting equality of the championship. A great lesson to us all, let's enjoy supporting our team, because for sure we will lose matches and we will also have our memorable victories! I travel every home game from the south coast, every Game works out at over £100 and is essentially a whole day. After we lose that journey home is so so long, but yet the next home game I leave home with the same positive expectation!Let's try to see the bigger picture! That's me off my soap box! COYI

4.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 12:50:18
Very good reply, you are of course right and we all suffer with westhamitis, but just trying to put some hope out there!

5.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 14:20:20
My main issue with the Daves (like last transfer window) is they say "we're getting this player or that" and it turns out that said player is valued at say 20 million we go in with 4!! Now it's their money and if they don't wanna spend I have no problem with that, but don't then come out with we wanna well in Europe (then play a B team) or we will have 1 or 2 players by next week or we are going for a top class player. and then nothing!!! But my real gripe is the sheer lack of class or shooting themselves in the foot (the Austin statement for example) that was just WRONG! On another note just listened to Barton on talksport and I think we messed up big time please listen to it before you say " he would have been a bad choice" I thought we were getting him to cover Nolan when he left.and now we have neither. Another master stroke!!