Find a safe space, relax, breathe deeply and repeat the following mantra until convinced: “they are only friendlies, results don’t matter; the window is still open for another month yet; most of the transfer links to Premier League deadbeats exist only in the figment of a rumour sites imagination.”
Today’s average pre-season friendly is a very different beast to what I remember from my youth. Any top tier club worth its salt feels now feel obliged to play exhibition games against Premier League opposition in the farthest flung locations imaginable – even if it means playing games during hurricane season. In the past it was a case of warming up with a kickabout in the less exotic surroundings of Southend or Gillingham.
And there is no more ‘entrance by matchday programme only’ which you can buy for a couple of bob. Now you you need to buy a package to stream online while staying up all night waiting for a storm to pass in a far-off time zone.
I think we can all agree with Julen Lopetegui’s assessment following the defeat by Wolves that there is ‘work to be done.’ Something that applies to activities both on and off the pitch. I doubt much has been learned that we didn’t already know. Even the casual observer would have been aware that players such as Tomas Soucek and Kurt Zouma have no place in a system based upon maintaining possession. Soucek seems like a smashing fellow but clearly suffers from an unreliable data connection between brain and feet. By the time information is received, someone else has the ball. And Zouma’s injury woes have left him with the mobility of a Thunderbird’s puppet and a turning circle that the average family car would be within a whisker of beating. Sad, but he is no longer up to Premier League standard.
It’s always good to see a few youth team players get a run-out in these games but it is only any use if they are gradually introduced to, and used in, competitive matchday squads. Too often, academy players have looked promising pre-season cameos and then are never seen again. Freddie Potts has impressed and would hope to see him along with George Erathy and Lewis Orford getting Premier League minutes.
Nothing seen so far suggests that Luis Guilherme is anything other than one for the future. A player who needs plenty of time to adapt to life in England before demonstrating his wonderkid status. The ‘wonder’ prefix is wildly overused in modern football reporting whether it is wonderkids or wonder goals. The latter is routinely applied to the most mundane of strikes if they are outside of the box. If Diana Prince had the ability to parallel park or explain the offside rule it would be impressive, but far more would have been needed to merit the title of Wonder Woman.
The off-field priority is for the transfer department to pull its collective finger out without any further delay. Less than three weeks to the season opener and there is little to show from all the talks, advanced talks, and locked in talks that we have been told about. As a fan we don’t have to worry ourselves with the details of transfers budgets, payment schedules, fair play rules, and agent fees but it is difficult not to be disillusioned with the overall lack of progress. And although we have no way of knowing which (if any) of the rumours are true, many of them are truly underwhelming in nature.
What had promised to be a summer of surgically smart spending – unearthing the world’s best emerging talent – has turned into the equivalent of a man desparately hoping to buy his wife a birthday present after arriving late at a rummage sale. Underneath a box of china poodles, a 1976 Black Beauty annual, and a box set of ‘Confessions Of’ DVDs, all he will find is Tammy Abraham, Armando Broja and assorted debris thrown out by Arsenal and Chelsea. It’s not what I was expecting.
The squad is still short in a host of critical positions – striker, centre back, right back and defensive midfield being the greatest areas of need in my opinion. But how far can the budget stretch with the types of fees and wages being mentioned to plug those gaps? Much media attention has also focused on a left sided attacking midfield but I’m not personally convinced it’s a top priority in a side wanting to incorporate Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Lucas Paqueta into its line-up, and with Guilherme as backup. The striker search, as ever, is the transfer hot potato at West Ham. The Jhon Duran situation feels like one of those pursuits that will enter folklore as a long running saga of wasted time and effort. And anyway, with no viable striker alternative at the club it would be a huge risk to put all your trust in an unproven 20-year-old.
The list of targets I have recorded overthe window now extends to 129 names (click to see the entire list). The latest additions have been mostly new defenders after the club failed to agree deals with previous targets. The assumption is that the financial side of transfers is still overseen by David Sullivan and other Board members rather than Tim Steidten. It isthe rock that many deals flounder on.
It would be premature to predict the storm clouds might be gathering at the London Stadium but one can sense a few distant rumbles. The objective of having a new squad assembled in time for pre-season has failed. The ‘work to be done’ is likely to extend well into the opening weeks of the season and a slow start will make hopes of aiming for European qualification all the more difficult. The danger is that the apparent setbacks experienced with bringing players in (and shifting out those who are surplus to requirements) will compromise the strategy for smart recruitment and the mistakes of previous windows will be repeated.
I’m sure those involved are working around the clock to resolve matters – although sometimes it feels like the transfer team don’t work weekends – but positive recruitment news is needed fast if the slowly descending gloom is to be shifted. My hope is that moves are taking place behind the scenes to make just the sort of exciting signings we all crave.
Under The Hammers 
Great post Geoff, as usual.
All the panic/hysteria and hype at this stage is a bit premature, IMHO.
“The ‘wonder’ prefix is wildly overused in modern football”
Often used as in “I wonder why we paid so much for that player?”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers, Blimey!
I agree about the hype but do find it unfortunate that the longer it takes to bring in new players the slower start to the season we will have.
LikeLike
Hi Jeff, that deserves a double ‘like’. Sums up the whole situation that an awful lot of supporters will feel. As you are aware I am becoming increasingly worried, as are many 000’s at the transfer situation. In fairness to Steidten this is not a usual situation for him where he tries to find the odd unknown youngster or player. He is now being asked to find several players for specific positions in short time which is rather different. I also believe that there are at least two clubs that track his approaches; effectively using him as their ’spotter’ ???. And interfere. Anyway fingers crossed and COYH. Regards Michael
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well written piece but Villa got dicked 1-4 too , so not all bad . It was no surprise to me that cresswell was involved in their opener but why is he taking free kicks ? Three of last 4 ( the other over) have hit wall . Let JWP take them unless a youth is a specialist. Blood them now while you can . If we get tanked on Sunday then time to worry
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, I sure the Villa result and Chelsea losing 4-1 to Celtic as well. Not too worried by the result but not much achieved yet in sorting out the numbers and balance in the squad. JWP should definitely have priority on any free kicks to the left of the goal. I would like to see Kudus on free kick duty to the right. One of the ironies of last season was JWP not adding to his free kick tally.
LikeLike
Hi Michalel, It’s intriguing that progressing transfer deals in secret appears impossible and that Tim Steidten’s whereabouts at any point in time is public knowledge. Perhaps one of our rivals has put a tracker on his phone. I’m sure some deals will be sorted later rather than sooner but not ideal in the circumstances. We live in hope.
LikeLike
If we above all get the right players, I am less concerned about it taking some time. Steidten’s track record is so far in his career excellent. Most of the clickbait mob haven’t, as usual, a clue what’s going on. I think this window will work out well for us and I’d be surprised if the next phase doesn’t kick off with Wan Bissaka, followed by a striker. I notice Richard’s gone a bit quiet – watching England no doubt win at cricket!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would be happy with Wan Bissaka. The difficulties lie in the number of new players needed to create a balanced squad – an unfortunate legacy of the previous manager. Obviously, we can’t pay top dollar for every position and it is haggling over price and terms which introduce uncertainties. I have no concerns about Steidten identifying targets but do about our ability to get deals over the line – mostly based on prior experience. The windo will probably end OK but it may take a while to get the team performing. That may affect chances of a European place which has knock-on impacts in retaining and attracting players.
Richard is fine and undergoing a strict training regime in readiness for the upcoming campaign.
LikeLike
Hi Geoff, a cracking piece, which must surely resonate
with thousands of true Hammers supporters. I’m experiencing a creeping feeling of dread as the new season fast approaches. Recruitment seems completely stalled, in addition being random and apparently unstructured as well as un – prioritised. Results, so far, very poor indeed. Fitness levels suspect, and Zouma,Ings, Soucek and Cresswell not only unsold, but playing! If we get off to a poor start, which is fast beginning to look inevitable, the ‘ I told you so’ and ‘ be careful what you wish for’ brigade will be out in force, trying to get Moyse back!! How can we have got is so badly wrong again? Sullivan seems to be the common factor and I think we have to presume that he just will not let go of the financial reins. OR – are we keeping our powder dry for a last minute £45 million bid for Toney? Just a thought. Keep well. All the best. Mike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The lack of movement with transfers is certainly frustrating but I can understand how it has happened given the terrible state the squad was left in by the previous manager. The challenge of needing at least 4 or 5 new first team starters within the financial constraints of FFP etc – and without the windfall of an anticipated Paqueta sale is not inconsiderable. The problem now though is that we will be playing catch-up for the remainder of the season with hopes of achieving European qualification diminished – unless Lop can conjure up a cup run. The situation is not ideal.
LikeLike
It looks like Wan Bissaka, Summerville and Fullkrug are coming. All good signings if they happen, thought the last mentioned isn’t young he’s certainly been banging them in. I seem to be the only optimist here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As far as immediate impact is concerned Fullkrug may be a better option than Duran. Would still like to see a second younger striker brought in if the budget stretches that far. It will be an interesting formation with Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta, and Summerville fitted into it. Would that mean Paqueta playing deeper? Not pessimistic myself but worried about how difficult it can be to recover from a slow start and still get something out of the season. With so many new players and a completely new style of play the transition will not be easy in my opinion. Assume there is also another centre back on the shopping list
LikeLike
Kudus has been saying he’d like to play no. 10, so maybe JLo will give that a go, with Paqueta further back?..I guess the whole team will be playing further forward after the low block years!
LikeLiked by 1 person