Monday 26 September 2016

The Five Problems That Have Caused the Crisis at West Ham (and how to fix them!)


OK, let's get one thing straight, this IS a crisis [DEF: 'a time when a difficult or important decision must be made']. With five defeats in our first six games - mostly against quite modest opposition - and with a whopping sixteen goals conceded things are really bad.

Even worse, our fans are fighting with each other and the media are having a field day, linking our difficulties to the demise of working class Britain and fuelling rumours of feuding in the dressing room. Skybet have added petrol to the mix by quoting SuperSlav as the Premiership favourite to next get the sack, with odds of 8/11! 

After the game Bilic said "It's my responsibility, it's my team, I know how it works and I'm not running away".  Slav, we don't doubt you for a minute. You haven't become a bad manager overnight and every team has bad runs. as the wider media circles the club looking to feast on our problems, we need to stick together right now.

However, we also need to be honest about what has gone wrong. At yesterday's post match conference Slav looked shellshocked and bereft of ideas. He muttered that he couldn't identify what to do next - well, for what it's worth, here are a few thoughts to consider about our situation:

1. First up, our defence has lost it's confidence. This started with an experiment at right back  that has gone horribly wrong. ever since Karl Jenkinson's demise we have been playing makeshift games. Splashing gazzillions on a 'marque' striker (we never got one!) while overlooking the need to spend the modest amount needed for a decent right back was poor judgement. Sam Byram is still developing, while neither Antonio nor Nordtveit are true defenders. Michail Antonio's form since reverting to right wing is one of the few positives about our efforts over the past month but highlights the double waste of having played him at right back. Alvaro Arbeloa's arrival will steady this but has been undermined by the lack of stability at left back. Sometimes luck isn't with you! Nevertheless, when we finally can field a back four of Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna and Arbeloa one suspects that the laughable defending of late will improve.

2. Letting James Tomkins go was a mistake. At a time when we are struggling to retain our identity at a new stadium we need the homegrown players to remind us what we have come from. Captain Claret can't do it all himself and he looks withered by all the problems. Similarly, why can't Reece Oxford get a run out - at the very least it would cheer the fans and in all honesty we could do with a defensive-minded midfielder in front of our leaky defence. Starting a League Cup game without a single English player could be seen as a poor reflection on our famed academy system, but the fact is that we do have young players but do not seem to be managing them properly.

3. We need to adapt tactically to the bigger stadium. we have a host of wide midfielders that we brought in to use the width of the new stadium. We are trying to play as a more dominant team and have largely ditched the Leicester-style counterattacking that served us so well when we scalped the big six last year. In reality, the visitors are making better use of the greater space and we have been repeatedly caught out on the break. In short, we are trying to play too open and offensively. The increased running burden in midfield is showing on Noble and Kouyate who both look tired. It's time to drop one of the attacking midfielders and play three across the centre. Slav, we need to go 4-3-2-1 instead of the 4-2-3-1 that is killing us at present.

4. In contrast to last year, our Summer signings have not impressed. Feghouli looks promising, Nordtveit is solid but not offensively good enough to be a right back, but Tore, Calleri and Zaza have fluffed their lines. Although everybody is focussing upon our problems at the back, we have only scored 7 goals in eight games which is simply not enough. Thankfully, this latter three are on loan but I doubt if anybody would complain if they returned to their parent clubs right now! Zaza in particular is a concern as he is approaching the game count that triggers a mandatory buy out clause for £20 million. Yikes! Oh how we need the abrasiveness of Sakho and the pure physicality of big Andy. Let's hope Slav has made peace with Diafra and that Andy stays fit for a month or two. At least if the bad fortune continues we might get some joy chasing games with long balls if, instead of Zaza, Carroll is in the box.

5. Lady Luck has deserted us. We can't get a bounce of the ball right now. Last year we scored at the right times in games and then seized the opprotunities as the opposition got desperate and pushed up. This season it's been the par opposite - conceding just before half time and then getting put to the sword as we tried to rescue things. We need to pray to the footballing Gods for a  rapid change in fortune because the Middlesboro, Palace and Sunderland games are starting to look like season-defining games for Slaven.

Sunday 25 September 2016

Bilic Goes Top of the Premiership!

What a load of balls!
 Slaven Bilic has gone top of the Premiership ratings for the sack. Before today SkyBet quoted him at odds of 12/1 but after a display described as 'laughable' by his team captain Mark Noble, Bilic's odds were slashed to 8/11!!! Bilic tried to play a more controlled and defensive game today and although uninspiring, the Hammers looked defensively intact until forty minutes in when Charlie Austin put Southampton ahead. Thereafter the Hammers seemed to lose confidence and struggled to mount any kind of meaningful comeback. Things got worse when Dusan Tadic grabbed a second after some woeful defending and then West Ham lost their shape going on to concede a series of chances as Southampton romped home 3-0. In perhaps the most damning statistic from the game, the shots on target tally was 9-1 in favour of the visitors! Embarrassingly, West Ham picked up five yellow cards, including two for simulation as in their desperation they resorted to diving! Bilic appeared distraught afterwards and was unable to offer a clear plan ahead. With three key matches coming up against Middlesborough, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, the pressure is starting to mount.  Let's hope that our chairmen don't over-react, Bilic needs time and a bit of luck to get things going again. Maybe it's time to bring in Reece Oxford or the very patient Pedro Obiang and play three in central midfield and drop one of the flair attackers - Lanzini is top of the list right now.  BTW anybody know where Julian Dicks has gone to?         








No More Jibba Jabba - It's Time to Show Some Nuts!


It's been such a disappointing season so far that you can easily find yourself noticing irrelevancies such as the number of West Ham players who have first names beginning with the letter 'A'. In fact, we have so many that you could almost name a starting XI featuring the 'A-Team'.

However, it's the absence of the A-Team that has underpinned what is becoming a disastrous start to life at the London Stadium. At the back the loss of Aaron Cresswell has destabilised what was a tight unit. Even worse, his replacement Arthur Masuaku is now also crocked and we are back to limited options at left back. maybe it's time for SuperSlav to push Angelo Ogbonna out wide? On a positive note, the problems at right back have eased with the arrival of Alvaro Arbeloa who looked solid against Accrington and is finally match fit.

Up front, the recurring absence of Andy Sicknote is nothing new, but the loss of Andre Ayew - who was our marque signing from the Summer - has forced a panic loan of Simone Zaza who to date has failed to impress. We are missing Carroll at set pieces - both offensively and defensively but on the bright side, Antonio is on fire and keeping our attacking aspirations alive.

Ashley Fletcher was denied a part in Wednesday's League cup tie  - a competition that usually provides opportunities for our developing players. Perhaps this signals a more significant role for him today against Southampton - possibly as a surprise starter?

And then we have the other absentee - the REAL Adrian! What is going on between the posts? Normally a reliable presence, our keeper has suddenly become a liability and it would be no surprise if Darren Randolph were to displace him today.

Good managers tend to keep the faith with their netminders but Dazza has been very patient and always impressed when given the chance. If he doesn't get a run as the starting keeper right now you would have to wonder whether he will get itchy for a move elsewhere? Similarly, if we don't buck up soon then Mr Payet may well get fed up with carrying the team and listen more carefully to the advances of Europe's top clubs.

As Mr T once remarked “You might not have the things you want, but if you check carefully, you got all you need” ....Wise words indeed - it's time to quit all the jibba jabba about injuries and get to work with what we have. This is a strong squad and even without half of our A-Team we should still be a formidable force.

Time to show some nuts!




 

Saturday 24 September 2016

No Lions in the Shirt...


As West Ham prepare for a crunch tie with Southampton tomorrow in which they will hope to end a terrible runs of morale-sapping defeats in the Premiership, many fans are calling for the team to show some good old English grit.

However, for a club that is known for it's development of youth talent through the famed academy, it's something of a shock to note that the starting eleven for the midweek clash against Accrington Stanley did not include a single English player!

In a competition that usually allows the bigger clubs an opportunity to blood up and coming home-grown talent, the Hammers only English contribution was from Michail Antonio as a late substitute! 

One really has to wonder why Reece Oxford didn't get a run out, while Sam Byram will be hoping that his omission means that he will be a starter tomorrow. Interesting times at the London Stadium! it looks like SuperSlav will need to look to continental flair to get his side back on track.

West Ham United vs Accrington Stanley: Randolph, Arbeloa, Nordtveit, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Feghouli (Payet 46), Obiang, Fernandes, Tore (Lanzini 46), Calleri (Antonio 69), Zaza.  Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Oxford, Fletcher


Thursday 22 September 2016

Phew! But have we become a one man show?

In some respects one could say that a visit from League Two minnows looking to pull off a giant-killing was the last thing that the Hammers needed just now. On the back of four straight defeats and with the defence in chaos, Accrington Stanley must've been fancying their chances.

SuperSlav selected a pretty strong starting XI and wisely, included some big guns on the bench just in case things got messy.  And so it was, as Accrington relished the big stadium atmosphere and gave an excellent account of themselves - well organised defensively and with some decent attacking moves. At half time Slav decided to up the ante and released Payet and Lanzini into the fray.

The Hammers huffed and puffed but couldn't find a breakthrough. Simone Zaza came close on a couple of occasions but is yet to open his account and many fans are getting twitchy. At least the 'Maiga in disguise' taunts haven't started just yet! In fairness, he looks hungry for opportunities and the goals will surely come.

Things looked to be going all wrong yet again when Arthur Masuaku went off leaving the fulled substituted Hammers with only ten men as the game entered injury time. Cue Mr Payet to put an end to the misery with a trademark audacious free kick. Game over.

It's hard to take too much from the game other than that we are short on confidence right now. Still - it's a win and a much needed clean sheet. Bring on Southampton and let the recovery continue.

A final thought for Accrington Stanley - a great club with a great history and an inspiring story of determination to survive that rests in our football consciousness. You should be proud of your performance last night. hopefully some day you will return to the very top flight and grace the Premiership.

COYI!!!

 

Monday 19 September 2016

Too Good To Go Down?



As we currently lie in the bottom three and with a defence that is the laughing stock of the Premiership right now, it's inevitable that we recalibrate our aspirations for the season. That we could find ourselves in a relegation battle seemed a ridiculous idea a few weeks ago but if you equate Payet with Di Canio, which squad is stronger?

No doubt the 2003 side experience outrageous bad fortune culminating in being relegated with 42 points - a haul that has ensured safety in every other season of the Premiership. However, just now we can't seem to get a break...hmmmm. Take a good look at that squad - frightening that such a side could go down!

 

Are we really that bad?


After yet another defensive circus in yesterday's comical defeat to the Baggies, it is again unfortunately necessary to consider what has gone so wrong at the back? In contrast to last year, where Bilic's side demonstrated an impressive capacity to shut games down, we are now defending like a lower league pub side and for all our alleged attacking flair, canmot seem to get a result to save our lives right now.

Chief to their defensive problems has been the chaos at right back. Having moved on from the crazy experiment using Michail Antonio as a wing back, Havard Nordtveit stepped in yesterday and was the only one of our back four to emerge with any credibility as he stuck to his defensive duties. Unfortunately, his lack of attacking ability meant that in the final quarter as we pushed for an unlikely comeback, the canny Baggies allowed play to shift to the right wing where he repeatedly botched decent attacking opportunities.

The arrival of Alvaro Arbeloa will provide options but he is still somewhat short of match fitness and at 33 years of age is only a temporary solution. Sam Byram needs to get more game time under his belt - but at what cost to results? How SuperSlav must be wishing we still had James Tomkins on the books?

On the left, Arthur Masuaku had a disappointing game - his first for the club but it's worrying that all four defensive positions look shaky right now. Cresswell still has more than a month before he will return but at that point it will be a relief to see a probable starting back four of Arbeloa, Reid, Ogbonna and Cresswell. Presumably Adrian will get over his dip in form - has the call up to the Spain squad distracted him?

In midfield, both Noble and Kouyate look jaded. Neither had major Summertime commitments but for whatever reason the pair are not dominating midfield the way they did for much of last season. It's hard to know what can be done to reinvigorate this pair but Slav needs to do something quickly.

Meanwhile, at least up front things are looking interesting. As the final 30 knutes demonstrated, the Payet-Lanzini-Feghouli triad could well be a winner. All three are defensively weak, but if we can tighten up behind them they will create chances. Zaza needs more time to adjust to the pace of the Premiership but will need to start delivering soon with big Andy back in the next few weeks and (maybe) also a revitalised Diafra Sakho? The League Cup will provide Ashley Fletcher with an opportunity to stake his claim and on the basis of his cameos as a substitute so far he looks odds on to take it.

Finally, the continued rise of Michail Antonio is a real joy to behold. He stuck at it when things were really going against him earlier in the campaign. Maybe we all need to take a leaf from his book and get behind the team - the results will surely follow.




Saturday 17 September 2016

Hammer Time for Saggy Baggies


It's back to the grind today for Slaven Bilic's troops who will be looking to bounce back from last week's embarrassing implosion against Watford where they were rampant for the first 30 minutes before squandering a two-goal lead.

Perhaps the biggest question is how Bilic will try to turn things around. There have been calls for wholesale changes to the starting XI as fans look to kick start the stuttering season that sees the previously buoyant Irons lurking on the edge of the bottom three after four games.

Bilic has been applauded for his ability to manage his players expectations and even though Adrian had a howler against Watford, one suspects that SuperSlav will avoid the temptation to over-react and will persist with the usually excellent netminder.

In contrast, the Collins vs Ogbonna conundrum raises a variety of issues. Collins was a major culprit for the first two Watford goals and may well be benched to allow for the return of Angelo Ogbonna who has been strangely overlooked since returning from Euro 2016.

However, Ogbonna engaged in some foolishly ambiguous social media activity after the Watford game that may have annoyed Bilic who demands discipline and loyalty from his players. On balance, it seems likely that Bilic will feel obliged to make at least one change to his leaky back four and with Alvaro Arbeloa (probably) still short of match fitness, Ogbonna seems the obvious choice.

Elsewhere, West Ham will be hoping to emerge with a similar silkiness in attack that graced the first half hour last weekend. Having Lanzini and Payet together again is a big boost creatively, while Michail Antonio is simply on fire and will relish the chance to add to his haul of four goals in as many games this season. Newby Simone Zaza impressed in spurts last weekend and will hopefully have found his Premiership gear for today.

If Bilic wants to shake it up he can bolster the defensive side of the midfield with Havard Nordtveit, while up front Sofiane Feghouli is ready to return and many fans are predicting that he can form a brilliant partnership with Mr Payet.  These options seem more likely to be used from the bench according to how the game sits after an hour or so.

Meanwhile. the Baggies are not in a good place right now with manager Tony Pulis unpopular with many fans. Having amassed four points to date, they haven't won at the Hawthorns for almost six months and will hope that West Ham's visit might provide suitable fodder for a much needed victory. Soloman Rondon will be vying for a starting place with Saido Berahino. The Baggies will be hoping to exploit West Ham's disorganisation out wide with recent arrivals Nasser Chadli and Matt Philips served with trying to open up the Hammers defence.

West Ham will need to be patient as Pulis sides rarely panic in response to crowd tension and even as the home side will be only too happy to absorb some pressure if it creates space for counterattack.

Probable West Ham Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Byram, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku,  Kouyate, Noble, Antonio, Lanzini, Payet, Zaza.

Monday 12 September 2016

Let's go home to the Boleyn...


Just kidding!!! What are we like???..a few games into the move to the Olympic Stadium and just because of a few frustrating results we are already behaving like a bunch of spoilt-brat Chelski fans.

On the pitch, our side is unsettled and unbalanced due to injuries and the hangover from the Euros. A solid right back and the return of some attacking options and we'll be up and running properly again. Let's face it, Payet, Antonio, Feghouli and Lanzini feeding Carroll or Zaza will make for a formidable attack...all we need is to rediscover our defensive solidity.

Off the pitch, anyone engaging in violent behaviour in the name of our club is an embarrassment and, frankly, not welcome as part of our future. It's great that visitors to the OS have not so far been treated like criminals by overpolicing as, in my view, characterised many visits to Upton Park over the years. Suggestions in the media that we need military-style policing are comically foolish and merely add to the perceived notoriety of some 'fans' who think that unprovoked aggression makes them into some kind of modern-day revolutionaries....spitting at women...really????

For sure, we all miss the Boleyn but let's be patient and get behind our club instead of behaving like a bunch of unhappy tourists!

COYI!!!

Sunday 11 September 2016

Who is the best option at right back for West Ham? Time for you to have your say...

As our defensive woes continue, we at VERYWESTHAM have launched a fans poll to assist Mr Bilic in dealing with what appears to be a rare blind spot in his footie vision. With your help, SuperSlav can get his head around the options at right back and hopefully we can rediscover our defensive brilliance of last season.

Get your vote in now!

Come Back James Tomkins...


After yesterday's comical defensive implosion against Watford, Hammers fans are wondering what has gone so wrong at the back?

In contrast to last year, where Bilic's side demonstrated an impressive capacity to shut games down, so far this year the Hammers have been remarkably porous at the back.

Chief to their defensive problems has been the chaos at right back. Bilic persisted with playing Michail Antonio as a wing back despite repeated evidence that Antonio lacked the positional and tackling nous of a Premiership wuality defender.

Meanwhile, Sam Byram has returned from injury but has struggled to acclimatise to the pace of the top flight and to manage the twin demands of defence and attack. In simple terms, giving a yard of space to Premiership forwards is foolhardy and subject to repeated punishment.

All of which begs the question: what can Bilic do to restore a stable back line? Arbeloa has arrived to provide options but is still well off match fitness and at 33 years of age is only a temporary solution.

This time last year Bilic faces a similar issue as Carl Jenkinson lost form and confidence. Up stepped James Tomkins to fill in at right back. Defensively Tomkins was excellent and despite a lack of explosive pace, also linked in well with the attack.

Unfortunately, Tomkins became frustrated with the lack of starting opportunities under Bilic and in a move that shocked Hammers fans, departed for Crystal Palace during the Summer. The £10million fee was touted as a decent deal for West ham but right now we could certainly do with Tomkins experience. One suspects that he would have come on as a substitute at half time yesterday to replace either Byram or Collins who were both misfiring but alas, Tonks is warming the Palace bench at present and yet to make a Premiership start for the Eagles.

Bad business all round it seems!


What's gone wrong with our defence?


So far this season West ham have been struggling defensively, culminating a an embarrasing implosion yesterday where in truth Watford could have easily scored five or six goals.

The preseason campaign was unimpressive with a concession rate of over two games per game even though many of the games were against modest North American and Austrian opposition.

Further warning signs went out after the dusappointing defeat to Astra which, rather like yesterday, occured from a winning position after the Hammers were gifted an away goal in Romania.

So what has gone wrong - the success of last year was undoubtedly built upon our ability to suffocate opposition sides which allowed for a series of famous victories over all the traditional top six sides.

Undoubtedly the right back situation has been problematic as SuperSlav showed the less positive side to his stubborn determination by prolonging a visibly failing experiment using Michail Antonio at right back.

All the while, our defence has become unbalanced and nervous looking. Watford's openibg goal testerday was typical of the poor defensive positioning at right back as Sam Byram 'did an Antonio' by allowing himself to drift 5 yards off his man and then mysteriously allowed Odion Ighalo to turn inside with disastrous consequenxes as his shot deflected off James Collins for a mighty soft goal that allowed a Watford side who had been totally outplayed until that point back into the game.

Watford's equaliser was truly embarrassing as Adrian and Ginge messed up yheir shouts and gifted Troy Deeney the chance to equalise. Undoubtedly, the opportunity was deftly executed with a delightful lob that the retreating Masuaku couldn't quite keep out, but the ball should gave been easily dealt with without any such danger.

The response after the break was really disappointing. West ham lost yheir way and conceded another sift goal as Sam Byram failed to cut out a cross to the right side of the box leaving Capoue on his own yo rifle a shot high onyo the net. On another day Adrian would have pushed it over the bar but Watford were on a roll.

Cue another embarrassing goal as Ighalo was allowed to dance around the right side of the penalty area (again with Byran in hapless oursuit) before teeing the ball up for a low strike that again Adrain could have kept out on another day.

It's a real pity that a day that should have been remembered for Antonio's brilliant brace that emphasised his resurgenge since returning to his natural attacking position as well as the fabulous rabona cross from Payet for the second goal, in fact was more notable for a series of comically inept defensive cock ups.

Even worse, Angelo Ogbonna posted an unhelpful post match tweet that is likely to impede his return to the starting XI.

There certainly is lots of work to be done on the training ground by Mr Dicks and Co who are mighty quiet just now having been hailed as rock solid this time last year. The right side of our defence needs serious working on as Collins and Byram are not managing the space between RB and right CB properly. However, perhaps the biggest single issue is that we have lost confidence and need a few decent defensive showings to get the boys talking again. With Arbeloa still short of match fitness, Sam Byram will surely get another chance or two, but things need to improve rapidly.

Saturday 10 September 2016

Positive Feeling Descends Upon Olympic Stadium

Martinez: on fire!

West ham have endured a mixed start to life since making the move to the Olympic Stadium. An early season injury crisis has forced the club to dig deep into their resources to bolster their fragile forward line but, ultimately, the squad now looks very impressive.

As they prepare to receive Watford to the OS today, the good news is that Dimitri Payet is ready to start and can team up again with fit again Manny Lanzini. The mouthwatering prospect of an attacking midfield trio of Payet-Lanzini-Feghouli may have to wait another week as Feghouli played the first half of last night's Prem-2 (err reserves to us old timers!) 2-2 draw with Wolves. A late appearance from the bench may unfold today but if so, probably as a substitute for either Payet or Lanzini.

Meanwhile, up front things are ready to finally light up as Simone Zaza is set to make his debut. The Italian is a livewire and has looked impressive in training since his arrival from Juve. There can be little doubt that Hammers fans have high expectations for Zaza as he was the clear winner in a recent poll exploring who fans believe is our best striker when fit. Zaza seized 53% of the vote with Andy Carroll back in second with 12% and Ashley Fletcher third at 9%.

With Ayew and Carroll making good progress with their injuries, the other good news is that 19 year old hitman Toni Martinez is banging in goals for the Prem-2 side, with 6 already in 5 games this season for Terry Westley's side.

Despite losing 2 of their three opening games this season - defeats away to Chelsea and Man City are not too disappointing and the Hammers have a 100% win record at the OS having won 1-0 against Bournemouth a few weeks back. Today's visitors are Watford who have only managed a point so far and do not look like the side who so impressed last season. Even Mystic Mark (Lawrenson) thinks the Hammers will win (predicts 2-0) which may be a curse!

With the attacking options again available West ham will hope to finally kick start their season. Let's hope Zaza can mark his debut with a goal to lift our spirits.

COYI.






Saturday 3 September 2016

Bilic Gives Vote of Confidence


West ham boss Slaven Bilic has been speaking about new recruit Simone Zaza and his exploits in traing since arriving from Juventus.

Hammers fans who are hoping to get a look at what Zaza can offer were given a boost ahead of next week's Watford game as Bilic voiced his high expectations of Zaza and his excitement at the Italian hitman's 'wildness'!

As such, it is evident who Superslav has voted for in the VERYWESTHAM poll to name our preferred main striker, but who do you think is our main hitman? Why not cast your vote in our poll (top right)?

Friday 2 September 2016

Is Zaza Really THAT good?



We asked the West Ham public to name their favoured striker from our current batch and they have responded in pretty unexpected ways. While Simone Zaza looks likely to be a useful addition to the squad, it's something of a surprise that the vast majority (54%) of Hammers fans rate him as our single best forward - compare that with Andy Carroll in second place at 12% of respondents. And note, this is presuming that all are fit and available to play!

Zaza's strike rate in higher level football is slightly above a goal every third game (58/156 games), which is decent but not likely to produce the 20 goals a season haul that we covet. Perhaps his recent splendid strike against the Hammers during our preseason finale versus Juve has influenced fans?

Andy Carroll is nowhere near as prolific at 68 goals in 258 appearances (which is just above a goal every fourth game), but his fans can point towards his overall contribution to the team in terms of creating chances for others and also as a huge asset at opposition set plays.

Interestingly, Hammers fans have been taken with Ashley Fletcher who, despite his inexperience with only two Premiership appearances, is ranked third with 10 percent of the vote!

Poor Andre Ayew has obviously frustrated fans as, despite his £20 million transfer fee, trails in in fifth at 6% of the vote - 1% less than the out of favour Diafra Sakho. The Ghanaian International has a strike rate that is almost identical to big Andy at 79 goals in 294 top flight appearances.

Otherwise, Jonathan Calleri has yet to grab hearts after a serious of close misses since his recent arrival and only gets 2% of the vote - half of the 4% that the evergreen Carlton Cole has received despite no longer being registered at the club, apparently!

Finally, we may indeed love Dimitri Payet but only 3% of fans think he alone can produce the goals that we need to push towards the top six places in the Premiership.

Why not have your say by voting on our poll before it closes in 3 days time? 

 

Thursday 1 September 2016

There's only one Enner Valencia...

Valencia's finest moment in Claret n Blue

Indeed, there is but only one Enner Valencia - but somebody needs to tell Swansea FC who were 'chasing' the Ecuadorian striker and announced on their official website that he had arrived as a new signing even though he had actually ultimately ended up at Everton!

Many Hammers fans will suggest that Swansea might be better off blushing now at a minor faux-pas rather than enduring a hapless season of Valencia NOT scoring - something he has excelled at during his time at West Ham. In fact, so NOT prolific was Valencia that he didn't even make the suggestion list for main striker in the on going Fans poll - if you haven't voted why not let us know your thoughts by clicking on your choice (above right).

Hammers fans might well also surmise that there are indeed two different Enners - the one who has amassed an impressive 16 goals in his 29 international performances (more than a goal every other game), and the one who has struggled with a mere 8 goals in 60 appearances at West ham (a goal ever 7.5 games).

Has he been played out of position? Those who actually watch Ecuador's international matches will say not and point to his lack of innate physicality as a major disadvantage in the rough and tumble of the Premiership.

Either way, it'll be good to not have to endure watching him repeatedly lose possession during our games!