West Ham's First Big Disappointment of 2017-18

As the new home strip hits the shops Hammers fans have had a chance to decide whether its a winner or not. The view at VERYWESTHAM is that it lacks ambition and creativity and bodes next season. In particular, the weird purple triangle on the upper chest looks out of place and better suited to an episode of Star Trek or the like (and we mean the Next Generation rather than Captain Kirk and the lads!).

As reports from ReadWestHam (see ex-WestHamEmployee)suggest that SuperSlav will have less money to invest than last season, maybe the kit reflects the mood at the club as one of consolidation.

However, as the 15th richest club in the world perhaps it's time to push on boldly and start building the 15th best team? A big signing at this stage of the Summer would send out a strong signal to other potential recruits that we are a club on the rise. Let's hope we don't find ourselves having to splash out big money on the end of Summer leftovers - we could do without another painful Zaza-like saga!

The Curious Case of Arbeloa Unfolds

Alvaro Arbeloa arrived at West Ham from Real Madrid with much expectation that he would tighten up a porous defence by bringing his experience to the right back position that has so troubled Slaven Bilic's reign as West Ham manager. However, Arbeloa quickly fell out of favour after a number (three actually) of lukewarm performances and was suddenly out of the frame even despite Sam Byram picking up an injury.

In truth, many Hammers fans were bemused and befuddled by the whole affair. Arbeloa had no apparent injury issues and his history pointed towards a consummate professional. Just exactly what was wrong was very unclear indeed.

However, announcing his retirement today, Arbeloa spoke to La Marca and shed some light on his difficulties at West Ham citing that it was not a physical problem but rather " in the end it was a head and motivational issue".

Arbeloa went on to describe how he has no interest in playing in the lucrative US or Chinese Leagues as for him they represent something that he finds less appealing about modern football. Hammers fans will note that he found motivation an issue despite his rumoured £50k per week wage!

As the 15th richest club in the world, surely it's time for West Ham to stop buying past it burned out players who lack the desire that a club with our ambitions needs?

Remembering our friend Foe

It's hard to believe it but today is the 14th anniversary of the sudden death of ex-Hammer Marc Vivien Foe! Marc lost his life at the age of 28 in 2003 after suffering a cardiac event whilst on the pitch whilst during a confederations Cup Semi Final clash for Cameroon against Colombia. In tragic scenes, Foe collapsed near the centre circle and could not be revived as players and the watching world looked on in horror. 

The Cameroon international joined the Hammers in 1999 from Lens for £4 million in a season that saw them enjoy a UEFA adventure under then boss, Sir Harry Redknapp. He played 38 games scoring once but then returned to Lyon in France for a 6 Million fee in 2000. He subsequently enjoyed a loan spell at Man City where he was under contract when he died due to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A likeable and hugely talented giant of a man, he is remembered fondly.

Rest in Peace big fella!

Hammers Left With No Room for Last Gasp Heroics

Next Season's fixture list was released this morning and it makes for some interesting thoughts about how SuperSlav's men will need to consider their campaign.

With a high profile start away to Man United, there is then a run of relatively 'soft' fixtures and it's not until December that things get testy with games against Man City and London derbies versus Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham!

If the Hammers find themselves in trouble they will be under pressure in the final six games where they have a tough run in that includes games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Everton!

Hopefully, we will be viewing those games as Champions League qualifying six pointers!

It's already only 9 weeks until it starts all over again.

August
12 Man Utd (a)
19 Southampton (h)
26 Newcastle (a)

September

9 Huddersfield (h)
16 West Brom (a)
23 Tottenham (h)
30 Swansea (h)

October

14 Burnley (a)
21 Brighton (h)
28 Crystal Palace (a)

November

4 Liverpool (h)
18 Watford (a)
25 Leicester (h)
29 Everton (a)

December

2 Man City (a)
9 Chelsea (h)
12 Arsenal (h)
16 Stoke (a)
23 Newcastle (h)
26 Bournemouth (a)
30 Tottenham (a)

January

1 West Brom (h)
13 Huddersfield (a)
20 Bournemouth(h)
30 Crystal Palace (h)

February

3 Brighton (a)
10 Watford (h)
24 Liverpool (a)

March

3 Swansea (a)
10 Burnley (h)
17 Man Utd (h)
31 Southampton (a)

April

7 Chelsea (a)
14 Stoke (h)
21 Arsenal (a)
28 Man City (h)

May

5 Leicester (a)
13 Everton (h)

Ayew Edges Ahead in Hammers Annual Award

After the first day of voting Andre Ayew has pushed ahead in the 'Miss of the Year' competition at West Ham. Having managed to hit the post not once, but twice from a yard out against Liverpool the majority of fans (60%) have so far voted for his outrageous miss.

However, a substantial minority (40%) feel that Jonathan Calleri's botched rabona is a better miss! Considering that he had been so unproductive up front one might have thought that a more straightforward effort to claim a goal would have been warranted but...

Disappointingly, Sofiane Feghouli's remarkable scuff from 3 feet out against Man City has not attracted any great support and languishes well behind the twin leaders of Ayew and Calleri....

With another six days to go, its all up for grabs! Why not check out the action courtesy of youtube:

Your chance to vote for the Hammers MISS OF THE SEASON

Anyone feeling bored yet without a weekly fix of footie? After last season's stuttering campaign, many Hammers fans are left with a sense of being unfulfilled. Undoubtedly our chairmen will keep us in the news about possible signings, and who knows, might even actually splash some big cash, but otherwise there is little to savour from last season.

One area where the Hammers did excel was in respect of spectacular misses! With a misfiring attack that seemed woefully lacking in confidence, we managed to notch up some of the most amusing misses that we have ever managed! We have compiled a list of the top three for you to select your favourite and here they are!


Option A: Sofiane Feghouli (6th January, FA Cup versus Man City). The Hammers started well against Man City before conceding to a super goal. Despite this, we fought on and were still very much in the game when Michail Antonio's shot was spilled into the path of the on rushing Feghouli. Two yards out and with the goal gaping.....somehow he missed - slicing the ball back across goal!!! Bizarre. We ran out 0-5 losers but you'd have to wonder what if we had converted this simple chance?

Option B: Andre Ayew (14th May Vs Liverpool). Liverpool arrived needing points and although understrength we hoped to frustrate their efforts. The game was tightly balanced  until Coutinho opened up our defence for Mr Sturridge to put the reds ahead. However, undeterred we hit back and seemed destined to equalise from a delicious Lanzini corner where the ball fell to Andre Ayew just a metre from the goal line. Somehow the £20 million signing managed to hit the post - twice!!!

Option C; Jonathan Calleri (29th April Vs Stoke City). Calleri arrived with a big reputation but struggled with the pace of the Premiership and soon fell down the pecking order. Towards the end of the campaign injuries forced Slaven Bilic to give the young Argentinian a run of games to prove himself. He fluffed it, managing a single goal in 19 appearances. This miss - whereby he has a gaping goal and decides to showboat with an unnecessary rabona - is surely his most bizarre miss!

So which miss do you think wins the greatest miss of our season competition? 

 

The Truth Behind West Ham's Drab Season

For West Ham fans the 2016/17 season was a frustrating campaign, with the title crushing win over Spurs and the Cup victory over Chelsea the highlights. While there are a number of explanations - adjusting to a new stadium, another harsh run of injuries to key players, the lack of pace in midfield - undoubtedly the main problem was in attack where none of their forwards managed to make double figures.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall with the panic signing of World Cup penalty comedian Simone Zaza after efforts to lure the likes of Carlos Bacca or Michy Batshuayi came to nothing. Thereafter, an impotent Hammers attack laboured away to limited effect with Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio the main lights in what was a drab offensive campaign. 

As usual, Andy Carroll popped up with a few decent strikes and an overall decent strike rate of almost a goal every third game - which was our most potent scoring percentage per game. When twinned with his contribution in terms of general physicality and at both attacking and defensive set pieces, it's hard to not be lured into continuing to hope that he will find a consistent run of fitness. However, it's fair to assume that Andy cannot ever be relied upon as our principal starting striker as he only managed 110 appearances in five seasons at the club.

Similarly, after a tremendous start to his career at the club, Diafra Sakho has succumbed to sustained injury problems and has been almost constantly absent for the past 18 months. With squad numbers at a premium, it's hard to justify having so many injury-prone forwards on the books (and Daniel Sturridge seems unlikely to improve matters!). As such, either Carroll or Sakho need to leave this Summer - Carroll is the more consistent performer but his wages are considerably higher. The outcome will tell us something important about how cash rich we really are!

Otherwise, the departure of Jonathan Calleri comes as no surprise but perhaps what confused some fans is that he was started ahead of Ashley Fletcher for the final half dozen or so games of the season? Andre Ayew seemed to find form after his early injury setbacks but is clearly not the natural poacher that the club need if they are to push into the top half of the Premiership next season.

As for developing talent, for all the talk of Toni Martinez being the next big thing, he endured a disappointing spell at League One Oxford, while Jaanai Gordon fared no better at League two's Newport County.

The bottom line is that we need to invest in at least two top class strikers this Summer.

NOTE to Messrs Sullivan and Gold: Top class players are rarely available on loan!

Let the transfer games begin!!!