I must say that I am very impressed with the new West Ham kits.  Both the home and away kits are both traditional and stylish.  It is an excellent policy decision by the new suppliers to go for a design rooted in West Ham’s past, that strikes a positive cord with the club’s  support.  They are also very generous in their seizing as well, which is a added bonus.

Personally, I disliked the Umbro kit designs.  They were so uninspiring, without discernible flair in conception and design.  The last one (last season’s home shirt) was the worst of the lot.   I have a large collection of Hammers shirts.  It includes such memorable designs as original first team shirts from 1960s and 1970s, a home Admiral shirt from 1976-77, the classy Adidas kits of the early 1980s,  the so-called ‘Argentina’ away shirt of the early 1990s, the Centenary shirts and many others.  I dutifully purchased the first home Umbro shirt, which was probably the best of the lot, but could not bring myself to buy any of the others that followed.

However, my enthusiasm has been seriously rekindled with these new Italian designs.  They look good and also feel good to wear.  The best thing is that we actually look like West Ham Utd FC once again, rather than Scunthorpe Utd FC!  So, lets follow through and ensure that we play like West Ham this season, with style and without fear.

Actually, my hope is to see a new synthesis of tradtional West Ham flair and a new professionalism.  Having seen a couple of pre-season matches, it is clear that Avram Grant has identified a system and successfully inducted the players in to it.  The players seem to know their jobs in the system and are doing them well as a unit.  Indeed, they have shown remarkable discipline and organisation so far.  While some of their forward play has been flowing and adventurous.

Carlton Cole looks like a striker on a mission to finally realise his full potential.  While both Noble and Hitzlsperger have had very good pre-seasons.   I look forward to seeing a midfield that combines the talents of these two and Scott Parker.  Hitzlsperger, in particular, looks a bargain buy.  A very influential player who will add experience and goal scoring threat to our midfield. 

In my opinion it is crucial that both Cole and Parker remain with the club.  Selling Cole to Stoke City could be a real mistake and we should refuse to sell to Spurs on principle.  A bit like Bellamy’s transfer to Man City, I would take any club’s money over theirs.  However, it also has to be said that Spurs’ bid for Parker smacks of a certain panic over at WHL.  Their pre-season has been fairly poor and their recent humiliation at the hands of Villarreal could be a bit of harbinger of their forthcoming fortunes in this year’s Champions League?  Anyway, lets hope so! 

I agree that Parker should captain the club this season.  If he stays, then Upson should concentrate upon his defensive duties and leadership of the back four.  Some people have conveniently short memories.  Yes Upson had a poor 2009-10 season, but had played consistently well for us over the previous two seasons.  Lets hope that he commits to the club and gets back to that type of form.  At 30-31 years of age, as a central defender, his next couple years should see him at his best. 

However, Upson needs to commit to the new contract on offer.  If not then an exit should be actively encouraged.   Ben Tal Haim is a steady defender and did a good job for Bolton a few seasons back.   Optimistically, I am looking for Spence, Eyjolfsson  and Fry to push on and (to one degree or other) figure at first team level this season.  At right-back, I would have liked to recruit Luke Young from Villa as cover for Faubert.   However, Clerc would also be a decent signing.  Left-back looks pretty well covered with Ilunga, Daprela competing for a starting spot.   While beneath them we also have Matt Fry able to cover left-back and promising youngster, Jordan Brown, coming through.

It is still early days, and pre-season form can be deceptive.  However, things seem to be shaping up well at the club.  Grant has made it clear that he is still looking to strengthen the squad and, rumour has it, that we are targeting experienced cover for Rob Green, a defender and another striker.  We shall see?

SJ. Chandos.

Assuming Scott Parker isn’t lured away by the charms of Sir Harold Redknapp, there will be a lot of calls for him to made captain of West Ham for the coming season. But we still have an incumbent captain in England centre back Matthew Upson. But a new manager may want to make a change. If he does, it could signal a move away from Upton Park for Upson.

I hardly need rehearse the arguments in favour of a Parker captaincy. He’s the most inspirational player in the team and the other players clearly look up to him. He isn’t a shouty player, but he doesn’t need to shout to inspire. Upson isn’t too vocal either and it’s rare you see him interacting with other players when things go wrong. But he does show leadership in other ways.

So who would you like to see captain West Ham this season? Upson or Parker?

Vote HERE.

UPDATE: At 2pm, 300 people had voted and 92% support Scott Parker.

The pursuit of Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme is finally over after the player signed a contract extension at Boca Juniors. Indeed, he would have been an interesting yet expensive player to have on the books but i believe it is good he didnt sign a deal with West Ham as at 32 he would have had no sell on value and was just looking for as much money as possible before retiring. Hopefully we now concentrate our efforts on a better value of player that will also represent good business.

Josh Payne, released by West Ham at the end of the season, has signed a six month deal with Doncaster Rovers. I always thought he looked like he had a fair bit of potential, but obviously the management felt he wasnt up to standard so chose not to offer a new contract. Good luck to him at Doncaster and throughout his career.

David Beckham has allegedly promised to give West Ham an answer as to whether he wishes to finish his career at the club very soon. I can see both sides of the arguement as to why he would be good and bad for West Ham; for the increased revenue he would be ideal, however he wont come cheaply and his wages will surely be too much for West Ham. Perhaps the owners believe he will fund himself with the extra merchandise sales and bums-on-seats.

West Ham are being linked with another French full-back, this time Laurent Bonnart. The ex-Marseille defender is available on a free, similarly to Clerc, but is a few years his senior. For me, Clerc seems the better option, although there seem to be some question marks over his long term fitness, and this is perhaps why Grant has moved on to finding a new right back to challenge Julien Faubert.

Once again, there is much else to report on players in. It would seem the Remy deal is far from complete as Nice look to gain as much money possible. No more is being said on Clerc however Milton Caraglio and Stephen Wessels both represented West Ham last night in the friendly match again MK Dons so its possible a deal for either one of those players may come about soon!

Avram Grant continues to show that he is his own man, with a determination to install a management set up of his choosing.  Following the acquisition of Groves and Coles (as Head Coach and goal keeping coach), he has now announced the appointment of Zeljko Petrovic as the club’s Assistant Manager.

Who is Zeljko Petrovic?  He is a 44 year old, former Yugoslavian international right-back who, during a much travelled playing career, appeared for Dinamo Zagreb, Sevilla FC, PSV and Red Diamonds (in the Japanese J-League). 

Since hanging up his boots, Petrovic has managed Boavista FC and RKC Waalwijk.  In addition, he has held position’s as Technical Director at Feyenoord and, more latterly, Assistant Manager to Martin Jol at Hamburg SV.

Petrovic is certainly an interesting choice.  Avram Grant has been quoted as describing him as yet another positive personality added to the new backroom team.  He certainly has a wide experience of European and world football and, hopefully, good tactical nous and the crucial ability to motivate the players to higher levels of performance.

Like most Hammers fans,  I am naturally biased towards ex-Hammers players in the management team.  However, this regime is a new broom and we just have to accept that Grant has assembled a backroom staff that he is comfortable with.  Happily, the management team does still include ex-Hammer, Kevin Keen.  Lets hope that together they forge a new, tougher minded and professional winning mentality at Upton Park.

The new management regime certainly appears to be having a early positive influence in terms of pre-season results, lets also hope that a positive and successful (if only relative to last season) 2010-11 campaign awaits?  The supporters jaded nerves could certainly do with some welcome relief after the various trials and tribulations of recent seasons!

SJ. Chandos.

West Ham have officially announced that they have rejected a bid from Tottenham for Scott Parker. Sullivan said that he ‘made a promise to the West Ham fans which he will not go back on for any amount of money.’ Clearly very good news for West Ham that we can now actually rely 0n the board to do as they say and not sell behind peoples backs.

Valon Behrami is again being linked with an Upton Park exit with Roma the interested party. Roma have for some time now expressed an interest in bring Behrami back to Italy but nothing concrete has so far emerged. According to reports though a player + cash deal could be on the cards.

And onto one of the silliest rumours i’ve probably ever heard, apparently Carlton Cole is being linked with none other than Real Madrid! Obviously its someone on the internet trying to have a joke and i fully expect Cole to stay with us – especially as it has been announced he’ll be The Hammers new No.9

I will make a further transfer development post later, in the hope more wild and wicked rumours have been circulated, and who knows, possibly a transfer will be complete…

Sky Sports are reporting that West Ham have rejected a bid from Tottenham for Scott Parker… Gulp…

UPDATE: The Club have released THIS statement on the website.

The club would like to state that regardless of the size of the bid, nothing will break the promise that Chairman David Sullivan made to our supporters. As repeatedly stated, Scott Parker is not for sale and there are no circumstances and no amount of money that will cause us to break that pledge to the fans.

The club informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the player. Scott Parker has three years left on his contract and the club has opened talks with his agent over a new five-year deal.

David Sullivan said: “I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters. Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. West Ham supporters, for far too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing and do another.

“This is a new era. We are building a bigger, better West Ham and when we make a promise, we honour it.”

That’s pretty categoric. I just wonder if Scott Parker himself will take the same views.

There is no doubt that West Ham’s pre-season has shaped up very well so far.   Carlton Cole looks proficient playing in a lone striker role and has already contributed a couple of goals.  In addition, he has received good quality support from Boa Morte and Freddie Sears on the left and right side of  the forward line. The defence has looked tight and disciplined and the central midfield combination of Noble and Hitzlsperger has done extremely well. 

Moreover, Having read accounts of the Brossia MGB and Panathinaikos matches, not only have  the team played good football, but they have shown a creditable discipline and professionalism in adapting to a new formation.   Grant’s management will probably see a move away from 4-4-2 and the adoption of a far more flexible 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1 formation.  Personally, I hope that we go for the 4-2-3-1 that was prevalent tactically in the recent World Cup Finals.  This would probably see Noble and Parker partnered in central midfield, with a combination of Barrera, Boa Morte, Hitzlsperger, Stanislas, Sears, Diamanti (if he stays?), Collison (when fit) or Remy (if he ever actually signs?) or Hines supporting Cole at the fulcrum of the attack.

It is the ability of this bank of three forwards to give close support to Cole and regularly hit the back of the net that will ultimately determine the success of the formation.   The players referred to above are all more than capable of delivering goals.   In that respect the performances of Hitzlsperger have been particularly encouraging.  ‘Das Hammer’ has started to show an ability to score goals from deep positions and that is to be warmly welcomed.  Last season, Diamanti weighed in with eight or nine goals, but he was the exception in a midfield that did not hit the target nearly regularly enough.

There has been a lot of press speculation about the exit of Parker and Cole to Aston Villa and Stoke City respectively.  Personally, I would not welcome the departure of either player.  They are part of the team’s spine and their loss will probably weaken it.  However, I am also more than aware that one or more ’star’ players may need to be sacrificed to provide the funds for further new arrivals. And it does seem likely that space in the striker berths will need to be found if the rumours concerning the imminent arrival of Argentinian prospect, Caragilo, are true?

It would be a great pity though, as in Cole, Picquionne and Nouble we have three excellent options to play at the apex of our new formation.  Whilst selling Cole to accommodate Caragilo, a young player untried in the PL, would represent a gamble.  If it comes off then it will be hailed as a master stroke, if it does not then we could all come to regret it.  Decisions such as that are the call of the management, it what they are very well paid for, and ultimately they stand or fall by them. 

It is notable that the defence has been very tight so far, with players such as James Tomkins showing impressive early form.  However, the principle question remains whether Upson wishes to stay with the club or seek pastures new?  If he does go then we will need to recruit an experienced and high quality replacement.  Also, will Clerc be signed to provide  international quality cover at right-back?   Will the restructure of the squad also mean that some defenders such as Gabbidon and Spector could be moved on before the start of the season?

Regardless, one of the features of the 4-2-3-1 is the way in which the system gives additional midfield cover to the defence, shielding it and giving the full-backs greater opportunity to get forward and provide vital width.  These are features that will assist West Ham to overcome two of the worst faults from last season, the fragility of our defence and a lack of real width in our forward play.

It is a formation that interests me and I particularly like the tactical flexibility and movement that it tends to promote.  It looks like Grant’s player recruitment is geared to providing the players to make it work.   Lets hope that, unlike in the case of GF Zola’s squad last summer, the club has furnished/furnishes Grant with the players to ensure that the formation succeeds.  Otherwise, there will probably be another hasty retreat back in to the comfort zone of a more rigid 4-4-2!

SJ. Chandos.

West Ham are allegedly inquiring about the services of ex Newcastle flop Jean Alain Boumsong. Although a new centre back is needed, for me personally, this is not the right place to be looking. At 30 he has experience, and has represented France as well as play numerous times in the Champions League, but from what i remember of him, he was always the weak link and i think the management team would be better to look for a younger, more solid defender. My fancy would be Wheater from ‘Boro.

Reports are circulating that ‘Arry is set to make ‘a significant bid’ to bring Scott Parker to Tottenham. It really does seem he has a personal vendetta against the club now and will almost do anything to agitate Hammers fans. If the board are true to their word, we’ll refuse any and all offers for Parker, but i think he may actually be the first to leave Upton Park.

West Ham are set to appoint a new assistant manager this week. Zeljko Petrovic has been assistant to Martin Jol for a number of years now and reports are suggesting he will sign as Grants number 2 and bring countryman and Ajax forward Miralem Sulejmani with him on a season long loan deal.

Other than the Remy saga, which is getting very tiresome now, and the possible arrival of Clerc, there is little else to report for now. However Avram Grant has promised more signings this summer! Lets hope one is Clerc and lets hope Remy makes up his mind soon, one way or the other.

This weekend has seen some big moves in the transfer market, and West Ham have apparently stepped up their interest in England international David Beckham. Playing wise, he could still do a job for West Ham, but not consistently. At the age of 35, he is certainly in the winter of his playing career, and he may not get back into the tempo and vigour of the Premier League after so long away. He would definitely be more of an impact sub rather than a regular starter, so i’m not sure how much sense it would make to have him in the team on his wages.

Another player linked with West Ham over the weekend, and who could possibly be called The David Beckham of the Brazil national team is Ronaldinho. He could be available for a fee of around £6million but with wages around £100,000 a week, it would be a very expensive experiment for West Ham. Although both these players are no longer at their peak, both would no doubt do a very decent job for The Hammers, and it shows West Ham are trying to add some flair to the squad, whilst increase revenue as both star names would guarantee increased merchandise sales.

Reports today also suggest West Ham are close to finalising the deal to sign France international Francois Clerc. The 27-year old is available on a free after his Lyon contract ran out and hopefully he will be added to the squad before the start of the season to bolster the backline.

It is also being said that Lyon or Bordeaux will now win the race to sign French striker Loic Remy. It’s believed he would prefer to stay in France despite everything he has said about finding the Premier League an attractive proposition. For me now, i think it would be best for Sullivan to withdraw his offer and look for other striking options available for a similar price or cheaper as Remy and Nice have both from the word go being consistent in stalling on West Ham, are we really prepared to have a player in our ranks who clearer would rather be at numerous other clubs?

The race for a new no2 goalkeeper also altered again yesterday as Ex Everton goalkeeper Stephen Wessels played in goal for West Ham yesterday in the friendly game against Burton. The 31 year old could now be brought in to play back up to Robert Green and increase competition for the number 1 jersey.

Once again, there are no new signings to report, but by the looks of things, one could be imminent. However, the thing that is concerning a lot of Hammers that i no is there may also be a depature soon, but who this is at the moment remains to be seen with midfielder Valon Beharmi the latest name being tipped for an exit at the moment.

There’s an absolutely fantastic interview in today’s Independent on Sunday with Karren Brady. It’s full of optimism and it’s almost inspirational. She eulogises about the club’s plans for the Olympic Stadium and reveals that she expects to get a six month exlusive negotiation with HMG about the future of the stadium.

Read it HERE.