The past year has certainly been a big disappointment for West Ham fans. The highlights from January to May in the season prior included two excellent performances beating Palace 3-0 at home and Southampton 3-1 away, but the topping on the cake was that barmy night under the lights beating Tottenham 1-0 with a significantly understrength team. Had Spurs won that night they would have finished the season with 13 consecutive wins but a loss pretty much ensured they would not be Champions. The second half of the year into this current season has not been much better with again just three games that got us really excited. The marvellous comeback in the League Cup game which saw a 2-0 deficit against Spurs (again) turned around for a 3-2 win; the brave 1-0 defeat of last season’s champions Chelsea, and the footballing display we dished out at Stoke in a 3-0 drubbing were for me the main highlights. In November we parted company with the 15th full time manager in our history as Slaven Bilic made way for David Moyes.
Supporting West Ham for over five decades has never been easy but it has been far less rewarding since the inception of the Premier League era. Take the past 12 months, six highlights for the whole year. No major trophy since 1980 – thirty seven bloody years! Let’s face it, we are not going to win the PL any time soon, if ever, but at least we used to give the domestic Cups a fair crack. I saw us win three in the first two decades supporting the club – and a European trophy. Our League campaigns were almost always disappointing but for the most we saw some great players and at times some wonderful football. Even in division two we saw some of our best players of all time. Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Billy Bonds, Alvin Martin, Frank Lampard , Phil Parkes and Ray Stewart. How could a team with these players be playing in the second flight – but there again our highest league position with Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters all in the side was eighth! However, in most of those years there were a lot more than six highlights. Since then the title challenge of 1986 and the Payet season are like a comfort blanket to a child – something to cling on to with all our might. I really feel we missed a trick by not fielding our best eleven at Arsenal in the LC quarter final. Not only did we surrender any cup ambition that night, but also the confidence and momentum that was starting to build. Those two ingredients are worth their weight in gold to any sporting team and I feel we lost more than a football match at the Emirates.
Some of the hidings we have taken, some of the train wrecks we have witnessed, well we can never be accused of being plastic can we? Back to the Payet season, sorry if I offend anyone by calling it that, I realise there were many more factors that led to that great season, but towards the end of that season we had a run of three games where poor refereeing decisions possibly cost us 4th place. On March 19th 2016 Robert Madley awarded a penalty to Chelsea in injury time for an incident that took place outside the box which once converted saw three points turned to a solitary one. He had earlier turned his back on Cesc Fabregas moving the ball back several yards to his advantage at a free kick which he duly converted from a more advantageous position. In our next match Kouyates red card against Palace (which was later rescinded) tipped a comfortable win into another draw whilst a fortnight later the softest of late penalties at Leicester forced yet another 2-2 draw from the jaws of victory. These were all notable incidents where the officials got it wrong at our expense. However, what we witnessed at Bournemouth last week was an absolute disgrace. It has been done to death now but Robert Madley is one fella I never ever want to see referee a West Ham match again.
I have never been one for New Year’s resolutions. Being strong willed if I want to change something in my life I don’t need any special day of the year to do it. However, it is a tradition for some and I know many people who do like to partake. If David Moyes is looking to make one or two what would your suggestions be? I think I would start by making it an absolute must that we bring in a top quality holding midfielder in the January transfer window.
I wrote in my article last week that Sakho, Ayew, Carroll and Kouyate may be players we may listen to offers for in the January window. Nothing has happened to change my mind there but what of incoming targets? Reece Oxford has been recalled from Germany despite only playing a handful of games. I would be surprised if the youngster is not given a run in the Cup against Shrewsbury to give the boss an idea as to whether he has improved any? Meanwhile, transfer targets mentioned in the press include;
Alfie Mawson Swansea centre back who will be 24 years old later in January. Can’t say I have watched a lot of him to be honest but what I have seen he looks pretty decent. It is always hard to appraise a defender who is playing for a team that is bottom of the league and in Mawson’s case hasn’t played in the top flight for very long. Moyes is looking for a central defender and the bookies make him 4/6 (a 60% chance) to join the Hammers.
Steven N’Zonzi French midfielder who is out of favour at current club Sevilla. I was impressed with the player when he was at Stoke – his ball retention and distribution was very good. He is a big lad and in 2011 when playing for Blackburn he elbowed Ryan Shawcross in the face and received a four match ban for his efforts – so he has a bit about him. His form at past clubs has often tapered off after bright starts and at 29 he may be a risk considering he would demand a large fee. Despite the paper talk saying we are interested, Skybet don’t even have us listed as a club chasing him. Arsenal are currently even money favourites (50%) for his signature.
Marouane Fellaini David Moyes would have plenty of knowledge on this player from his time at Everton. Out of favour at Manchester United in a World Cup year usually means where there is smoke there is fire. However, despite the rumours West Ham are 18/1 (5%) to sign the Belgian this window and he is 1-2 (66%) to stay in Manchester.
Jonjo Shelvey There has been a sprinkling of money in the past 24 hours for the Newcastle midfielder to join the Hammers. We are quoted at 4/1 (20%) whilst he is priced at 1/3 (75%) to stay put which at this point seems the most likely outcome.
Other players muted to be on our radar are Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge who are both quoted at 5/1 (16%) which seem way under the odds as both seem unlikely at this point in time.
Happy New Year to you all and stay SAFE