Buckle Up! West Ham’s Next Journey Begins Right Here!
And so it begins. The summer break is officially over. Our first league game of the new season against Aston Villa is looming large. Since we spoke last time, West Ham and its showrunner, Tim Steidten, have delivered another heart-stopping week of transfer drama, bringing in Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo against all odds and in such entertaining whirlwind fashion including an almighty plot twist that the whole episode is worthy of its own Netflix show, albeit a rather short one. To be followed by another spin-off series, covering the back and forth of negotiations and finally the arrival of a proper right-back in the form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United – more about him further down below.
(Note: As there has been a delay, it now looks as if the medical for AWB has been moved to this morning apparently. The deal should then be confirmed later today or tomorrow.)
I don’t know about you, but I am beside myself with unadulterated joy and a level of eager anticipation I haven’t felt in a long time. Not about West Ham anyway. We have brought in a lot of new players, more than I allowed myself to dream about holding up West Ham shirts and none of them has been an underwhelming choice. Even Wes Foderingham in goal has been signed for a clear purpose and in that respect was a smart choice by our recruitment team. He will bridge the gap between now and when Fabianski retires, by which time Hegyi might be ready to step into the first team squad. He is an insurance and emergency goalie, presumably happy with exactly that job description. And I doubt Foderingham will be anywhere near as bad as (cover your eyes, kids!) Roberto if put to the test in an actual match…
I’ll tell you what makes me excited for the next season. To begin with, the smell of a brand-new broom—complete with a gleaming new head and a sleek new handle—sweeping around Stratford and Rush Green is incredibly reviving and makes me want to curl up in my favourite armchair with a screwdriver ready to watch our games once more.Something that recently seemed like a chore might yet start to seem like real football games again, where our team is giving it their best instead of rolling over and letting the opposition, whether they be Newcastle, Chelsea, or Forest, flatter us.
With so many new players to get used to and a new head coach, it’s extremely difficult to forecast how a season will pan out. It will require a month or so for Julen Lopetegui to fully instill his mentality and beliefs in the players. No matter how talented they appear on paper, the new players must adjust to a new club, teammates, surroundings, and, in certain situations, a new nation. I shall extend my best wishes and patience to the newly formed West Ham team (which is a lot), and I look forward to watching them all gel into a solid and cohesive team. A group of brothers, a true squad, a club with a purpose.
For a minute, put the results out of your mind. And picture West Ham with nearly 50% of the ball in most of their games. Envision a defence that functions as a cohesive unit. Imagine having a team press the opposition hard inside their own half, causing them to make errors and give up the ball near their own box. Imagine swift wingers and aggressive midfielders who frequently overlap and change positions during games, confusing the heck out of their opponents. And picture West Ham starting an authentic striker up front who possesses both a strong physical presence and an unwavering instinct for scoring goals, along with a clean gap in his teeth. Once Lopetegui sees his concepts implemented, I believe it will be a very enjoyable kind of football.
The following would be my choice of words to sum up our transfer strategy this summer under Tim Steidten: resolute, unflappable, and professionally inclined, without any phoney sentimentality or naiveté clouding our judgement. As we did with Todibo, who reportedly wasn’t that eager to play for West Ham to begin with, we assess which players we need and pursue them, sometimes waiting our turn, playing the long game, then waiting for the proper opportunity to strike and seal the deal. Unless they shared a natural connection with the powerful Hammers, who would they be, let’s face it?
When it comes to signing athletes, our team is now astute. Furthermore, Steidten will undoubtedly be astute when it comes to moving players out. Needs are necessary. Rather than inking big-time contracts for players the head coach is unlikely to utilise, we aim to cut their salary, even if it means forgoing a possible transfer fee. We are reorganising the squad, improving its overall quality while also providing it a new equilibrium and structure.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be travelling from Manchester to finish his physical and then sign with West Ham as you read this. Once more, we have waited patiently for the selling club to settle any outstanding loyalty payments with the player before finalising the agreement at a fair price. Discuss value for the money. I am a huge fan of this signing, but I must admit that I am a little strange and traditional in my football fandom. I have a thing about defenders being the unsung heroes at clubs, as you may already be aware of.
Manfred Kaltz, a running back for Hamburg SV, was perhaps my first all-time favourite player. Notoriety for his renowned banana crosses saw him swerving with pinpoint accuracy across the opposition’s box in the shape of a banana, frequently ending up in the net via Horst Hrubesch’s baguette (the Hamburg striker dubbed as the ‘Header Beast’).
Subsequently, when I joined the Hammers, my support was once more for the one and only Tim Breacker—a dependable and unglamorous right back who appeared in 240 games for West Ham over the course of nine years—rather than a striker or cunning trickery. The first home shirt I ever bought had Breacker’s name and number on it. However, the blue Centenary away shirt was the first item I received.
Pundits have characterised Aaron Wan-Bissaka as one of the world’s top one-on-one defenders. The man known as “Spider” is a master at tackling; his timing and technique allow him to rarely make a mistake. It is difficult for opponents to get past him, and it is just what I want from my defenders. Being quick-witted also helps him when he is overlapping and exchanging short passes on the wing, which is reminiscent of his early days as a winger at Palace. Wan-Bissaka doesn’t necessary need to score goals from dangerous crosses into the area, but I wouldn’t expect him to accumulate a lot of assists either. As long as he is able to block the rival’s.
Another important aspect of players that I think is incredibly important—many of you may think this is sentimental—is their personality and the way they conduct themselves both in and out of the game. Please pardon me, but I get a kick out of seeing players that are not just good football players but also good people. They seem likeable to me! According to all accounts, Wan-Bissaka has never pouted or flung toys out of strollers, nor has he ever displayed diva-like tendencies. No, managers and commentators have characterised him as quiet, modest, humble, hard-working, and self-assured. It’s also important to highlight his ascent from modest origins and his subsequent dedication to humanitarian endeavours and community involvement. He seems like a wonderful fit.
What then are my overarching goals for this season’s West Ham team? Not necessarily in a better league than the previous one. At West Ham, a lot is changing at the moment. The team and head coach will need some time to gel and become a cohesive unit. Bumps in the path are inevitable and growing pains are probable. However, the football should soon become much more visually appealing. Not an eyesore, but eye candy. Seeing our squad play football again ought to be enjoyable and engaging. That will be the decisive factor for me in a season of change. We should place around tenth, but I wouldn’t exactly jump for joy if