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Those Hammers fans of a certain age will remember that before the internet and Sky the only news source for sports was the back page of newspapers, in those papers there were cartoons.

The arrival of Javier Fernandez has raised West Ham United's profile by a disproportionate amount, and so getting to actually see him live will be the preserve of those lucky enough to have season tickets or those who manage to get tickets via ticket exchange or are lucky enough to obtain one of the few tickets allocated via the members list.

Just like watching the last few home games last season, there had been some degree of stress with regards the impending arrival of Javier Hernandez at the magnificent London Stadium. Until the official site www.whufc.com had actually confirmed the signing there are those of certain years with long memories who would not believe the signing until it was thoroughly and irrefutably done and dusted! Even if the official site confirms it (remember Yossi Benayoun).

Not to put a downer on West Ham United's prolific recent transfer activity, but being West Ham, the fact that the club have already announced that there was a transfer agreement in place despite the player not having passed a medical nor more importantly having agreed personal terms is more than worrying! Having seen victory snatched from the club's clutches with regard to numerous other transfer activities in the past, the West Ham United hierarchy will be on baited breath when Hernandez flies in to London on tuesday, but will their hands be tied?

When news of Joe Hart's impending arrival at the London Stadium was announced it was obvious from the off that three in to two would not work from a goal keeping perspective, so something had to give. Rumours persisted that it would be Adrian on his way out, possibly to Crystal Palace, but it has turned out to be Republic of Ireland keeper Darren Randolph with a move to Middlesborough for a fee of around £5 Million which seems to be a relatively good deal for all parties concerned.

West Ham United: Randolph, Adrian, Hart, Anang, Byram, Zabaleta, Cresswell, Masuaku, Collins, Ogbonna, Burke, Rice, Makasi, Kouyate, Lanzini, Feghouli, Snodgrass, Obiang, Noble, Fernandes, Cullen, Holland, Ayew, Fletcher, Martinez
Fulham FC: Bettinelli, Button, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Madl, Sigurdsson, Sessegnon, Djalo, McDonald, Kabano, Cairney, Johansen, Kavanagh, Cisse, Ayite, Woodrow, Aluko

The impending arrival of Javier Hernandez because West Ham are willing to trigger the £13m escape clause for the 29 year old Mexico international goal machine, will swiftly follow the one year loan deal for Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart and the club agreeing to pay Stoke £24 million for attacking winger Marko Arnautovic. Hernandez joined Bayer Leverkusen from Manchester United in 2015 and has since scored 28 goals in 45 League games.

For those who watched it, West Ham United's opening friendly match was rather one to forget, few positives were on show, mainly negatives! OK so Slaven Billic fielded two different teams for each half, hence some of the disjointed play, but first half saw Robert Snodgrass prove why he will go down as one of the club's worst ever purchases, at Hull he was a big fish in a small pond, at West Ham he looks totally out of his depth at despite what your personal opinion may be is a much 'bigger' club.

For a team in desperate need of at least one or probably two strikers given the frail state of health of both of Andy Carroll and Diafro Sakho, West Ham United's recruitment policy seems to be at a cross roads. Having acquired the services of ex- Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleto, the potential arrival of his former goal keeping colleague Joe Hart seems to indicate a shift in the emphasis in how things are going. Ironically building from the back is a Sam Allardyce principal but one which Slaven Billic appears to have embraced.

Up until last season West Ham United, Everton and several other clubs were able to borrow money against projected revenue from a Bermuda based 'pay day' loan company, however new legislation has meant that this facility can no longer be used, could this be the reason that West Ham United have done so little in the transfer market?