Worrying Times For West Ham? Striker & Defender Needed?

Ahead of the Europa Cup tie at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, many West Ham fans are feeling less than buoyant, and in fact trepidation and anxiety seem to be the order of the day for many. Season's usually begin full of hope, but then a lack of recruitment/funding usually kicks in followed by relative mediocrity, last season was an exception, but perhaps it is the 36 years since winning a trophy or the 30 years since finishing 3rd in the top flight that fills supporters with dread!
Injuries have already cast a shadow over the squad, with Cresswell, Lanzini and Tore all out before a ball was kicked in anger, not promising, especially as there will be even greater pressure and reliance on Dimitri Payet to pull the strings and orchestrate the type of dominance that Hammers showed last season. The long and painful search for the elusive 'marquee' striker has had a negative effect in more ways than one, hopefully any interest in courting Carlos Bacca has been put on the back burner as he clearly is not interested in joining the club, and having turned down the opportunity to buy Wissan Ben Yadder, apparently because he was too light weight, the club are now sounding out taking 31 year old Mario Gomez from Fiorentina on the cheap. Gomez was on loan at Besiktas last season where he was being paid around £60,000 per week, he doesn't fit in to the young dynamic age range preferred by the Board and manager, but needs must and Hammers do look remarkably toothless upfront at the moment.
More worrying is the defence, obviously losing a player of Cresswell's ability is a bitter blow and finding a replacement of the same quality nigh on impossible, especially given the time frame. Equally, but in one way more worrying, is Slaven Billic's insistence on using Mikael Antonio as a right back, Antonio is a beast going forward and can devastate teams, but a full back he ain't. The hard working Antonio was dreadfully exposed by Domzale's attack and looked a broken man by the end of the match, his confidence shot to ribbons. Last season Cresswell's athleticism on the left created so much pressure on the opposition that Antonio's weakness was only properly exploited on a few occasions by the opposition, you can be sure he will be targeted relentlessly if Bilic insists on playing him at right back. There is talk that Slaven's concept is to play three at the back with two wing backs and two wingers, good on paper maybe, but as we all know, football is played on a pitch not paper!
Perhaps this is all part of a cunning plan to lull the opposition into a false sense of security and 'Super Slav' is going to pull a rabbit out of the hat, well the deception's worked on us so far! Hammers have to come out with all guns blazing at what will be their first ever match at the Olympic Stadium, perhaps the 'Sakman' situation might even see a temporary truce invoked? His presence would certainly have an unsettling effect on the Domzale defence and he is needed, because Enner Valencia seems to have completely lost his Mojo! It is to be hoped that the crowd can lift the players to a level that can see their team progress to the group stages of the Europa Cup, but the times they are a worrying!. - Ed