West Ham fans have always loved a maverick, heavens knows the club has been 'blessed' with no end of 'special' players who have donned the Claret and Blue, from the 'Mad Monk' through to the 'Terminator' fans have always adopted players who give 100%, and new record signing Sebastian Haller has all the attributes required, and then some!
To score a spectacular goal within 90 seconds on his home debut wasn't enough, in the true Hammers tradition of 'meaningful' debuts it had to be a spectacular own goal, and Hammers new Gallic hero didn't disappoint. Haller instantly set about righting the wrongs of his error by harassing the visitors defence in the way a traditional centre forward is supposed to do.
'Allo's' presence was enough to disturb the opposition, he completed his 'Cameo' debut by accidentally taking out an opposition player 'properly'. The fact that he was able to look at the referee with 'hang dog' eyes as if to say "what me ref?" was hopefully a wonderful portent of the future. Hammers new most expensive signing looks like a cross between Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, he may stand one inch shorter than Carroll, but he plays a foot taller, and he has already managed to smile more than 'Sulkho' already!
Of course we would be in denial if we also didn't mention that due to the team's dreadfully porous defence it will definitely a be a 'buckle up butter cups' type of season, most definitely not for the faint hearted, but potentially very exciting.
If Jack Wilshere can just stay fit, then Manuel Pellegrini will have a selection problem as to who he has to bench from his midfield, but as it is West Ham, undoubtedly someone will pick up an injury to relieve the pressure for places.- Ed
Comments
AlloAllo
Looks to be a very very good acquisition but at the back we are in trouble..friendlies are just that and they help you see problems you may have as well as the good things running throughout the team but we have conceded 12 goals in 6 matches the only clean sheet coming against Fulham and that is worrying....i keep hearing we are after this guy Long from the MLS but are struggling to get a work permit for him i hope that El Pel does not let this turn into another Gomez affair as we cannot afford that.....Balbuena/Diop a bit out of sorts but it is at full back where we seem to be having the problem...Cressy is nowhere near what he was Arthur as good as going forward as he is defensively he is poor and we all know that...Zab is a pensioner Fredericks has a lot of work to do with his game as he seems IMO to switch off and get caught out of position and relies on his pace to recover that leaves the kid Johnson and he is very talented but you cannot put all that defensive responsibility on his shoulders....so hate it as i do the current squad i would compare to the spuds team under Ardilles going forward very exciting but at the back well we all know what happened there and to him....Doom and gloom not really but very wary about the team defensively
Just reading that Longs club
Have put £15 million on for his services so along with the work visa drama I would say that's the end of that. Shame but money always interferes.
The Positives
Wheelchair looking good in the middle Lanzini getting back to the level we all know he is capable of Yarma looks like a man out to prove something after that injury Fourcandles looks like he'll terrorise opposition defences AlloAllo looks like a helluva player holds up the ball well two good feet and not afraid to track back and can score Arnie who?? Anderson will flourish in this new side and not feel like he is the only one who can create and so his in and out showings will IMO be a thing of the past Antonio what can you say about the beast opposition players cannot cope with his physicality Snodgrass his work rate and Ability with the deadball is a huge bonus add to that lot Yarmalenko who is clearly showing he has something to prove after last seasons injury i have to say it is going to be an exciting ooooing and ahhhing season for we hammers fans COYI
Well its not like we are known for defending
So lets enjoy what i predict will be matches full of goals at both ends this season and Citeh game apart i will be more interested to see what the players do in the Brighton and Watford games that follow those for me will be the bench mark for the season ahead
Spot on H.G
That's the benchmark,the brightons.bournemouths etc...can we even top the 2nd tier of the prem? Or escape 4th from bottom like we have on a few occasions,like you say gonna be an exciting season,& hopefully 1 or 2 cup away games with the mighty hammers faithfull awaits for i.
agree 65
and next Saturdays opener will tell us nothing as City are still light years ahead of us and many others. We set out to win the Everton Cup (7th) and beating the likes of Sand Shi**ers is our priority.
Agree mate
Citeh are light years ahead,if we got a draw it would be a miracle!but like you say 7th/8th is the target,not impossible with the squad we have,minus injuries!!(cough)
I always like to think we
I always like to think we could get one over ci££y but I don't think our season starts till the 17th oh f*ck we have murray and the seaside bummers;)
Lol nice 1 stan
No dropping the soap in the seafront showers!!
lol yes mate,and we don't
lol yes mate,and we don't want them coming from behind.
Lol
Or striking hard once their in the box!!
lol.love it dave.
lol.love it dave.
you two boys
Writing a carry on script:-)
Carry on
Up the irons....ooh er missus
Adrian who was let go at the
Adrian who was let go at the end of his contract has been snapped up by Liverpool as a backup keeper. Against Atletico Bilbao I think that Adrian or Fabianski could have saved one of the two goals scored by Atletico. Hopefully, Fabianski will be available for the opening fixture against Mabu Dhabi Citeh this weekend.
But there were positives to take out of the fixture and the manner in which West Ham rebounded to level the scores. Haller and Fornals seem to have a potential to make their marks on the pitch. Hopefully they are the signings to take West Ham to the next level, as their skills were apparent with the likes of Wilshere, Lanzini and Anderson taking control of the midfield. Apparently Goncalo Cardoso a new Declan Rice type of player at just 18 years old will be signing today. He is supposed to be a good and solid attacking defender with pace as well. We shall see.
West Ham definitely needs one more quality forward.
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