Ground Hog Day Or A New Dawn?

The clamour and anxiety most football fans have before the beginning of each new season invariably relates to the incomings and outgoings at their clubs, West Ham's acquisition of senior players have been conspicuous by their absence recently, so what's going on?

Well, this approaching season will be unique as a result of fans returning to Stadiums, but the financial fall out of the Covid Pandemic will linger on and on! One element of the 'uniqueness' is the fact that there is no need to 'fabricate' potential new signings in order to sell season tickets, it may well be different the season after next, but for the impending one fans are generally happy just to be able to see their club 'live' again.

Usually the Hammers spin machine is in full flight about now, rumours of the club signing this player and that abound, invariably for the purported bids to eventually be ejected for being too low ball, with the club saying "we tried sign xxxxx, unfortunately the club wouldn't accept our offer", or that "the player has decided he doesn't want to come to the club".

Regarding the latter, why in the past would a player want to come to West Ham other than for an inflated wage? The club's scatter gun approach to it's signings in addition to it's disparate and desperate transfer dealings has been a laughing stock for years, even before the GSB take over.

Finally there is someone determined and brave enough to try and change the endemic culture at West Ham, David Moyes, firmly ensconced with a new three year contract, has made modernising the club's 'archaic' recruitment a key element of his plans to take the club forward on a more professional basis.

So fans used to hearing a whole bunch of spin, obscured by smoke and mirrors, will initially be very disappointed by the club's lack of signings, in the past the board have 'capitulated' under fan pressure, and brought in any old dud that was relatively cheap to acquire. Essentially signings just for the sake of it, quantity instead of quality, Moyes wants to turn that ethos on it's head.

Of course fans will get really frustrated, but with the exception of the signing of Jordan Hugill, all Moyes' transfer acquisitions have been superb, and so in Moyes fans must trust. An example of 'fan clamour' and reality is Blackburn's Adam Armstrong. As recently as 4 weeks ago fans were furious that Hammers wouldn't stump up the £25 million being asked for the Prolific lower league striker, his club are NOW listening to clubs willing to negotiate a fee of around £10 Million!

In the past Hammers signings have generally been all show and no go, the same every season, promises, promises and then ultimately disappointment. Perhaps because of the massive take up in season ticket renewals, fans might for once get told the truth and be genuinely surprised at sudden arrivals, a new dawn, instead of ground hog day! - Ed