Once Hammers fans gazed enviously at how many International players their competitors had away representing their countries, now they are experiencing the feeling for themselves, with mixed emotions. Be careful what you wish for is an expression remorselesly rolled out regarding the aspirations of the supporters of 'elite level' football clubs and it rings as true today as it has in the past!
West Ham regularly play in front of over 60,000 fans, have a team and a manager that have overperformed two years in a row and a relatively minted new board member who has helped bankroll a raft of desirable upper echelon signings from successful European and domestic sides.
All of the above mentioned are a source of great pleasure, particularly the younger generation of fans who have not had their spirits broken by years of no investment and repeated lies, compared with the decade on decade 'abuses' of the various owning 'families' of the club over most fan's lifetime's.
Unfortunately all of these reasons to be cheerful are masking what has been a catastrophic drop of form at the club that can be traced back to the initial departure of Alan Irvine as Moyes's No2 coach, the situation being compounded by Stuart Pearce's decision to 'seek pastures new'.
As if that wasn't enough, the retirement of 'Mr West Ham' Mark Noble has probably come at exactly the WRONG time given the vast amount of quailty players rocking up at the QE Stadium. Noble's down to earth 'honest' approach empowered and endeered new players in equal measure, his return to the club CANNOT come soon enough!
Louis Nixon's article covered much of this topic but he was perhaps too kind in his appraisal, the club's form over the last TWENTY FIVE games is the stuff of relegation, make no mistake. Of course the bulk of the deals that were done were completed right near the end of the window and as such the players have hardly had any time at all to get to know their new team mates, but the clock is ticking and they really HAVE to hit the ground running when the domestic season restarts.
David Moyes has nowhere to hide now, it is up to him to prove he really can mix it with the big boys, the squad he now has is moulded in his image and it is up to him to adapt to working with the higher level of talent he now has at his disposal. You can run but you canee hide Davie Boy, or should we call you Moysie? - Ed
