Reasons To Be Careful & Cheerful

Now it is common knowledge that Hammers are essentially broke, it would be assumed that the media would concentrate on the 'elite' and their acquisitions and the promoted clubs with their currently untainted aspirations. From a news point of view, this 'phoney' transfer phase is usually spread out for a couple of months as players and bless them, their agents, take a break from playing and concentrate on holidaying and making money. However this pre-season, due to the Covid Pandemic, is much shorter than normal and consequently all the hubbub of transfer gossip and rumour is concentrated within an incredibly short time slot.

Rather than West Ham fans being disappointed that the club aren't willing or able to 'go large' in the transfer market, they should maybe consider how many top players, young and old, David Moyes has at his disposal and ask the question why so many other teams, especially the newly promoted, are willing and able to spend big on new players, outbidding the Irons in the process! Firstly, despite fierce criticism from their own fans, the West Ham United squad, or at least large parts of it, are viewed with envy by many others, and secondly newly promoted teams, flush with their first tranche of TV money, the likes of which championship clubs dream of, are desperate to stay up and know that unless they invest wisely they will 'do a Norwich', and go straight back from whence they came.

The other obvious point, the elephant in the room, is that the 'Pelegrinophile' spent all the money, and then some. It would have taken at least a full year following his departure for the club to get back on track with regards to player recruitment, but because of the once in a lifetime circumstances created by Covid-19 the timescale could be two to three years, such was the fiscal profligacy of David Moyes' predecessor.

Ironically, the severe financial constraints under which David Moyes will be forced to operate may well help the club in the long run. There is talent a plenty coming up through the youth set up, and also several relatively unused players 'itching' to prove their worth, so why not give some of them a go? Forget about the luxury 'free' signings that are available and constantly being touted, and associated with a move to 'the cash strapped' Hammers. It should be remembered that these players are available as 'free' signings for a reason, either they want more money than their clubs were prepared to offer and so let their contract run down, or that they are on the wane, and/or injury prone.

So perhaps a message to fans from the board and their manager should be, don't enviously cast your eyes on other teams picking up 'bargain' freebies, their teams' supporters were furious that their clubs didn't sign Jack Wilshere when the Irons outbid everyone else with a ridiculous wage package, and we all know how that one has worked out.

It might not be glamorous, but there are 'shoots' of growth clearly visible since David Moyes' 'second coming', a period of consolidation followed by some astute lower league purchases should be enough to steady the ship and work towards a 'sustainable' future, not Twin Towers built on sand, reasons to be careful can lead to reasons to be cheerful! - Ed