Season shape-up - West Ham

We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campagn

Last updated: 2nd July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Season shape-up - West Ham

Transfer targets: Curbishley and Nani

WEST HAM TRANSFER ACTIVITY
INS: None
OUTS: Nobby Solano (released)

Related links

Teams

Also see

Having claimed their fair share of transfer headlines last season, things have been eerily quiet at West Ham this year. In the latest part of our Shaping up for the Season series, Tony Curts looks at whether the Irons can keep hold of Anton Ferdinand or if they need to cash in to bolster their squad.

What's happened so far

Last season, you couldn't keep the Hammers out of the headlines. The long drawn-out transfers of Carlos Tevez, Marlon Harewood and Yossi Benayoun kept them in the spotlight, while the departure of the trio was offset by the arrivals of Craig Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg, Scott Parker and Keiron Dyer.

This time around, though, West Ham have been largely subdued with their transfer activity. The credit crunch has not helped the club, particularly with chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson tightening the purse strings following the big spending of former chief Eggert Magnússon.

The new owners have charged director of football Gianluca Nani with scouring Europe for young talent in a bid to pick up a bargain or two, with highly-rated HK midfielder Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson apparently catching the eye.

Manager Alan Curbishley, though, is determined to bring in a big-name striker to bolster a frontline that returned just 42 goals in 38 Premiership matches last season.

Andy Johnson and Kevin Doyle are believed to be at the top of Curbishley's shopping list, while Eidur Gudjohnsen's desire to return to London could work in West Ham's favour.

However, to free up funds for a serious assault on the transfer market, Curbishley may have to part with one of his most prized assets - with Spurs and Aston Villa both linked to a £10m-plus move for Anton Ferdinand.

Fellow defender Danny Gabbidon is also attracting interest from Stoke, while West Ham may decide to cash in on Ljungberg - with Roma keen to sign the Swede.

The pressure is also on Curbishley to turn the club around - with former player and Croatia manager Slaven Bilic already being linked to a return to Upton Park.

What they need

Forwards, forwards and more forwards... The Hammers struggled to find the net last season, although injuries to Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy did not help.

Barcelona striker Gudjohnsen would be a welcome addition, especially if he can rediscover the scoring form that made him a hit across the capital at Chelsea.

However, cash remains the key to Curbishley's hopes of adding the required firepower - and should the Hammers decide to cash in on Ferdinand and Gabbidon, then they may also decide to bolster their options at the back.

What they'll get

Eyjolfsson seems most likely to sign on the dotted line at Upton Park having impressed during a week-long trial, while Nani's bargain-spotting skills will be tested.

Reading's relegation from the top-flight means that Kevin Doyle - as well as James Harper - could be tempted to switch to Upton Park.

Ferdinand, though, is likely to leave - with his behaviour off the field doing little to endear him to the West Ham faithful. Add in the fact that £10m would bolster the transfer kitty, then expect Ferdinand to be shown the exit.

And should West Ham fail to get off to a good start, then a new manager by Christmas!

Fan's view - Rob Elliott

I think West Ham have an outside chance of Europe this season if - and it's a big if - they can keep their squad fit.

Outside of the first 11, too many of the squad are not Premier League quality and we will suffer should too many go down with injuries.

Tenth was respectable last year given the problems we had but we won't push on unless Alan Curbishley makes some signings. Our squad may be large but quantity gets you nowhere; we need depth in more or less every position.

We desperately need more choice up front. I'm so sick of negative one up front football - you need to be world class in the Premier League to do that job well and none of the current squad have the talent to manage it. If we have more strikers we might have two fit at the same time and can play 4-4-2!

In terms of who should be shown the door, time is up for Luis Boa Morte, Carlton Cole and Lucas Neill. If we are too improve we must make sure we keep our important players such as Matthew Upson, Rob Green and Dean Ashton. Don't sell the youth either - how many former Hammers have gone on to better things? We need to stop feeding the bigger clubs!

What do you think to the Hammers' pre-season transfer activity? Let us have your thoughts using the form below.

Comments (23)

  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Alex Ellis (West Ham United fan) says...

I feel that last season was good enough but now is the time that West Ham finally opened the purse strings a little, and buy more than is sold. Curbishley seems to content with the squad and feels McCartney is good enough rather than bringing in the step up of shorey. I feel that West Ham need to bring in players from abroad, just look at how well Portsmouth have done with the like of Muntari and Utaka. Use Gianluca Nanni and bring in some European players, we seem only to buy from domestic leagues, faubert looks amazing, take heed from that.

Posted 01:37 10th July 2008

David Johnston (West Ham United fan) says...

Fallible as they are injury and concentration wise, Anton F and Danny G have that vital commodity of pace which we need in spades to cover the resident molluscs of O'Neill and Upson. I'd rather have Collins in the starting line-up if fit, as he never stops fighting and is always the first head to the ball. We always looked vulnerable to the high ball last year and gave away some cheap and usually late goals as a result. We still need another Left Back (just like last pre-season) and if we cannot afford 4M-ish for Shorey that tells us all we need to know about the signings we can expect and the low expectations of the board. Surely we can offload some of the present deadwood (even managed to get rid of Dailly last year!) - LBM, one of Bowyer or Mullins, Quashie, Spector and one of Cole (preferred) or Zamora(reluctantly as he is more creative) if a better replacement is signed first. Cannot afford to lose Ljunberg (and his footballing brain) after the inexplicable release of Solano and one can only hope this decision was taken because they have a replacement sewn-up - can't say I'm too confident though. The dearth of creative midfield play last season contributed most to our poor scoring record, if fit and motivated Ashton, Bellamy, Ljunberg etal will score goals with better distribution from midfield. Faubert, Dyer and in bursts Etherington will all offer us the speed and width on the flanks to draw defenders and release space for the strikers (something that cannot happen Curbs with 5 in midfield and a lone beanpole up front (unless it was Adebayor maybe!). In summary I think if Curbs cannot attract the necessary creativity (for the 2nd off-season in a row) he has to go. Because for all the calm, stodgy, solidity of our tenth place last year it was not achieved playing the West Ham way and we need to see the joy of flowing football return for both players and fans alike - otherwise we may as well be Millwall.

Posted 12:01 9th July 2008

Steve Walker (West Ham United fan) says...

I have been a long serving supporter since 1963, and yes i have been to wembley everytime the hammers have been there, yes we have some deadwood and this should be weeded out, i agree with others if there heart is not full of iron then get the hell out. we need players who would live, breath and die for the hammers. we need someone of the cottee/mcaveny mould, srikers who could score goals and shared the limelight and no one playere hogged it. curbs has done well but when was the last time were really competative, in the championship and it neaded a playoff to get us back. lets get behind curbs and the boys and give them the support, we have a number of supporters here in new zealand and we all feel the same way.

Posted 00:56 8th July 2008

Keith Cockayne (West Ham United fan) says...

Perhaps it's all going on behind the scenes. But,if it isn't then next season will be more of the same "good old West Ham", & nail biting! Say what you like, even with all of the talent we had (Cole, Defoe, Carrick, Kanoute, Johnson, James, Sinclair,di Canio) WE GOT RELEGATED! Are the players we've got now any better than that lot? I don't think so. Luckily WBA, Stoke & Hull are now in the Premiership; so we should stay up. But,unless we sign some quality players, who stay fit, & get rid of the passengersI think it's going to be another long, hard season. Blame Curbishly? Why not? Then you can blame his replacement, & then the next one, & on & on. Like it or not, West Ham have NEVER lived up to their potential or expectations. Why? It comes from the top. Unless the board are determined & back their ambition with cash, we're never going anywhere. Except the Championship!

Posted 15:13 6th July 2008

Adam West (West Ham United fan) says...

Nani has been brought in as Curbs is utterly hopeless in the transfer market, bellamy dyer ljunberg parker will only play 5 or 6 games together fully fit, spector has the heart and he gives 100% every game if only he had the technicall attributes to acompany that, but him boa neill mcartney quashie carlton cole and sadly anton all need to be cut off the wage bill, if we cant afford to bring in quality non injury proned players then tomkins collison and sears should all be in starting 11 next season tomkins and sears have been blooded in well towards the back end of last season and look pure class, collison is wales u21 captain. shorey is no better than mcartney but he seems to be our number one transfer target along with stephen harper meanwhile tottenham are signing croatian and mexican wonder kids - speaks volumes of our ambitious manager and chairman, this lack of activity and lack of ambition is worrying as me and me dads season tickets cost a combined 1300 quid and from the looks of things its going to be another medioca season - and they wonder why we moan! i really want curbs to succeed he's an east end boy but its never really got goin in the last 2 years nothing has gone his way, by keeping quite in this transfer window the writing may be on the wall, i hope not i hope im proved wrong and he wheels and deals his way through july and august and gives us an exciting season with exciting fast flowing attacking west ham football that i have grown up watching that i love watching, being more adventorous more attacking last season may have seen us leak a few more goals yes we may have finished 16th or 17th aside from players bonuses who cares whats the differance? if we had attacked teams and played a more adventorus style of football maybe just maybe we may have nicked a point or three hear and there and finished top 7 top 8 & definatley scored more than 42 goals........anyone got billics number?

Posted 13:47 5th July 2008

Andrew Lambert (Newcastle United fan) says...

It amuses me that West Ham buy all the injury prone, bad attitude players from Newcastle and are then suprised when they are injured. I spent so many seasons saying, 'oh we'll be great if Dyer, Bellamy and Parker can stay fit' before it dawned on me that this will never happen. West Ham should research the players they are going to buy more throughly this season, anyone could have told you Dyer is highly injury prone, and its not just the ex-Newcastle signings either, just look at Upson's injury record. They should go back to what they do best and sell the big-wage players and concentrate on bringing some genuine English talent through.

Posted 12:01 4th July 2008

James Webster (West Ham United fan) says...

Towards the end of the 06/07 season if you would have said you will beat united at old trafford to escape relegation and finish comfortabley 10th the season after any hammers fan would of taken it. 10th is a good place esspeically with the squad curbs had to work with. I think he should sign doyle and then either harper or stevn hunt from reading if dean ashton lasts all season he may get 20 goals and bellamy 15goals ?? Hammers fans get behind curbs he loves west ham united!!!

Posted 22:17 2nd July 2008

Kathryn Morland (West Ham United fan) says...

I have been a west fan since they drew with man u to stop them winning the title. I am proud to say that, with very little difficulty, we can put out a squad for england! After all that is our claim, 'west ham won the world cup'. While I agree that we need some new blood, it shouldn't necessarily be foreign or young. i believe with very few changes to the squad and (hopefully) some players back from injury we can look forward to a successful season. I, however, do not agree with the suggested lambs for slaughtering, if we need money we should sell dean ashton, he is selfish on the pitch(one of the reasons we scored so few last season) and made it quite clear he has his sights set higher than lowly west ham, despite signing a new deal. If ferdinand can clean up his act off pitch there's no reason why he can't stay, he and upson were the partnership which had the best defensive record outside the big four before christmas last year. long term absentees such as gabbidon should move on. i think we've lost sight of what west ham have always been; battlers, outsiders, not always as good as they could be, but I for one wouldn't have them any other way. No player who gives their all for the club has ever been discarded, even if they weren't the greatest player ever and that should not happen now, i would happily see carlton cole and scott parker in the england squad simply because they'll work their socks off and be proud to play for their country, unlike players like rooney and terry who expect the call-up, play like donkeys and then throw their toys if their subbed or not picked. I'm behind curbishley 100%, his style may be dull but he stuck by us through one of worst season ever (2006-2007) and kept us from relegation. I wish them the best of luck for next season.

Posted 16:09 1st July 2008

Michael Jones (West Ham United fan) says...

I think we had a great season with all the injury problems. Fans moan that Curbs can't play attacking football but I don't think any manager would have got amazing football with that side. I think if Bells, Faurbert, Ashton, Parker and Dyer stay fit then we have a chance of Europe. Fans need to stop moaning and get behind the team, I thought it was a disgrace last year. The fans never got behind the team, just had a go at them. Curbs played defensive last year because he had to, only had one fit striker. Do you think Everton, Pompy or Villa would have had a good season with half a team playing. Keep the faith - Come on you IRONS!!!!

Posted 15:57 1st July 2008

Steven Attard (West Ham United fan) says...

I think West Ham have got it all wrong, the one player that showed the rest of them how it was done, they released(nobby Solano) and there should be no question Anton ferdinand, let him go! Along with half of them. If Curbs keeps refering to when he was Charlton and the past, West Ham will go nowhere. We should be at the stage where we can buy young big name players and keep them, and not injured hasbeens, then curbs, you wont keep crying about injuries all the time.

Posted 14:22 1st July 2008

Abi Craig says...

I think Curbs is on a hiding to nothing.He's not been given the purse to spend.There's discontent and lack of fitness amongst the old guard LBM,Ferdinand Quashie, Zamora et al.No new big names coming in.I just cant see how we can be within the top half of the table at xmas which all means Curbs gets the boot in december and Slaven Bilic or Sven Eriksson coming in to salvage the club and of course reinvigorate the players who all want to represent their countries but have had a hard time doing it under curbs save for Johnny Pantsil and Deano.

Posted 14:18 1st July 2008

Mike Forster (West Ham United fan) says...

As long as Curbs is at the helm we will never be exciting ! Dull, boaring, negative, 1 upfront taktics is all he ever playes, hoof the ball upfront and see what happens ! Im sorry but Curbs has to go now ! Most hammers fans want to see billic installed as the next manager and to be honest that is the best option, but my heart would love to see di canio in charge, would he be sucessfull or not ? who knows ! all i do know is that it would be one hell of a ride. The excitment levels would go threw the roof and not the floor as they are with curbs !

Posted 10:37 1st July 2008

James Jones (West Ham United fan) says...

It's all very well being linked with these young and exciting players, but we need to actually do something about it and snap them up. I know Lanzafame's deal was hindered by Palermo but still, we need to be alot more ruthless. Boa Morte HAS to go in my eyes and Ferdinand should be given until January to prove that he wants to play for us. The lack of transfer activity is worrying and if we are to have an outside chance of Europe at the very least then we need to get moving, or it's just going to be another mediocre season at the Boleyn.

Posted 10:35 1st July 2008

Robbie Jess (West Ham United fan) says...

We need to sell Ljunberg, Boa Morte, Carlton Cole and Ferdinand and get Deano, Bellers, Dyer, Gabbidon, Parker and Faubert fit and playing. I know we had a rough time with injuries last season but I was disappointed by the lack of hunger at the club and for me this stems from the Management. I don't think Curbs is the man for the job, he did ok at Charlton but The Irons are a much bigger club and keeping us in mid table for 9 years is not what we are looking for. I would love to see Bilic be given the job, he seems to have the tactical know-how and a galvanising effect on his team. Plus he has a bit of charisma which unfortunately Curbs and Mervin Day don't.

Posted 10:32 1st July 2008

George Roberts (West Ham United fan) says...

If West Ham are to keep pace with the likes of Everton,Spurs,Portsmouth,Man City,Villa and Newcastle they cannot simply sit back and hope the injuries all clear up and that will be enough.They have to be ruthless in the transfer market and clear out players to make room and money available for better or younger replacements. Zamora,Cole,Mullins,Boa Morte,Gabbidon,Etherington,Wright,Davenport and Quashie, imo, need to be moved on to help fund new signings. Positions that need addressing are back up/competition for Neill and McCartney in the full back areas.Defensive midfield, Left Wing,Midfield Playmaker and two attackers. Of the names linked recently Mensah and Coloccini could cover full back and cb positions.N'Zogbia can cover lb and left wing,Bresciano left midfield/wing.Appiah is capable of defensive mid field as well as attacking.Gudjohnssen and Bobadilla would be excellent additions to the strike force.Added to these would be a handful of youngsters. If the Islandic owners of West Ham are serious about pushing on to the next level, they have to do it now and not let other teams become more succesful and appealing for quality players to sign for.If they do not trust Curbishley with the cash to do this, they need to replace him now with someone else and not waste more time letting our rivals become stronger.

Posted 10:18 1st July 2008

David Nichols (West Ham United fan) says...

Am i the only fan tearing his hair out?, I think not. I am presuming you'll see many bald West Ham supporters walking around this summer because of the inactivity of Curbishley's 'Little Englander' approach to management. We punched well above our weight last season and if Curbishley thinks that all we need is our injured players back in order to improve on our 10th place finish he will be having a very lean Christmas on the dole!, Its glaringly obvious to everyone (except him apparently) and from the comments he has made we will once again be sitting on our hands and resting on our laurels with no real sign of pushing on. Ferdinand?, If reports are too be believed we are holding out for more than the 10 million offered, well, most West Ham fans would have bitten Spurs or Villas hand off for half of that money for him! - Rio he is not. We'd also like to see the back of Boa Morte, Etherington, Cole (plus a couple more besides) yet two out of the three of those Curbishley has staunchley vowed to keep hold of insisting West Hams days as a selling club are over, as if they were prized assets, The mind boggles. If he doesnt get a grip another season of mediocrity beckons.......

Posted 10:02 1st July 2008

Neil Pell-johnson (West Ham United fan) says...

i agree luis boa morte should go as he is not happyy at the club. Anton Ferdinand shouid go because he thinks he is bigger than the club. lucas Niell and danny gabbidon should stay. james collins should move on. And we should keep our youngser's .Andy johnson would be a good addition to the squad.

Posted 09:45 1st July 2008

Graham Sturton says...

Rob and Johnny, spot on, have been a season ticket holder for 14 years now, being 19 its not that bad, but its getting that way, playing 1up top at home to the likes of birmingham is not on if we are looking for european football. i feel several need to go, with the emergence of sears, collison and tomkins and we have more youth coming through especially after watching the youth team several times last season. If we keep the volume of players in the treatment room low we will succeed this season.

Posted 09:41 1st July 2008

Brad Bladen (West Ham United fan) says...

Andy Johnson and Kevin Doyle big name strikers??? James Harper ??? HAVE A WORD!!!

Posted 09:36 1st July 2008

Mark Lardner (West Ham United fan) says...

It all looked so good for Hammers fans, when the icelanders took over with talk of copious amounts of money to spend & champions league football within 5 years, alas, it was dream talk, just over a year on, 1 investor has split from the club, & the other is feeling the bite of the credit crunch, a 50000 seat stadium on the back burner, A new state of the art training facility not forthcoming, talk of no money to spend on players, a manager nobody wanted buying players who were never fit, & now it looks like selling to buy is the order of the day yet again, Add to that we are the 3rd dearest team in the league to watch - dearer than 3 of the top 4, & the club dishing out bonuses for finishing as far down as 10th, it all looks like more years of doom & gloom at the Boleyn. Poor old Nani must be wondering how he let himself be talked into taking the job, the only sporting director who has no money to buy the players he scouts! Bad times.

Posted 09:23 1st July 2008
  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private