Blowing Bubbles 148 (August 2024)

A Word from the Editor Welcome

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Blackmore CONTRIBUTORS

David Bowden, Olivia Elliott, ExWHUEmployee, Lucy Farrell, Geoff Hillyer, Bradley Holland, Marcus Johns, David Meagher, George Parris, Brian Penn, Emily Pulham, Greg Richardson, Julian Shea, Chris Wheal, Sean Whetstone, Meirion Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ian Burt, Nicky Hayes, Paul Marriott, Dawud Marsh ENQUIRIES

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This’ll be a season of much change but will our newlook West Ham thrive?

Summer signings are a bit like waiting for buses, nothing happens for a while and then three arrive at once.

Yes, we had already seen some activity with the likes of Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham arriving but the latter two didn’t really excite me.

Then there was nothing before we were about to go to print with this edition, and the club announced Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Füllkrug, Guido Rodríguez in a matter of a few days.

And there could be more signings to come before the transfer window slams shut.

Certainly the trio of signings ahead of the start of the new season has given me a bit more excitement than I had earlier this month.

With the Euros and the Olympics providing an exciting summer of sport, the start of the Premier

League season somewhat crept up on me.

I was feeling anxious about this upcoming campaign because of our opening fixtures and what impact this will have on our new manager, and the style he wants us to play.

I’m still worried about the confidence of the players when attempting this more possession-based style, especially if a few passes go astray and lead to goals.

And I’m also concerned about the expectations of our fans this campaign after three European campaigns and three top half finishes in four seasons, and the negative impact this might have on our squad.

It feels like this could also be a season of unrest between the fans and the board over a number of issues including concession tickets. Let’s see how we get on.

GEORGE PARRIS

The Hammers’ hero pulls no punches in his EXCLUSIVE column

‘We might be in transition but we can still cause an upset and push for Europe’

I’m feeling optimistic about West Ham this season, but let’s see if my optimism holds to my September column.

I know people have been saying that we have a tricky start to the campaign, but I think the league is tough anyway regardless of who we got for the first six games.

But I think it’s important to try to get some points on the board within those six games, and it’s just a shame we have who we have in the first two home games.

The good thing for the manager is he will get some time won’t he? Well, saying that, you hope he does. He certainly won’t want to be under pressure after the first six games.

What we definitely don't want to be saying when we get to the end of September is: ‘I wish Moyes was still our manager’, but I don’t think that’ll be the case.

Sometimes people can be guilty of obsessing too much about pre-season and the results but from my own experience, pre-season is all about getting yourself fit.

If you can play well in pre-season that’s a bonus but it’s all getting yourself ready for the first few games and hitting the ground running.

Just look at what happened the pre-season we had under Avram Grant, we won all our games and then got relegated.

Don’t get me wrong, you don’t want to lose every game that you play pre-season. It’s all about fitness but then the players today keep themselves fit going into pre-season anyway.

In my day, that six weeks was just to get us as fit as we can, and even then, the first couple of games, you’re not match fit because you’ve not had proper matches.

With how it panned out with Moyes going at the end of the season and the new manager coming in soon after, he’s had a good chunk of time with the players and I’m sure the players have been on the grass morning and afternoon getting to grips with what he wants and how he wants the team

to play.

This would have been embedded quite quickly so I don’t think any of the team won’t know how the manager wants to play, that's a bonus for sure.

But as with all sides, if we can try to get a couple more faces through the door before the transfer window slams shut, that will give us a boost.

But maybe this manager might look at it and maybe the younger players will get an opportunity.

That’s the beauty of a new manager coming in, everyone gets a clean slate and if you can show him that you can play to the quality he wants, then he is going to pick you, regardless of who you are as an individual.

So for some, that will have been a blessing in disguise with Moyes going and a new manager coming in.

We’re heading into this campaign with no European football to look forward to but you’d like to think that come the end of the season it will work in our

favour that we’ve not had to play Thursday/Sunday and that we’re not tired come the business end of the season but only time will tell on that.

The aim for us this campaign is to surely try and get back into Europe, which is always a tough gig because as I always say, before the season starts, you can name six or seven that’ll most likely be above us.

Man U, Man City, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, maybe Newcastle and Villa - these are the teams that could potentially be above us without even thinking about it.

We’d be needing a couple of them to have poor seasons really for us to get back into Europe, and I didn’t even mention Chelsea in that list either.

I’m sure we’ve all looked at the fixtures and said there’s a point there, or we’ll win that one, or there’s nothing there and if we get a point that’ll be a bonus.

I’m hopeful that those games at Christmas and the back end of the season might be the difference for us challenging for the European places if we can get on a good run.

But I do think, without a shadow

of a doubt, we are still in need of a striker.

If you look at all the top sides, they have two or three strikers that they can put in, and they are the players that win you games.

Before a ball is kicked, you’re drawing so if you want to win a game, you need someone who can put the ball in the back of the net so they are the difference.

I think we will get top half again but can we upset the apple cart? Can we perform above average again? Only time will tell.

Now we’ve had a compendium of sport since West Ham’s final game of the season in May, including the Euros.

I think that England did incredibly well. The first part of the Euros was understandable, like with all group games, it’s all about qualifying for the knockout stages.

For me, the third group game, I think it would’ve been in Southgate’s interest to have played one or two of the fringe players but he didn’t.

In truth, we weathered the storm to get the final, and I think we did as well as could be expected really. Spain were the best side in the tournament.

As the tournament was going on, I noticed all the other countries were exactly the same as England and giving their managers stick too, and none of these sides made the final.

As for who I’d like to manage England, I don’t think the England job has to go to an Englishman. It’s got to go to the best person for the job at this particular time.

It might be about timing as well, maybe who the FA really, really want is still in a job, in which case they may look at an interim manager to give them a bit more time.

But it’s one of those jobs where if someone offers it to you, you’ve got to take it because of the prestige of it but you have to go into it with your eyes open whoever does get it.

It’s very different from club management, that’s the thing with it. You only see the players whenever there’s a camp.

You don’t get to work with them day-in, day-out so you’re governed well by who is playing well at that given time.

Then when you bring them all together, you’ve got to make the best of your little time together.

Pub Talk

The Blowing Bubbles team settle down to put the world to rights...

What would you consider a successful season for West Ham this campaign?

Meirion Williams: With no European distraction and a new manager honeymoon period, I expect, as I always do, a top half finish and a good domestic cup run. I would love a domestic cup final just once more in my lifetime.

Paul Brand: The bar has been set so high that anything less than European qualification now seems underwhelming, but this year the entertainment factor is more important than ever so I’d take mid-table and a progressive style that bodes well for the future. Anything less and the knives will be out. Anything more will be a welcome bonus.

Geoff Hillyer: Honestly? I have no

idea what to expect from us this season. I expect a season of twists and turns and perhaps a mid-table finish. My sneaking suspicion is that this season may end up being trickier than the last few. We’re in transition and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a sticky start.

David Blackmore: I think the expectation from the fans and the squad will be a top half finish and challenging for a European spot. I feel like there’s a different mindset heading into this season. There’ll be expectation and pressure. We know we’ve got the firepower, we just need to sort out the defence for this upcoming campaign. Do that, and we could have a great first season under Lopetegui.

What have you made of our transfer window so far?

MW: Well it’s been a summer of surprises. Who would have thought that Sully would undo the purse strings? I was a bit down when we let Flynn Downs go, and Luis Guilherme was our first big signing. The jury is still out on that one. Kilman looks a good signing although a Wolves friend of mine says he’s a pale shadow of Dawson. Then along comes three signings almost all at once, and they could all be starters. Fullkrug looks like the striker we have been waiting for but let’s not forget the West Ham curse. A striker who appears good when he arrives then disappears without a trace. It could be an interesting season.

PB: Everything seems to have clicked into gear a couple of weeks before the season starts, hopefully with a few more tweaks to the

squad still to come. It certainly looks positive but I’m always wary of rating transfer windows because you can never be sure how signings will work out.

GH: Heartening to see the flurry of activity just prior to the start of the season - I was a bit concerned a few weeks back that not much was going to happen at all. However, we’ve had plenty of false dawns - and failed strikers - at West Ham before, so whilst the signings look a good mix of experienced and potential, time will tell as to how we judge the window.

DB: Until recently, I was very

surprised that we weren’t able to get more deals over the line this summer. The manager was appointed early enough and Steidten would have had a list of targets early doors and I think what the recent signings of Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Füllkrug, and Guido Rodríguez show is that these negotiations are never straightforward, especially when we’ve not got European football to offer. Let’s see how they all settle in.

What have you made of our new manager from what he's said so far?

MW: Early days yet and words are just words. I will reserve my judgement until we play meaningful games. I craved Moyes to be removed so I have to give him a chance.

PB: He’s said a lot of the right things but actions speak louder than words. Let’s see how things play out.

GH: He talks a good game, but let’s see what happens on the pitch. I realise that I am in the minority here but I do not necessarily think that Lopetegui will be the entertainment master that fans crave. Possession-based football and low-scoring matches, I think, may be on the menu. But let’s see.

DB: As everyone else has said, he’s certainly talked a good game. He’s clearly excited at this challenge and what he can achieve at West Ham. I just hope he gets the players he needs for the system he wants us to play and that August’s fixtures aren’t too gruelling for us, he needs a positive start but it’ll be tough with the games we have.

Which months are you afraid of judging by our fixtures, and which are you looking forward to?

MW: I say this every year, it’s that first five or six fixtures that strike a worry to me. It doesn’t matter who

we play but it’s those fixtures that set us up for either a good or poor season. And let’s not forget those first three home games are made up of Villa, City and Chelsea. So not exactly an easy start at that

PB: It’s a daunting start, and even more so with a new manager, so August scares me. I’m looking forward to it as well though. Bilic had a tough-looking start and that turned out better than expected. December fixtures look very winnable so hopefully we’ll have a very merry Christmas.

GH: I think it’s entirely conceivable that we will have zero points from three games in August, with the teams being played and the circumstances, so anything above that is a bonus for me. Classic West Ham optimism there – we’ll probably end up with nine points now.

DB: August scares me too but then as Paul says, December looks like a month where we can pick up points and the latter stages of the season look good too. Aside from the start, I don’t think we have too many tough spells and I think the hard and easier games are spread out quite nicely. I think it’s always

a worry when we get three “winnable” games in a row. We always muck up at least one.

Who will win the title and who are your three to go down?

MW: Arsenal will get better but I feel that City just know how to win. As for relegation, it was sad to see all three promoted teams relegated last season. There must be one of the promoted teams that can buck that trend. I think Leicester will be that team so I expect Ipswich and Southampton to go straight back to the Championship with probably Forest joining them.

PB: I’d never bet against Man City but it’s a weird situation where they could just as easily be relegated by

the FFP commission, if their case ever comes round. Down at the bottom, all the promoted clubs face a challenge staying up. Brentford would be my outside bet. And Everton are on a slippery slope.

GH: Assuming matters are decided on the pitch, Manchester City will win it again. As ever, promoted teams will find it tough, but I have a feeling that at least one will survive – I reckon Ipswich will do better than people are predicting. I wouldn’t want to pick three to go because there’s a little bit of me that thinks we might find ourselves in that bracket at Christmas.

DB: Let’s see how Arsenal fare this campaign. I think they are the only real challengers to City this season. But they need to make sure they don’t have too many slip ups and have a healthy points tally, and lead over City, heading into the final couple of months as once City get near the finish line, they become almost unplayable. As for the relegation, it’s hard to look past the three that came up because of the ever-expanding gulf between the Premier League and the Championship, but the likes of Forest and Everton could drop.

David Blackmore @DavidBlackm0re

Former Hammers shotstopper David James has spoken of his hopes and fears for the new manager ahead of this upcoming season.

In an interview for Blowing Bubbles, the former England keeper, says Julen Lopetegui cannot compare managing Wolves to West Ham but has confidence he will do well in east London.

‘I hope Lopetegui is the right man, when you look at different clubs around the Premier League and there is some really exciting football,’ he explained. ‘Wolves weren't that exciting to watch when Lopetegui was there, but the circumstances dictated that they didn't have to play that.

‘Wolves are a very different club to West Ham. When you join West Ham, you are not just joining a football club in London, you're joining an institution almost. He will have to respect that, and I am sure that he will.

‘It will be a challenge and hopefully he is up for the challenge. He's a new manager, with new ideas, but I'm sure there will be moments where it doesn't go quite right.’

He added: ‘People will undoubtedly express their views at those points, but that's part of being at West Ham.

‘If you're strong enough to deal with that, then the fans will love you and they will be right behind you when you do start achieving. I'm confident Lopetegui will do well, but it will be a challenge.’

‘Lopetegui and Kilman need to quickly learn what West Ham’s about’

David James has high hopes for the former Wolves men but admits life will be very different in east London

As for former Wolves defender and new West Ham singing, Max Kilman, James has urged him to understand what West Ham is all about.

He continued: ‘It's very common for new managers to bring in former players to new clubs, I think West Ham will get a solidity from Kilman. It's just a case of how long before the expectation starts to weigh on him.

‘West Ham fans have an expectation to be finishing in the Europa League spots, and challenging

for the Champions League spots, I just hope Kilman comes in and understands what the club is all about. I'm sure he will have to very quickly.

‘West Ham need to be up there challenging for European places, so having an experienced player like Kilman - who has a pre-existing relationship with the manager - will hopefully get West Ham there.’

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Emily Pulham @makingthemarrow

Farewell and good luck to Downes, Oggy, Johnson, Mubama and Anang

Our Italian stallion can look back at his time with pride but all can leave with their heads high

Players come and go at West Ham. It’s a regular part of football. We know never to get too attached to a person on the pitch, as the days of players spending their careers at a club and earning themselves a testimonial are long gone.

Sometimes it’s a case of good-

bye and good riddance, but it’s the ones that leave without issue, with their heads held high, that do tend to pull at the heartstrings.

This summer, while it’s not quite the mass exodus some of us may have been expecting, nay, hoping for, there’s still some names in there that will pull at the heart-

strings for a variety of reasons.

We’ve got a loyal and muchloved leader, bright young things who we really wanted to be successful in claret and blue, a lifelong fan, and academy graduates all now finding their fortunes elsewhere - all of whom we are grateful to have had with us at

West Ham, and all of whom can leave with their heads held high.

Flynn Downes: After signing the young midfielder from Swansea in 2022, there were inevitable comparisons with Hammers legend Mark Noble.

“

The biggest struggle facing Johnson was that he was never fully part of anyone’s plans.

Downes lives and breathes West Ham and was delighted to sign with the club he’d supported since he was a boy.

He was an important part of our European cup success, playing in eleven games on our road to the trophy and putting in fantastic performances along the way.

Despite his impressive displays in Europe, his opportunities to shine were few and far between and he began to look like yet another signing that Moyes didn’t want to actually use.

In 2023 he was loaned to then-Championship side Southampton, where he scooped another winners medal for his growing collection as they won promotion via the play-off finals.

He made 37 appearances for them that season and found the net twice.

It’s not surprising that Southampton were keen to keep their hands on this vital part of their success, and over the summer they signed Downes on a permanent four year deal.

This is likely the right outcome for all parties - Downes is a good player who should be playing regular football and Southampton are willing to give him that playing time.

He didn’t get enough time to shine in east London but he should remain incredibly proud of his efforts while here.

Ben Johnson: The 24-year-old defender and Academy graduate left West Ham this summer when his contract expired after an incredible 17 years at the club and 109 senior appearances.

In his leaving letter, he emphasised that he was leaving with fond memories from his time in claret and blue, saying: ‘I just want to be known and remembered for my time at West Ham for having played with a smile on my face and having really enjoyed my football. That’s really important to me.’

There’s no doubt this legacy will be fondly remembered. Johnson did bring a positive attitude to the pitch and put his best foot forward - although fans did sometimes question his decision-making and tendency to be caught out.

The biggest struggle facing Johnson was that he was never fully part of anyone’s plans at West Ham United - and not for a lack of trying.

After years of stewardship under David Moyes, the Scotsman still wasn’t reaching for Johnson as a steady first choice and instead began to experiment with him as a midfielder - a decision that confused, yet amused, West Ham fans - but even that wasn’t a winning formula for the Academy Graduate.

He’s got a great career ahead of him, starting with regular football at new club Ipswich Town FC.

Divin Mubama: If wanting someone to do well automatically translated into goals scored, this man would be on every top scorer's list.

Mubama is another Academy player who broke into the first team, but this one just couldn’t get a foothold on a forever spot in the team - a real shame given the significant lack of striking options available to West Ham over recent years.

Mubama had an amazing run to the first team, playing a massive role in West Ham's runaway success in the FA Youth Cup in 2023, occuring after he made his senior debut for the club in 2022 and even having scored in the European Conference League.

He went on to make a handful of appearances for the first team, largely as a late substitute.

Although he made 12 first team appearances in the 2023-24 season, he didn't play again after January and has been released by West Ham after making a career total of 18 appearances with one goal and one assist.

His incredible performances in the youth team caught the attention of many fans who begged for him to get more senior team game time, and expressed frustration that Moyes seemed hesitant to give him opportunities to impress. Where Mubama lost support from the fans was owing to rumoured wage and contract demands said to be led by his agent. At the time it was reported that he wanted 'first team starter wages', which is around £25,000 per week, to match the senior players, and this demand reportedly came after he had played just 33 minutes of first team football.

It's always a shame when an Academy graduate doesn't go all the way as a senior pro, especially when they’ve won the backing of so many fans, but there’s still a lot of promise for Divin if he can get more regular first team experience elsewhere.

However, at the time of writing, the promising young player has yet to be snapped up by a new club.

Joseph Anang: It's always sad to see a player go who you haven't had a chance to see play, especially when the player in question has been on the books at West Ham for seven years.

After loan spells at Stevenage, Derby County and Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic, including playing in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds in 2022, Anang returned to West Ham where he spent two seasons as our No3 goalkeeper.

According to West Ham, he appeared in over 30 first-team matchday squads, including six as West Ham won the UEFA Europa Conference League.

There's more football in Anang's future as he has been snapped up again by St Patrick's Athletic, this time on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Angelo Ogbonna: As sad as it is when the bright young things don’t quite work out, there’s a special sort of heartbreak reserved for the other end of the spectrum, when a dedicated and loyal player reaches the end of their tenure at West Ham.

This is where we are with longtime Hammers defender and occasional club captain Angelo

Ogbonna.

The 36-year-old Italian has made 249 appearances for West Ham in his nine years in east London.

‘Uncle’ Ogbonna, nicknamed owing to his experience, leadership, and warm personality, has made many contributions to West Ham over those years.

He offered a lot of calm, collected defending, in a career that at times was considerably impacted by injury.

Ogbonna became a popular figure at the club for his positivity and general good nature - something which was appreciated from his very first match, when he posted online about his joy at playing his first match at the historic Wembley stadium.

The match was at the Emirates. Apparently no one let him know where he was.

Fans have also never been sure if West Ham meant to sign him or not.

The first we heard of Ogbonna was when a photo of him was mistakenly attached to a David Gold tweet announcing the signing of Pedro Obiang.

Not one to admit making a mistake, West Ham then went on to sign Ogbonna, too.

If signing him was a mistake, it’s one of the best mistakes this club has ever made.

After his lengthy spell in east London, Ogbonna is nothing but positive on how far the Hammers have come in nine years saying ‘it’s a totally different West Ham’. He’s a vital part of this and can look back with immense pride on his time as a Hammer.

The Ex-Files

@ExWHUemployee gives you the word from the street

The early signs look promising but can our players adapt to our new system?

The new manager is in and the early signs are good because he seems to want to introduce a much more possession-based style of football which is what the fans wanted.

One of the criticisms thrown at David Moyes often centred on the fact that the opposition dominated the ball but this will hopefully change.

Another positive to pick up from the pre-season games so far is the high press system that we will be implementing and how the defence starts with the attack.

I like this but we will require a forward who can run a lot without getting injured to play this.

At the moment that forward hasn’t arrived and it will be left

down to Antonio and Ings.

The club are actively trying to sign a new forward and this is one of the qualities that top target Jhon Duran from Villa offers.

We hope we can get this bid accepted before we play them but of course they don’t want to sell before the first game of the season.

I have also been impressed with how each player has had their slate wiped clean.

This has enabled the likes of Freddie Potts, Lewis Orford and Andy Irving to showcase what they can do to the new manager.

The players have been impressed with the new manager’s training sessions

apparently and there is a good feeling around the club.

Of course it is too early to tell what impact he has had on the long term but the early signs seem good.

I like how he has conducted himself in the interviews, taking responsibility for poor performance yet also building up confidence in individuals.

I look forward to what the new season brings. Of course all the news will be covered on our Patreon where you get so much content covering all our summer activity.

If you’ve thought about joining but haven’t this is the month, you can do so via patreon.com/ thewesthamway

With a few weeks left of the transfer window, we’ve got more work to do

West Ham Rambles takes a look at our first three signings and looks at who else might join us

The summer transfer window is in full swing, and in the days of social media, there are literally hundreds of rumours of who we are signing, and who we aren’t.

It’s best to wait until a player is holding up the shirt or throwing up the crossed hammers on the official website before getting too excited, but it is hard not to get caught up in the whatiffery of the transfer window.

West Ham’s first three signings of the summer were Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham.

Let’s start with Max Kilman. He was clearly Lopetegui’s first

choice for centre back.

At £40m, you can argue that he’s overpriced, but when you are prizing away the captain from a fellow Premier League club, it isn’t going to come cheap.

Kilman is 27 years old, and has signed a seven-year deal, so could be a mainstay in the side for years to come, possibly as captain too.

What has impressed me with this deal is the club has secured the top target of the manager, something that did not always happen with his predecessor.

What is Kilman like as a player? He is good in 1v1s, dominant in the air – which is important as West

Ham were seventh worse at conceding aerial duels last season.

Kilman has a decent left-foot, and an accurate range of passing, including longer passes, switching defence to attack.

Fitness-wise, Kilman has a great record – playing 38 league games last season, and 37 the season before – something our sicknote centre backs haven’t managed for some time.

Although not a glamour signing, I am looking forward to what Kilman will bring to the table. He should bring solidity and leadership to a back-line that was slow and porous last season.

As for Luis Guilherme, he’s 18 years old, and from the Palmeiras side that produced Estevao, this is an exciting talent.

Guilherme has played left and right wing and as a 10 and has also spent time playing as a second striker.

Guilherme likes to shoot from distance, often cutting inside onto his left foot, when playing on the right.

“ Although not a glamour signing, I am looking forward to what Kilman will bring to the table.

What we will welcome hugely is his pace. The lad is fast and has good control.

He likes to combine with his fellow attackers, and will link up well with Paqueta, Bowen, and Kudus.

Although still young and growing, Guilherme is tall for a winger, and has decent upper strength, so he can be hard to knock off the ball.

He’s an explosive, athletic player, and one that will excite the Hammers faithful when he gets on the ball.

Guilherme looks well suited to the Premier League, and it will be interesting to see how long we have to wait to see him start. He is exactly the sort of talent we want

to see at the Bowl, and hopefully we see him sooner, rather than later.

Now for Wes Foderingham, the least exciting of the three signings so far, but possibly a savvy one.

The 33-year old has signed a two-year contract, on a free from our old friends Sheffield United.

Foderingham adds to the home-grown quotient and will be a positive presence around the squad.

His signing enabled the sale of Nathan Trott to FC Copenhagen and has enabled Hegyi to go on loan to Motherwell and Mason Terry to be loaned to Hornchurch.

Reminiscent of Darren Randolph for me, and you need some good solid pros around the club to work with the youngsters.

What next? We have been linked with Jhon Duran, Armando Broja, Artem Dovbyk, Alexander Sorloth, Johnathan David, Arkadiusz Milik and various others in the past month or so.

Jhon Duran appears to be the front runner, and Villa are willing to do a deal at around £40m.

Similar to Max Kilman, this seems a lot of money, but again as

with Kilman, if he is the top choice of the manager, and Steidten, we should go and get him.

Signing an unproven, somewhat maverick talent at £40m is a risk, but there have been glimpses of what a talent he is.

Duran is a serious physical presence and has an eye for a cracking goal.

Despite struggling for minutes last season behind the superb Ollie Watkins, Duran still managed to claim goal of the season for Villa with a fantastic strike against Crystal Palace, bringing a cross down on his chest, before smashing a half volley into the net.

Have a look at it on YouTube – an incredibly satisfying strike. Duran managed five league goals last season, mainly off the bench, all from his left foot, all illustrating his pace and power.

He could be a fantastic signing, but with our recent record of signing big money strikers, who knows.

Right back is the other position that we are clearly looking to recruit in – Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kyle Walker-Peters have been the two names we have been most linked with.

What I find a little odd here is that they are very different types of full back. Personally, I would prefer Walker-Peters, who has that attacking element to his game, that would benefit a Lopetegui side.

The transfer window closes at 11pm on August 30th, and there is considerable work for Steidten and his team to do. It is going to be an interesting few weeks.

How will the Foxes, Tractor Boys and Saints get on this season?

With the gulf between the top two leagues widening, could we see a repeat of 1998?

Last season was a disappointing time for the then newly promoted teams with all three making an unwelcome return to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

This was only the second time that this event has occurred. The only previous time was in season 1997-98 when Barnsley, Bolton

and Crystal Palace made history by all making that fast return. What does the future hold for this season’s promoted teams Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton?

Firstly let’s take a closer look at Leicester City. It’s true to say that Leicester has a fair bit of Premier League pedigree and that relega-

tion was a mere blip.

They still have a lot of Premier League experience within their squad. They even have old man Steptoe still in their ranks aka Jamie Vardy who, on his day, has a few goals still in those boots of his.

It’s also a fact that they will sell out the Kingpower stadium for

most games. I really think they will be safe.

They have some strength in depth too and with a little bit of transfer magic, I can’t see them slipping up again.

They have an easy start with an opener against a team that often bottles it, Spurs, then Fulham away.

Realistically they don’t really play anyone major until they face Arsenal at the end of September.

As for May, it all looks pretty favourable, games against Southampton, Forest, Ipswich and Bournemouth await so it should be a comfortable end to the season.

I think by then they will be safe but what of the other two promoted teams?

Well let’s move onto Ipswich, and this is an interesting one.

It’s not always great to have back to back promotions. Is it too quick of a meteoric rise and would they be capable of such a big leap in class?

Ipswich, however, do have something in their back pocket, which is a bit of an unknown.

Just a year ago the US private equity firm, Bright Path Partners, bought a 40% share in the team.

Although the day-to-day running still sits with chief executive Mark Ashton, both Jake Zahnow and Sam Simon co-founders of Bright Partners now sit on the Portman Road board and we all know US firms don’t put into sports teams just for the fun of it.

The deal was worth £105 million and although there is talk of improvement to the club’s infra-

structure, who knows what else they will offer.

One thing we do know is that they have already acquired Ben Johnson from the Hammers and he will definitely be an asset.

And it’s that area, the transfer window, that holds the keys to Ipswich's future.

They will need to strengthen and if they do, then they could be the surprise team this season.

“ It’s an understatement that Southampton need strengthening.

Ipswich fans have waited 22 years for a return to the Premier League. Their expectations will be high and with the team last season scoring close to one hundred goals, if they play without fear this season, who knows what it will bring.

What has not helped is the fixture computer which has produced a really difficult opening few fixtures.

A home opener against Liverpool followed by an away day at Manchester City is the thing of nightmares.

On the plus side they do have an easier finish. May looks slightly easier and they may have nothing to play for either way when they play the Hammers in their final game of the season.

And that brings me to the final

promoted team, Southampton, who squeezed through in the play offs, thanks in large part to West Ham reject Flynn Downs who we bizarrely decided to sell in the off season.

Southampton will have the greatest of all challenges of the newly-promoted teams.

Where Leicester have Premier League pedigree and Ipswich have new investors, Southampton have spent, so far, big on a Manchester City centre back and Flynn.

It’s an understatement that they need strengthening. But let’s not forget they did go on a 25-game unbeaten run last season so they must have been doing something right.

They also have a good chance of gaining points early as the fixture computer has only matched them against one of the big six during the first two months of the season.

As for the run-in, in May home games against Arsenal and Manchester City await, so I feel they need to be safe before then. I feel they won’t be.

The bookies are predicting all three could go straight back down to the Championships but I have a sneaky feeling that one or maybe even two teams may defy those odds.

With a Premier League that still houses Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Everton in their ranks it just may happen.

I predict at least one of those three will find themselves in the Championship next season. We will have to wait and see.

Geoff Hillyer

‘The crystal ball says that we will probably finish mid-table’

We have a tough start but there are spells where we may build momentum and pick up points

Here we go again – Premier League football is back, which means that West Ham fans everywhere can debate our style of football, rave/complain about our manager, share in our glorious victories and commiserate and pick apart our defeats.

The question on everyone’s lips though is, how will we fare? I’ve got the crystal ball out and tried to map out what might happen.

August: Normally I come into a season with optimism. Not so this one. New manager, players adapting to a new way of playing,

you can see that August might be a struggle.

When you look at these three matches in isolation, you can make a case for losing each one. Villa are decent and in form, we always lose to Palace, Man City are Man City.

I think this is going to be a struggle – three points might be a bonus.

September: Two teams who we lost 5-0 to last season, and a Brentford team who scored five against us in two matches.

On the face of it, not promising. But we really should be turning up against Fulham – if only because they put seven past us in two games last season whilst we barely tested their goalkeeper.

Which Chelsea will we see this campaign? One that I think will be a tougher proposition, but Brentford might be a tip to struggle this season. Six points.

October: Brilliant to see Ipswich back up. The manager is decent and at some stage, he’ll be off to bigger and better things.

I think they will do better than many predict, and our match won’t be easy. We have enough to win, though.

Spurs are horrid and I have a sinking feeling that Manchester United might be stronger than they have been in a while, so this might be another tough month. Three points.

November: Forest are another team I look at and go, they might struggle. Their form wasn’t great towards the end of last season, but then again, ours was worse.

We might get something, though. Everton? Awkward team, but we could get something against them too, especially at home.

I think Newcastle, without the distraction of Europe but potentially with an unsettled manager, may also struggle to hit previous

heights, and Arsenal will be decent again and we may struggle. But I think we have it in us to have a solid month here, with seven points visible in the crystal ball.

December: Six matches in December – I get the ‘traditional Christmas’ thing but seriously, give the players a break. Anyway, on paper this looks like a potential quality points haul.

We’re capable of getting something out of all of them and I do think there are at least three wins in that lot provided we turn up. I think 10 points is a real possibility here – injuries permitting, of course.

January: By this stage of course we’ll be well on our way to winning the League Cup, and focussing on FA Cup glory so we might prioritise that over some of the league fixtures.

It looks tough, and I don’t see anything from the City or Villa games, but a win is possible over Fulham and surely we are due to beat Palace at home at some point? Perhaps there’s four points here, but secretly hoping for six.

February: I think Chelsea might be too strong for us here, and after our steal from Arsenal away last season, they won’t be making that mistake again. But Brentford and Leicester, I think, should be there for the taking. Providing we aren’t struggling, I think we’ll have too much for them, so six points.

March: Only two matches here, and two teams that we might struggle against – but it depends really on the Newcastle that we

get next season.

We owe them after that 4-3 debacle last time around. There’s a chance we’ll get a couple of points here, but I’d take a win over Newcastle and defeat to Everton, to be honest, if only to compensate for the dark arts and wipe the smile off some of their players’ faces.

April: If we’re struggling for points by this stage, salvation may come in the matches against Wolves, Bournemouth, Southampton and possibly Brighton, who looked distinctly off-colour last season.

I don’t think we’ll win them all, but I think we will beat a couple of those sides, and lose to Liverpool.

I reckon seven points is doable here and frankly we’ll need to be in with a shout given May’s early fixtures.

May: Hard to tell so far out but Spurs and Man Utd, who I think will have better seasons, will be tough.

I think Forest are beatable but if Ipswich have heads above water or any chance of survival on the last day, they will absolutely be giving that their all.

I think four points here is achievable – provided we are in a decent state ourselves, which is by no means a given.

What does this mean? The crystal ball is throwing up something in the region of the low 50s points tally, which feels about right and indicates a probable mid-table finish.

But this is West Ham, so who knows? The Champions League and relegation are equally plausible.

Bradley Holland @Nolahammers

Umbro makes a good kit. I want you to repeat with me, Umbro makes a good kit.

If you're a West Ham fan who gets your head turned each year by a slick, but insipid Nike jersey as worn by the England team or envies the latest round of Adidas designs you see parade before you in the Euros and bemoan West Ham's partnering with Umbro, I ask you to consider what Umbro has given us the last several years.

From the Paulo Di canio kit, to the 1960's blue with claret hoops or my personal favourite, the 1900 light blue collared kit remade as the third kit for 2017-18 third kit. West Ham loves their nostalgia, and beyond the hype of modern designs, they've produced some remarkable homages to former kits.

Umbro has more play in the creative licence to step outside of the parameters than Puma, Nike or Adidas put on their designs to give us something like this year’s home kit - a reflection of the 1965 European Cup winner's jersey that gives us the chance to wear what our forebears wore in glory days when celebrating Bobby Moore and the boys' victory bringing that into our current European glories.

West Ham fans love the classic claret and blue with all the trimmings of the vintage design, and I've heard no one complain about this season's design with exception of the oversized advertise-

Another vintage West Ham kit by Umbro that outshines our rivals

You need only look at kits for Chelsea, Palace and Everton to see our latest options are quite decent

ment arm badge from Quickbooks on the shoulder smathering an obnoxious green on an otherwise tight kit.

I personally was a fan of the Basset and Gold golden lion sponsors on the shoulder from 2018 which I think looked sharp even if it did have a taste of Aston Villa about it.

I don't prefer the round high neck of this year's home kit but maybe that's just because I have

a large Adam's apple that gets caught on the collar while raising my voice to chant or even warbles up and down while animantly arguing about what position Soucek should be in, but that's just an individual problem.

Umbro and West Ham have also done another great service to us this year in our away kit, offering us a classic black kit.

Although some fans might think

the sky blue is either the essential or favoured colour for an away kit, black has gained traction in the last several years with the 2017/18, 20/21, 22/23, and 23/24 all featuring black kits in the away or third kit lineup.

I always get excited for a black or navy away or third kit, as it feels strong, hides your bulges if your shirt is slightly undersizedit's never my weight, just how they make the kits - and hides beer spills.

There is nothing like charging into opposition's pitch or terraces with a strong black kit on, and since most teams never wear black as their home colours we don't have to defer to our third kit which has yet to be released and sometimes be a huge error.

I still regret our cup winning orange and yellow McDonald's sauce splatter kit from two years ago or the purple/pink numbers of Haller's days.

The subtle Bow Church/east London theme is also class and makes for a quality design although it could be a little stronger, and as fans have said, with these new

materials it does look a bit cheap, not in design but fabric.

West Ham have given me an option for saving the Adam's apple shuffle with this neckline.

Some fans might complain about colour combos on the crest, but as opposed to Arsenal's new kit with a huge cannon replacing their standard crest or Aston Villa changing their crest, I think ours looks smartest.

And speaking of our rivals' designs, I think we are the envy of the Premier League fans compared to Chelsea's flame kit, that makes Cole Palmer look like a teenager waiting to be picked up from practice or Crystal Palace's American crisps package kit.

Man City, for such an exciting team, are still going with a boring and overly tight Puma kit, with nothing but some area code numbers on the sleeves and collar trim to differentiate, or Liverpool not even having a fully formed collar, I think we've really made out.

Everton in hopes to inject some change in their poor form has switched from an Umbro faithful to a kit by Castore which I think looks a bit cheaper, and most other Premier League teams are doing the same old boring numbers of stripes, see Brighton, Newcastle and Bournemouth, or solids, see Notts Forest and Wolves.

Be happy with Umbro for now as we still have them and the Betway sponsor until 25/26, but please West Ham change up the Quickbooks sleeve logo in exchange for something that does not detract from the quality of your kit's beautiful design.

Brian Penn

Scarcity is once what made football a precious commodity with the league season running for eight months of the year.

The three European competitions were organised exclusively on a knock-out basis. Until 1982 the World Cup featured only 16 participants.

The European Championships followed the same format with a round robin group stage and then a straight knock out.

Today, the game is awash with fixtures as the governing bodies squeeze every drop of revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.

The World Cup finals now has

‘Football should be more than wallpaper

in the background’

This

season the Champions League is expanding and well-paid players are complaining but why?

32 competing nations whilst the European Championship has 24.

In 2025 the Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 entrants and played across the summer, adding yet more games to the schedule of top clubs.

From next season the Champions League will be expanded to 36 clubs in the group stage.

No longer will clubs be set in cosy groups of four playing six games each.

One League will operate on a convoluted system where a club will play eight different opponents, four at home and four away.

Opponents will be drawn from four seeding pots, meaning clubs will test themselves against vary-

ing levels of opposition.

The top eight will qualify for the round of 16. Clubs that finish between ninth and 24th will compete in a two leg play-off to complete the round of sixteen.

The three European competitions still offer progression for the smaller more ambitious clubs; so there can be no accusations of a European Super League by stealth.

So what exactly is the problem with these additional games? It will only affect the top six teams who have squads large enough to cope with more fixtures.

Squad rotation and multiple substitutions will ensure players sustain fewer injuries. Yet Fifpro, the international players union, are concerned by the threat to player's health.

Union president David Terrier said there was an emergency around the growing physical and mental fatigue of players.

How does he keep a straight face with the stench of farmyard animals in his nostrils? These are elite athletes at the peak of physical fitness, or so we're led to believe.

They have an army of doctors, nutritionists and fitness coaches to keep them in shape. Players benefit from flat pitches and streamlined kits. Balls are lighter and reduce the effect of concussion injuries.

Money drives this argument so let's talk about the salaries players earn. Salaries that could wipe out the debt of a third world country.

Salaries funded by TV companies who pay to screen the extra

matches they so bitterly oppose.

At a conservative estimate top players earn in the region of £200,000 per week. Using that as a ballpark figure their earnings from football alone amount to £9.6 million a year.

“

Games will become sterile and dull; players will be bored and disinterested.

Sponsorship, endorsements and image rights will add another £2 million but let's round it up to £12 million annually.

Tax and other deductions will bring their annual salary down to around £5 million a year. Compare that to a nurse on £23,000 a year working 12 hour shifts. Or a police officer earning £36,000 annually.

Someone who faces danger on a regular basis to keep the public safe. Firefighters routinely enter burning buildings to save lives all for £41,000 a year. Are footballers quite so badly off?

Some might say it’s the green eyed monster rearing its ugly head, but jealousy doesn't even enter the equation.

If I were a professional player, I would happily take the going rate but wouldn't be bleating about the number of games I have to play.

I would be thanking my good fortune in reaching financial secu-

rity by my mid-twenties.

PFA Chief Executive Maheta Molango has also waded into the argument. The BBC reported that Molango had asked players how far they wanted to go.

Some of them said 'I'm not having it, we may as well strike. What's the point. Yes, I'm a millionaire, but I don't even have time to spend the money’ I'm sure our hearts go out to them.

The comments of Terrier and Molango are counter productive and gloss over the real issue, which isn't related to players' health or the risk of injury.

They can say they're injured and need to come off at any time. At a recent Champions League game Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland asked to be substituted because they were tired.

Pep Guardiola meekly agreed to this request. Players are just as likely to get injured during training or when they're warming up. So the increased risk of injury through more game time is a red herring.

The problem lies with the sheer logistics of staging more fixtures. Games will become sterile and dull; players will be bored and disinterested.

They will simply go through the motions and lose the sense of occasion. It will eventually dilute the experience of performing at top level, devoid of adrenaline and inspiration.

For the fans it’s just another game they might catch whilst channel hopping. Football should be more than ‘wallpaper’ playing in the background?

David Bowden @Bowdenwhu

Will West Ham’s new boss stop the rot and give youth a chance?

Our youngsters have impressed this summer but have they done enough to play in the Premier League?

West Ham United has always been known for its production run of academy stars.

From Bobby Moore to George Earthy and everyone in between, the club is proud of producing its own.

But before Earthy came on to star against Luton, it had been a long time since Mark Noble burst

through and significantly impacted the first team.

It appears as though the next wave of stars could be set to reignite the infamous academy back to its heyday.

With Lewis Orford, currently embroiled in contract talks following interest from Premier League rivals, in particular Aston

Villa, who requested him as part of negotiations for Jhon Duràn, is the next big hope.

Freddie Potts enjoyed a successful loan stint at Wycombe last season and has impressed so far during the pre-season.

The next challenge for the Hammers is ensuring our young stars are kept happy and feeling

wanted by the club.

There was initial outrage following news of the club seemingly happy to let Orford walk without offering him a new contract and even offered him as part of a deal for Duràn.

“ Mubama looked a million miles away from being ready to compete at the top level.

Bizarrely, despite Villa displaying strong interest in the youngster, the deal was rejected, which has forced the hand of the board to offer him a new deal after offering him out.

It has led to concern about the professionalism of the board, and it is easy to see why the likes of Ben Johnson and Divin Mubama became so disenchanted at the club and decided to seek other opportunities.

Johnson joined Ipswich Town following the promise of firstteam football, with Mubama expected to move to either the Championship or take a more significant plunge and move abroad.

Johnson always seemed unlikely to kick on to become the player his earlier promise suggested. He burst onto the scene during the Covid season, offering pace in the full-back position with promising attacking flair, but with Vlad Coufal joining, his opportunities became limited, and despite the club offering him a new deal, he made the decision to leave him boyhood club for the betterment of his career.

The same could be said for Mubama. We have been crying out for a striker for a number of years now, and Mubama was banging goals in at Under-21 level, so surely his time was imminent.

Instead, Danny Ings was signed, and his opportunities were further limited. In truth, having seen the majority of his brief substitute appearances, he looked a million miles away from being ready to

compete at the top level.

He did, at least, have his memorable moments, scoring in the Europa Conference League against Larnaca in a 4-0 win and helping our young Hammers to a famous FA Youth Cup success at the Emirates.

With Mark Noble now overseeing the academy, the club, in theory, couldn’t be in better hands. Who better to sell the club's academy than someone who has lived and breathed West Ham for over 20 years?

The Irons must get the next few years at the youth level right. We are already struggling for homegrown players.

And what better way to save money than to bring through your own. Opportunities must now be given to these young stars, and it is hoped under this new management team they will be.

It has been rumoured that the Lopetegui has been impressed by Earthy and Potts in pre-season, and nothing would make the West Ham faithful warm to a new manager more than seeing the academy graduates get their chances.

Olivia Elliott @LivistarOlivia

Oggy - or Uncle Ang as he’d become affectionately known by most West Ham fans - will forever be remembered as one of the most reliable defenders in our recent history.

It’s hard to believe that Oggy’s debut season was our last at Upton Park. Where have those years gone?

When Oggy arrived from Juventus he had a pretty decent CV - Italian International, Serie A winner, Cup winner, and part of the squad that reached the Champions League Final against Barcelona so hopes were high when Slaven signed him.

I don't think he could have hoped for a better chapter to start his career at West Ham with, the

‘Farewell

to one of the last Hammers to play at Upton Park’

The Italian defender arrived with a great CV, shone on many occasions in claret and blue and will be missed

Farewell to The Boleyn season. He was left footed and I can remember his shiny bald head being like a magnet to the ball, he was very good in the air.

I think he was at his best when playing with Winston Reid or James Collins as his defensive partner.

Winston and the Ginger Pele were the aggressive players and Oggy was a bit more cultured.

I felt he was always an intelli-

gent player who would commit a foul when required, everything you would expect from an Italian defender, but I don't remember him ever being sent off.

One thing you can say about Oggy is that he got what playing for West Ham was.

He became part of the family and you could see how much winning and losing meant to him.

When we won, he would be jumping up and down and joining

in the songs on the pitch after the games and in defeat, he would always show his appreciation to the fans for their support.

I was lucky enough to be in the stadium in Lyon and Oggy, who wasn’t in the squad, was on the pitch at the final whistle dancing and singing along with all of us, you could just tell how much of a fan he had become.

Unfortunately Father Time caught up with Oggy and his appearances last season were restricted to cup games or coming off the bench.

But Oggy did have one last man of the match appearance in my opinion away at Arsenal when we won 2-0.

Captaining the side against the team going for the Premier League title, Oggy was immense

Goodbye and good luck to Hammers

fan Flynn Downes

Another West Ham fan to have left the club this summer is Flynn Downes.

I felt it was a strange signing when he joined, in that I didn't know much about him, and two seasons later I still don’t know much about him/ His chances were always going to be rare in that first season with Rice and Soucek the main

at defending and directing his teammates to a famous victory.

My overarching memory of Oggy was his last minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round replay at Upton Park.

I had to sit in the Bobby Moore Lower this night as my usual seat in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand had to be given to the Liverpool supporters.

Midweek games under the lights were always so special at our old ground and this one did not disappoint.

Antonio put us 1-0 up just before half time which made the atmosphere even more buzzing during the interval.

We were soon brought down to earth just after the break though when Coutinho equalised with a free kick.

The game ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends and eventually went to extra time.

With the game destined for penalties we were awarded a free kick which created a crossing opportunity for Payet.

Crossing it in, Oggy rose and met the ball with an unbelievable header into the far corner of the net sending us through to the next round.

Before ‘limbs’ became a thing on social media, I found myself on my back on the floor with my Dad and brother sprawling over me celebrating Oggy’s last minute winner.

I didn't even hit the deck when Bowen won us the Europa so this goal will always be a very special memory for me.

men in the middle for us. Obviously being a West Ham fan and hailing from Essex, everyone wanted it to work out for Flynn.

The problem when you've played all of your career in the lower leagues is that when the chance comes up to impress you have to take it with both hands - and then some.

He’s a tidy player who can keep possession but this is where I see the problem in trying to take his chance when it was presented.

Nine times out of ten, it would be a safe pass sideways / backwards always retaining possession but herein lies the

issue of trying to impress. You're caught between not wanting to make a mistake but at the same time, what can you do to make the manager think I need to to give this lad a real go?

And with the pressure of not losing games in the Premier League and our ‘safe’ manager, it was always going to be a real challenge for Flynn. After Declan left many people thought he would get his chance but then we signed Alvarez so it wasn't to be. By all accounts he had a great season on loan at Southampton last season and I wish him well there for this upcoming season.

Many football fans pride themselves on travelling ‘over land and sea’ in support of their club.

Points are clocked up as proof of their dedication, rewarding them with first dibs on the most in-demand tickets.

Perhaps tellingly, no points are required to join West Ham on their summer tour of America. The inaugural Stateside Cup is advertised as ‘Three Premier Teams. Three Premier Venues. One Exciting Series.’

Now, I’m envious of anyone heading stateside, not because they might get the first to glimpse Luis Guilherme in claret and blue

Could we offer up the Community Shield to the Americans?

Paul Brand questions the renewed calls for Premier League matches to be played on foreign soil

but because the sunshine State of Florida is a far more appealing destination than my planned summer sojourn to Cardiff, which has only even been attractive when standing in for Wembley but does at least complete the family’s UK

capitals checklist.

If I could afford to fly the family to Florida in July then there’d be arguments over watching West Ham or going to Disneyland. And in fairness, I’d probably concede defeat easier than David Moyes

in a cup tie against Liverpool. Because why go halfway around the world to experience something that’s the same as what’s on your doorstep?

In my debut tome, Fortune’s Always Hiding: From Stratford to Seville, I confess to having rarely visited Upton Park even when I lived down Barking Road.

I’d have liked to have gone far more often than I did, but the cost of Premier League football sadly precluded it.

The same sob story applies to the European tours of recent years. Seville, Viborg, Prague –any one of them would have been special to me.

And what makes European football special is a combination of rarity and reward – the club has earned the right to extra matches in unfamiliar locations, and so have the fans.

Having been spoilt by three successive years of Europa League or Europa Conference excursions, there was a sense from some parts of the fanbase that the demands of European football were becoming a bit of a drag.

Imagine, then, having to travel more than twice the distance, at who knows what cost, to take in a standard three-pointer against Fulham.

The primary argument against Premier League games being played abroad is that it takes supporters for mugs.

Since moving out of Canning Town and becoming acquainted with the North West Hammers, I marvel at just how many follow the team home and away, with

home-match trains from Crewe providing some perspective on the ‘stop’ and ‘go’ signs back to Stratford.

I certainly have no wish to cast anyone who’s put far more cash into the club’s coffers than I have as ‘mugs’, but it’s hopefully fair to note that fan is short for ‘fanatic’ and the business plans of club executives have long been predicated on milking their fanaticism.

“

Tourists versus ‘legacy fans’ has become a theme of modern football.

Club accounts, however, indicate that matchday revenue pales in comparison to global TV rights. Hence renewed calls from American owners, who tend to view clubs as franchises rather than bastions of the community, to further monetise the global fanbase by playing games abroad.

We live in a globalised society and, having swapped the streets of Newham for the more picturesque surroundings of Chester, I’ve not exactly gone global, but 200 miles from ‘home’ is far enough that I’m probably no more in touch with life in Stratford than the Chicago Hammers, the Nashville Hammers, the Saint Louis Hammers or any other fan group separated by an ocean as well as an arduous journey along the creaking railways or jammed

motorways of Great Britain. The beauty of the online world, however, is that it gives us more ways to connect to the clubs we love, no matter where in the world we are. Perversely, moving away probably enriched my connection to West Ham, having always been an irregular visitor to Upton Park anyway.

I began blogging about club affairs as a means of staying connected to my roots and any return south to the London Stadium has acquired the air of a pilgrimage –football is a religion, I’m just not a regular church attendee.

One of globalisation’s selling points is convenience, and if West Ham came to play a one-off match – friendly or competitive – at the Deva Stadium, down the road from where I am now, then I’d be there in a shot.

True, we play every season at Anfield, Goodison, Old Trafford and the Etihad, which are hardly an insurmountable distance, but the take-up of away tickets means I’m reliant on grabbing an elusive spare.

What I suppose I’m getting at is that I empathise with the appetite from displaced Hammers for a travelling show.

Which is exactly what the Stateside Cup is - a nice pre-season bonus before the serious stuff starts.

But far away fans are not the lifeblood of the club. And to ask those seasoned followers who trek here, there and everywhere to stump up another substantial chunk of their hard-earned cash to see a competitive game played

on another continent is taking the piss on a grand scale.

The whole 39th game concept remains a woolly one. How would the extra round of matches be allocated? When in the season would they be played?

Early in January was once mooted, on the basis that a warm-weather holiday might be welcome, although what this might mean for the vaunted winter break is anyone’s guess.

Not to mention the calendar clash with the third round of the already devalued FA Cup. The late David Gold, then chairman of Birmingham City, was one of the first to endorse proposals, his support explained by the fact that bigger clubs were already exploiting foreign markets and this idea would distribute the revenue evenly among all 20 clubs.

The Football Supporters’ Federation were quick to brand it Gam£39 based on the obvious financial motivation. The same organisation’s Twenty’s Plenty campaign has had some success in reducing costs for travelling fans but the ticket price can be a fraction of travelling or, in an increasing number of cases thanks to the primacy of TV coverage, accommodation costs.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner recently put all this back on the agenda by declaring that he is ‘determined’ to see a Premier League match held in New York City. Even though principal owner John Henry was sensible enough to distance himself from it, following a not so quiet word from the Liverpool Supporters’ Board, the

idea won’t go away.

In fairness to Werner, he’s also talked of subsidised travel for the die-hards. And there’s the rub: Werner wants to export the atmosphere, seemingly without realising the extent to which money men such as himself are killing it.

Tourists versus ‘legacy fans’ has become a theme of modern football. Who are the tourists at the Stateside Cup? The West Ham, Palace and Wolves fans with their passports tucked in their pockets, or the local soccer enthusiasts?

The same question applies to the 39th game concept. A quick look at ticket availability for the summer tour shows that the good people of Jacksonville and Tampa perhaps don’t view us as particularly massive given the swathes of free seats and closed upper tiers.

Satellite fan groups are blowing bubbles the world over but they’re still small in number compared to Manchester United’s overseas army.

Sullivan would no doubt contest

that this is why foreign excursions are necessary, to establish brand identity, and the dollar signs probably flash before his eyes when he sees the London Stadium hosting Major League Baseball’s London Series.

American sports have successfully been exported and there’s an argument that we should reciprocate. But how desirable is a cultural exchange that breeds homogeny and risks diluting the atmosphere?

I have no idea how many Mets fans have visited Stratford but I’d be keen to know how the experience compared to their own Citi Field or old Shea Stadium.

Sport is generally best enjoyed in its natural habitat. When in America, I’d rather watch one of their national sports, even if Messi has added some allure to the MLS.

Similarly, a proper London derby is a better advert for the Premier League than one played in front of thousands who don’t understand the geography.

As far as I’m concerned, tourists are welcome at the London Stadium, but they should never outnumber the legacy fans, which is what happens when the legacy fans are turned into tourists.

A fair compromise is to give the Community Shield to the foreign market. A competitive showcase for English football that most English fans can give or take.

Perhaps renaming it the Charity Shield would be apt. And for West Ham fans, the fact that taking part in it is a once-in-a-generation experience might entice them to travel.

Last game at Upton Park

Brian Penn

It was a day that took forever to come; some hoped it never would. Upton Park or the Boleyn Ground to use its formal moniker, was closing down.

After 112 years the club was moving to Stratford, home of the 2012 Olympics. My final peep at the old ground came in April 2016 against Watford.

Standing at the gates my West Ham supporting brother excitedly took pictures. A flood of memories rushed through my mind. Each of them bidding for prominence as a dewy eyed nostalgia threatened to take hold.

Tickets for home games were predictably scarce. I'd come across mine purely by chance so knew this would be the last time.

A 3-1 victory included a missed penalty and a late sending off. True to form games at Upton Park were never dull.

This tired old stadium had been part of my life for the previous 41 years. Leaving the ground afterwards was a curious feeling, I was a bundle of mixed emotions.

But as we joined a snaking queue at Upton Park tube station I felt strangely unmoved. It wasn't the same stadium I first visited as a boy.

It had been redeveloped on three sides and the East Stand was all that survived. Yet it's only bricks and mortar and we take our memories with us.

It was a view many Irons fans would not have shared as the final

What happened to our Farewell Boleyn boys who beat the Red Devils?

Only Antonio and Cresswell remain at West Ham eight years after we said goodbye to our famous Upton Park

home game approached.

Manchester United would be our opponents on 10 May 2016. The Mancs' team bus was mystifyingly pelted with bottles on the way in.

The game itself was a classic encounter as West Ham ran out 3-2 winners. But who lined up for the Hammers that night, writing

themselves into club history, and where are they now?

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph joined from Birmingham in 2015. Although regularly capped by the Republic of Ireland, he often struggled to nail down a regular spot at club level.

West Ham was his ninth club

and ostensibly signed as deputy to regular goalie Adrian. Randolph briefly wrestled the gloves from him but was always destined to be a cup games goalie.

In 2017 he transferred to Middlesborough and was first choice between the sticks for three years.

There was one last hurrah in 2020 when he re-joined the Hammers. His final stop was a one season stint with Bournemouth.

Michail Antonio was signed in September 2015 and had just completed his first season with the Hammers.

Deep in utility mode, Antonio was deployed at right back against Manchester United. He had also filled a number of other roles including midfield, wing, turnstile operator and assistant groundsman.

Mickey scored the equaliser that night to bring the scores level at 2-2. He later entered into club folklore when he broke the Premier League goalscoring record in 2021.

His contract runs out in June and has apparently rejected a new contract. If he does leave no one can say we haven't had our money's worth.

Winston Reid was born in Auckland with Māori ancestry and raised in Denmark. Rising through the ranks at FC Midtjylland, he later represented his native New Zealand at senior level.

The defender signed for the Hammers in 2005 and looked a real prospect. However, his career was decimated by an appalling catalogue of injuries. Hamstring, shoulder, ankle, thigh, hip, abduc-

tor and the inevitable knee injury restricted Reid’s game time.

Despite his injury record, Reid signed an extension to his contract until 2023. However, in March 2018 he was knocked unconscious during a game; the resulting twisted knee kept him out for the rest of the season.

He left by mutual consent in 2021 and wound down his career first with Sporting Kansas City and then Brentford. Winston Reid had the distinction of scoring the final goal at Upton Park when he fired home the winner ten minutes from time.

The textbook definition of ‘unsung hero’ must surely be Angelo Ogbonna. The Italy international was signed from Juventus in 2015 and plied his trade as a central defender for the next nine seasons.

‘Oggy’ was utterly reliable and made few mistakes. He sometimes fell victim to managers’ preference but was always on hand to play his part whenever needed. He remained an essential member of the squad and it was gratifying to see him on the pitch celebrating the Europa Conference League win in 2023. Oggy left at the end of the 2023/24

season.

Scouser Aaron Cresswell was released from Liverpool’s Academy as a fifteen-year-old. But gradually made his way in the professional game via Tranmere and Ipswich.

The left-back was signed by West Ham in 2014 and went onto become one of the Hammers’ longest serving players of the Premier League era.

He blossomed at the club and gained the first of three England caps in 2016. An occasional dead ball specialist, Cresswell always had a good engine and regularly embarked on overlapping runs.

Although injuries have taken their toll he remains a useful option more often than not coming off the bench. The 34-year-old signed a one year extension to his contract at the end of last season.

Manuel Lanzini had been signed on a season’s loan from Emirates club Al Jazira. An impressive campaign led to a permanent arrangement and seven highly productive seasons for the Hammers.

Like Cresswell he was awarded full representative honours at the club. Lanzini won five Argentina caps but was sadly denied a place in their 2018 World Cup squad by a knee injury.

He was a classic South American number 10 with great vision and close control; there was also a penchant for the occasional spectacular goal.

In 2020 he scored a fizzing 25-yarder against Spurs which rescued a point for the Hammers who were 3-0 down a one point. Lanzini left the club in June 2023 and re-signed for his boyhood club

River Plate.

The princely sum of £7 million took Cheikh Kouyate from Anderlecht to West Ham in June 2014.

The defensive midfielder quickly settled in and played a pivotal role in the team for the next four seasons.

The Senegal international was a solid and hardworking presence in midfield, effectively linking play and scoring some useful goals. Many were therefore surprised when he signed for Crystal Palace before moving to Nottingham Forest in 2022.

Never has a player gone from zero to hero then back to zero more quickly than Dimitri Payet. Little was known about the French midfielder when he was signed from Marseille in June 2015.

He quickly established himself as a gifted playmaker and became top goal scorer with 12 goals in all competitions.

He was voted Hammer of the Year but many wondered how long West Ham could keep hold of him. Payet excelled at the European Championships in 2016 and his head was ultimately turned.

In the following January he returned to Marseille under a cloud of accusation and counter claim; it was a short but very sweet honeymoon.

Payet subsequently transferred to Brazilian club Vasco de Gama at the beginning of last season.

Mark Noble had, by this time, already ascended to fully qualified club legend. Dedicated one-club man and inspirational captain, he was the only home grown player in the starting lineup that night.

Nobes went onto set the Premier League appearance record and seal a place in hearts of all Hammers fans.

This rarest of birds finally retired in May 2023. Fittingly Mark Noble continues to serve the club as sporting director.

Diafro Sakho was another Senegal international passing through on his travels. The striker was signed from Metz and scored some useful goals in his four year stay, including the opening goal against Manchester United.

After his stint with the Hammers, he returned to France and a subsequent odyssey that took him to Turkey, Switzerland, Djibouti and finally back to Nancy where he retired at the end of 2022/23 season.

When all his planets were in line Andy Carroll could be a devastatingly good centre forward. But a litany of injuries restricted his impact to one goal in every four games.

After six seasons with the Hammers, Carroll returned to his native Newcastle for a short, unsatisfying spell. Similar cameos at Reading and West Brom followed. He

currently plays for Amiens in the French second division.

Slaven Bilic was appointed West Ham manager in June 2015. A former player, the Croat had impressive managerial credentials including stints with Lokomotiv Moscow, Besikas and the Croatia national side.

Bilic guided the Hammers to a highly creditable 7th place finish in the 2015/16 season.

Away wins against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City were highlights but typically the euphoria did not last.

After a run of poor results Bilic was dismissed in November 2017. He continued his journey as a happy wanderer as West Brom was sandwiched between spells in Saudi Arabia and China.

He also spent one season with Watford before returning to Saudi for a second time.

For Manchester United it was another season of crushing under achievement. A 5th place finish in the Premier League and an FA Cup win could not save Louis Van Gaal’s job.

For a club still adjusting to life in the post Fergie era it just wasn’t good enough.

As the fans drifted away on that last night they grabbed whatever souvenirs they could; a sign, seat number or a rusty bolt, it was proof they were there.

We looked forward with some trepidation to a new home at Stratford. Now we have a major honour to associate with the London Stadium will the fans finally take emotional ownership – let’s hope so.

I really believe that the club’s confirmation of fundamental changes to age and accessibility concession proposals is the most important thing to hit our fanbase since the stadium move from the Boleyn to the London Stadium.

For those who are not aware, for the 2024-25 pricing strategy, Bands 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be sold to new season ticket holders at standard adult prices.

Concession pricing for new season ticket holders in Bands 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be at the standard adult prices.

For pre-existing season ticket holders and concession season ticket holders, their current concession pricing is still eligible in

‘Sign the petition and tell everyone about

the fight for concessions’

Rik Moran is calling on fans to join the battle to urge the club to reverse its decision on ticket prices

Bands 1, 2, 3 and 4 during the current renewal period. Anyone wanting to purchase a new concessionary rated ticket will only be able to purchase these in Bands 5 & 6.

When I first saw these changes on the club’s website, my immediate thought was what a slap in the

face to not only long term fans but to potential new ones.

Do you remember when our board members said the below in? I know I do.

West Ham United Vice-Chairman Baroness Karren Brady said on 18 December 2019: ‘As a Club with community at its heart, West Ham

United prides itself on being the home of affordable family football in the Premier League, offering our loyal supporters the chance to watch their beloved Hammers week in week out. Making Premier League football accessible to our local communities underpins our commitment to our fans, the area surrounding the Stadium, across the London Olympic boroughs, and into Essex.”

On 16 November 2017, Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: ‘At West Ham United we are totally committed to providing affordable, family football for our supporters and we are delighted that this has once again been recognised in the BBC Price of Football survey.

‘With 52,000 season ticket holders for the second season running, and almost 50,000 on the waiting list, I think it is clear that our supporters are seeing the benefits of that commitment.’

I’m not sure Brady & Sullivan remember as they seem to have thrown affordable family football away.

When the concession age changed from 65 to 66, there was little outcry from fans. In fact, there were a lot of comments coming back at those who raised their voices to the effect of, ‘stop moaning and enjoy the ride’.

Match day ticket revenue is now such a small part of the overall income stream compared with TV money.

It’s why the fixtures get shunted around so annoyingly - TV rights are much more important to the club commercially than the match

going fan.

Even more so in our case given that our ‘deal of the century’ means most of the revenue from matchday food and drink doesn’t go to the club.

The club can set prices wherever they like and it really wouldn’t impact the financials that much.

They can also determine all the decisions about concessions, price bands, categorising matches and deciding what discount to give season ticket holders vs the cost of 19 games on a match-by-match basis.

Yes, they can justify increases by pointing to inflation, prices at other grounds etc but it’s still a choice the club makes.

Clubs decided that £20 (now £30) is plenty; for away fans. Any club could decide to do the same for home fans if they wanted to.

It’s fair to say that this is not just a West Ham thing. Other clubs are doing the same.

And it’s probably an unintended consequence of the FFP rules; we all wanted something done about the State-controlled club’s spending, which the powers that be did, but it means for the other clubs to grow, including us, we have to do it by generating income.

I am sure that West Ham has done the maths, but it seems obvious to me that the CAT 5 & 6 seats will sell out quickly, and any new season ticket holder with kids will not have access to concessionary priced seats.

Fast forward a few years and they will have phased out concessions all together. Maybe not even a few years, maybe now when

you look at the individual prices for our first couple of home games Aston Villa and Manchester City that have gone on sale, with the prices all the same in each band. The Man City prices in particular are ridiculous.

I look at other clubs and see the impact of their American owners, who I blame for all these changes.

They want to make our English football like their American Football and just have one price for tickets in the stadium, regardless of who has it, no matter their age or any disability. This will inevitably lead to an increase of people buying season tickets just because they can afford them.

A family of four or five won’t be able to have season tickets unless they are an extremely wealthy family. The game we know and love is truly fading and dying.

Fans need to come together and let our voices be heard on this issue, and I’d urge everyone to get behind Hammers United and the Independent Supporters Committee. They along with other fan groups have started a petition on the issue.

I state this is the most serious issue since the move of the club and could wind up being a significantly more important issue than the move given the importance it will have affecting the fanbase for years to come.

The fight to keep concessions and fair ticket prices has to be made sooner rather than later. I urge everyone to sign and share the petition, to tell your friends about the issue, to tell everyone that will listen about the issue.

Thunderbirds fans may remember the Tracys using ‘FAB’ instead of ‘roger’ when acknowledging radio coms as International Rescue set off to save the world.

In football these days, FAB is less heroic. It stands for Fan Advisory Board and is a Premier League sub-standard way for clubs to speak to fan groups. It’s to try and save clubs from regulation.

More than a year late and only reluctantly negotiated, our club has finally published details of its FAB.

Members of the West Ham United Supporters’ Trust (WHUST)

FABs are a go but will the Club now start to respond to issues?

The West Ham United Supporters’ Trust hopes the club backtracks from its attack on concession tickets

have narrowly voted to join. But we are fully aware we risk being the club’s puppets on a string.

The WHUST board outlined the good and bad points of the negotiations with the club and, holding its collective nose, recommended voting yes to join the new body.

The member vote was just 59% in favour. It shows the level of

distrust among supporters of the current club owners and management.

The one hope is that the club will now start to respond over the major issues. The biggest issue this season is tickets.

The prices have soared, but worse has been the attack on concessions. The club has back-

Chris Wheal @whealie

tracked a little but will it give more ground?

The current club owners have long made clear that they think West Ham fans are revolting. Now we are. Fans are in open rebellion.

“

While WHUST is backing the current protest, this isn’t about sabre-rattling.

The Independent Supporters Committee – the umbrella group made of several fan bodies – has called for fans not to attend the pre-season game against Celta Vigo on 10 August. The boycott means tickets are selling badly.

Concerned that there may be a call for further protests once the season gets started, the club has agreed to speak to fan groups ahead of the FAB’s first official meeting in September.

CEO Lady Brady has called the meeting after fan groups wrote to her personally, detailing fan opposition to the concessions and ticket pricing issues.

The club is trying to schedule the meeting after the Vigo game and before the Villa match.

While WHUST is backing the current protest, this isn’t about sabre-rattling.

WHUST will continue to work to find a compromise that helps the club compromise on its conces-

sions withdrawal without losing face.

We have already sent a document to the club outlining a series of alternatives to the blanket ending of concessions to new purchasers in all but the worst seats.

We suggested four specific options:

Immediately permit those with existing concessions to pass on discounted tickets to the next generation within the family – the next child or grandchild.

Reintroduce concession pricing across all bands but restrict the proportion of seats that can be sold at a reduced price.

Reintroduce unrestricted concession pricing to two additional bands, so that concessions are available in 50% (down from 75%) of current ticket bands.

Increase the price of concession seats in the higher bands.

We received no response to our document. However, the club did announce in July:

‘We understand the need for our over-66 supporters to have access to concessionary seating within the lower stadium bowl and are therefore making concessionary tickets available for over-66 supporters in Bands 3 and 4.

‘These tickets can be pur-

chased with a 25% concessionary discount, making them some of the cheapest lower-bowl tickets across the Premier League.’

WHUST’s view is that while this minor row-back by the club should be welcomed, it does not go far enough. We’ve suggested detailed ways the club could row back further.

With option one, we said there might be restrictions on who could take over a concession priced ticket – people with genuine family connections, for example.

For option two we gave two alternatives:

*All bands have the same percentage limit of seats available for concessions.

*The percentage of concessions seats decreases the higher up the banding, say 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30% and 25%.

We also produced examples of how concession pricing might work if the value of the concessions discount were changed.

The club could have a uniform percentage, or it could have a sliding scale.

We also suggested that the club’s ultimate solution could be a combination of a number of our suggestions.

It’s just possible that the club has been holding off until the FAB was up and running before agreeing to any fan suggestions. It’s just possible that one or more of our suggestions is taken up.

But if you gave Betway all the available information and the club’s record so far, I reckon the bookmaker would give you good odds it won’t happen.

Holly Worthington @hollseey

As always this time of year, a lot of talk is about new signings.

But there is one player who feels like a new addition, despite technically being at West Ham for a while.

This is, of course, Andy Irving; the 24-year-old midfielder who we signed from SK Austria Klagenfurt and sent straight back to them on loan last season.

At the time, his signing went completely under the radar, with no official club announcement and no media attention, feeling like some kind of secret signing.

However, since returning to the club, Andy Irving has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and seems to be on a mission to impress Lopetegui.

When word originally spread that we’d signed some random player from the Austrian league and sent him straight back to play for them, many were confused at the thought process behind the decision. But now, we’re starting to wonder whether it’s been a touch of genius.

Irving has struggled to get regular game time for Klagenfurt, but hasn’t taken his eye off the ball, keeping fitness up while staying sharp, judging by his pre-season performances in claret and blue.

In his first pre-season game against Ferencváros, he played well, setting up Aguerd’s goal in our 2-2 draw.

But it was his performance against Dagenham and Redbridge

Will Irving stay as our forgotten man or shine in east London?

Andy returned to us after a season on loan and scored in pre-season but is he good enough for the top flight?

that really turned heads, as he scored an incredible left-footed strike from the edge of the box to get us the winner.

Looking determined, he also impressed with his passing range, and his hard work has finally forced the club to start creating content around him.

Irving’s post-match interview gave us a bit more of an insight into what we can expect from him, speaking about how happy he was to get a goal and how welcome he’s felt since training with the team.

He spoke about seeing it as a massive opportunity and said that he wants to show Lopetegui what he can do.

One of the biggest things I took from his post-match interview was

his ambition and positive attitude, leaving many fans asking whether we could be seeing the makings of a cult hero in Andy Irving.

Having travelled with the team to the USA, there’s never been a better opportunity for a player to make their mark. One thing is for sure if Andy Irving keeps performing like this, it’s certainly going to be hard for Lopetegui to ignore him.

We’re yet to see whether he has what it takes to become a regular in our squad, but in football there are rarely success stories so great.

Could we see Andy Irving go from playing in the third tier of German football two years ago, to signing for £1.5million and playing a key role in West Ham’s Premier League season? Watch this space!

After a lot of outgoings, Rehanne Skinner is starting to bring in the players she wants.

We managed to let go six players, which is one better than last year, these include; Mackenzie Arnold, Hawa Cissoko, Honoka Hayashi, Risa Shimizu, Emma Snerle and Abbey Leigh Stringer.

Between the six players they have a combined 284 first team appearances, with Cissoko being the most experienced. They will all be a huge loss especially because they all left for free.

It was sad to see last year’s captain, Mackenzie Arnold depart to go and play for the American side, Portland Thorns FC.

But a positive is our club captain will be back in the starting 11, come the start of the season which will be a huge plus for us.

Dagny Bryjarsdottir has been absent for a whole season due to her pregnancy, but she is raring to go for the next season.

Our number 10 has scored 13 goals and gained five assists in the league in her three seasons. It will make a huge difference having her in our attack again this year.

We have recently just signed France U23 star Ines Belloumou who will be joining to be our starting left back since we have lost Shimizu in the summer.

She has already played over 70 games in the top division in France so even at a young age she carries a lot of experience, which is what we need at the back.

It was early in the transfer window that Skinner identified the

‘We’re

recruiting the players to help take us to the next level’

Milly Thomson ponders if the West Ham Women are shaping up to have a very good season

French international, but she finally has her player and hopefully she lives up to the expectations.

Another signing we have made to bolster our defence, which we did earlier in the window, is Camila Oyaneder.

The defender has joined from Madrid. The Chilean is very experienced and fits the model that Skinner is trying to play.

Our other signing is goalkeeper Shekiera Martinez who is a Germany U19 international and signed from Bayer Leverkusen.

The 19-year-old has huge boots to feel after Arnold has left but she seems excited and ready for the chance.

We have improved our defence heading into the new season but, I still believe we need to add maybe one or two attackers in so we have players who can come off the bench to make a difference.

Especially players with pace as that’s the way Skinner likes her attackers to play due to her counter attacking style.

This season it is looking like we are set to back our manager and hopefully this will allow more success on the pitch.

I can’t wait for us to get started when we face Manchester United away towards the end of September.

John Lyall Years – Part 3 (1976-77)

Robert Banks @robbanks68

‘Hopes

were high we’d fare better without a European distraction’

We deep dive into the club’s fortunes during John Lyall’s tenure continuing with the 76-77 campaign

Following the disappointment of one win in 21 of the last league matches of 1975-75 and defeat in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, hopes were high that without the distraction of Europe, West Ham might have a better campaign.

However, after making no signings the previous summer, only one arrival in the summer of ’76 – Bill Green signed by Ron Greenwood from Carlisle for £75,000.

It would seem incomprehensible now, to make just one signing in two years, and even by 1970’s standards this might be considered dangerous, however Lyall trusted his existing squad and had

no reason to believe they would not perform.

Those beliefs would be tested to the core – especially as an opening day defeat at Villa Park by a score of 4-0 blew Lyall’s’ tactical theories out of the water at the first hurdle.

With Green playing Centre Half, Tommy Taylor was pushed further forward into midfield. Graham Paddon claimed a win over QPR, then a goalless draw against Leicester was followed by a 3-0 win over Barnsley in the league cup with their midfielder Anton Otulakowski catching the eye.

Defeat at the Victoria Ground, Stoke cast the die for much of the

remainder of the season. A point at Bristol City proves expensive with a broken leg for Pat Holland.

Progress in the League Cup with a win against Charlton at the Valley, an evening marred by fighting at New Cross station which saw a Millwall fan killed after falling under a train.

Tensions surface among team mates and Billy Bonds and Mick McGiven disagree visibly, and between players and fans.

Billy Jennings in particular was on the receiving end and let the North Bank have it when he scored against Sunderland, but it was only enough for another draw.

Another big defeat at Manchester City, and only just over 21,000 turn up for the home game against Leeds which was also lost 3-1.

Something has to change – Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson re-signs having been sold in 1974. Alan Devonshire signed from non-League Southall for the princely sum of £5,000.

Not many see him as the answer to West Ham’s problems as they sat 21st with just five points from 10 games. Devonshire’s debuted against QPR in the league Cup which ended in a 2-0 defeat.

After selling Graham Paddon back to Norwich for £110,000, Lyall tries a change of tack against a Tottenham side struggling just as badly in the League.

He goes for three youngsters in midfield, Devonshire, Pike and Curbishley. Their energy along with Brooking’s guile seal a 5-3 win.

An unexpected 2-0 win came at Old Trafford, where Anton Otulakowski made his debut, having signed as a semi-pro from Barnsley where he had to serve two weeks’ notice working for the Gas Board.

Defeat at home to Middlesbrough, but then champions Liverpool were beaten 2-0 at Upton Park with another new signing, John Radford, making his debut after an £80,000 move from Arsenal.

Another welcome clean sheet on Boxing Day in a 0-0 draw at St Andrews, before 1977 got underway at White Hart Lane. The Hammers went 1-0 up through Brooking but after some questionable referee-

ing and a dive by the aptly-named Alfie Conn, Tottenham win 2-1.

The new signings gave West Ham some depth but performances remained woefully inconsistent.

Geoff Pike scored his first West Ham goal against Bolton in the cup, but then Villa won twice, once in the League at Upton Park then at Villa Park in the cup.

An unlucky defeat at Leicester, a narrow win at home to Stoke, but then the most West Ham thing: Victory at Highbury.

Despite losing so many games, the Hammers beat Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and now Arsenal, 3-2 with two for Alan Taylor and one for Billy Jennings.

The best run of results of the season to date came to an abrupt end at Roker Park with a 6-0 battering.

Lyall admitted in his autobiography that he was so frustrated that day he wanted to leave the team at motorway services and let them make their own way home.

He was talked out of it by Chairman Reg Pratt who reminded him that every manager loses games – the important thing is to put it right next week.

They did put it right with victory over Manchester City at Upton Park, at personal cost to Bill Green who wound up with a broken leg and fractured skull – but away frailties continued with a 4-1 mauling at Portman Road.

After 31 games West Ham were bottom of the league but with games in hand on their close rivals. All set up for a thrilling finale.

A 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham, and another point

at Coventry before a vital two points against Norwich, Pike with a 25-yarder. That left six of the bottom seven on 27 points.

Anything could happen. A vital run of results: successive draws at Derby, Leeds, and Middlesbrough.

Of West Ham’s last four games, three are at home. Coventry are beaten 2-0, and the Hammers climb out of the relegation zone by a point.

A 2-2 draw at home to Derby, and a surprise 0-0 draw at Anfield, maybe not so surprising as Liverpool needed a point to win the title and had the FA Cup final looming.

The point at Anfield was perhaps more significant in that it relegated Tottenham.

Victory in the last game of the season would guarantee survival given that two rivals, Coventry and Bristol City have to play each other.

A dramatic 4-2 win seals survival. Stoke and Sunderland join Tottenham in Division Two.

Lyall knows that there will have to be significant improvement in 1977-78 or West Ham will be facing the drop themselves.

My YouTube series “The John Lyall Years” follows the fortunes of the club during John Lyall’s tenure, merging match footage with interviews, newspaper cuttings, news items, music, TV, and cinema from the time.

It is a must for anyone who remembers those heady days, or those who are curious to learn.

1976-77 is covered in Episodes 10-14 see @westhamhistory

‘It’s been a long three months and we can’t wait to see you again’

There’s been no break for the Irons Supporting Foodbanks this summer as John Ratomski explains

We’re into our third month this summer without matchday collections.

Whilst the funding for food is a little light, we’ve been developing our links with the local business community through our Newham Chamber of Commerce membership, to benefit those who are struggling in our local community. For example, Holiday Inn Express at the Excel have recently had an upgrade so we approached them over the situation with their older furniture.

Within a week, we had arranged four van loads of tables, chairs and sofas to the Carpenters Estate Warm Haven, and Samantha White, Manager of the Carpenters Estate Warm Haven, was delighted. She said: ‘A huge thank you for the generous donation of furniture from Holiday Inn Express.’

We managed to fill up four transit vans with sofas, tables, and chairs. These made a significant impact in providing essential furniture to families who had put their name down on our list.

This act of kindness will surely make a significant difference in their lives and contribute to creating a more comfortable and functional living environment for them.

On behalf of the families who have received the furniture, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Holiday Inn Express for their generous donation. Their support and contribution have made a positive impact on the lives of those in need.’

Some of those houses on

the Carpenters Estate are safe houses, but don’t even have curtains or mattresses for kids to sleep on. I’ve had a chat with Tom ‘Bosh’ Skinner and we’re looking at ways of working together in the immediate future.

We also attended the Newham Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference in July. The networking opportunities were incredible, giving us the chance to work with a number of local businesses.

These include distributing surplus foods from the Signorelli bakery, the QE Olympic Park East Bank and the London College of Fashion.

For the last two weeks we’ve been supporting the weekly Chelmsford Rough Sleeper Support group outside the library.

We’ve delivered 20+ bags of new clothes, and also soft drinks and snacks to John who operates the Streetfood van and gives out hot snacks to rough sleepers.

We’ve also offered clothing support to Sanctus in the city, and donated new clothes for them to sell and raise money at their nearly new shop across the road.

Umbro continues to support us, and we’re due a further delivery of new sportswear in the next few days. Some of this donation is earmarked for Neil Taylor’s

Hammers4Work group.

Recently we were at the FSA AGM at Wembley Stadium with a stall, looking to promote the national fan foodbanks network, offering a ‘how to start’ guide, and generally networking.

Our club was well represented with nine members from Hammers United, WHUST, Pride of Irons and the ISC.

Through our new working arrangement with Community Food Enterprise in Silvertown, we were introduced to local community legend Brother Julian, who runs the Helping Hands Pantry.

His front yard is a hive of people coming and going with visitors trying to make ends meet in difficult economic circumstances. We’ve offered him new clothes for when the need arises.

Another charity we’ve been involved with is Save the King and we were recently able to supply them with a number of new tees, baseball caps and sunscreen for the summer months.

They operate around Romford and Kings Cross, delivering necessities to rough sleepers. There are a further three local community groups new to us in east London, that we will be supporting with new clothes.

As we approach the Premier

League weekend kick-off, it’s encouraging to receive offers of support to collect with us pre-match. Just half an hour with a collection tin makes a difference to us.

We’ve been approached by a representative of the Health Lottery, who have set aside a budget for matching our collection on a selected matchday, date to be confirmed.

This is something that they plan to do at all the fan foodbanks around the country over a number of weekends. This is going to be a time when we’ll need as many volunteers as possible. Finally, we will benefit from an Eastenders Knees Up charity night in Poplar, taking place on Saturday 10th August, with all proceeds going to Irons Supporting Foodbanks.

The venue is the Festival Inn, with acts including the Cockney Sovereign and a Dolly Parton tribute. Tickets include pie and mash, and are available on Eventbrite.

We’re assured that a number of known east end ‘faces’ will be attending. Otherwise, we’re looking forward to meeting our usual foodbank friends and supporters before the Villa game from 2.30pm.

It’s been a long three months.

This month we catch up with Southampton supporter Jane Nicholson and Wolves fan Mason Cooper.

Welcome back to the Premier League Jane. How does it feel to be back?

Jane: It feels pretty amazing to be back. We had a rough season when we got relegated but we all knew that we would be back and I’m happy to be back under new management and a better squad.

Speaking of your manager, what are your thoughts on Russell Martin?

Jane: He’s a good manager. He seems to have got a really good relationship with all of the squad and I’m really excited to see how he can handle the pressure of being a manager of a Premier League club.

You’ve permanently signed Flynn Downes. Can you describe the impact he’s had on Southampton?

RIVALS TALK Olivia Elliott’s

(Just don’t blame her for the answers)

Jane: We all love him at Southampton. He's such a good player and how he holds himself in midfield is brilliant. You can see that he’s learnt from the likes of Rice and Noble in some aspects in the way that he’s played.

What were your thoughts on JWP leaving Southampton to join West Ham?

Jane: To be honest he was too good to play Championship level and we knew that when we went down, it would be really tough to hold onto him. I’m pleased that he’s joined West Ham and I wish

him the best but that’s as far as it goes. I hope our fans will show him the respect he deserves.

What are your thoughts on West Ham signing Max Kilman from Wolves?

Mason: Gutted to be honest. He’s a brilliant player who kept Wolves together. I wonder what the reason behind his move was? Whether he wanted a change or a new challenge, I will wish him all the best. I’m intrigued to know what kind of reception he will get when he returns to the Molineux.

What are your thoughts on West Ham’s new manager Julen Lopetegui?

Mason: I’m interested in seeing how he does. He didn’t get the backing from our board with the signings, that’s the reason why he left and I do think good on him. Obviously he knows players and the style of football he plays better than the board and if he couldn’t get that then good on him. I hope he does well as that will show the board they

should’ve backed him.

Thoughts on Gary O’Neil?

Mason: Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. We have been crying out for a manager like him to come along. The way he connects with the players and joins in training is amazing. We hope he stays for a long time.

What are your thoughts on being the only team in the Premier

League to vote to get rid of VAR?

Mason: It’s devastating really. We had a nightmare last season. It felt like everyone else knew it was wrong the way it was going against us. They should propose that vote to fans of football and I’m 99.9% sure fans would vote to get rid of it. I really hope they do propose that soon.

Any new signings we should look out for from both your teams?

Jane: We’ve just signed Yukinari Sugawara from AZ Alkmaar on a four year contract. I’m excited to see him playing at right back and what he has to offer.

Mason: Pedro Lima from Brazil. We have bought him from Sports Recife and he plays at right back. I’m excited to see what he can bring to the squad and what Gary O’Neil can get out of him.

What would be a success for

your side this season?

Jane: Definitely for this season it’s to stay up then if we succeed it would be to climb the table. Hopefully we can stay up and show everyone exactly why we belong in the Premier League.

Mason: To be honest, VAR not going against us. That would be nice to have a good season with it. The. To finish higher than last season and a cup run as well.

Finally, Mason, West Ham, Wolves and Tottenham are suffering with OAP prices. Can you tell us your thoughts on this?

Mason: It’s disgusting to be honest with you. We knew it would sooner or later start to affect every club in the league and one by one they’re doing it. I hope for the sake of football fans, we can all unite together and bring back concession prices regardless of the football team you support.

LAST WORD Lucy's

We’re starting with a blank page, but

how will the season's story end?

As a packed summer of sport continues, a new dawn rises for the Hammers as we enter the Lopetegui era - which still feels weird, doesn’t it?

Every season we hope to start afresh, but with the transfer window open until the end of August there’s plenty of uncertainty to accompany us into the new Premier League season.

It’s always such a sticking point for fans, who we get in. We’re so used to bringing in the wrong signings (although it has to be said we’ve been relatively spoiled in the last few seasons), that we expect a step up each time.

Rightly so, I think. The aim of each season is to progresswhether it be a position higher in the league, a step further in the FA Cup or qualification for a higher level of European competition, success can be measured season-by-season.

We’re sick of repeating this ‘five-

year Champions League pledge’ from David Sullivan, who teed himself up for high expectations. Fans knew that was an unrealistic target, how didn’t he?

So now, the signings are scrutinised by supporters and we know we need to build a bigger, fitter, more flexible squad to even get a sniff of the top level of European football.

It remains to be seen how the new manager will use the young players available. A lot have gone out but there is still a talent pool to broaden the first team. We’ve

said it so many seasons in a row now, but the club has to restore the Academy name to be something to talk about again.

Overall this season, we’re hoping for a top half finish in the league, but the expectation is that we could be looking at mid-table while the team settles into its new rhythm.

With no European trophy to play for, maybe the pressure will be off and that will suit us better.

The domestic cups will be interesting - they could really be an opportunity for new players, young and experienced, to prove themselves. I’d love to see a trophy lifted!

August is looking tough, but at least we’ll get City out the way early. I wouldn’t be too surprised if it takes us a while to get off the mark, but let’s not panic too soon. It’s a long season - and in an Olympic summer, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!