As a 16 year old West Ham fan I've seen them relegated twice, lose an FA Cup final, lose and then win a Play-Off Final and yet I remain strangely optimistic. Grant's immediate sacking yesterday was some form of consolation for many Hammers fans who like me feel that he should of got the sack in January. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I think we all saw this coming. Many will feel that an experienced manager such as Sam Allardyce could have re-juvenated the Hammers and led them to mid-table safety as demonstrated by Roy Hodgson at West Brom however as demonstrated yesterday it was not only poor managing and lack of motivation/tactical genius that led to West Ham's demise but it was also a lack of passion from the players.
Following relegation as admitted by David Gold will lead to a fire-sale to try and counter the financial threat of relegation. Players such as Parker touted in January to be worth £15million will most definitely leave along with a whole host of names such as Upson, Dyer, Boa Morte, Cole and Noble with a vast majority of players also nearing the end of a contract which they can safely expect will not be renewed. Players such as Demba Ba who only signed in January, I fully expect will leave with Chelsea and Arsenal rumoured to be knocking at the door willing to pay a fee in the region of £10 million. Now considering we paid £7million for the guy at least we seem to be showing some form of financial sense. Something interesting I did read however is that West Ham are contemplating not selling Parker and Ba and instead loaning them out to Premier League clubs in the hope that next season we bounce straight back up however I can't see this happening especially in the current economic climate as the cost of relegation as admitted by Gold and Sullivan is "frightening". Both admitting that they will have to provide a cash injection of up to £40million to keep the club afloat there is no denying that this could potentially get even worse for the Hammers.
However below is a list of four players I feel West Ham could realistically target next season:
Craig Mackail-Smith - 27 goals in 45 appearances for Peterborough this season, the guy is a proven goal scorer at that level and I feel would definitely be the right man to spearhead a new look West Ham attack.
Jon Ashton - Rock at the back for Stevenage Borough this season along with Mark Roberts a physical yet calm professional would provide a calm head at the back. Could he hack it at Championship level? I think it's worth the risk wouldn't command a massive fee or wages either.
Shane Long - Having seen him play against Stevenage in the FA Cup need-less to say I was impressed by the young Irishman. Full of pace and energy and a proven goal scorer with 21 goals in the Championship this season. With Premiership teams knocking would he be willing to stay in the Championship though?
Jonny Howson - Fantastic season for Leeds, great passer of the ball and a proven Championship player. Would be a fantastic play-maker in the middle of the midfield and a model professional for some of West Ham's younger players.
All four of those are realistic targets and apart from Ashton proven Championship players who are willing to fight for their team. West Ham have got to forget about "superstars" and turn to experienced Championship players who don't lack passion and genuinely want to be playing at the top level. Manager-wise Steve McClaren being touted at the hot favourite to take over the reigns at Upton Park and I feel that this would be a fantastic appointment. Full of experience and would have the backing of the fans unlike another suggested name Neil Warnock. It would appear the board of forgotten that this is the same man who tried and failed to sue the Hammers personally a couple of seasons ago and whose team successfully sued West Ham as well nonetheless he does have fantastic Championship experience most recently winning the league with QPR this season so in that sense he would be a very good appointment however I personally cannot see this happening due to the history he has with the club.
To conclude, relegation is going to hurt West Ham massively financially and there is no denying that hence a massive fire-sale in the summer. But West Ham can't rest on their lorals they need to attack the market and sign proven and experience players who will be willing to put up a fight and see them promoted immediately. Hiring the right manager is key and I hope Sullivan, Gold and Brady take their time in appointing the right man for the job. Need-less to say more nail-biting and squeaky bum times ahead for West Ham but hey what do you expect, it wouldn't be West Ham otherwise.
Following relegation as admitted by David Gold will lead to a fire-sale to try and counter the financial threat of relegation. Players such as Parker touted in January to be worth £15million will most definitely leave along with a whole host of names such as Upson, Dyer, Boa Morte, Cole and Noble with a vast majority of players also nearing the end of a contract which they can safely expect will not be renewed. Players such as Demba Ba who only signed in January, I fully expect will leave with Chelsea and Arsenal rumoured to be knocking at the door willing to pay a fee in the region of £10 million. Now considering we paid £7million for the guy at least we seem to be showing some form of financial sense. Something interesting I did read however is that West Ham are contemplating not selling Parker and Ba and instead loaning them out to Premier League clubs in the hope that next season we bounce straight back up however I can't see this happening especially in the current economic climate as the cost of relegation as admitted by Gold and Sullivan is "frightening". Both admitting that they will have to provide a cash injection of up to £40million to keep the club afloat there is no denying that this could potentially get even worse for the Hammers.
However below is a list of four players I feel West Ham could realistically target next season:
Craig Mackail-Smith - 27 goals in 45 appearances for Peterborough this season, the guy is a proven goal scorer at that level and I feel would definitely be the right man to spearhead a new look West Ham attack.
Jon Ashton - Rock at the back for Stevenage Borough this season along with Mark Roberts a physical yet calm professional would provide a calm head at the back. Could he hack it at Championship level? I think it's worth the risk wouldn't command a massive fee or wages either.
Shane Long - Having seen him play against Stevenage in the FA Cup need-less to say I was impressed by the young Irishman. Full of pace and energy and a proven goal scorer with 21 goals in the Championship this season. With Premiership teams knocking would he be willing to stay in the Championship though?
Jonny Howson - Fantastic season for Leeds, great passer of the ball and a proven Championship player. Would be a fantastic play-maker in the middle of the midfield and a model professional for some of West Ham's younger players.
All four of those are realistic targets and apart from Ashton proven Championship players who are willing to fight for their team. West Ham have got to forget about "superstars" and turn to experienced Championship players who don't lack passion and genuinely want to be playing at the top level. Manager-wise Steve McClaren being touted at the hot favourite to take over the reigns at Upton Park and I feel that this would be a fantastic appointment. Full of experience and would have the backing of the fans unlike another suggested name Neil Warnock. It would appear the board of forgotten that this is the same man who tried and failed to sue the Hammers personally a couple of seasons ago and whose team successfully sued West Ham as well nonetheless he does have fantastic Championship experience most recently winning the league with QPR this season so in that sense he would be a very good appointment however I personally cannot see this happening due to the history he has with the club.
To conclude, relegation is going to hurt West Ham massively financially and there is no denying that hence a massive fire-sale in the summer. But West Ham can't rest on their lorals they need to attack the market and sign proven and experience players who will be willing to put up a fight and see them promoted immediately. Hiring the right manager is key and I hope Sullivan, Gold and Brady take their time in appointing the right man for the job. Need-less to say more nail-biting and squeaky bum times ahead for West Ham but hey what do you expect, it wouldn't be West Ham otherwise.
