Articles

Treading Water
by Kit Robinson

I hate to frustrate and infuriate further, anyone who thought that this season was a great disappointment in our lack of success or anti-climatic to our finishing fifth last season, but there is already evidence to show that until our ground is re-developed, we are going to be, treading water, at least financially, and possibly on the pitch. 

We are just selling an asset to the club, Marc Vivien Foe for around £6 million and apparently Harry Redknapp wont be seeing any of the profit made from this deal, and possibly most if not all deals during the summer break, with the money going towards the redevelopment of the ground. So we will be expecting 2 or 3 Bosman signings during the summer, with a cap on their wage demands. So is this acceptable? Well, believe it or not I actually think it makes sense, although the chairmen should be ready to pay out for players should an emergency arise. 

Obviously the thought of us not having money available for transfers is worrying, but when have we ever been able to compete financially with the top 5 teams in the league, or most of the others to that fact?

What we have to remember is, is that once the ground is redeveloped we may well find ourselves up there. The big question is, are we going to struggle as a team until these redevelopments are completed and paid for? I’m going to approach this situation over the next couple of years optimistically. 

If our players who were injured this season are fit for next season, which they should be, then our performance will be better than this season for a start. However, we have lost Marc Vivien Foe and I believe that we do need someone to replace him. We have no-one big in midfield and he will be missed more than many people realize. The nature of how Harry Redknapp has to buy players, does seemed to have worked in our favour, for the time being at least. I will explain…because we don’t have much money to spend on players, Harry does have to take a gamble with players who could be considered the waifs and strays of football. So our West Ham “orphanage for the distressed” may well form a stronger bond between its players and from its players to both the club and the fans, than many of us appreciate. 

"West Ham can’t afford to buy good players who are wanted by their club"

We have the outcasts such as Di Canio, Wanchope and even Kanoute, who fell out with their managers etc. Trevor Sinclair was frustrated with QPR, Stimac, the Pearces and so on. Most of whom are top class players who have felt surplus to requirements or too much hassle to their previous employers. West Ham can’t afford to buy good players who are wanted by their club. However, I do genuinely believe that such players are happy to play for West Ham. We also have some excellent young players coming through, particularly if we won’t have money to buy over the next two years or so, who will have to make their presence felt in the first team.  

Yes there may be a few players who may well leave, but we should see a much more consistant first team line-up, particularly after this seasons constant changes due to injury. So rather than there being a constant flow of players coming in and out of the squad such as the Romanians and  Portuguese that have come and left in the space of a season, we could well see a much more constant and stable squad. However, as I stated earlier, should we get hit as significantly as we did this season by injuries again then we could struggle and then the club has got to be prepared to buy, and buy good players for real money. So if they are going to take the money from Harry towards redevelopment then they must keep some by in case of emergencies. 

Yes, Harry has proved himself to be a good wheeler and dealer, but I think it would be unfair of the club to expect him to buy bargain basement players to keep us up if we find ourselves in trouble. Redevelopment of grounds is a potentially bad time for teams, just ask Sunderland or Reading, but please, don’t make it so that if there is trouble, then it all lands on Harry Redknapps shoulders, it would be tragic. He’s not perfect but give him a chance. If there was anyone who could get a club through such a potentially dangerous and penniless  time for a club by wheeling and dealing, then there surely is no-one better. 

So how will we fare or what could the fans expect over the next couple of seasons?

"Our squad, if fit, is strong enough to stay where we are"

Well, don’t be surprised if we do, as I suggest in my title “tread water”. Until we have more money after redevelopment, I doubt, even if Harry does pull of a series of transfer masterstrokes and our youngsters are as good as Manchester United’s, we will have players who will put us above fifth position. Our squad, if fit, is strong enough to stay where we are, somewhere between, fifth and tenth in the league, we shouldn’t find ourselves anywhere near the relegation zone. Maybe with a fit squad and no European tournaments next season, we could cause a few upsets and, dare I say it, because it hasn’t happened for decades, win an English cup. Dependant on referees of course. 

I’ve heard of certain individuals calling these the glory years for West Ham. That may well come in a few years but not now. However, over the next couple of seasons we should enjoy the skills of Di Canio and Sinclair and our other waifs and strays and also see some excellent youngsters come through. You never know, during the next World Cup in 2002 we could have 1966 all over again and see 3 West Ham players in the England team. Watch and enjoy, but with the game as it’s run today, don’t expect miracles with no money. 

All the best,
Kit Robinson

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