There are always positives. You just have to look for them. And after West Ham’s toothless display against Crystal Palace those positives aren’t so easy to pick out.
But I’m going to try.
I hope that game serves as a massive wake up call to Graham Potter as to the urgency of recruiting front line strikers now.
Not in the summer. I’d almost sensed that after the Fulham result the foot had come off the gas pedal of West Ham’s transfer window activity: Maybe words had been spoken behind the scenes after Potter’s win, suggesting we didn’t need to splash the cash?
No front line strikers. When was the last time West Ham started a game without a recognised striker? Not in all the time I’ve been attending games – since my very first game, I don’t think – when I watched Ian Wright (pic) stoop to head in for a 1-0 victory against Southampton at Upton Park (which Google tells me was 1998) has our team been so devoid of an attacking threat.
How we’d probably settle for six months’ worth of someone else’s cast – off Premier League striker like Ian Wright, even at the end of his career, just now. That’s how bad it’s got. A hundred and how many million invested last Summer?
There IS a positive in there, honest – if Graham Potter was working under the false assumption that no additions were needed – surely that assumption has evaporated now.
Positive two: The young players who Potter has so far brought into the side have acquitted themselves well and not let themselves down: Lewis Orford yesterday, along with Ollie Scarles, fitted in well as they both stepped again into the limelight. Kaelan Casey will be the next- Mavropanos’ ban will surely be another opportunity for the youngster to show he fully deserves to be in this side on merit.
Positive three- Summerville will be fit again soon and Jarrod Bowen’ll be back next month. Best I can do this morning. For now, anyway.
