As we approach the end of 2024, I wanted to look ahead at what the New Year looks like for us West Ham fans and as a club. I think we may have a new manager as we enter the New Year but I don’t think the new manager will last the whole of 2025.
Whilst we all hope and dream of winning a trophy, I do think that would be very hopeful and dare I say probably not going to happen. However, anything can happen and if we have a good run in the FA Cup, then I would be absolutely buzzing with that.
Would be nice to get past the third round but Villa away doesn’t sound that fortunate for us. I’m hopeful that in the New Year we can potentially build a stronger defence to ease off the pressure on our midfield and wingers getting back to help defend.
Dare I say a new striker? We all know our luck with strikers but we can’t be relying on three 30+ year old strikers to be scoring goals for us. This feels like a really extended Christmas wish list that the likelihood of it all coming true is fading with every request I’m putting in.
My New Year resolutions for each player for the New Year would be as follows:
- Fabianski; Probably to release the ball quicker when he catches it from a corner. I can’t be the only one that gets irritated by him holding onto the ball for so long.
- Emerson; To score more wonderful free kicks like he did against Arsenal.
- Kilman; To be the player he was in the first few opening games of the season. I feel like he’s really fallen off from where he started.
- Mavropanos; It may sound obvious but to actually defend.
- AWB; I know it’s tempting but try to stick to just your wing. Recently you’ve been running absolutely everywhere on the pitch chasing the ball.
- Soucek; Just keep eating potato salad bestie you’re doing great.
- Paqueta: To get your head back in the game we miss the old you!
- Soler; This man can do no wrong in my eyes, he is there for looks.
- Bowen; You can do whatever you want, you scored the final goal in Prague, I think that says it all. Summerville; Drive forward and have more shots you’re better than what you think.
- Antonio; To try and not hit row Z next year.
My New Year’s resolution for Lopetgui would probably have to be whatever you’ve told them to do recently, retract everything you’ve said and try something different because it’s not working.
Credit where credit is due he makes substitutions when players aren’t performing. Back yourself and back the players on the pitch. Try harder and try not to get another touchline ban from all the yellows you have collected.
As for the owners, my New Year’s resolution for them would be that when the manager is underperforming and not doing their job to a high enough standard, stop giving them extra games to change the results and get rid of them earlier. The earlier the better and the happier the fans will be.
Looking ahead to the transfer window, I think we without a doubt need a stronger defence; Is it possible to bring back Dawson?
A striker is always an issue but a new goalkeeper would help. I love Fabianski, he’s been a great servant to the club so I’m happy to see the rest of the season out with him until the summer.
I can’t see us doing loads of business in the January transfer after our haul of new players in summer but we definitely could do with a few more defenders that’s for sure. The only player I can see leaving is Paqueta. Whilst I love him, I just think this whole betting saga that’s gone on is going to end really badly for him.
I think he will go back to Brazil so he can play football out there and not be banned. I hope he comes out of it still being able to play for us but I really can’t see that happening. So if he does leave we need a pretty decent lineup replacement for him.
Come May time, I hope we are getting results under a new manager and would have recovered from the points that we have dropped from this year. I hope we hang onto players like Kudus and Emerson but if we don’t have a new manager by then, I’m not sure we will be able to come the summer.
I will, however, be 100% behind the boys on the pitch and will keep cheering them on even through a tough time at the moment.
Be the first to comment