Read West Ham were fortunate enough to attend the #TTFLive event, orchestrated by @TeleFootball. The panel on the evening consisted of high-profile commentator Clive Tyldesley, European Cup winner Paul Lambert and ex-Irons manager Harry Redknapp. Therefore, we took the opportunity to ask the latter about the Hammers, and where we can expect them to finish this campaign.
West Ham have brought in thirteen players this summer if you include the youngsters. With that squad, and the likes of Payet you talked about, how realistically high do you think they can finish?
‘Well they’re capable of certainly finishing in the top ten this year. I mean the top six will probably be the usual top six, Swansea have obviously started very well but I still think it will be Liverpool and Tottenham chasing the top four.‘
‘But West Ham, I could see them finishing them at about halfway. I must admit after the first two games, not the first game, the Arsenal result was fantastic, then the two defeats against Leicester and Bournemouth, I started to fear a little bit for West Ham. I didn’t like the look of them somehow.‘
The ex-Queens Park Rangers boss commended the Boleyn Ground club for the signings they made on transfer deadline day, with Michail Antonio, Victor Moses, Nikica Jelavic and Alex Song all signing up to play in claret and blue.
‘But the signings they’ve made on deadline day will definitely strengthen them up. They’ve got Andy Carroll to come back when he’s fit, and they’ve got one or two other players, so you know I think they’ve got a real chance now.‘
‘They were good signings on deadline day, they’ve bought some pace into the team in the wide positions, and I think they’ve got a very decent squad there now.‘
Redknapp then spoke highly of teenager Reece Oxford, who made his Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2015/16 domestic season.
‘Fantastic debut wasn’t it! I mean his debut at Arsenal was amazing, so you never know. We’ve seen these kids before, and then suddenly in three or four years’ time, I hope we’re not saying whatever happened to that kid who made his debut that day at Arsenal?‘
‘I mean he wouldn’t be the first one who’s come in and then you don’t see too much of them after that. So you hope he does progress, he looks a level-headed kid. You hope he gets some chances to play, that’s the key.‘
However, he expressed his caution towards the 16-year-old, and criticised the lack of youthful prospects being given an opportunity to play at the top level, in spite of the great decision by manager Slaven Bilic to hand the midfielder with his senior start.
‘He needs to be given the opportunity to play, that’s the thing. Slaven gave him the chance, it was such a brave move to play him that day from the manager.‘
‘I thought it was fantastic, but then the week after I mean he started and didn’t have a very good time, and then they dragged him off. So he needs to take his time now and keep progressing, and he’ll hopefully come strong again.‘
