2016 was a year of mixed emotions for West Ham fans as they prepared for major changes in their club. The club left the Boleyn Ground – their scared and much-loved home – and moved to the London Stadium, the stadium used for the 2012 Olympic Games with a 60,000 capacity.Alongside the new stadium, the owners promised a world-class stadium with a squad capable enough of competing with some of the league’s best. This was anticipating to say the least, but all that glitters is not gold.
A failure to spend money on improving the squad, broken promises and other events being prioritized over West Ham games created hostility and a divide amongst West Ham supporters. This was not nice to see, considering that West Ham United pride themselves as a club with family values.In March 2018, during a league game against Burnley at the London Stadium, fans began to vent their frustration towards co-chariman David Sullivan by chanting that he had destroyed the club. Sullivan, who is the majority shareholder and has been largely to blame for many internal problems, was later described by fans as a “cancer to the club”, whilst others said that the atmosphere during the game was “disgusting.”
As a West Ham fan, I found that game difficult to watch and had started to become disillusioned with the club. West Ham United were always known for their traditional, working-class values which were reinforced by their location in a working-class area of East London. In just two years, their heritage had been ruined and their identity was non-existent; they could not be associated with the Boleyn Ground nor Green Street anymore. Instead, they were a corporation-built club who had become the latest victim to football’s increasing business structure.
After the game had ended, one of my friends messaged me and said that he felt bad for the club because of how different it was. He told me: “Things will get better, they really will.” I could not bring myself around to believe him, and I thought that things would never be the same again. But how wrong was I?
THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB
In May 2018, the West Ham board made the decision to appoint Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager. He was no stranger to success, having won many league titles in three different South American countries and one Premier League title with Manchester City. This was an ambitious move, but it did not solve everything. Many fans, including myself, feared that David Sullivan would would not provide sufficient transfer funds and that Pellegrini would eventually lose patience with the owners and resign.
Pellegrini and Sullivan soon argued over a series of rejected bids for players, with Pellegrini winning the argument. He made it clear how he wanted: a Director of Football to oversee transfers and a squad of players who suited his attacking mentality. This bold move from the new manager pleased West Ham fans; someone had finally stood up to Sullivan’s arrogant ways and demanded change.The change was to be good.
Mario Husillos, who had worked with Pellegrini in Spain, was appointed the new Director of Football and was given 100% control of transfers. He was to be the best thing to ever happen at West Ham United.
REBUILDING THE SQUAD, STEP BY STEP
Mario Husillos and Manuel Pellegrini have revolutionized West Ham with their work, creating a squad that looks more than capable of competing for a European place. This marks the end of signing ageing players, players on the verge of retirement, and constant free transfers.Ryan Fredericks and Jack Wilshere have signed on free transfers, but they are next-level players. Right-back Fredericks has just won promotion to the Premier League with Fulham and is known of his pace, and midfielder Jack Wilshere has signed for the club he supported as a child.
The majority of signings have been acquired to improve West Ham’s attack. Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson are two prolific players who have been recognized as some of Europe’s best. Yarmolenko gained a reputation as a goalscorer and crucial team player whilst he was playing in the Ukraine, and he is Ukraine’s second all-time top goalscorer. Moreover, Felipe Anderson is known for his versatile attacking, skills and eye for goal. Hopefully he can shake off his £40,000,000.
Defensive improvements were essential because of last season’s record of losing back-to-back games by a scoreline of 4-1 on two occasions. These changes have been made; Issa Diop is a young centre-back who was appointed Toulouse’s captain at a young age, and Fabián Balbuena is a leader who can score goals from set pieces. A new goalkeeper in Łukasz Fabiański provides competition for Adrian.
What does all this mean? Thanks to Husillos and Pellegrini, the club have spent over £100,000,000 in the transfer window. This proves that David Gold has kept his promise of “spending more money than ever before”. Moreover, it is a statement of intent that plans to make West Ham a club that can challenge for the top places in the Premier League – another promise that David Sullivan made.
KISS AND MAKE UP?
Before I make a conclusion over whether the board deserve praise or not, I have to give my views on the board members and how they have acted in the past. I believe that David Sullivan and Karren Brady have been responsible for causing the most damage through comments they have made about players and their attitudes towards the operation of the club. David Gold, on the other hand, has been caught in the crossfire of Brady and Sullivan’s actions, and he has since apologized for his mistakes. That apology is appreciated.
I can not forgive the board for ruining the club’s heritage and identity by moving to a new stadium and changing the badge. They have caused us fans to feel angry and bitter, and many other pundits and journalists have called them out for their arrogant ways. I still do not like them for what they did in the past and for the lack of investment in the January 2018 transfer window. Moreover, they are not the ones who are improving the situation at the time of writing – it is Husillos’s expertise in transfers and scouting.As for the fans, they can contribute to making the club great again by treating the London Stadium like it is a second home. The pitch invasion during the Burnley gamed temporarily added to the toxicity around the club, but it has possibly created positive effects by making the owners be more proactive in the club’s operations. West Ham’s key aspect is family, and being friendly and accepting of one another is a part of that.The board have done irreversible damage to West Ham United; that can not be denied.
I do not class this summer spending spree or appointing a world-class manager as making everything all water under the bridge, but it is better than what we have had. We have a manager who wants to win, a positive vibe in the fanbase, and a squad ready for the new season.
The bubbles are flying high again in East London.
