Massive in America

Massive: the Miracle of Prague was published six months ago today. And thanks to fellow Hammer Ben Blaney, here's his copy signed by the West Ham players while on tour in the US. Though it might take whoever cracked the Rosetta Stone to decipher those signatures... we think George Earthy and Dinos are in there somewhere.

What can the fans expect from Lopetegui?

The new season is almost here and the Hammers have lost 3-1 to Wolves in Florida, not that pre-season games mean much. What will the fans expect from Lopetegui after four and a half seasons of David Moyes? The main hope would be that the Irons are less predictable away from home. Under Moyes it was invariably the low block and keeping it tight until a chance might present itself. Attacking away from home might just surprise a few teams.

Another change might be a more proactive use of substitutes. Moyes tended to react to other manager's substitutions rather than move first, though to be fair he got results this way.  Substitutes are one of those things you can never really prove one way or another might have made a difference. Gareth Southgate got endless stick for late substitutions but nearly all his changes had an effect in the Euros. Still, a little more adventure would certainly be welcome from Julen.

But the best change would be a solid defence. Last season's leaky back four was very un-Moyes like and we never really recovered from selling Craig Dawson. With Zouma struggling for fitness, the signing of Max Kilman, a leader and ball-playing centre back, is a sound move and Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be a very solid defender at right-back, if we can get him, though he's not as effective at assists as Coufal. Expect plenty more activity before August 17 and the big kick-off.

Kante would be a risky signing

Lots of rumours West Ham are going to buy N'Golo Kante for £20 million. This would be a strange signing, more akin to the Harry Redknapp era, when 'Arry would try to eke out a coupe of seasons from players past their best. Yes, Kante was a great player at Leicester and Chelsea and had some fine games for France in the Euros. But I'm always wary of of buying players after a good international tournament - remember flops Ilie Dumitrescu and 'Two Bob' Florin Raducioiu? League form is a better guide. Kante is currently playing in Saudi Arabia, having been let go by Chelsea. Can he still stay fit for a full Premier League season? And where would this leave Edson Alvarez? Paying £20 million for a 33-year-old on big wages doesn't seem great business. Better to look for the next N'Golo Kante rather than the old one.

Going Downes

So Flynn Downes has been sold to Southampton for £18 million. That's a healthy £8 million profit on the £10 million David Moyes paid for him two years ago, though with Edson Alvarez injured playing for Mexico you do wonder if Downes might have been needed as back-up. Flynn had some good games in the Europa Conference early rounds, though never looked quite ready for the Premier League. Though to be fair, he was rarely played in his best position in front of the back four. 

Flynn will also be fondly remembered for looking like he was going to steam into the AZ Alkmaar Ultras when they went for the West Ham players' families at the end of the Europa Conference semi-final. You can take the boy out of Brentwood... Downes had a very good season in the Championship with Southampton last time out, helping them win the Play-off Final, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the PL again. Meanwhile the club has gained around £38 million from the sales of Benrahma, Kehrer and Downes this summer, which should be enough to fund another signing or two.

It's coming home?

What a great late winner from Ollie Watkins for England last night. My WHU pal Matt has to take much of the credit for declaring, "Watkins hasn't done much" six seconds before Ollie scored. In a different world the Irons might have signed Watkins rather than Said Benrahma from Brentford, which would have solved our long-standing striker problem. David Moyes might have enjoyed an 81st minute substitute winning the game. He used to get all sorts of stick for his late reactive substitutions, as has Southgate, but mainly the England gaffer's substitutions have altered games. Perhaps Gareth does know what he's doing, though England got very lucky with that ridiculous VAR penalty. Now let's hope that Jarrod Bowen gets to come on in the final. If the game is close Southgate will surely keep on Saka, but if he wants someone to work hard and run down the clock Jarrod just might get a chance late on. Come on you Lions!

Max headroom

Under the cover of an electoral earthquake West Ham have achieved another stunning feat - signing a central defender who might be half-decent. The club has signed Max Kilman for £40million from Wolves, helped by the fact the Midlands club have financial fair play problems. Max was Lopetegui's captain when he was at Wolves. He'll certainly be fitter than Kurt Zouma and could do much to address the defensive frailties of last season. The fact he's a leader could be just what the Irons need. 

The 27-year-old has an interesting background, being born to Ukrainian parents and growing up in London. He's come up the hard way via Alan Devonshire's Maidenhead, which is no bad thing, and is an England international at futsal. Kilman seems to be a good character all round. Scout Matt Hobbs, who signed him for £40,000 at Wolves, says, "I don't know anyone at the club who would have a negative word to say about him." Could he be West Ham's next captain? Whatever, it's encouraging to have got some business done early.

Oh, Said Benrahma

So Said Benrahma has gone to Lyon for £11.9m after a successful loan spell. He'll always be remembered for his penalty in the Europa Conference Final and scored some cracking goals in his time. Though he was a very frustrating player too, who never seemed to achieve quite what he should, shooting when he should pass and passing when he should shoot. Although Said was certainly unlucky with numerous shots against the woodwork. 

News also arrives that Ben Johnson and Diving Mubama won't be signing new contracts. Divin never looked quite ready for the Premier League, though he would benefit from a spell at a Championship side. Johnson made some decent cameos off the bench last season, but can't cross like Coufal and never really recovered from a terrible game at Brighton when the Irons lost 4-0. He remains the best playwright to turn out for West Ham though.

So having also lost Keherer and Ogbonna this summer and only signed 18-year-old Guilherme, the squad is dangerously thin. Tom Steidten, who seems to now be more in control of transfers than Lopetegui (named as chief coach rather than manager) having won his power battle with Moyes, proved he could sign good players at Bayer Leverkusen. He needs to get going quickly in the market now.