Transfer targets

My thoughts on the season can be found in last week's Observer here. For once it's all positive. As transfer targets I've mentioned the need for a back-up (not a replacement!) for Rice and Soucek, and the rumoured interest in Czech midfielder Alex Kral from Spartak Moscow in encouraging. Kral would also have the added bonus of sounding like a monster from 1980s Doctor Who.

Getting Lingard to sign would be the number one priority should he choose to leave Man United. Obviously we need at least two strikers to cover for Antonio's dodgy hamstrings — I'd settle for Harry Kane as a back-up plus a hungry player from the Championship. Plus we need a long-term successor to Fabianski, another centre-back and a left-back to eventually replace Cresswell. Plus anyone else we can get to bolster the squad for the Europa League.

Mind you, this being West Ham, it's a little worrying that managerless Everton are rumoured to be after David Moyes. Still, he strikes me as a man of principle who has unfinished business at West Ham. Everton finished beneath WHU and have a smaller ground for a start. The three-year contract is ready — let's get him to sign it ASAP.

Hammers in the Observer

Here's my summary of the season in yesterday's Observer. Click on the link to read. Always difficult to speculate on signings but we could do with a couple of full-backs and a striker to put some pressure on Haller and Antonio. Probably another centre-back too, though Grady Diangana will be like a new signing. He scored one and made one in the game that won WBA promotion while on loan and has had a fine season for the Baggies. 

As for possible departures, these could include Jack Wilshere if anyone will pay his wages, Masuaku, Balbuena, Yarmolenko, Ajeti, Hugill and Anderson or Lanzini. Should be an interesting summer as David Moyes reshapes his squad…

West Ham predictions in the Observer

My pre-season round-up can be found in today's Observer. Foolishly I've predicted West Ham will finish eighth — which means we'll almost certainly be in a relegation scrap! Click on the link to read the full piece.

West Ham Observer verdict

My West Ham verdict is in today's Observer. I've given the lads 6.5 out of ten for a season of carpet-bagging and mid-table solidity. Click on the link to read…

Stadium woes

The Observer used a couple of my quotes in their news piece yesterday, "How football's working-class fans were sold out for a packet of popcorn." Click on the link to read. There's abother feature on West Ham's problems with the London Stadium in the Sport section and a lotos coverage in the other p[apers — the stadium problems seem to be generating an unwarranted degree of publicity. Not sure it's as simple as a case of working-class fans being priced out, the days of local dockers walking to Green Street went in the 1970s and the new stadium offers kids' tickets for £99. But there is something in the fact West Ham fans have never been as docile as some other fans.

There have been some scuffles and no-one wants to see children in tears — but let's remember there were many more children in tears during the hooligan heyday of the 1980s. If the problems are still there after this season it really will be worrying, but at the moment it's a learning process for club and fans and we should be aware that in the social media age every fracas is filmed and everything seems to create more sound and fury that it merits. Stewarding needs to improve, we need the police in the stadium, families need to sit together and stewards perhaps turn a blind eye to standing among the singing fans. But it should all be solvable.

Observer Easter report on West Ham

My — unusually positive — Easter report on West Ham's season so far can be found in today's Observer. Nothing much to complain about so far in what's been a great season. Click on the link to read.

Wrecking balls at Upton Park

Very good piece in the Observer by Daniel Taylor, centring on West Ham leaving the Boleyn Ground. He points out that a third of all clubs have now left their traditional stadiums and that a lot of memories will be lost and businesses closed down. Looking at West Ham's move he covers all the right people around Upton Park, including Ken's Cafe, the Boleyn, the Black Lion, the Newham Bookshop, Nathan's Pies and Eels and Gary Firmager of OLAS. Plus a mention of Hammers in the Heart too. Well worth a read, even if it does make you a little misty-eyed. Click on the link to read.

Observer Christmas round-up

My half-season fans' summary can be found in the Observer by clicking on the link. My fellow season ticket holder Nigel is still in shock that I only gave the lads a mere nine out of ten.

Allardyce under scrutiny

Interesting column by Daniel Taylor in Sunday's Observer on Sam Allardyce and West Ham. He cites poor planning as one of the manager's problems, criticising Big Sam for going into the season with only one fit striker and three centre-halves and mentions Carlton Cole's rejection and subsequent re-signing  as a sign of the manager's desperation. He also suggests that Kevin Nolan's red cards "smack of a player struggling to cope with his diminished abilities." Taylor also mentions that there are few other clubs where transfer news comes from the owner's 13-year-old son's twitter account. Click on the link to read.