The online reaction to a goalless draw in a friendly has driven me to despair.
I get that various West Ham social media channels are desperate for attention, but in a period where, as a club things are looking up, the fury and negativity is not only not helpful, it’s almost sickening.We live in a world of instant gratification and short attention spans. Patience, understanding and realism seems to be a thing of the past. The ability of people to whip themselves into a frenzy over things happening, not happening or simply the merest whiff of remotely being suggested is having a negative impact on the world at large.
In a football sphere where tribalism, passion and desire are exacerbated to the max, then you create all sorts of issues.
To put things into context: we didn’t lose, we didn’t concede and we are behind Rangers in terms of pre-season preparation. Friendlies are there to get minutes in the bag, build fitness, work on the nuances of the campaign ahead.
Pre-season friendlies are not a metric to determine how we are going to finish this season. This isn’t a finished product, it’s a step towards evaluation and moulding what’s to come. Those dismissing us Sunday were no doubt in raptures after we swept Stevenage aside last week.
Are there issues? Yes of course. There are areas in the squad that need addressing, augmenting and improving. We look like we could do with adding players. Players with experience, pace or ability.
But guess what? There are 91 other clubs in the English top level alone looking for them too. Around the entire world, take a look at how many countries there are. All with football clubs looking to improve squads.
In the summer - well less than a month ago, at the time of writing - West Ham appointed Nils Koopen as head of recruitment. Yes he has established connections and experience. Yes he will come with a brief. Yes he will come with a history. But also, yes he needs time.
We didn’t know what our squad retention would be like, our transfer budget would be in lieu of that. We have a new hierarchy, a new infrastructure being compiled. What we don’t have is an element of support willing to let this develop and hopefully flourish.
In recent years we’ve been linked, with varying degrees of truth, with well in excess of 100 players per summer transfer windows. People allow themselves to be drawn into the frenzy of outlets, stirring the pot, looking for clicks and giggles. It just leads to unnecessary meltdowns, beliefs and inner turmoil.
Things are on the up for West Ham. Despite relegation, the form in the second half of the season was decent. We’ve retained the players at the helm of that. We’ve retained, so far, the bulk of our squad despite dropping down a division.
Jarrod Bowen staying, in particular, is a real coup. His meetings with Daniel Kretinsky, and the resultant decision to remain is a huge boost. Something to be celebrated, not shot down as things haven’t moved rapidly as some was like.
The club, after a tumultuous period in our history, needs stability in football philosophy. Lurching from one manager to the next all with different approaches, styles and personal, has led to where we awe now - The Championship, with a battle ahead of us.
Fresh thinking, a complete reset in outlook following the GSB era is required off the pitch. So far the early signs are highly positive. A managing director willing to engage and listen to the fanbase. A board who have finally got transfer departures right, maximising fees rather than selling to whoever offered anything first.
Mateus Fernandes is a terrific prospect, but we were only a stepping stone. A huge profit, with the entire cash up front was a great deal for us. Crysencio Summerville. A real enigma. Sometimes unplayable, but we only saw that in glimpses. Most notably a fertile new year couple of months.
Even the loss of Callum Wilson must be taken into context. He was barely fit enough for 46 minutes a game, let alone a 46-game slog.
We’re employing the right people. We’re adding a much-needed degree of professionalism. Koopen and his team aren’t employed to sit on the backsides. They’ll be bedded in and working, now we have more clarity to get what we need added to the playing staff.
Not having rumours fed, through media outlets to drive season ticket sales, is the correct way to do things. The razzle, dazzle deception tactics are from a previous era. Let people do their jobs. Until a deal is completed I don’t want to know about it.
We have 50,000 season ticket holders. An outstanding feat for a relegated side. The new way the club is being run. The promising talent we have in our youth system, the basis of the first team squad. This should be lauded, not shot down because of a goalless draw in a friendly.
Don’t feed the negativity, don’t believe the hype. Surely you can see the light behind the clickbait?
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