For the first time since we left the Boleyn Ground, i’m starting to feel extremely positive with the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini now looking imminent. “Attacking football!”, “European experience!”, are the attributes of which our fan base are requesting from the board in the hunt for a new manager; and Manuel Pellegrini boasts the two in abundance. ‘Attacking football’ is what every supporter wants to see if they’ve paid their money to watch a game of football, right? I believe Manuel Pellegrini holds that key to unlock the shackles of our existing attack at West Ham United. Lanzini, Antonio, Arnautovic, and Javier Hernandez – are you telling me there’s no goals in that attack? I’ve said many times before that we could have Harry Kane or Sergio Aguero playing as striker for us, they still wouldn’t score goals because the link up play between the midfield and the striker was non existent. A striker relies on service, and its no coincidence that Simeone Zaza, an Italy international, who we signed from Serie A champions Juventus, has been scoring for fun since joining Valencia when he couldn’t hit a barn door for us! Chicharito is another example: pushed out to the wing under Bilic, couldn’t get a game under Moyes, but scored goals left, right, & center at every other club he’s played for. This is a player with our best goals to games ratio we’ve seen at the club in years… If we can manage to keep hold of Hernandez this summer, I guarantee he will be the main man under Pellegrini and we will see the best of him.

Lanzini is a brilliant player for us on his day, but just isn’t consistent enough. The final game of the season against Everton reminded us all just how good he can be when he’s allowed to roam free in the attacking third and express himself. Does Pellegrini have what it takes to get the best out of Lanzini? Time will tell, but Manu is definitely Pellegrini’s type of player.

 

Since ‘The next level’ is always the topic of discussion, Manuel Pellegrini is without a shadow of a doubt the managerial appointment which will live up to what is vast becoming a serial term on the lips of West Ham supporters. However, it’s up to the board whether they will allow him to take us there. This is the perfect opportunity for the board to build bridges & deliver all of those hopes and promises which all ended in failure since the big transition, and that will cost money. Although Manuel has an impressive managerial record with Villarreal and Malaga, both of whom he led to European football on tight budgets, this is the Premier League and we can’t afford to scrape by again for another season. Its all well & good appointing a manager with Pellegrini’s CV, but without the tools & resources, he won’t be able to carry out his job in bringing us to that next level. What i like about Pellegrini is he has an eye for a player in the Spanish market; Isco, Antonio Valencia, and Santi Cazorla are just three players that instantly come to mind of who he spotted, albeit some time ago now. In order for our new man to be a success, he needs to be able to do his job, his way – full control over transfers, and full backing of the board. If either of these aren’t met, then it’ll be groundhog day yet again in the West Ham United hot seat!

Since the news of Pellegrini has come to light, we’ve yet again seen a split of opinion on social media between the fan base. We didn’t want Moyes, we wanted a manager that plays an attacking game with European pedigree. We’ve practically got that, but theres still some moaners out in full force which absolutely startles me. Does Pellegrini only possess a silver card on FIFA or something? Because i’m gobsmacked on why anybody wouldn’t want a manager that has qualified for the Champions League with two different clubs on a shoe string budget, and has won the Premier League and the League cup in England! Manchester City supporters enjoyed his tenure with them, and have recently expressed that he will be the perfect fit for us if we want to progress in the Premier League.

Yaya Toure is a name that has immediately been thrown into the mix for a reunion with Pellegrini. i’d welcome Yaya Toure at West Ham with open arms, purely because he’s a winner with a winning mentality which is something we’ve lacked since having Payet at the club. his age and wages is a concern, but having him around for just 6 months would help alot of our current players up their game – Kouyate being one of them. There’s a real good feel factor at the moment, so long may it continue!