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Sir Alf 1:19 Mon Jul 20
Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Levy nudging his media pals or Allardyce apologists (for the conspiracy theorists out there) or objective journalism?

Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

11:21 20 July 2015

Brad Pinard

New West Ham United manger Slaven Bilic walks out to meet the fans before the UEFA Europa League first round qualifying match at Upton Park, London.

The Europa League is a real thrill for a club such as West Ham but it could well turn out to be a disaster for the club.
Slaven Bilic has arrived and a new vibe around the club is extremely positive, with ambitious new signings, young players getting a chance and the crowd back on side after a difficult spell under Sam Allardyce.

Before Bilic took charge, the Hammers board had to set up their pre-season schedule for numerous possibilities.

While thinking they were in, David’s Gold and Sullivan didn’t officially know they would be in Europa League action and what dates it would be on.

So six pre-season games were arranged, a decent number, and similar to most clubs in the Premier League. However, the second West Ham found out they were in the Europa League, a number of these games should have been either binned or moved.

Keeping a League One or Two club happy is fair enough, but West Ham’s ambition and success is the most important thing for the club.

The facts are that West Ham will likely play 12 games in five weeks before the season starts. That is ridiculous. Pretty much Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday every week.

Yes, the Hammers squad is fairly deep with youngsters filling in, but the Hammers under-21 side have their own pre-season fixture list and Bilic picking his strongest XI will be virtually impossible with all the chopping and changing of squads.

West Ham will want to build partnerships all over the pitch but that is hard to do when the club have to field a strong enough XI four times a week, all away from home.

Playing away at Colchester late on a Tuesday night, then flying to Malta first thing Wednesday morning, before playing a game and then flying home on the Friday morning, only to head to Charlton for a tough game on Saturday afternoon just doesn’t make sense. Where do you fit training in to all of this? Set-piece work? Shape work? All vital to Premier League football and something Allardyce worked extremely hard on.

Bilic has already publicly aired his worries about the Europa League and over-working in pre-season and the club are trying to please everyone, but it could all end in tears.

West Ham have to be a Premier League side this time next year, they have to, and there is no doubt they have a better squad than at least eight or nine other Premier League sides, but that doesn’t always count for everything.

Everton are a good example from last year as they struggled with coping with regular midweek games and then excelled once knocked out. Plus the Toffees didn’t have to play eight Europa games before the season even started.

Arranging so many pre-season friendly games when West Ham had a good chance of playing in the Europa League was a mistake and while Colchester, Southend, Charlton and Peterborough may excited by those games, it is simply a worrying chore for West Ham this summer.

It is good to see young academy players getting a chance, but they won’t be in Bilic’s strongest squad and so he needs to find his best team which could well prove impossible with no time on the training ground and constant changing starting line-ups.

Lily Hammer 12:53 Wed Jul 22
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Personally, so far, this is just what I wished for.

Takashi Miike 11:48 Tue Jul 21
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

"The Europa League is a real thrill for a club such as West Ham "

fuck off you fucking patronising cunt

Pop Robson 11:46 Tue Jul 21
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Colchester didn't see much of the the 1st team squad, so that one don't count.

cosmo smallpiece 3:38 Tue Jul 21
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

The only thing Allardyce worked extremely hard on was fitting his fat arse in that seat.

isolated hammer 10:15 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

How many of our youngsters twelve months ago would have thought they would have been playing in the Europa League 12 months on. They deserve praise for helping the team keep 3 clean sheets so far. Are we exhausting players, i don't think so.

After8 5:29 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

* other clubs

After8 5:29 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

So it's ok for other treats to travel around the U.S for the Guinness cup or to Asia for the premier trophy and have players deal with jet lag, different time zones and temperatures but us playing in Andorra and then Southend is going to relegate us?

Idiotic journalism.

Russ of the BML 5:28 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Last three posts sum it all up. Nothing to see here.

dealcanvey 5:24 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

If the friendlies were competitive games I could understand the concern. But these games are merely a run out. No different to what they would be doing during a practice match on the training ground. It will be interesting to see how sharp the players will look against Arsenal.

Hammer and Pickle 4:35 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

The article fits in with the general culture of negativity about English football. It's rooted in the Sky premium for Premier League status and it's very commendable of the club that it is going against this current.

Joke Whole 4:33 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

I see a journalist with a big boner waiting to jism all over the screen of his laptop when we trip up in Europe.

It's clear the friendlies were arranged with the possibility of the Europa league in mind, and it also seems to me that the club are treating the pre-season games as just another set of training games (diplomatically they can never admit this): the eventual prize being so far off it may as well be on the moon.

When the European escapade does end, those most incandescent over it all will more than likely be Tottenham fans looking to try to score points. Real West Ham will be looking forward to playing soon in a new stadium.

daveyg 4:32 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Huffers
It was Tomkins (didn't have much choice )that eventually passed the ball back to Adrian, he received the ball from O'Brien who had received from Nolan, who had received from Noble all side ways passes. i thought the boo's were all a bit tongue in cheek,having a bit of a chuckle.
Nolan did have a few boo's when came off though.

daveyg 4:20 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Having the youngsters play more often alongside the 1st team players in friendlies and the Europa Lge is going to be of huge benefit to them and the club when they will be again be needed for the League Cup.
Win win i say

the exile 3:53 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

As far as I'm concerned it's all good, provided it's well managed and they manage to keep a positive vibe around the place. Winning games, as we have been doing, certainly helps. The kids are getting games and rubbing shoulders with the senior players, everyone is getting match fit - it's a win-win situation. It is also excellent preparation for playing some of the kids in the early rounds of the league cup.

ironsofcanada 3:49 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Speaking of squads Collins talks about Ogbonna and ours on the OS.

http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/July/20-July/Video-Collins-lauds-squad-strength?

Warning: For those that seem to find ball caps offensive,especially on backwards, viewer discretion is advised.

Darby_ 3:38 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Silly article from someone who's obviously desperate for something to fill column inches with.

We were always going to need a few more bodies just in case we ended up on a lengthy European run. But the preseason games will probably be half-filled with kids and reserve players.

Huffers 3:30 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

Bilic has not been booed. The only booing there has been is when O' Brien passed the ball back to Adrian.

Nicey 3:24 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

whufcroe 2:09 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble
Haha the broken record returns


Best day of my life!

scott_d 3:19 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

If we are promoting our young players and bringing them into the first team, this can't be a bad thing.

It's not like we're playing our first 11 in every game. We're playing a good mix of youth, experience and new signings in each fixture.

Can't see it making too much of a difference unless we qualify, then Bilic will need to manage the squad but he's got experience in Europe so it won't be new to him.

stirlinghammer 3:07 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

it's a massive contrast to BFS use of the clubs resources...if he was still in charge he would have bought g o'neil and matt taylor back to boulster the squad...

this is a good test for thne whole club and now players young and senior will actually feel competition for places - the kids especially will see a future at the club.

good news all round.

Russ of the BML 2:54 Mon Jul 20
Re: Why West Ham’s ridiculous pre-season schedule could see them in real trouble

whufcroe 2:52 Mon Jul 20

Fair enough. Cheers.

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