Over the course of the past nine months, KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett has been writing a weekly diary for Echo newspapers.
Condensed into a month-by-month account of the 2013/14 campaign, today we take a look back at September of last year a month of Morrison speculation, bad transfer windows and devestating injuries...6th September
This week's transfer deadline day turned out to be a bit of a damp squib for West Ham. The much-needed additional striker - a position that even co-owner David Gold admitted required filling - failed to materialise, despite frantic attempts by the Board during the final few hours of Monday.
Spurned at the eleventh hour by Benfica's Oscar Cardozo and rejected by Chelsea pair Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba, further frustration ensued as Carlton Cole - released by the Hammers at the end of last season but still a free agent - agreed to re-join the Club on a short-term contract, only to be told 24 hours later that the deal was off due to his lack of fitness.
The disappointment at failing to fill such an important position took the shine off what was otherwise a productive transfer window for Sam Allardyce who added goalkeeper Adrian, full back Razvan Rat, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing to his squad.
The latter has been the cause of much controversy and the decision to sign Downing could have huge consequences for the manager. Knowing that his budget was limited, Big Sam elected to gamble the lot on the England winger when the need for a striker was more pressing.
To persist with Carroll alone as the Club’s only Premier League-standard striker until January, given his history of injuries since joining the club, represents a huge risk for Allardyce. And it’s decisions like those which, if they go wrong, can cost managers their jobs.
The ideal scenario is for Carroll to regain full fitness ahead of West Ham’s next Premier League outing - at Southampton following the international break - to stay fit and to score goals. Big Sam’s nagging worry – and very real concern – is that Carroll suffers another injury, resulting in the ineffective Modibo Maiga being thrust back into the spotlight.
Minus the England striker’s inclusion, West Ham have scored just two goals in their first three league games and couldn’t even muster a single shot on target during last weekend’s dreary 1-0 home defeat to Stoke.
Allardyce took his squad to Spain for a few days this week in order to recuperate ahead of the trip to St Mary’s. Meanwhile, his search for a striker continues – although instead of hoping to lure Chelsea strikers across town, it’s the bargain bin for a free transfer to which he must turn.
Stewart Downing: a controversial signing
13th September
Any long-suffering West Ham supporter will tell you that if something can go wrong at the Boleyn Ground, it probably will. So when Sam Allardyce splashed the remainder of his transfer budget on Stewart Downing instead of a striker to support Andy Carroll, it was perhaps inevitable that the Club-record signing would get injured at some stage.
What the fans won't have banked on, however, was Carroll breaking down before he’d even kicked a ball...
On Monday, news broke on the KUMB.com forum that Carroll had sustained a fresh injury to the same foot that has kept him sidelined since May. This was later confirmed by West Ham, although they failed to comment on speculation suggesting that Carroll could be out until 2014, or even the entire season.
Within 24 hours United had rushed through the signing of Mladen Petric - a free agent who spent last season at Fulham – to replace Carroll. Allardyce will be hoping the Croatian can repeat his pre-Christmas spell of form at Craven Cottage during which he scored five goals - and not his post-Yuletide yield of none.
Elsewhere, Carlton Cole's crazy capers continue. Regular readers of this column will recall how he was handed the opportunity to return to West Ham before unofficial spokesman Jack Sullivan revealed that the deal was off, as Cole was apparently not "fit enough to offer a contract to".
The teenager's terse Tweet disappeared mysteriously the next day, only to be followed by a message from David Gold suggesting that youngster had jumped the gun. "Cole ... is working hard to regain his fitness with view to signing a new contract", countered DG. In the meantime, everyone else remains none the wiser.
So with Carroll out, Petric in and Cole neither out nor in, it's to Southampton that Allardyce takes his beleaguered squad this weekend. Big Sam will also be without Joe Cole and Stewart Downing (both injured) although their loss is Ravel Morrison’s gain, with the talented young midfielder likely to make his first Premier League start.
Something else those long-suffering West Ham supporters will tell you is that back in 1985, an injured Paul Goddard was replaced by unknown Scot Frank McAvennie at the start of the season and the Hammers went on to achieve their highest top flight finish.
Whilst third place in 2013/14 is unlikely, who’s to say that Morrison won’t have a similar impact?
20th September
If you can't score goals you're not going to win football matches. West Ham have managed just two from their first four Premier League outings this season, leaving Sam Allardyce with a major problem already.
Whilst the Hammers have refused to set a date for Andy Carroll’s return – the Club record-signing’s latest injury now confirmed as a plantar fascia (the connecting tissue between heel and foot) tear – Allardyce has brought in free transfer Mladen Petric to fill the void. Yet Big Sam could sign Lionel Messi and West Ham would still struggle to score at the moment.
The problem extends far beyond just failing to hit the back of the net. From those four matches – or 360 minutes of football - West Ham have managed to fashion just SIX shots on target. You don't have to be Einstein to work out that equates to one shot on target PER HOUR.
Yet in stark contrast, United proudly boast the best defensive record in all the top European leagues. The Irons are yet to concede a single goal from open play in the BPL this season, with only Jermaine Pennant's free-kick at the Boleyn Ground in the recent 1-0 home defeat to Stoke having beaten Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The big Finn, criticised for much of his first season has made a major contribution to that impressive statistic. Against Southampton last weekend the 38-year-old was in imperious form and whilst this season may yet prove to be his professional swansong, Jaaskelainen continues to belie his years.
The goalless draw at St Mary’s ensured West Ham remain unbeaten away from home this season. Purists might have turned apoplectic with rage at such a dour spectacle but Allardyce was happy enough with a point, regardless of the entertainment value (or lack of it).
Having managed to avoid any of the big guns so far, United face far tougher opposition this coming weekend in the shape of Everton. It’s a good time to play the Toffees, with new manager Roberto Martinez still bedding in and working out how to get the best from his players.
However West Ham’s recent record against the Blues is, quite frankly, appalling; you have to go back to April 2007, some 12 meetings previously to unearth a United win. So don’t be too surprised if West Ham are ‘celebrating’ yet another goalless draw this Saturday evening.
Jussi Jaaskelainen: In Finn form
27th September
West Ham supporters’ faces have expressed the full gamut of emotions this week. Firstly, the elation of twice leading against Everton last Saturday before despair took hold as Romelu Lukaku – one of Sam Allardyce’s summer transfer targets - stooped to nod a late winner for the Toffees.
Hope, swiftly followed by jubilation materialised on Tuesday night as the Irons roared into a two-goal lead against Cardiff - before a familiar feeling of frustration returned as the Bluebirds clawed their way back to level terms. The third round Capital One Cup tie was seconds away from entering extra-time when Ricardo Vaz Te nodded West Ham into a last-16 meeting with Burnley; cue euphoria in the (sparsely populated) stands.
That goal could grant the Portuguese forward - still transfer listed by request - a lifeline at the Boleyn Ground. With Andy Carroll injured, Mladen Petric less than fully fit and Modibo Maiga less than useful, RVT may have one final chance to make an impact. Assistant manager Neil McDonald, speaking after Tuesday's night's 3-2 win defined his performance as "a knock on the door for the manager" and one that gives Allardyce "a nice little selection problem".
Another player to do that is Ravel Morrison. The precocious talent scored against Everton and Cardiff and is already United’s leading hitman this season with three to his name, but he faces stiff competition for a place when Stewart Downing and Joe Cole return from injury. Rav’s most natural opponent for a spot in the team is Kevin Nolan, but Hell will freeze over before Allardyce drops his trusted captain.
Morrison, with his well-documented personal issues has always been his own worst enemy but if he can keep that famously fiery temperament in check and continue to be the model professional he has since returning from a season-long loan spell at Birmingham, I genuinely believe he'll be on the plane to Brazil next summer with the rest of England's World Cup squad.
Assuming Hodgson’s team qualify, that is!
I'd like to end this week's column by wishing West Ham United's former match day announcer Jeremy Nicholas the very best of luck with his future endeavours. Jem, who parted company with the Club last week after 16 years' loyal service has my eternal gratitude for sneaking a reference to KUMB.com into best-selling video game franchise FIFA when he was cast as the game's stadium announcer!
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