Is Valencia really so 'super'?

Enner Valenica has had few sceptics up to this point but I’ve been cynical of his worth ever since he missed the penalty which sent us out of the League Cup against Sheffield United.

The Ecuadorian international was also guilty of missing a number of opportunities from open-play that evening whilst fellow new recruit Diafra Sakho, signed for a fraction of the price, was the more impressive and managed to score the first of what was to become many.

Things have continued in similar fashion. Sakho has obviously been an absolute revelation. It seemed like the club even pre-empted him to become a Modibo Maiga-esq flop when they tried to pull the plug in favour of Connor Wickham, but thank God FC Metz forced through the sale.

Sakho slides effortlessly into any system, whether it be with the big man Andy Carroll, as a lone striker or with Valencia. His direct running and fearsome finishing is unlike any forward seen at Upton Park in the past decade - it's great to see David Sullivan already ironing out a new deal for him.

However, the Senegalese striker’s success and that of the team overall has hidden a number of flaws in Valencia’s game. Firstly, his hold-up play has been particularly poor – Valencia can be rapid if he is slid behind the defence but if Sakho isn’t there to catch up, he rarely retains the ball while back-up surges forward.

His game is also heavily reliant on confidence and this seems to affect much of his decision-making. After that goal at Hull, which was great admittedly, the South American seemed to take a shot every time he got within 40 yards of the goal for the next few games. A player that backs his ability is something we have missed for some time, but Valencia’s frequent inability to look up was worrying.

Many of these imperfections were painfully illuminated against Swansea when Sam Allardyce rightly replaced him with Sakho half way through. The difference in class was visible as the African’s clever runs gave him three clear goal-scoring opportunities, one of which he converted whilst the other two hit the post.

As Allardyce has duly warned, January will be a telling time for the Hammers. With Sakho off on international duty in Equatorial Guinea along with the absolutely imperial Alex Song and his fellow central-midfield powerhouse Chiekhou Kouyate, it would be surprising if performances didn’t dwindle.

With this trio gone, the forward nicknamed ‘Superman’ will have nowhere to hide. Much of the pressure will drop onto his shoulders to maintain our form and time will tell – with him being such an emotional player – whether he will thrive with the responsibility or become a frustrating figure at the Boleyn.

Valencia is evidently technically gifted - the Hull strike, Burnley header and assist for Morgan Amalfitano against Manchester City are evidence of this – but these magic moments all came via instinct. To cut it at the top level in the Premier League, a forward needs to be intelligent enough to outwit his opposing defenders.

When the shadow of Sakho, which has protected Valencia until now, fades away in the New Year, there’s a substantial chance that ‘Superman’s knack of saving the day might not follow the script.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

Redknapp is the man for West Ham

There’s a school of thought surrounding the current Sam Allardyce situation which preaches: ‘better the devil you know’. Well, there’s another devil we know, and his name is Harry Redknapp.

Firstly, on a personal level, I have never been anti-Sam and would have been more than happy to give him another season but it looks as though, with fan resentment at its highest since he took the job back in 2011, his position may have become untenable. Therefore, with the 78% who voted Allardyce out in the recent mass poll in mind, I’ve started to look at alternatives.

There have been countless cases of terrible managerial swaps in recent years. Too many of the more unfashionable managers doing solid jobs have been switched with suit and tie, foreign coaches promising Barcelona-esque football who have failed miserably.

Fulham, Cardiff and West Brom, for example, all went down this route and ended the season making up 3 of the Premiership’s bottom 4. West Ham are in a very similar situation. People will look to Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton as a success story but the Saints are in for a tough Summer in terms of transfer business and I think the Argentine could well come unstuck next season.

Even if Pochettino does continue his success, his appointment was a roll of the dice by a very financially stable club with a settled squad. With the much discussed Olympic Stadium move beckoning, West Ham are in no such position and must play it safer.

‘Premier League Manager of the Year’ Tony Pulis was undeniably the best managerial appointment in the previous campaign and unsurprisingly he is a tried and trusted man at this level who plays with practicality rather than lofty ideals. Obviously he would be a sideways step from Sam but West Ham still need to learn from this triumph.

This is also a time when the Hammers should look to someone who knows the club very well. An identity crisis is nigh with regards to the stadium move and the club need someone who they can relate to their history.

The perfect candidate is thus British, experienced in the Premier League, affiliated with West Ham and obviously a promoter of attacking football given the root problem with the current regime. In one word: Redknapp.

I know there are plenty of West Ham fans who won’t want Redknapp back for whatever reason, be it the long-ago backstabbing of Billy Bonds, the more recent link to Tottenham Hotspur or just the generally crooked perception of him, but there is no one else who ticks all the boxes.

Just a few years ago Redknapp was managing in the Champions League and favourite for the England job, making him unanimously considered the best English manager. The FA eventually opted for a less volatile option but most rightfully believe Redknapp to have been avoided for media reasons and the contemporary tax evasion case rather than managerial ability. I hope David Sullivan and David Gold aren’t so deterred by his potential for controversy.

Despite his ripe age of 67 years-old, after being replaced by Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham (another failed case of British manager swapped with a potential mini-Mourinho), Redknapp proved he still has the thirst for football as he dived straight back in, first with a brief role at Bournemouth until he rashly took the helm of the sparkling, sinking ship in the form of QPR.

QPR hasn’t gone well for Harry; his squad wasn’t hungry enough to avoid relegation and the reckless spending before he arrived has left him with a big clear-up job. I get the feeling his heart was never really in QPR, it was more an attempt to keep his foot in the door through fear of being left in the wilderness and considered an old ‘has-been’.

But surely, regardless of what becomes of QPR in the upcoming Play-Off final, his heart would be in taking his local club, where he grew up looking up to Bobby Moore, played 149 games and managed for 7 years, out of their home and into the future. It’s the perfect final project.

I appreciate Redknapp may not always have remained loyal to West Ham since his controversial firing just after the Millennium, but he is still an East End bloke from Poplar with those memories.

Crucially, Redknapp is also a combination of attacking football and pragmatism. He has always encouraged his sides to get forward and partake in exciting games, but he will also play with the cards he is dealt with rather than being too attached to a certain philosophy.

Like it or not, West Ham have invested a great amount in Andy Carroll in terms of transfer fee and his bumper contract; unlike how Liverpool did, we can not afford to get a manager like Brendan Rodgers who will sacrifice him at a massive loss because he doesn’t fit a certain system. And also, why would we want to? The majority of the West Ham faithful like Carroll, even if they don’t like Allardyce, he is at a good age and one of the best at what he does.

Redknapp will not shy away from using a target man with wingers, and may even put someone up top with the big Geordie which would satisfy the wishes of many supporters, even if it might seem a slightly outdated system.

I’m not usually a believer in ‘going back’, I’m not sure a return for Alan Pardew would work although I liked him the first time round, but Redknapp has been gone long enough and is a big enough character to deal with the potentially tricky situation.

Also, an apt bonus is that Redknapp has been working with Ravel Morrison since February and reuniting the pair at Upton Park would dramatically improve the chance of him becoming a success. Redknapp’s man-management skills have seen him get the best out of many a difficult character, most notably Paolo Di Canio, and I would suggest no one would do a better to do a job with Morrison.

So if Sam has to go, why not go all out for Redknapp? He’s a fair more suitable option than a confidence-stricken David Moyes, a still unproven Malky Mackay or a Premiership unknown Ronald Koeman.

To really get back to West Ham traditions, why not also appoint a number two to be Redknapp’s apprentice in a manner reminiscent of John Lyall under Ron Greenwood? I’m not sure who would be heir to the throne but it would be great for a younger coach to learn under Redknapp and then eventually have the opportunity to take main stage after a few years in the Olympic Stadium to give the club some real identity and stability.

A bitter Tony Fernandes would certainly drive a hard bargain but if Redknapp fancied it he’d get what he wanted by hook or by crook. He could throw it back in our face, and that would be it, the already ropey relationship between club and man would be fully severed. But if he took it I can not envisage Harry failing. The return of the devil we know is, ironically, one made in heaven.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

The 'Gegenpressing' Future for Sam Allardyce's West Ham

You can also read this article is on my FTBPro account: http://www.ftbpro.com/posts/rich.maher/769234/the-gegenpressing-future-for-sam-allardyce-s-west-ham

Still trapped in the image of his Bolton past, Sam Allardyce is often derided as a dinosaur of the modern game - an anti-football, 'lump it long' monster. The criticisms of Allardyce aren't entirely unfounded; undoubtedly he does focus on defensive organisation, physicality and direct play. 

However, 'big Sam' has always had a limited set of tools to play with and has seen any opportunities at a higher job snatched by less experienced, yet more glamorous, foreign coaches. At West Ham he has used his practicality to achieve promotion, solidify survival comfortably in the first season back, and, now, seemingly to have overcome the dreaded 'second-season-syndrome' despite an extremely rocky period. 

With owners David Sullivan and David Gold adamant that they will stick by their man, whilst also providing a decent transfer kitty, Allardyce now has the opportunity to build a project - and with the move to an iconic 60,000 seater stadium just a few years away, the finished article could be huge. 

Whilst it is easy to label Allardyce 'old-school', it is well known that he is actually at the forefront of using new technology and statistical information in English football. There is no doubt that with his curiosity of the evolvement of the game, Allardyce hasn't studied the work of coaches like Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone who have taken their clubs from relative underdogs to European success stories. 

With impressive scouting and a brand of football, now nicknamed 'gegenpressing', an answer to Barcelona's 'tiki-taka', Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have pioneered a style which is exciting, defensively astute and, most importantly, winning. Having acquired an impressive starting 11 over the last few years, Allardyce may only have to tweak a few things to rebrand himself as the English 'Gegenpresser', although it will certainly be an altered version.

Goalkeeper - Adrian

Adrian has quickly risen in popularity at Upton Park - at least 5% of supporters will belt out a Rocky-inspired 'ADRIAN' in response to the simplest of saves from the Spaniard. Obviously there is little that can be said for a goalkeeper in terms of a change of football-style, however, with an asset like Andy Carroll up top, it would make sense for the former-Real Betis shot-stopper to continue a kind of long, direct distribution from goal-kicks. The system is all about quick transitions so Adrian should still expect to play long in order to switch the opposition onto the back foot quickly. Not much change there.

Defence - Guy Demel, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, George McCartney

Guy Demel's form has gone somewhat unnoticed at West Ham, with some supporters actually calling for a replacement, but Demel has proved that he is useful going forward and can be a surprisingly powerful dribbler going down the right-hand side - thus he is likely relish the opportunity to be given more license to bomb forward. Demel also spent 10 years playing in Germany, 4 of which were with Dortmund, so he will be no stranger to 'Kloppism'. 

Winston Reid is an outstanding central defender who is good at both defending and with the ball, if the Irons are to move forward they need to hang on to the New Zealand international. There is no reason Reid can't operate a similar role to how Mats Hummels plays at Dortmund; that is marking tightly, being clean in the tackle but also bringing the ball forward and looking to give possession to an attacking player. 

Academy graduate James Tomkins is also a very good defender and is more than capable of supporting Reid, often stepping back to clear up anything Reid can not deal with - in an age where there is often just one centre-forward to mark, one half of the central defensive partnership can step up to take the dominant role. 

George McCartney, whilst good defensively, having served West Ham well, perhaps lacks the speed and stamina to get up and down the park if the Hammers are to become a more attacking unit. Allardyce recruited Napoli's Pablo Armero on loan in January, and whilst he is yet to feature he is said to have impressed in training with his speed and ability and a potential permanent deal is already being mooted. Perhaps Armero could be the answer to West Ham's Marcel Schmelzer.

Midfield - Mark Noble, Mo Diame, Stewart Downing, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan

Mark Noble has had his best season to date for West Ham and has been immense in defending doggedly in the midfield but also passing the ball forward. It is clear he has learnt much in terms of retaining possession from Scott Parker's time at the club and he seems to have improved in fitness, stamina and speed over the Summer - he will be the root of the midfield intensity in the 'gegenpressing' system. 

Momo Diame is perhaps not the perfect partner in this position but his ability to pick the ball up and dribble it forward with power will certainly be useful. After an outstanding debut season in East London, Diame has been accused of lacking interest this term - to fit into the new system he will need to improve defensive intensity and also his vision. Diame has often been guilty of keeping his head down and running with the ball into trouble, this has led Allardyce to put him on the wing more often this season as it presents less risks in central areas. Perhaps, if he returns with a better attitude, Ravel Morrison would be a more suitable candidate for the role given his superior passing ability. However, Diame is a good player and shone on many occasions last season - he shouldn't be written off. 

Stewart Downing is clearly a favourite of Allardyce due to his excellent crossing ability but also his responsibility when it comes to defending; this attitude is vital to 'gegenpressing' as the wingers need to retain an element of cautiousness when the full-backs attack. 

Matt Jarvis has had a very disappointing season but his price-tag and an England call-up show how highly he was rated when West Ham signed him. Jarvis has the pace and the ability to enjoy the new system, he just needs to boost confidence over the Summer and, crucially, to add more goals to his game. 

Finally, Kevin Nolan is a problematic figure. He has been a figure of fan-frustration at times, however, he is likely to chip in with a goal, and finishing is something the Hammers' probably lack. If Allardyce was to push forward with 'gegenpressing', he would probably have to sacrifice Nolan, his captain and a player he has had a long association with. Nolan lacks the intense energy and play-making skills and could probably be relegated to a 'plan B' for West Ham. This is another role that, if disciplined enough, Morrison could fulfil. It seems a little harsh on Nolan, who is good at what he does, but he simply doesn't suit the system.

Attack - Andy Carroll

Who said the centre-forward is dead? Because of Barcelona's interchangeable 5 foot-somethings amongst the front three, there was a great hysteria that the number 9 was dead, a fossil of the shameful past of muddy pitches and two-footed slide tackles. Carroll himself became somewhat of an unjust symbol for this. But both Dortmund and Atletico have strikers over six-foot in the form of Robert Lewandowski and Diego Costa. Incredibly Lewandowski is set to move to Bayern Munich to play under 'tiki-taka' pioneer Pep Guardiola whilst Costa has forced away into the Spain side! The rebirth is here. 

There are few better than Andy Carroll in the air and he is a fantastic asset for West Ham from crosses and winning the long-ball. Carroll is also a hard-worker and quicker than many think, meaning that he will help to maintain intensity high up the field by chasing down defenders and forcing errors. Perhaps dribbling could be worked on to give Carroll another element of penetration, but if the big-man stays fit he should fit into the system well.

It's clear that West Ham have the squad available to reinvent themselves somewhat to a more intense, energetic unit. Some Summer shopping will be needed to upgrade certain areas and strengthen the depth of the squad but the foundations are there. Despite some protestations, Allardyce should be greatly praised for the stability he has brought to the turbulent club so far - but now is a time in his career and the evolution of West Ham United to kick on and prove the critics wrong. 

For the sake of English football we must hope Allardyce gets the chance and isn't replaced by yet another young, foreign 'director of football' in a fancy suit, as that is the way many owners seem to be going. Give him a chance and who knows? In just a few years West Ham could be playing exciting football, in Europe, in a 60,000 stadium.