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West Ham quietly build
Written by Sawyer | 25th July 2006 | 2 Comment(s)
Alan Pardew emerged from his first Premiership season by ramming his critics comments back down their throats. Amidst headlines of Italian match fixing, World Cups and diving, Pardew has quietly gone about his business of preparing his team for another tough campaign.
However, not every target can be secured and Bayer Leverkusen officials have downplayed talk of Switzerland international Tranquillo Barnetta leaving the German club.
The 21-year-old Barnetta's strong performance at the World Cup raised his profile significantly, leading to interest from a number of clubs and a confirmed bid from West Ham United.
Nonetheless, Leverkusen director of football operations Rudi Voller insists that Barnetta is not for sale and that he figures prominently in the club's future plans.
''It is not an issue for us,'' Voller, the former Germany coach, told Kicker magazine.
''Tranquillo is an important part of our plans.''
He continued, ''There is still room for improvement and we would rather extend his contract. I expect him to go beyond the level he is already at.''
Barnetta scored 6 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season as Leverkusen finished 5th but failed to qualify for European football ending the Bundesliga season nine points adrift of Schalke 04.
Their chances in the German Cup vanquished at the hands of SV Hamburg in the second round, but of course West Ham will enter the Uefa Cup even though they were defeated by Liverpool in a thrilling final on penalties, which could be a persuasive factor for Barnetta even though his club is showing little interest at present.
Alan Pardew has quietly and impressively gone about his work during the summer as he builds his squad for the extra challenge of European football.
He has managed to strengthen in all areas of the field with Tyrone Mears and Jonathan Spector bolstering the defence and Carlton Cole becoming the fifth English forward on the books.
In midfield he has the returning Lee Bowyer to call on, but it would appear he is keen to add further reinforcements.
Matthew Etherington, Yossi Benayoun, Hayden Mullins and Nigel Reo-Coker shared most of the responsibility last season, and this where Pardew is right to look to add someone like Barnetta as The Hammers look to improve and take on the extra games in Europe.
West Ham has a reasonable chance to get off to a good start again this term with home games with Charlton and Aston Villa and a trip to Watford for their first away fixture.
After the Watford match will be an FA Cup re-match with Liverpool at Anfield, which should hold few fears after the battling display in Cardiff.
Recent rumours suggest that Pardew is linked with Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo, and following an excellent season last time round you wouldn't bet against the Hammers' boss bringing in a couple more signings even if Barnetta may or may not be one of them.
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Comments
Comment by dan on Wednesday 26 July 2006 @ 2:59pm
Comment by alwyn jones on Tuesday 25 July 2006 @ 7:54pm
i hope west ham carry off where they left last season. we need the backing of the board to prove what they keep promising and give pardew the cash to splash.we also need to keep the players especially talks of ashton going to newcastle which would be a totally sily move, when you think of the season we have had. bring on the good times ansd support pardew and the hammers. thanks
i think someone like barnetta would be an excellent signing i would also like another striker that scores and creates like zlatan ibrahimovic and i feel we need another midfielder perhaps petrov at celtic. we need a much bigger squad then last year as we have to be able to cope wiv more games as we have league cup, premiership, fa cup and the uefa cup and i have every faith in pardew and the signings he will bring in and i am still against the bowyer signing he is a quality player but is also a liability but the rumours of transfers we have been linked with sound good and i reckon we will have a good run in the uefa cup (touch wood) come on you irons