After a long winded transfer window, we finally managed to capture the signing of Alex Song on deadline day.
The 27-year-old Cameroon international spent the entire course of last season on loan for us, with his performances up until Christmas being exceptional.
However, his form dipped after the festive period, which showed in our results with only one win in eleven games. This year will be different with the likes of Pedro Obiang, Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini all looking like they have a point to prove.
Alex Song is going to have to fight for his place in the starting line-up and although he came from Barcelona, he will have to show that form from last season if he is to impress under the new manager Slaven Bilic.
Alex Song is still set to be injured for the next two months, so it could potentially be November by the time he is ready to be included in the squad. This raises the point of how he is going to fit in. If we are playing very well and our midfield three are looking strong, Bilic is a manager that is reluctant to change a winning side, so he will not be able to walk straight into the starting XI.
Every West Ham fan who watched Song play last season will know what quality he brings to the team. He made more tackles in the Premier League than any other player last season, which proves how important he was to our success during the first half of the season.
He was the player breaking up the play and giving our defense such great cover, which allowed the likes of Cresswell and Jenkinson to bomb forward and create more chances.
I think in terms of positions on the pitch, Song is not the most versatile of players, and is most effective when sitting in front of the back four. However, skipper Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyaté have both been performing exceptionally well, with Kouyaté providing either a goal or an assist in all four games so far, so for Alex Song to get in there, he is going to have to be on the top of his game for Bilic to consider him for a place in the team.
The depth we have this season, especially in midfield, is going to lead to greater competition for places, which will hopefully improve individual performances and show in our results. We have the depth to compete in the league, which the young players will benefit from, and it may be the case that injured players like Song will be eased back into action via cup games.
Overall, Alex Song is a fantastic signing to get for another year and he is going to help us to perform against the big and small teams, so for us fans it is great to see the depth in the squad, but it must give Slaven a headache!
So once Alex is back, hopefully he will be raring to go with a point to prove to Slaven and the rest of the team.
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