Just read West Ham could be in for

[A Quiet Monkfish]

I'm genuinely surprised to see the comments here.

When ML departed I was horrified because he was pivotal. That was a big blow.

When I saw the managers comments recently that he intended to sell more players, probably not buy any more and by this means achieve promotion, I was very concerned .

I was sad to see Etheridge go but accepted that because he was too good to be a reserve.

When they sold Callum I thought it was a huge mistake because he was the universal sticking plaster when there was a hole in the team either through injury or poor performance - a priceless asset.

Okay, now they speak of letting the captain go, and if that happens it'll be the end of all continuity and all connection with the incredible progress of the last decade. A public declaration that ambition has been abandoned.

I don't like to say it, but these are the cumulative signs of a team in its way to league one, not the Premiership. Let's hope there's a quick reversal of this negative stance and some new players brought in , or it will be too late.

I said last month that this squad has all the feelings of a team in decline. Having said that, would there ever be a better time to start re-building the squad into something a bit more balanced ? Providing we stay clear of a relegation battle - by no means a certainty with the current squad IMHO - the manager can use this behind-closed-doors season to put the City on a stronger footing for 9-10 months' time. Financially it's going to be make or break for many Championship clubs. Better to hibernate for the football spring, when it arrives..