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New Stoke On The Horizon And Answers To Questions

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 12/04/2018 - 02:00

*This article was first published back in April, the newsnow auto regulator decided to re-publish!
We were asked a series of questions by Reuters News Agency regarding the club, about the next match, about the owners, the London Stadium, the season so far, the good and the ugly, and whether David Moyes will remain at the club.

The general consensus is that the Stoke City game is a season defining match, this is especially so given the other remaining matches West Ham have to play, none of them are easy therefore three points against Stoke is regarded as essential.

This is one of those games where the team that scores first will be in the ascendancy, a goal for Stoke early on could 'turn' the crowd. Much depends on Arnoutovic playing against his former club, if the traveling fans don't elect to stay at home and watch the match on TV then ironically their presence will probably spur him on to greater heights as they did when they gave him relentless 'stick' on his return to the bet 365 following his transfer to West Ham from Stoke.

Stoke can definitely pose a threat, as we previously mentioned, should they manage to score the first goal then the London Stadium could become toxic although it is very unlikely that there would be a repeat of the disgraceful scenes that occurred during the 3-0 home defeat by Burnley. If West Ham score first then it would be a completely different scenario that would see the home side probably romp home to a victory.

West Ham are not safe now, however West Bromwich Albion are gone, Huddersfield are in a downward spiral and Palace need to start turning good performances in to victories otherwise they will be sucked in to the drop zone. Swansea's resurgence has ground to a halt so they are not safe. Stoke are next in the vulnerability line and their fate will largely be dictated by their match against West Ham at the London Stadium, defeat will probably condemn them in joining West Brom and one other to Championship football next season.

There are very few positives to take from the season, very few at all! The emergence of Declan Rice from Academy player to the first team has been a welcome positive albeit one generated as a result of a once catastrophic injury list. The arrival of 'Super Mario' has been uplifting as has the general effort shown by the players since the arrival of David Moyes in place of Slaven Billic as manager.

The feeling among most of our members and most Hammers fans in general is one of unrest, if things had gone well this season then the feelgood factor would have over ridden the questions about funding and more importantly what to do with the dreadful eyesore of a stadium that replaced fans beloved Boleyn Ground. Things will be put on the back burner until the battle for Premiership survival is won or lost, but the discontent will not go away. Fans feel cheated, "they were sold a dream and were given a nightmare". Or in the words often sung by visiting supporters "you sold your soul for this **it hole".

Moyes is a strange managerial problem, it is without doubt his arrival was met with much discontent, but he began to rescue the sinking ship successfully until the recent series of three defeats by three goal margins cast a doubt over his ability to keep the club afloat. For Hammers fans they ca find hope in the fact that the teams currently below them all have to play games against fellow strugglers, so essentially they will be taking points off each other. As to whether Moyes would be a popular choice to stay on as manager he is a bit of a 'marmite' character, but many view him as a dour drab manager and would hope for someone with more panache and style, perhaps someone like Slaven Billic? -Ed

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asheshammer's picture

On Moyes, my view is: certainly not a manager with flair, never was nor will ever be, but I like him better than Allardyce and think he has more football nous than Slaven (who, though a really likeable guy, seemed out of his depth). Assuming we stay up (and that's nowhere near guaranteed), then I think Moyes should be given another season and FUNDS. Then we will see how he goes. My feeling is that we have the potential to become a very well-drilled, professional side, but probably mid-table, perhaps inside edge top ten. Would that be so bad after this season?

BTW, the recent defeats and struggles really coincide with the loss of Arthur "The Spit" Masuaku. What that suspension cost us we can only imagine. Not sure that it's Arthur alone who makes so much difference, but it's what his presence means for the whole way we set up and play.

RE: Stoke. I don't exactly have the Star Wars feeling about it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a VERY tough match. This is their last gasp effort and they will see us as beatable. West Ham not only need to score first but also second. The Chelsea match, though, has given me faith that we can efface a deficit, should the worst happen. And Hart's good performance is at least a little bit encouraging.

On the situation of the club, you're absolutely right that much still needs to be addressed. All in good time, I suppose. But SUGO and Brady are on notice. A nightmare can dissolve into nothing, or it can wake you up in a cold sweat, night after night. I've had too many of the latter this season!

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169 users have voted.
andycarrollstyle's picture

I'd like to see what he can do with a fresh season ahead and a bit of money to play with. May be a bit premature thinking but if we can sign Mario on a permanent deal and get in a tough tackling midfielder with a good engine who can hold a ball and pass well, then we will be somewhat on our way. The defence needs a major rehaul - but there's promising signs from Declan Rice at least. I think Moyes has for the most part been doing the right things and yes he can steady us back to mid table - just needs a bit of funds at his disposal...

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159 users have voted.

I think Moyes is the best we'll get to be honest. I'm not sure where everyone is coming from when saying 'given funds to build his own squad' or similar. How much do you all seriously reckon they'll hand over for transfers? I'd say not much going on past forays in the transfer market, There's a lot of older players that will be moving on without any money coming in, so we potentially need to buy in 2-3 players in each department. Aint gonna happen...As for Mario, great goal but one swallow doesn't make a Summer...Jury is out for me still

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84 users have voted.

Masuaku has really produced some creativity since coming back from his suspension. My feeling is that Moyes will stick with the team that started against Chelsea. He sees Chicarito as a super sub, who could add to the attack against a tiring opposition defence. But Lanzini could also be on the subs bench and brought on later in the match. The annoying part that can impact the teams spirit is news that players like Masuaku are a target for both Chelsea and Spuds. This nonsense can be as disrupting as Payet's constant links to big clubs like Man U, Liverpool and even Barcelona. Hopefully, this will not reflect on Masuaku with an air of a certain arrogance like it did with Payet. Why do the news media create such speculation at such a critical time of the season?? There is no way that West Ham will part with Masuaku, especially to a club like Spuds, unless they are willing to swap him for Kane!!

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148 users have voted.
mcbikeman's picture

like it has been said is a marmite manager and though not a fan of his I think he will of save us from relegation and that has to be a job well done considering the mess we were/are in and I doubt we could find another manager right now who would want to walk into a club that is basically on the verge if not already a civil war....the squad needs reshaping badly from back to the front and that is going to take a lot of money....money they have but when it comes to spending it we no what they are like...."get behind us we need your help to stay up and then we will make changes" that is what we have been told and if sugo&Brady think that when we stay up the fans will forget and they can carry on as they have been doing well we will soon see a return of the scenes witnessed at the Burnley match...it is going to be a long summer indeed world cup or not the board have to start making changes the moment we are safe....no more throwing names out to the media of this player and that give moyes the funds let him make the decisions on who he wants and who he does not....chelski have found out damn quick that if you recruit players instead of letting the manager then things go pear shaped like they did for the moany one two seasons back...conte looks as pissed off as we west ham fans have for most of the season..

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131 users have voted.

Absolutely spot on Mac. Trouble is now it's a World Cup year, players will be more expensive and will come in later and also not be available till the season has started! My philosophy is to stay clear of most of the players going to the World Cup. There are plenty about who won't be but can still do a job for us. For me tHis gives Sullivan an excuse to buy late and say it's a struggle to get players in.

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151 users have voted.
mcbikeman's picture

just gives agents a chance to hike up the prices if one of there players has a good few weeks so I agree steer clear of those...if Fulham are not promoted we all no moyes is keen on cairney and fredericks and I like the look of the lad maddison from Norwich these players are not world cup bound so should be able to get deals done in a reasonable time but again it is all down to how the board want to proceed..

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126 users have voted.
asheshammer's picture

could at least help solidify our premier league status. Hate to say it but we are back at square one ("Do not pass Go, Do not Collect $200"), and what we need next season is to avoid any concern, at any time, that we are next for the drop. Then and only then can we start looking up.

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126 users have voted.

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