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So I wanted to make a reflection on the season, even though it's not finished. Yes crazy I know. What have I learnt about football this year? Well I used to think that those that spent the most won the league. I know that fat lady hasn't sung yet, but even finishing second would be an astronomical feat for Leicester. I used to think that the old dogs of football managers were canny, knew how to keep teams safe or guarantee Champions League football. I used to think that young up and coming mangers British or foreign, were risky, reckless appointments. I used to think Eden Hazard was a wonderful player. I used to think Aston Villa was a big club. I used to think Championship players couldn't cut it in the Premier League. I used to think top 12 safety was a good season. I started to believe the West Ham way was a myth. I started to believe young players couldn't be trusted. So what have I learnt? That football is still a sport. It's not just a machine of PR and Sky sales. Hard work, team, passion, motivation, hunger, is still the main stay of any sport, especially football this year. I hope that Leicester win the League, I hope they do well in the Champions League next year, there's no reason they shouldn't. I hope we finish 4th and I hope that a generation of kids start to realise that life is about guts, highs and lows and fight. You can have all the skills in the world but you still have to work and try hard. I hope then that we revere the Vardys, Kantes, Drinkwaters, Nobles, Antonios and Kouyates as much as the Payets, Mahrez's, Lanzinis and Ozils. As they typify for me why this season has changed how I see football now.
If we keep going like this we
If we keep going like this we could end up as the best prem side in the east end of London
What I've learnt this season
What I've learnt this season is super slav is a boody record breaker,West Ham PL records broken this season:
- Longest unbeaten run
- Longest unbeaten home run
- Most points
- Positive GD for the first time, Not one Premier League team done a double over us this season! Beat Liverpool 3 times What an Amazing Season and its not finished!be careful what you wish for they said ;)
Leicester City have had a
Leicester City have had a truly amazing season,I have never known a rag-bag team of bit players come together to reach the pinnacle of achievement in English football.Ranieri deserves so much credit for what he has achieved in producing a footballing success that keeps on grinding out the results.The players who have all responded to a man,now the likes of Vardy,Mahrez,Kante,Schmeichel,Drinkwater,have become household names and ,no doubt,added millions to their valuation.To me they have accomplished the greatest achievement of any Premiership club,because they done it on a shoe-string budget,something ,I think ,will never be repeated.As for Westham,their season under Bilic certainly comes second for what he has achieved.An amazing transformation in playing style and results he has brought about .It's nice now being able to watch a game with Westham not on the back foot for 80% of the game,defending their goal.If Bilic can just make some fine tuning to Westham's attack and add a little more steel to the defence then they won't be far off from competing for the title themselves.We are not far from being a very good side,and I hope with 3 ,possibly 4 more quality signings ,next season should see some silverware.
CL Spot still a slim possibility
If Arsenal had lost (and given that first half, they could have), then I'd say our chances were even better. But if either of them fail to get points out of 2 of their final games (Arsenal only have 2 left), we could do it. It's all for us to do ourselves, though: Swansea (h), Manchester United (h), Stoke (a) -- we can win all three, and regardless must do everything in our power to win all three. Arsenal have City (a) but then Aston Villa (h). Still, stranger things have happened than to lose your CL spot at home against the 20th placed side on the last day of the season! City have Southampton (a) and then Arsenal (h) and Swansea (a) -- not beyond the realm of possibility that they lose the next two.
But the Europa league is calling us, and that is entirely within our own hands. Win out, and we have 5th. The determination of the West Ham team (seen in getting the 3rd goal against WBA) should not be underestimated. Manchester United have a harder run in than us now. They must face a high flying Leicester and a desperate Norwich side before they come back to the Boleyn for the final fixture there. Unless the referees get involved again, I fancy us to win that one.
Already our best EPL points total and goal difference EVER, already the greatest season in my West Ham memory, and must rank up there with the greatest in a lot of people's memories. Are we as good as the WEST HAM teams of the early 80s? Or mid 60s? Does it bear comparison? I'd love to hear from those who remember.
Not even close
To being as good as the team of the 80's. Or some of the teams of the 70's. Indeed, our most successful teams were the 60's. I'll start comparing the current team when they actually win something. Sorry but this has been one weird season. Winning games we don't expect to, losing games we should have won, Leicester top of the table, moneybags Chelsea floundering. I expect normal service to resume next season.
The fans singing 'are you
The fans singing 'are you watching Allardyce' towards the end of the game yesterday sums up the season for me. Gone from long ball no hopers to European hopefuls. Be careful what you wish for
Is that an awful lot of hot
Is that an awful lot of hot air was spouted on here about " the dildo brothers" by dildos.
They've all gone AWOL Roberto
They've all gone AWOL Roberto. The doomsayers and "porno King bashers". Still we are moving to the OS shortly so the, "they're only in it for the money" propaganda will re-surface. I'd love some on here to have the guts to fess up to being knockers of our owners and "be careful what you wish for" merchants. I doubt it though. I'd also love the media to do an edit of those so called pundits, writing off Leicester all season. Look at soccer Saturday, Paul Merson, really? Someone who's views and opinions we look for. A washed up gambler and alcoholic, totally biased towards Arksnal. One thing this season has showed me is that these pundits are a load of bollox, and the doomsayers love spurting off then hide when they're wrong.
Still around
Life's too busy and frankly the site has been ridiculously boring.
Little to no debate. Its all too sanitised and PC. No bollox, ironically....
I'll never apologise for being right. I don't think we should have gone for SSB at the time we did. It was a huge risk of madmen proportions. However, it is a gamble that paid off. Am I sorry that a gambler (s) won? no. More worried than ever in fact. However, sometimes the gamble pays off. And it has, handsomely. So yes, like a non gambler that finds the winning ticket, I'll gratefully receive the riches.
that's what I don't get with this witch hunt of Lawrenson. Sure he's a shrivelled buffont wearing gimp, but his predictions were based on history and form. I was fully expecting us to lose the next game from September through to February. Its in built in the psyche of fans and observers (fade n die). However, what has been the biggest joy is watching commentators like him not only converted, but them noticing a full culture and philosophy change at our club.
This isn't luck (though it could have been). This has been a concerted campaign of clever transfers. A wonderful appreciated of tradition, crowd feelings, emotion awareness.
The bow on the top has been the man himself. SSB has not only succeeded a successful man (irrespective of your opinion of the man) but he has stamped himself over the club with such a fervour and relish, fans are dizzy trying to see where he has the ability to take us next.
So in summary, others have little to apologise for. People may have got things wrong, but we all do. Life is too short to apologise for thoughts and opinions over a silly game (unless of course someone hurt you andmade you cry, in which case they should apologise).
I confess SSB has made me more moist than most hardcore porn I've watched. But for this I'm grateful. More than he'll ever know.
May he continue to give me the horn.
How goes it Betty.
How goes it Betty.
Wow. Is this not an exciting ride we are on.
Our old friend West Ham has returned (despite the lack of investment....ahem) .
Its been a very interesting season and as you point out Leicester have totally and utter proved the old saying " hard work only beats skill when skill doesnt work hard"!!
To that end the players of Chelsea, Arsenal,Man U and Man City (to a lesser extent maybe given their Champs League progress) have been an embarrassment to their clubs for most of the campaign whilst the aforementioned Leicester,ourselves,Soton and to a lesser extent Stoke have proven what happens when you get a solid Manager with a good game plan at the helm and him believing in the players and vice versa.
We are playing with flair which has been so bereft in recent times and its a joy to see it return.
Hope you (and the Swolloxettes) are all good fella.
All good mate. Looking
All good mate. Looking forward to the last game at UP. I hope you and you're family especially daughter are well?