Are we Franchise United?

So, after the humiliating result against Arsenal just what exactly is going wrong at West Ham? Allow me vent my spleen and share my experiences and thoughts.

As usual I was at game at some considerable cost in terms of monies spent on season tickets, travel, food, drink etc and in time, each home game takes me over two hours door to door.

The day starts with a drink, our watering hole of choice is the Bat N’ Ball in Westfield where you que up to get in, have to show your ticket to the bouncer, pay over the odds for a pint in a plastic glass, actually it’s not a pint as they always deliver half measures which I guess is in keeping with the football I will injure later. The door staff I guess are an necessity to avoid trouble between rival fans but a smile or even a welcome would be appreciated besides, Im paying top dollar for this half measure.

The walk to the stadium is a mess, I can’t go direct through Westfield and have to shuffle back to the station and be herded the long way to the LS. At the stadium the stewards carryout the worst checks ever experienced, sloppy to say the least and these guys would never get a job at Heathrow. But, its lovely to know they are footie fans, unfortunately they support Arsenal…. Yes, I said Arsenal, don’t believe me? Check out Arsenal TV. So, can this also be connected to the troubles with the Sit Down Stand Up brigade and the heavy handed approach by the clowns in florescent jackets?

Inside the ground we have time to que for another beer at a more reasonable price. Take our seats in the Trevor Brooking stand, have a fab view and surrounded by really lovely people who already feel like family. We are West Ham dyed in the wool and normally full of optimism although after the reality of OT we are a little apprehensive. I share with them my bets for the day, always long odds on first goal scorer, Oggy and Mussy at 100 to one.

Game starts and already we are under the cosh, tragic error by Oggy and we are one down but by half time, this could have been more thinking Wenger will be the most upset given the chances missed. The second half needs no comment apart from a moment when a ball boy throws the ball not to a West Ham player but basically yards in the wrong direction. We laugh, that is until we then see on Twitter OUR ball boys having a selfie after the match with Cazola, all smiles. Don’t believe me… hit the web. So again, we have more Arsenal fans in the club?

At 5-1 down we are still sat there in a now rather empty stadium, accept the Gooner section, with minutes left. Heads are down and we look second best in all departments.

Crowning glory for the day is the trudge back to Stratford but this time we are stopped half way to allow a few hundred Arsenal supporters priority on the road. Thousands of Hammers fans stopped and like mugs we accept it but not for me, this is the straw that broke the back when a mild mannered, short fat 57 year old flipped! I gave these clowns full barrel and guess what, lots of other people also made the their thoughts know and abracadabra we got the priority!

Back to the first comment, whats going wrong? On the pitch, plenty but manly attitude which according to Slav is even seen in training! Off the pitch, behind the scenes there is a rift between Slav and the playing staff. The injuries don’t help but the last transfer window, apart from Fletcher, was shocking business. Dimi is not bothered, so let him and many others go. Make Lanzini skipper and build a team around him! As for the Bowl of Misery, either buy it out right or rebuild.

UP is gone, our homeland is gone, Stratford has no links to West Ham United, the locals don’t like football or prefer Arsenal, we have no home, remember we only have rights to the stadium for 19 days in 365 unless we have cup games. The heart and soul has been ripped out of our club, time to admit we were sold a pup and its time to make a noise because I feel the anger brewing that will make the Bond Scheme look like a kids party. The Holy Trinity will eventually sell and Baroness Branded Brady will swan off into the sunset leaving us to support Franchise United, wanderers of East London!