Rarely do the sporting planets align as much as they have done for West Ham United recently, from turning the Toxic Bowl Stadium that was not fit for purpose into a glorious experience, to creating a team that is resolute and mostly pleasing on the eye.
The old adage that there is no I' in the word team is totally exemplified by the David Moyes' players on the pitch, IRRESPECTIVE of which team he selects they perform as a team whoever takes to the pitch, with possibly one exception, give their all and run their hearts out for their manager and their fans.
The transformation the club has undergone in the last nineteen months is nothing short of incredible, teams who used to see a Hammers fixture as a possible gimme have been forced to reappraise their opinion big time! With the current success comes the added bonus of players' development, especially in the form of Issa Diop.
Diop along with 'Les' Dawson was imperious in defence and continued along on his rich vein of form that has seen him return to being the superb player he was when he first arrived at the club. Then signing of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea could have signalled the end for Diop, with many fans wanting the ex-Toulouse player sold to the highest bidder, thank the big man upstairs that he wasn't. Because far from pushing Diop out the door, Zouma;'s arrival has helped Diop enormously, having a fellow french speaker who is also one of the best centre backs around to learn from has proved to be a fundamental part of Diop's 'rebirth'.
During the City game Diop repeatedly got his body on the line, but he also carried the ball out of defence with confidence and aplomb, not an easy task when you consider he was up against DeBruyne, Sterling and most of the City 1st team all stars.
Les and the Og are both in their thirties and realistically cannot have many seasons left in them, mind you trying to tell either of them that at the moment probably risks a crunching tackle in response, but eventually they will have to cede to the next generation of players, and what better pairing than Diop and Zouma? Those two players, along with the superb Alphonse Areola, could be Hammers back line for the next FIVE years at least!
Diop is back, now he can start being the 'monster' that Mourinho always said he was! LN
Comments
Sometimes we miss these moments...
Issa Diop is back and always had the ability, but had simply lost his confidence. For this, he needed to be taken out of the firing line and given a reset. Nothing happens by accident under Moyes and by getting Big Kurt in, he not only purchased a top defender but got a fellow countryman who Diop would respect and be mentored by without the feeling of being forced out of the club, and last night was the rebirth of the player we purchased.
After last nights performance, a couple of things struck me, one of those points might be slightly controversial... but it is what it is!
Firstly, 'Les' Dawson's arrival at the club was a game-changer, in so much as many of our supporters who wanted a glamorous signing, fuelled by all of the speculations, were "Shocked, Stunned and Spitting Feathers" when it was finally confirmed that Dawson had been signed. The anger grew as he didn't play for a while (which is customary with Moyes).... but when we did eventually see Dawson, we (including me) were shocked and STUNNED......what a player and what a bargain. Many of those supporters had to hold their hands up and admit that Moyes is the manager this club has needed forever... That was Moment number one.
Moment number 2 has more to do with the realisation...
A bit like Cosa Nostra... The Boleyn Ground was this thing of "ours"... we wanted it to remain that way, a bit like keeping a large tree in a small pot, eventually, it will die. (clears throat)... Sometimes we DON'T always know what is best for us and Cannot always see the Big Picture... Last Night I saw the "Big Picture", and I realised that the lifeblood of ANY CLUB is being able to attract new supporters, who can watch their team play. That Dream happened for THOUSANDS of Kids last night at the London Stadium as well as international Hammers who came to watch their team play which coincidentally (despite its flaws) the London Stadium was able to do in accommodating all of our supporters...
This thing of ours is now this thing of "OURS" and maybe the owners will be looked at differently in years to come.... and my disclaimer is that they haven't been my favourites at times, but I didn't see this realisation coming as I was simply interested in west ham the local brand instead of the International Brand West Ham United! I have recently seen on social media supporters in Hollywood in their masses celebrating West Ham doing the spuds...
Last Night's game was both a culmination of performances and realisation!
COYI
Well written, many of us have
Well written, many of us have had to eat so much humble pie we could make a smokin' album! (you have to be of a certain age)
I'd spend 30 days in the hole
I'd spend 30 days in the hole if it means we get to lift silverware this season! Nice reference Nev, Steve Marriott - total legend
He was a really lovely man,
He was a really lovely man, very humble and a superb singer as well as being a great guitar player! I miss him R.I.P
My first fav band ,the small
My first fav band ,the small faces ,back then it was mods & rockers, it was either the S F s or the rolling stones ,most of the greasers used to go for the stones cant think why, maybe because they were the complete opposite of us mods lot ,the small faces.
Hard to believe its 21 years ago sinse his tragic death
RIP Stevie
I was born in the wrong era,
I was born in the wrong era, wish I could of been around in the 60s and 70s for all the great bands. The Faces with Ronnie wood and Rod were also a great band and if you get the chance to see Passing Show documentary, very touching tribute to Ronnie Lane, made by an old colleague of mine it's well worth checking out. Wish I could play guitar and sing like steve mariott though!
Thanks Nev...
Yes, Nev, I got the bug in the mid to late sixties (after our successes) and I've been infected ever since. Since our meteoric rise under Sir Moyes (soon to be I'm sure), I now understand that we have supporters in great numbers all around the world and many of them will now be able to have the chance (travel permitting) to see West Ham live, whereas this would not have been possible before the move. A 60.000 full house for a Carabao cup match on a Wednesday night!!!
When some said that once we start creating memories at the stadium, it would feel like home, I was a little sceptical... But it is our combined spirit that will make it work or not... and I'm sure that the Citeh players felt that spirit from the twelfth man last night. This West Ham KEEPS surpasses my expectations every week and I have to keep pinching myself. Once our intimidation x-factor starts affecting the teams that we play, our progress as a club will start to shift gears. COYI
We
are living the dream
Like what you said about Les
Like what you said about Les ,Green st,hes emerging as my favourite player ,theres no bullshit with him,he does what hes told to do ,no big wage demands and seeking out the limelight ,down to earth old fashioned back 4 player ,well done Les ,im as pleased as p##s for you .
Same here...
As a West Ham supporter, I have always felt like an underdog and love it when we triumph against adversity. As soon as "Les" stepped out for us, against the background of not being good enough to play in the Premier League and labelled as a has-been... I was shocked and still am as Dawson more than stepped up to the plate, has never hidden and gives 100% every time he pulls on the shirt for us. His opportunity to shine has come late in his career, but he has proven beyond all doubt, that he is more than good enough to play at this level and deserves ALL of the plaudits that he now receives. I am also one of our supporters who is rooting for him all the way... Top man and player!
Now if he could learn to play
Now if he could learn to play piano out of tune he would be the complete package! (playing the piano out of tune, but perfectly in time is incredibly difficult)