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To Hull and back!
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Well the usual bus load of Scots based Hammers for this trip (personally my first of the season) was reduced to Two Scots and two Scots based Cockneys in a Silver Ford Focus and I was the last pick up point in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire after Scotty (no not the Star Trek one) made an early start to from Glasgow to Kilmarnock firstly to pick up Mark who could not get the train to Scotlands former city of culture as the station was shut! Yes public transport here is dire. Back to Glasgow to pick up fellow Cockney Stephen and then on to me outside McDonalds with my Latte in hand. The trip not hampered by regular stops for the loo due to excessive consumption of alcohol but rain did somewhat blight the journey. We arrived in Hull parked in Prospect car park and made our way to the Admiral of the Humber, on our way we discovered that obviously to become the City of Culture requires a Debenhams, House of Fraser, a tarted up train station, a war memorial and a Chicken George fast (I use the word loosely) food outlet. Met up with Aycliffe and lil Aycliffe in the Admiral and not a bad boozer (well been in worse) and yes Aycliffe and Son looking well folks. Well off to anther boozer where we were snapped with our very own "Full Kit W*anker" in his bright orange goalie strip and jazz hands. Not the usual atmosphere but ok. We got to the KCOM without any hassle and looked forward to the game.... Both teams started nervy and as was discussed before the game we were somewhat concerned about Snoddy and Fegs. Both sides disjointed but we started to get a grip and lo and behold a super cross from Cresswell and Carroll brought down the ball and superbly slotted home. Hull were on their knees at this stage fans and team alike heads dropped and they were for the taking. While we put crosses in the box we had no one to put the chances away! Jermaine Defoe haters beware cos he would have pounced on at least to of them and put the game to bed. Second half and instead of going in for the kill we sat back (a la Big Sam style) invited pressure and lo and behold Hull score via a full back who has never scored for them (ever) Substitutions made but skipper Nobes remained on the bench? Cress came off as did Snoddy and on came Masuaku and Fernandes. Snodgrass was ineffective as he has been and does not like to take players on and despite playing on his preferred left kept passing to Cress. Feghouli did little to impress but did try! though he would not be my first pick. Fonte is not settling as well as hoped Collins did well enough but our defences' positional play and marking is poor. Our two stand outs on the day were Lanzini and Carroll who covered practically every blade of grass. If and that is a big IF I could have changed anything about yesterdays' game whilst it was in progress is from 5 mins after the break I would have put Noble on for Snodgrass and Fernandes for Feghouli, were were missing urgency and purpose and Noble can at least spot a pass! but 5 mins remaining we concede again and our worst fears realised! Calleri was sent on and we all knew we were getting nothing.
So final whistle and back to the car (20 min or so walk) Mark and Stephen into to Chicken George whilst Scotty (still not the Star Trek one) and I waited patiently! On the way home we analysed the game and yep like most came to the same conclusions.... defence needs sorted, Snodgrass and Feghouli are not up to the task and we really did miss Noble, Obiang and an out and out striker! Well around 10pm I got dropped off in Hamilton found my car locked in the car park (which closed at 9pm doh!) ...ahem managed to get it out and slip off home only to be welcomed by the little woman who greeted me with "Oh you're back earlier than expected" followed by "I see you lost"! as if I needed reminding! But I will be at the LS next week for Swansea more in hope than expectation! Despite Saturday's defeat I enjoyed my day, supporting my club .. it's what I do, head up and go again.
papers/rumours/the board
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Yet another defeat and a very nailbiting (thank god for false ones)end to the season for us and yet I see another story about another player Wilshire this time that we want to buy and would pay £30million for him.Now why are stories like this surfacing? of course I understand about rumours and clubs no doubt planning for next season but come on we seem to have so many stories leaking about players we are chasing it is embarrassing.the time for this is at the end of the season not now when all the concentration should be on keeping us in the premiership.and who believes we would pay that much for any player? last summers saga of smoke and mirrors was bad enough but here we go again it seems.
The morning after!!
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Weve had some really poor performances lately,but that one yesterday really hit home....
As usual i feel sorry for our amazing away support,vocal & many in number they are an absolute credit to the club.
So whats gone wrong?? Not long ago we were heading for "boring" mid-table obscurity,but in typical westham style we like to make it hard for ourselves & its the arse up next & we are fighting to stay up!!
Only at westham can we buy 2 players who were outstanding at their previous clubs & they turn out to be benni mac &
nigel quashie in disguise!!
The real possibility of going down is there now,every other club fighting for survival will relish playing us at the moment,so what do we do?? Do we replace slav with a temporary manager??Thoughts...
Rethink the Rio decision
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of course it will fall on deaf ears but surely Slaven should be on the phone and admit he needs help to sort out our porous defence...Rio offered to help and got a thanks but no thanks but recent performances if you can call them that have been so bad opposing teams don't have to do much to score against us.So a man who has been one of the best defenders this club/country has produced in the last 50years surely he must be given the chance to help a club he clearly still loves
9points what 9 points
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whilst I am not a person to go overboard on a defeat todays comes very close to being the straw that breaks the camels back. our manager was looking for 9 points from the Bournemouth/Leicester/hull games as these were matches we could some say should win but alas all we have are 0 points and are gathering speed towards the relegation zone and with confidence low we trot off to the gooners to restore there confidence.so I ask where is our next point coming from? friends say don't worry you still have Swansea and burnley to play we'll be alright I am glad of there optimism because right now I am low on that.
if and right now its a big if we stay up the people from the top to the bottom of the club need to take a long hard look at themselves and ask what do they really want to do?
Hull City FC v West Ham United Confirmed Team Sheets
Hull: Jakupovic, Robertson, Maguire, Ranocchia, Davies, Elmohamady, Clucas, N'Diaye, Markovic, Hernandez, Niasse Subs: Marshall, Meyler, Maloney, Grosicki, Diomande, Dawson, Henriksen
West Ham: Randolph, Collins, Byram, Fonte, Cresswell, Feghouli, Kouyate, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Carroll, Ayew Subs: Adrian, Masuaku, Nordtveit, Fernandes, Noble, Fletcher, Calleri
Tottenham And Chelsea Eyeing London Stadium Deals
Chelsea have held talks with West Ham United over a potential ground share at the London Stadium during the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge, the club would prefer to play home matches at Wembley during the three years when their new stadium is being built, but have opened talks about other grounds within the M25 in case they are unable to reach an agreement with the FA. At one time they were even considering doing a deal with Brentford, as a possible move to Twickenham has been ruled out due to opposition from the Rugby Football Union and local residents. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is unavailable due to the strict limit on the number of events it can stage, which is set by Islington council.
To further confuse an already 'hazy' situation, our old friend Danny Levy has kicked in with an inquiry about Tottenham ground sharing the London Stadium instead of using Wembley during their ground redevelopment, this course of action has been brought about due to the appalling string of results they have endured during their ill-fated European football adventure this season playing their 'home' games at Wembley.
While Chelsea's communication regarding a ground share has been direct and above board, the same cannot be said about Tottenham's approach. It seems that the recent official investigation (costing over £140,000) in to escalating costs was instigated by certain individuals who most definitely do not have the well being of West Ham United at heart, because the London Stadium is publicly owned and only rented for match days by the club there is a legal precedence that could see a sharing move forced through without the club's approval!
Of course such a decision would cause uproar among the Hammers faithful, and it wouldn't go down too well with many Tottenham fans either, the potential problems of sharing with Chelsea are acute and plentiful, but sharing with Spurs? Only harm can come from such a cash driven situation, which again focuses attention on the appalling lack of joined up thinking in the original decisions about the design of what was the Olympic Stadium. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if only West Ham or Tottenham or Chelsea or all three clubs had been consulted ahead of the construction, such a crazy waste of resources could have been avoided. The common wealth stadium now known as the Etihad is a case in point how careful long term planning CAN actually avoid the type of 'white elephant' structures that litter the globe following the hosting of International sporting events. - Ed
An Empty Feeling!
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Are David Gold and David Sullivan REALLY West Ham fans? REALLY??
Before I begin writing this article I just want to say that West Ham fans are brilliant! I am not too sure about the two above though. Are they really interested in what the fans want? I know football is a business Blah Blah Blah! These two guys are businessmen but they are not very good football Club owners.
I have written previous articles and been slated for having an opinion but we are all entitled to have a say. I listen to TalkSport and like most people I believe Jayson Cundy doesn’t speak much sense! But the other night he said “Bilic should walk” and I totally agree with him on this.
Slaven has been treated abysmally by the board but why should anyone be surprised? What a pile of crap they recruited in the summer! There’s no point moaning at the players. If another company offered you better money to do a job you knew you weren’t good enough for would you still take the job? You cannot blame Bilic because his hands were tied. There is no way on earth he would’ve wanted the likes of Feghouli and Nortvedt. Building a team around Andy Carroll again is suicidal! The owners must be brain dead to not be able to see he’s a liability. Yes on his day great but injured every other month. Yet they continue to make him the focal point! I believe the club is in complete disarray!
I’m not surprised Payet left he is far too good a player and he was poorly let down. Had they gone out and spent 50-60million on new players to compliment him then we may have seen a different story. I’m sick of even looking at that stadium I absolutely hate it. Pathetic design 50 feet away from the pitch! Mark Noble has suffered becoming so exposed on such a huge surface and he is so often the scapegoat. It’s hardly ever full so what’s the point of attempting to increase the capacity when you can’t even fill it as it is?! Too much of the last year has been spent talking bull**** by the owners! The digital wrap to go around the stadium and the promise of top 4 football! Come on! seriously who are you trying to fool!? No player with any ounce of self respect would want to join such an amateur circus!
The manager should’ve been backed in the Summer and was promised a 30m striker. I know fans will say oh we did try but nobody wants to go there. Did they really try that hard? I don’t believe they did. They are so tight with the cash it’s unbelievable. They are duplicitous and always trying to cut corners. The Fans treated like dirt, fed lie after lie and I refuse now to be part of it.
'Well you’re not a real fan!’ I hear you groan. And I should stick with my team through thick and thin. Well, for all these new fans who have become keyboard warriors slating the team during a match and then waxing lyrical about the same player ten minutes later, I have attended games for thirty years and travelled 6 hours there and 6 hours back, so before anyone moans, I used to be one of the most loyal fans you could ever meet. And like most Hammers it is was as much a joy watching them play as it was to stand in that fiery atmosphere.
I had heroes whilst growing up, Di Canio, Lampard, Joe Cole, even though the latter two are roughly my age I loved them and idolised them. However, I look around now and see absolutely nothing at all that inspires me. I’m not going to waffle on about how hard life can be and we have all had our bad times but when you experience life changing traumas it makes you realise these footballers are nothing. They are pampered, over priced and overpaid pre Madonnas. They are not heroes they are clueless about life with not even an ounce of resolve. They don’t even have to think for themselves. I do not get excited or breathless about the thought of watching West Ham players running out onto a pitch anymore. In fact, you could offer me a free season ticket and I would happily sell it. (like a lot of ‘fans’ selling their final Upton Park match ticket - remember?)
Enough is enough and I have voted with my feet. I’m no longer going to attend games, moan about what’s going on but still purchase merchandise and continue to increase the owner’s bank balance and ego’s. I asked myself ‘Why do I even bother?’ on hundreds of occasions. If something isn’t right change it don’t moan!
For 5 years from 2011-2015 I was an official partner of the club and my poetry was sold on merchandise. In that time I was always paid late, my emails were never replied to until I’d sent ten and called ten times! It used to be a family club where you could pick up the phone and call but now you sit on a premium rate phone line and half the time you don’t get through and get charged £40 for the joy of it!
The unprofessionalism is unbelievable. You have Gold trying to justify their decisions on Twitter, Sullivan just spouting lie after lie with Small Man syndrome! And Sullivan Junior speaking rubbish all the time. Not surprising as he been fed with a silver spoon and has nothing better to do. Before anyone says this is harsh do you honestly believe these ‘animals’ give a dam about you? They wouldn’t even urinate on you if you were on fire!
Why would a club be like this and why would you want to join it as a player or manager? I wasn’t a big fan of Big Sam but he was treated like crap, Zola too and keeping the trend, now with Bilic too. The less said about Avram Grant the better. The board potentially could’ve got Martin O’neill back then but as usual their big mouths got in the way! They are idiots!
The fans are fantastic but my previous ‘love' for West Ham United has just died. I understand fans will say I’m this and that but I refuse to be part of this anymore. I used to hear people say "Oh I love West Ham even though I don’t support them." You just don’t hear this anymore because they’ve just become a laughing stock in every single department. Other fans and teams have no respect for the club. It is a below average club with World class fans though unfortunately these fans are always sold down the river.
I have been blinkered for so so many years but the club are light years behind and stadium will not catapult them into the top 4. Some fans slate me for being honest but you can’t help the way you feel. Some people can accept being kept in the dark and live a lie. West Ham United FC died and became history when the club left Upton Park. It’s now a soulless commercial Enterprise and although I still look out for results and want to see them do well, I’m no longer a die hard fan!
An Empty Feeling!
Are David Gold and David Sullivan REALLY West Ham fans? REALLY??
Before I begin writing this article I just want to say that West Ham fans are brilliant! I am not too sure about the two above though. Are they really interested in what the fans want? I know football is a business Blah Blah Blah! These two guys are businessmen but they are not very good football Club owners.
I have written previous articles and been slated for having an opinion but we are all entitled to have a say. I listen to TalkSport and like most people I believe Jayson Cundy doesn’t speak much sense! But the other night he said “Bilic should walk” and I totally agree with him on this.
Slaven has been treated abysmally by the board but why should anyone be surprised? What a pile of crap they recruited in the summer! There’s no point moaning at the players. If another company offered you better money to do a job you knew you weren’t good enough for would you still take the job? You cannot blame Bilic because his hands were tied. There is no way on earth he would’ve wanted the likes of Feghouli and Nortvedt. Building a team around Andy Carroll again is suicidal! The owners must be brain dead to not be able to see he’s a liability. Yes on his day great but injured every other month. Yet they continue to make him the focal point! I believe the club is in complete disarray!
I’m not surprised Payet left he is far too good a player and he was poorly let down. Had they gone out and spent 50-60million on new players to compliment him then we may have seen a different story. I’m sick of even looking at that stadium I absolutely hate it. Pathetic design 50 feet away from the pitch! Mark Noble has suffered becoming so exposed on such a huge surface and he is so often the scapegoat. It’s hardly ever full so what’s the point of attempting to increase the capacity when you can’t even fill it as it is?! Too much of the last year has been spent talking bull**** by the owners! The digital wrap to go around the stadium and the promise of top 4 football! Come on! seriously who are you trying to fool!? No player with any ounce of self respect would want to join such an amateur circus!
The manager should’ve been backed in the Summer and was promised a 30m striker. I know fans will say oh we did try but nobody wants to go there. Did they really try that hard? I don’t believe they did. They are so tight with the cash it’s unbelievable. They are duplicitous and always trying to cut corners. The Fans treated like dirt, fed lie after lie and I refuse now to be part of it.
'Well you’re not a real fan!’ I hear you groan. And I should stick with my team through thick and thin. Well, for all these new fans who have become keyboard warriors slating the team during a match and then waxing lyrical about the same player ten minutes later, I have attended games for thirty years and travelled 6 hours there and 6 hours back, so before anyone moans, I used to be one of the most loyal fans you could ever meet. And like most Hammers it is was as much a joy watching them play as it was to stand in that fiery atmosphere.
I had heroes whilst growing up, Di Canio, Lampard, Joe Cole, even though the latter two are roughly my age I loved them and idolised them. However, I look around now and see absolutely nothing at all that inspires me. I’m not going to waffle on about how hard life can be and we have all had our bad times but when you experience life changing traumas it makes you realise these footballers are nothing. They are pampered, over priced and overpaid pre Madonnas. They are not heroes they are clueless about life with not even an ounce of resolve. They don’t even have to think for themselves. I do not get excited or breathless about the thought of watching West Ham players running out onto a pitch anymore. In fact, you could offer me a free season ticket and I would happily sell it. (like a lot of ‘fans’ selling their final Upton Park match ticket - remember?)
Enough is enough and I have voted with my feet. I’m no longer going to attend games, moan about what’s going on but still purchase merchandise and continue to increase the owner’s bank balance and ego’s. I asked myself ‘Why do I even bother?’ on hundreds of occasions. If something isn’t right change it don’t moan!
For 5 years from 2011-2015 I was an official partner of the club and my poetry was sold on merchandise. In that time I was always paid late, my emails were never replied to until I’d sent ten and called ten times! It used to be a family club where you could pick up the phone and call but now you sit on a premium rate phone line and half the time you don’t get through and get charged £40 for the joy of it!
The unprofessionalism is unbelievable. You have Gold trying to justify their decisions on Twitter, Sullivan just spouting lie after lie with Small Man syndrome! And Sullivan Junior speaking rubbish all the time. Not surprising as he been fed with a silver spoon and has nothing better to do. Before anyone says this is harsh do you honestly believe these ‘animals’ give a dam about you? They wouldn’t even urinate on you if you were on fire!
Why would a club be like this and why would you want to join it as a player or manager? I wasn’t a big fan of Big Sam but he was treated like crap, Zola too and keeping the trend, now with Bilic too. The less said about Avram Grant the better. The board potentially could’ve got Martin O’neill back then but as usual their big mouths got in the way! They are idiots!
The fans are fantastic but my previous ‘love' for West Ham United has just died. I understand fans will say I’m this and that but I refuse to be part of this anymore. I used to hear people say "Oh I love West Ham even though I don’t support them." You just don’t hear this anymore because they’ve just become a laughing stock in every single department. Other fans and teams have no respect for the club. It is a below average club with World class fans though unfortunately these fans are always sold down the river.
I have been blinkered for so so many years but the club are light years behind and stadium will not catapult them into the top 4. Some fans slate me for being honest but you can’t help the way you feel. Some people can accept being kept in the dark and live a lie. West Ham United FC died and became history when the club left Upton Park. It’s now a soulless commercial Enterprise and although I still look out for results and want to see them do well, I’m no longer a die hard fan!
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