Forum | Non-Football Related

There has been much debate as to how this suspended Barclays Premier League season can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, there are so many variables, the outcomes of which having possibly profound effects on various clubs, particularly those in the relegation and promotion battles. The Government have just extended the Country's lock down for a further three weeks, and based on information from other countries those three weeks will more than likely be extended by a further three weeks as it is believed the 'peak' of the Covid 19 Pandemic has yet to hit the UK.

If the anticipated lock down extends for six weeks in total, which is probably the least amount of time, then the 7th of June would be the earliest possible date to resume football. If games were sanctioned, they would obviously have to be played either behind closed doors or in grounds with limited attendances that would have to be heavily 'policed' in order to ensure social distancing. Whatever scenario finally unfolds there will be winners and losers, Lady Brady did herself and the club a great disservice by saying the season should be finished as it stands, this would suit West Ham because of the club being outside the relegation zone on goal difference. There is also the fact that five of games remaining are home fixtures which would benefit David Moyes' men despite the London Stadium not always being the most comfortable place for the home side to play football.

At the other end of the table Liverpool could miss out on the title they so richly deserve, and the other European spots, with their commensurate financial benefits are still up for grabs, which might explain why Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder hopes there will not be a deadline set for the end of the campaign as his club have an outside chance of breaking in to Europe.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm sure that we will adjust accordingly. I think for the integrity of the competition and competitions, especially the top end of English football and European football, they'll want to finish the season. I believe that there will be an ability next year to adjust, with international breaks, with moving a few games into midweek. We have that ability through organisation and planning to finish this season off, but only as everybody said, and I'll reiterate that, when it's safe to do so for everybody. And that obviously we have to take our lead off the government and what they suggest and want us to do."

Well, he would say that wouldn't he? Not only would the season being played to fruition help his European aspirations, but it could also mean West Ham being sucked deeper into the relegation mire. There is no love lost between West Ham and Sheffield United due to 'Tevezgate', so it takes little imagination to see why Wilder would like the additional joy of seeing the club that 'so wronged' the blades that they went running to mummy! They did alright though, they got what now would not have been attainable due to strings being pulled in high places and certain skeletons in cupboards.

In fact the last 'gift' Sheffield United 'donated' to West Ham was the injury 'given' to Felipe Anderson, which kept him out of action for five weeks, just when he was really needed, forcing David Moyes to play an out of form, bereft of confidence Manuel Lanzini instead! - Ed

So, having experienced the high income trophy winning football he and his greedy brother craved, ex-Hammer Marko Arnoutovic has now decided he doesn't like being where he is. The Corona pandemic has meant a total closure of football in China, and just prior to the close down, strict wage limits were introduced that meant Chinese clubs were no longer the goose that laid the Golden Egg.

Time has moved on since 'Arnie' upped sticks and left, his departure left the club in the lurch, not only that but because of he and his brother's insistence and recalcitrant actions that 'forced' his move through to Shanghai SIPG, West Ham United were unable to get 'top dollar' for the want away striker. Arnoutovic's actions consequently cost the club around £15 Million in transfer fees that could have been attained had he held his horses, but at the end of the day the club decided, quite rightly, that his presence in the dressing room was toxic and that despite the fiscal hit that it was better for him to be gone.

Having had his cake and eaten it, the 30 year old Austrian has become decidedly 'home' sick and has taken to social media stating how he would like to return to the London Stadium, and while 'HE' prospered under the tutelage of David Moyes, the benefits were mainly one way, and as soon as Arnoutovic started to receive rave reviews his brother began wrangling for a move and more money in a similar way that he did when he 'engineered' his move from Stoke City.

Quite frankly Arnoutovic needs West Ham much more than the club needs him, and the nature of his departure will live long in the memory of most Hammers' fans, the general feeling being 'thanks but no thanks', you made your bed, now lie in it, or go and make love elsewhere as the literal interpretation goes to a well known expression! - Ed

Many moons ago, West Ham United attempted to sign Darren Bent from Charlton, the player eventually decided to go to arch rivals Tottenham instead, despite agreeing a deal in principal to join the Irons. So there was a bit of 'bad blood' there, especially from Hammers fans who thought Bent's agent had just used the club as a 'springboard' to get his client a better deal, "no harm in that" you may say, and you would be correct, so why on earth has Darren Bent, now he can no longer play, insist on putting the knife in to West Ham at every opportunity?

His latest tirade about Hammers wanting to cut their losses by selling Felipe Anderson are pure conjecture, some might say "the vacuous ramblings of a bitter human being", others might be less charitable than that, either way he seems hell bent (excuse the pun) on causing as much damage and fabricating as much negativity as he can regarding the Irons. It is not just the Anderson story that he has 'revealed', if you cast an eye on archived articles about West Ham you will notice the disproportionate amount of negative articles he has written about the club ever since he became a 'pundit', and we use that word in the losest possible way.

Bent's own career hardly took off after joining the 'Levy boys', although he did he manage to score 18 goals in 60 appearances during his two year tenure at White Hart Lane, still only 36 years old, he casts his eyes enviously at players who are around his age who are earning the sort of money he can only dream of now, perhaps that is why his comments contain so much vitriol? He only announced his retirement from playing on the 25th of July 2019, but spent his last three years in the lower divisions finishing up at Derby County where he was loaned out to Burton Albion.

A non drinking Christain, he obviously feels his devout nature gives him a 'god given' right to pass judgment on lesser mortals, we would suggest he takes a long hard look at himself in the mirror, not the nasty tabloid he writes for, but the large one in his house that he must stare at every day, today being even more special because it is the day he is supposed to have resurrected himself! - Ed Jnr

On the 24th of February 1993 Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore left this earth, far too early for a man who enriched and inspired so many, the word legend is used to excess when describing entertainers or performers, but a legend Bobby Moore certainly was. The first 'pop star' footballer, Moore and his first wife Tina were eye candy for all sorts of companies from Watneys to Walls!

As a club West Ham United have done their best to 'compensate' for how badly Mooore was treated in the latter stages of his life, a life that was dreadfully cut short by bowel cancer, few could contemplate how such an adonis could perish at the tender age of 52 years old, but he did. With the benefit of hindsight, Moore was 'entitled' to far better treatment and respect not only from the Irons but form the FA and the England set up, no other country in the World would have treated their star player and legend in such a disrespectful manner, and yet he bore the mistreatment with the same stoicism as he did in his battle against cancer.

Those of us who were privileged to have seen Booby in his prime will never forget his presence both for West Ham and England as he strode on to the pitch, he seemed two foot taller than the opposition and played that way as well. Most modern day football legends, with a few notable exceptions, are more like leg-ends with their ostentatious life styles.

Bobby Moore was, and still is, a legend in every aspect of the word, the epitome of all that can be good in sport and life itself. Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore R.I.P 12th of April 1941 – 24th of February 1993