Forum | Non-Football Related
Was Moyes Brought In Just To Sell Rice?
"No player is bigger than the club" is a hackneyed expression used to cover the sale of a club's most valuable asset, to either balance the books or to reinvest in new players. So the regularity of comments attributed to Manuel Pellegrini's replacement, David Moyes, with regards to the possible sale of Declan Rice has been of some concern to West Ham United fans.
Those more sceptical than others began to notice the 'veiled' references made by the Scot regarding the sale of Wayne Rooney from Everton to Manchester United, and how the proceeds from that sale enabled him to build a more 'balanced' team. Other mentions of lower league players he plucked from obscurity will have done little to dis-quell the increased levels of anxiety felt, it appears as if one of the prime considerations in reappointing David Moyes was that he could act as an efficient asset stripper!
Could the sole reason for picking David Moyes ahead of other possibly more promising managers be that he was brought in to do a 'hatchet job', and sell off the club's crown jewels?
The rumours are the club will ask £90 Million for Rice, but accept £80 Million, an astonishing amount of money for such a young and relatively inexperienced player, but he will have plenty of suitors, particularly from UK based clubs, with the likes of both Manchester clubs interested in the young England full international. There will be substantial interest from Europe as well, but it is highly unlikely that his management company would sanction such a move so early on in his career.
Either way, if Moyes is still in charge at the beginning of next season, then Declan Rice will almost undoubtedly have left for pastures new! - Ed
There may be trouble ahead…
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Well, two massive games coming up and probably zero chance of any points. Tomorrow night brings back shocking memories for me, the league cup semi-final, the camera’s focused on our supporters, commentator saying “they don’t look happy and it’s a long drive home on the M6” at which my phone lights up with many texts saying you’ve been on telly, cheer up you miserable old XXXX :o)
I have been to the Etihad five times and each time its been well…difficult. Last season we were battered even if the score line didn’t reflect the nature of the one way traffic. By the way, what happened to the young full back that made his debut that night?
So with two fixtures on the horizon with no points, firmly in the bottom three, confidence at a low what are the real chances of escape? I really fear that this will be the season we finally drop into the Chumps. I think Saturday is significant, nothing but a win against Saints will suffice. A heavy loss combined with the Hammers United protest on the same day will be a defining moment for our club and maybe the owners?
Yarmo Be There
Andriy Yarmolenko is one of West Ham United's highest paid players, but with the exception of some brief glimpses has never really shone for the club, untimely injuries have limited the player to only 24 appearances for the Irons since his £17.5 Million transfer from Borussia Dortmund two years ago.
Yarmolenko's massive £115,000 per week, in addition to the initial hefty transfer fee has not represented good value for the club by any stretch of the imagination, in fact there are many who think acquiring the Ukranian International was an appalling bit of business given the player's past injury record, and has many people asking why do West Ham United keep signing 'expensive crocks'?
Well, now is the time for everyone involved with the club to step up to the plate, including Andriy! It is about time he repaid the faith that has been shown in him and proves what a good player he can be.
It is quite astonishing to see a squad as expensively assembled as West Ham's fighting a relegation battle, but a relegation battle is exactly where the club finds itself, and it is about time some of the club's 'luxurious' imports prove their worth BEFORE they are able to jump ship.
It is to be hoped that David Moyes and his back room staff can instil a sense of belief and commitment in to a bunch of overpaid and under performing prima donna's, a category in which Andriy Yarmolenko definitely belongs. - Ed
Did Irons Roll Over For Premier League?
West Ham United's decision to agree to the rescheduling of the game against Manchester City that had to be postponed by storm Ciarra during the so called winter break has had many fans outraged by the club's apparent acquiescence to the 'powers that be' by allowing the game to be played on the Wednesday the 19th of February, a clear 72 Hours before either team should have been officially playing according to the original remit from the FA, the Premier League and F.I.F.A.
It is not as if the club owe the FA any favours, time and again in the past, West Ham have ended up losing key players through injury whilst on international duty, and have been on the wrong end of legal decisions, with 'Tevezgate' being particularly galling!
Attending the replay is going to be really difficult for the Hammers travelling faithful, despite the club's offer of free transport from Stratford, it doesn't matter that much for the City fans who don't have to travel, with many Hammers fans eventually being unable to attend because of work and family commitments due to the match being played midweek!
Now is the time that the club more than ever need the support of the fans, and it seems unfair and indeed possibly unenlightened, that the Hammers hierarchy were either forced or were complicit in this blatant act of negativity to the team and it's long suffering fans, because believe it or not, West Ham United are in the fight for their lives, and need every tiny bit of luck and the rub of the green to avoid plummeting to the depths of the lower leagues.
Doing Citeh a favour when not required to do so by 'law', is neither giving the Irons luck, nor the rub of the green!
Citeh Match Postponed By Ciara!
In what is not a surprising development, West Ham United's away fixture against last year's Barclays Premier League Champions Manchester City has been postponed due to storm Ciara. A Manchester City spokesperson said: "Due to extreme and escalating weather conditions and in the interests of supporter and staff safety, today's match has been postponed. Further information regarding the rescheduling of today's match will be published in due course."
Fans who travelled up for the fixture last night hoping to take in 'the sights' before the game will be sorely disappointed, but the postponement was always on the cards as soon as storm Ciara began it's journey across the Atlantic, a quick look at the images of Blackpool underwater will confirm just how bad the weather is in the North of England and surrounding areas.
Essentially rescheduling the game was the only realistic option, however the games postponement will have severe implications for both West Ham and City. There are legislative complications with regards to a replay date due to the FA's winter break policy, furthermore many players from both teams had made arrangements to 'fully recharge their batteries', City for their champions league push and West Ham for their relegation scrap.
The rescheduling suits neither team, the small comfort for Irons fans being the club's goal difference won't take a hammering today, on the other hand an out of form City without Sterling and their main defenders in a swirling wind might have given David Moyes the smallest window of opportunity, alas it was not to be.
News of the rescheduled date is due later today, with every possibility it may be moved to the end of the season, last game to stay up against City? It's the West Ham way! - Ed
what makes a football ground?
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Having this discussion with friends and the usual about size closeness to pitch atmosphere and of course style of stadium and if you could choose a ground to have a game on would which one....this of course threw up the usual the old Boleyn as was expected but this guy from Norway who heard us talking said you can have all the great stadiums in the world and you can keep them because for him this ground in Norway just takes your breath away and after seeing it i admit i would like go see it for real and have a kick about on it.....any others you know of come close?
Hibernation Haller To Step Out?
West Ham fans around the Globe hope, ney pray that new boys Bowen and Soucek will provide the extra bounce to inspire the beleagured Irons to safety. One of the most talked about issues, apart from the glaring defensive problems, is the form of the misfiring Sebastian Haller, he is undoubtedly an excellent finisher, but requires 5 star service in order to get his job done. It is as if Haller is so used to dining at the Ritz that he has forgotten how to push himself in to the front of the queue at Witherspoon's!
Hopefully 'Chicken Kiev' will be able to have a word in his shell like, with the aid of an interpreter of course due to Haller's impeccable English, someone, especially like Kevin Nolan needs to show a big strapping lad like Haller how to 'remind' centre backs who's the boss and also when and where to 'fall over'.
Haller is enigmatic in that you know somewhere within that stoic frame lurks a really good footballer, but it seems like he went in to hibernation the very first time the now sacked 'El Pel' dropped him from the team, he HAS to step up to the plate, there is no reason he shouldn't, perhaps he and Issa Diop need to do a bit of 'froggy' bonding in order to bring out the 'Beast' that is simmering away inside Haller.
The time has come for Haller to be a man, put himself about and act like the defender's nightmare that he should be, Manuel Pellegrini's insistance on not adapting his system to incorporate Haller's unique qualities was tantamount to managerial suicide, of course aided and abbetted by the appalling Roberto that is what eventuallly happened.
Haller went in to Hibernation, it is time for him to step out and prove that he is not a flop, or 'fiasco' when translated to French! - Ed
*Moyes Needs To Use Bowen Before The Curse Sets In!
When Jarred Bowen signed for West Ham United with just 10 minutes to spare before the closing of the January transfer window, he didn't realise that his transfer was the biggest deal of the day and that it would get 'wall to wall' publicity. The player's subsequent interviews, and his inter action on the training ground, reveal an astonishing level of optimism and energy while at the same time a mature degree of humility.
Reece Oxford he ain't!
Having reached the summit that is the Barclays Premier League the hard way, Bowen is thrilled to be here, albeit possibly only until the end of the season due to the Irons precarious position in the League. Bowen's enthusiasm is infectious and now perhaps is the time to utilise his energy before he suffers the 'West Ham malaise', a well known condition that seems to affect and afflict 'top' players not long after their arrival at the club.
The 'infection' usually takes the form of a freak injury, a jealous girl friend, unhealthy off the field activities but mainly a complete loss of confidence as their positive energy is sucked out of them by the constant expectation of helping the club reach 'another level'.
As the next two matches are essentially 'dead rubbers', Hammers manager David Moyes might as well throw Bowen in to the deep end against City and Liverpool, perhaps his energy might wake Sebastian Haller from the deep slumber he has been in since the cold weather began, if only the club had looked at the 'hibernation' clause that his agent had inserted in to his contract at the last minute!
Perhaps Bowen may well prove the catalyst required to spark 'Hibernation Haller' back in to life? After all Haller is used to playing as part of a duo, a duo that was fed by fast flanking players. If Haller can't shape up with either Bowen or Antonio or both alongside him, then he should be dropped despite being the club's record purchase, no player should walk in to a team purely because of how much he cost, it's bad for morale and creates a creeping resentment throughout the squad.
Moyes should definitely start Bowen against City, his enthusiasm won't get blunted should the team get gubbed, he's young and will relish playing against 'top' opposition regardless of the result. - Ed
* We don't have any issues with other media outlets copying and pasting elements of our articles, but do the decent thing and at least give the Org credit when doing so! - Ed
Chicken 'Kiev' Flies In!
In the interest of 'proper' journalism, we should state chickens can't actually fly, this information being particularly pertinent to those educated in recent years who learn all their information and life skills from the Internet! Former club captain Kevin Nolan has returned after five years as an assistant first team coach, the 37 year old Geordie scored 31 goals in 157 appearances for the Irons between 2011 and 2015 before being released by mutual agreement. He then worked as a player manager at both Leyton Orient and Notts County.
Nolan's deal is initially just until the end of the season, as is the deal offered and accepted by 50 year old Paul Nevin. Nevin coached at Brighton, Fulham and Norwich before joining the Gareth Southgate's England coaching staff until June 2019.
"Both have a wealth of experience in the game," said manager David Moyes. "I'm sure they will make a very positive contribution between now and the end of the season. Kevin obviously knows the club very well having played here previously, while Paul's coaching pedigree is excellent. It has taken some time to finalise the coaching staff, but I wanted to make sure I brought in the right people to help us, and both Kevin and Paul are fantastic additions."
Ever the politically adroit, Moyes did neglect to mention that he 'initially' would have preferred Stuart Pearce to join him, however that move was vetoed by the Hammers hierarchy because 'Psycho' was deemed to have 'bit the hand that feedeth' by openly criticising the board while guesting on 'Talkshite' radio. Moyes also conveniently omitted mentioning that another ex-hammer, Joe Cole, was unable to reach 'suitable' terms with which to join the coaching staff.
'Captain Kev' has obviously been brought in to be the 'shouter', whereas Nevin will be the quiet methodical 'nice cop', given that the next two fixtures away to Manchester City and Liverpool are already perceived as write offs, the two new staff members will have to obviate the fall out from what will most likely be two negative results and pick the players up for the crucial matches that follow the City and Pool games.
David Moyes has been coaching with only Alan Irvine to assist him since he rejoined the club, so the addition of Nolan and Nevin will surely help with the work load, some attention to the art of defending wouldn't go amiss to start with.
We wish Kev and Paul all the best, they are going to need it! - Ed
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