Forum | Non-Football Related

When the dust was settling on a truly disastrous home defeat against London rivals Arsenal, Hammers fans who needed to travel across London had to endure sharing the same public transport links as the 'full of themselves' Gooners fans!

It might have been OK for the players leaving in their smoked out SUV's and other luxury forms of transport including the blinged up VETO's much beloved by clubs and funnily enough undertakers.

Well for every man woman and child that managed to stay to the bitter end, the club should offer them FULL refunds for what they had to experience including their travel expenses. Some fans who purchased their tickets from ticket exchange paid enormous amounts of money to watch what in essence was a pub team playing their FA Cup tie against one of the Premier League's 'big boys'.

The only difference being that a Pub team would have shown more endeavour and that their manager would probably have resigned straight after the game.

Of course teams will have the occasional blip in form, but Hammers current malaise stems from a manager's deep, rooted refusal to change, both on the pitch and off of it. David Moyes HAS worked wonders for the club, but his single mindedness is now derailing ALL of his previous achievements.

The players also need to take a long hard look at themselves and perhaps look at all the young faces of supporters who have just persuaded their parents to part with their hard earned for a replica shirt with their favourite player's name on it.

Offering Moyes a new contract will KILL season ticket sales, the club might even use smoke and mirrors to drag things out past season ticket renewal dates. IF they do then fans on the much punted season ticket waiting list had better dust off their old contact details because there will be plenty of new tickets available! - Ed--

West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Johnson, Zouma (c), Aguerd, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Bowen. Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Phillips, Mavropanos, Ings, Ogbonna, Mubama, Scarles.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Odegaard (c), Havetz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard. Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Walters, Bandeira, Elneny, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Nketiah.

The above is just one of the questions season ticket holders will be asking themselves when it comes to renewal time. On the face of it, renewing is a no brainer, serial Euro contenders and a squad to die for, albeit painfully thin!

The problem is football ISN'T PLAYED ON PAPER! Statistically, fans have never had it so good, but the manner in which results have been achieved is painful, terrible on the eye and hard to be enthusiastic about.

There are many who say the atmosphere in Stratford is dreadful, but that is NOT because of the stadium lay out, everyone knows it needs improving, it is because of the utter dross being served out as 'entertaining' football.

'Goofball' more like, even Moyes' most ardent supporters must admit that his particular 'brand' of football can be unpalatable at times, but that the results justify his team's cautious style of play, but how many of them make the trek across London to the Stadium itself?

Of course there have been highlights under the lights, particularly against European opposition who have not researched how single minded Moyes is! The fact is while the team DOES spring the odd surprise result, it spends the rest of the time making teams like Bournemouth and Brighton look like Barcelona in their pomp.

IF there were a fresh crop of youngsters being 'bloodied' for future campaigns then perhaps fans would be more forgiving, but as it is Moyes appears more intent on keeping his job by pointing to the data achieved under his stewardship than working towards the future.

A future that involves bringing youth through early, not just when there is a crisis, what ever happened to the 'Academy of Football'? Furthermore Moyes' propensity for buying old has beens has really hurt the club and is directly at odds with the remit Tim Steidten was given when he was brought in to over see transfers.

Moyes appears to be doing his absolute damnedest to obstruct Steidten and is blatantly trying, to shove Steidten to Hammers rivals Liverpool who DO recognise the German's brilliance.
If Moyes stays then Steidten will end up at Anfield, and why wouldn't he?

New Blood Or Same Old?-Ed

It sounds like a simple enough question but it is one of great significance! By hook or by crook the club has assembled a pretty decent albeit painfully light in back up squad, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse.

However the player who makes EVERTHING tick is Lucas Paqueta, without him the team seem devoid of creativity, with him they can be good enough to take on anyone! So has the team become a 'one trick pony' relying on our Brazilian maestro?

In a word, Yes would have to be the answer, we have also not mentioned Emerson yet who suddenly plays at another level when 'Pacman' is on the pitch pulling the strings. David Moyes or whoever is in charge come the summer had better find a way, because as soon as the betting scandal cloud is lifted from the Brazilian he will be off for massive money to City or Real or even Dortmund or PSG!

A path has to be found if the club is to progress, but it isn't going to be easy. Just look at City without De Bruyne, as soon as he came back from his long term injury their results have transformed and it would take a brace man to bet against them overhauling Liverpool to win the title yet again!

Someone has to find a way. It couldn't be from within the current squad or from the youth players could it? - Ed