Forum | Non-Football Related

Authur Masuaku's six match ban for spitting at an opponent should have been the least of the club's worries, but if West Ham United continue their downward Premier League spiral Masuaku's dismissal will be increasingly significant, the club has embarked on a series of terrible results akin to the last days of Slaven Billic, it appears that Mauaku's massive influence on the team's fortunes was grossly under estimated when trying to fill his boots.

Masuaku was due to finish his ban after the Burnley game which is followed by a three week break due to the FA Cup and an International break for friendlies, however it is not entirely clear when he will make his come back as he will have been out of action for three months and will need game time to get up to speed. His importance when fit, as he usually is, has been illustrated by the current need for defenders, as they seem to be dropping like flies at the moment. The news that Sam Byram will be out for the rest of the season along with Winston Reid's season ending injury does not bode well for the club's survival fight, and in case fans were previously deluded that is exactly what is happening, a survival fight where all the fellow strugglers have been putting together impressive strings of results just as Hammers' have been going the opposite way.

If West Ham survive this season there will need to be wholesale and expensive changes to avoid another season of disappointment, interestingly it will be the first season since the move from the Boleyn Ground where 'economy' season ticket holders will be due to renew, as they were obligated to take out a two year ticket initially. This means fans really will be able to influence the board, there are many who are sceptical about the lengthy waiting list numbers claimed by Lady Brady, the exact details of which being eschewed by the hierarchy when requested.

The Burnley game will not decide relegation or not, but it will go a long way as to determining the club's future especially as Sky TV have done their very best to ensure that the matches will be difficult to attend for many due to the fact that they have changed the schedules for all of Hammers' matches in April.

The three week break following the Burnley game should give David Moyes the chance to gell his squad for the final push for survival, but that's what it will be, a final push! - Ed

Having not been contacted by the Real West Ham Fans Action Group about their march planned for Saturday the 10th of March, it should be of no concern to us at the Org that it has been postponed. The proposed march divided opinion among many 'non-verbal' Hammers' fans, with some feeling that the demonstration ahead of a crucial Premier League survival game would play in to the oppositions hands by creating an air of negativity which with the best will in the world would almost invariably have a bad effect on the playing staff.

Perhaps the time to demonstrate is when the club has confirmed it's Premier League status, which we believe it will under the guidance of David Moyes. There is useful ammunition for disgruntled supporters however, the lower priced season tickets which were sold initially on a two year basis will all be up for renewal next season and it is surely then that real pressure can be put on the board to honour their broken promises and listen to fans. Divide and prosper is often the name of the game when trying to break down an opponent and it appears the board have managed to do just that!

"To clarify, Knees up Mother Brown, along with all other groups who have participated in recent negotiations with the club under the West Ham Groups United banner were informed of this decision a few minutes before the ActionGroup announced their plans publicly, the news has disappointed many supporters who were preparing to take to the streets of Stratford next weekend in order to seek a better, brighter future for their football club. We at KUMB.com, who fought to deliver a better West Ham United for all of our supporters during those exchanges share that disappointment. For the record, the decision to abort the march was taken solely by the RWHFAG - which is of course their prerogative, given that the march had been arranged under their banner. As far as we are aware, none of the members of WHGU were consulted before this decision was reached (WHUISA and Hammers Chat have already confirmed they were not involved)."

The principal is very very simple, meet the protagonists, find their weak link or links and then exploit their differences, job done! The Real West Ham Fans Action Group adopted a Churchillian approach to taking on the West Ham United hierarchy, there intransigence could not be guaranteed which is why an impasse has been reached, and the fall out among fellow supporters begins.

The saving grace regarding the cancellation of the March in March is that the £20,000 plus 'war chest' is to be donated to a really deserving cause, the Isla Fund. Apart from this wonderful benefit what has the 'agitation' achieved? Well, plenty actually, the thought that thousands of fans were able and willing to come together in order to protest will have scared the comfortable hell out of David Sullivan, David Gold and Baroness Brady, their 'hearing' and 'vision' of the club's supporters will definitely be more focused, if they were under any illusions as to the extent of normal fans displeasure their eyes will now be well and truly opened!

Between now and the end of the season fans have just got to make the best of a bad job and get right behind the team until top flight safety is attained, then and only then should 'disruptive action be countenanced, this proposed lack of action should not be seen as an admission of defeat to the owners, rather a warning that there is a lot of collective 'powder' dry! - Ed