not a post about west ham or football at all. Just one about life and to remind us all to enjoy it while we have it. Last week a petrol station exploded near where I work, people were sheltering under it from the heavy rains and someone thought is a good idea to drop a lit cigarette on the flooded ground which wasn't just water but fuel flooding from the underground chambers. there were a few unfortunate drivers who had simply gone in to fill up when boom. yesterday i was told that a close friend had died. she simply had a shower and slipped, cracking her head on the bath. i spoke to her just two days ago…she was fine and two days later she's gone. life is precious my comrades, take care of yourselves.

Kicks off Tonight at 00.30 -- Valencia likely to be in the game.

Do Chairmen/persons have when it comes to signing players?

Obviously "new broom" and all that so when Bilic walks through the door HOW MUCH does HE TELL chairmen WHO HE WANTS and how much DO THEY TELL HIM?!

Obviously there are "constraints" such as budgets and possible time limits to consider BUT SURELY the Manager identifies a number of targets HE WANTS.

Of course literally speaking "its the Chairmans club" as they are the ones financing the operation BUT SURELY they want to hand the man they have entrusted with the job the tools he wants (hopefully not literally) for the job.

Again obviously there is "the potential" that they could actually sack the guy the day after he takes over so "a certain caution" needs to be excersized .

The new manager has already "inherited" the last managers players (lucky lucky Bilic) so IF it is then dictated to him who will be getting signed then what position does that put the manager in and what chance of success does anybody have?!

i was reading on the official website about Bilic and his lineups. apparently he favours a back 4 with 2 holding mids 3 other mids and one up front. basically a form of 4-5-1 (yes burkie one up front). he used Ba as his lone striker. it will be interesting if he plans to implement the same or alter it depending on personel available. he likes his full backs to get forward too so Cresswell should suit him nicely. perhaps Kouyate and Obiang are the holding mids? Sakho up front or carroll if fit? does carroll fit in his plans? i wonder...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWHIvI7djZQ

I just wondered if any of you current season ticket holders know any info on the band 5 season tickets for the OS, I've read they're about £290 but I'm imagining you're in binoculars territory, might be interested at that price though if they were half decent

As an aside from our own club, whats the thoughts on liverpool? personally i think they are in trouble (yes I enjoy seeing them in this way!). IMO they should have sacked rodgers, they had a terrible season and end up sacking two back room staff members as a lame 'excuse' for rodgers own failings. suarez left but he(or they) did not prepare for this, instead they wasted 100 odd million on players that are neither here nor there. gerrard is gone, sterling is going, and whats the news coming in? Milner….?? whaaaat? Milner and Henderson to boss their midfield next season….nice one. Balotelli was a disaster, sturridge is crocked….and rodgers remains in place. we here the excuses that he doesnt choose who comes in….really? he must at least give the final nod therefore he is still responsible as i can't see him allowing people to choose players for him and him having to take the blame. so all in all, it will be interesting to see what happens….i for one think with the availability of Klopp and Biesla and a couple of other top managers, this was the time to sack rodgers and start afresh ….

It's being said that Pedro Obiang, Spanish mid-fielder has signed and passed his medical. Highly rated by Sampdoria fans, apparently not unlike a younger version of Diame...