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16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Sad News: Dean Ashton ... · 0 replies · +1 points

A real, real shame. I feel that Deano had the potential not only to be an England regular but an England legend. In my opinion he was the best player to pull on a Hammers shirt since Di Canio and the last couple of years have been incredibly frustrating and also incredibly sad.

I hope the club keep hold of him on the training staff - between him and Zola they could teach our strikers a thing or two! Maybe the new John Lyall, who I also believe retired at 26?

Whatever he does, I honestly wish him every success and happiness in the future.

DEANO! DEANO! DEANO!

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Dean Ashton to Hang Up... · 0 replies · +1 points

Extremely sad news, if true.

Personally, I held Ashton at his best 3 years ago to have held the potential - still only 22 at the time I believe - to have been an England regular. Certainly, he would have been in the team now hands down. Of course, we would have struggled to hold on to him and he may well have been snapped up by one of the Big 4 by now.

But, really, really sad news. A great loss to WH and England. I wish him all the very best for the future.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Vote: Player Performan... · 0 replies · +1 points

Well said Devo - let's not forget that Sunderland have a very good home record and I personally would've taken a point at the start of the game.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Player Performance Res... · 1 reply · +1 points

Looking at the fixtures, we finally have a decent run of games we should be looking to get points from up until the Man U game at the start of December. This fightback came just at the right time - but we need to make the most of it!

My team for Sunderland:

Green

Spector
Upson
Tomkins
Ilunga

Faubert
Behrami (holding)
Collison
Diamante (in the hole)

Cole
Hines

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - What is our Strongest ... · 0 replies · +1 points

For a 4-3-3, I would agree with Parker, Collison and Behrami. My change perhaps would be up front, with Dyer coming in for Jiminez or Diamanti.

For a 4-4-2, I would go with Cole and Diamanti up front, with a diamond 4 - Jiminez at the tip, Parker at the back, Collison on the left and Behrami on the right. I would expect to see Dyer on for Jiminez or Diamanti at some point.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Turning the Corner to ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I agree with your post here SJ - I am starting to get a bit worried about how the season is panning out, but I don't see how changing a manager at this stage would be either practical or beneficial. The issues with the team's performances are more to do with not getting the rub of the green and behind the scenes uncertainty.

I am hopeful that GZ & SC will turn it around, and believe they will do. I just hope they can do it soon before we get too stuck in the mire.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Vote: Stoke Match Play... · 1 reply · +1 points

Well said Goaty. There's been soooo much happening off the field this season - ownership/cashflow issues; injuries to key players; crappy fixture draw; loss of form of certain players who we don't really have cover for - but we have to keep the faith. Getting on the team's backs is not going to help anyone. I'm sure we'll turn it around, maybe not against Arsenal but maybe after that. A couple of wins and we're mid table. And we have actually been playing well but not necessarily been getting the rub of the green.

COYI

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Vote: Stoke Match Play... · 0 replies · +1 points

Yes, that'll help up beat Arsenal......

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Stoke Match Thread · 0 replies · +1 points

Do we honestly think this run is down to Zola? I find that incredible. We've had little money to spend, have been close to administration, have a squad with key players coming back from injury while other have lost form, have had a shocker of a set of opening fixtures which has seen the team lose a lot of confidence. For much of the season we've been playing well just not getting the rub of the green - carrying on yesterday with a dodgy pen and a right hook that went unnoticed.

Of course GZ has made some mistakes, but name me a manager that hasn't.

What the team needs - what WE need - is for everyone to get behind the team, the manager and stop booing them. We've got Arsenal next game I believe at home. They are on good form. We could get walloped. That is more likely if the supporters start getting on the team's backs.

Hopefully we'll be under new management soon, with people who can put money into the club. We HAVE to believe, and even if we do go down, we will still be West Ham and we will be back.

COYI

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - The Best Thing to Happ... · 0 replies · 0 points

I'm all for it.

OK, so they didn't set the world alight at Birmingham but we are a much bigger club than them. They seemed to run Birmingham well, and Birmingham always seemed to have cash to buy players - OK so not the zillions of Citeh but money none the less. Also, being West Ham fans they should have the best for the club at heart. And with all the speculation about the club at present, I do agree that they'd be the best thing to happen to the club - although perhaps in the last 20 months rather than 20 years!

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