IntenseDebate - HippoHammer

15 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - The Enjoyment of the M... · 0 replies · +2 points

Think this proves you're doing a good job Iain and the team!

Keep it up and don't let the fools get the better of you.

15 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Transfer Gossip: The S... · 4 replies · -1 points

We need a right back as much as a centre back, Faubert put in some good performances last year but I think he would be better in right midfield going forward and putting the crosses in for Cole.

Talking about £12m players is fun and I want to give the Davids a chance but I just have this nagging feeling that we will come out of this transfer window having made a nice profit on players that will go towards cutting the debts. Not a bad thing in itself as long as we also end up with a stronger squad.

15 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Speculation, Speculati... · 0 replies · +1 points

I think the Davids priority for the next season or two will be reducing the cost basis of the club and making it financially viable without them having to inject their personal cash every season, whilst keeping us in the premier league. I don't think we'll see any amazing activity until they feel the basics are sorted out and the club can manage its debt etc.

To do that I think we are going to see a few loan signings and freebies along with a couple of big earners out the door. We are going to be relying on the Davids to spot a bargain (maybe using Football Manager to help scout) and AG using his influence.

Someone mentioned earlier that we missed Lucas Neil as a solid right back and I would agree, but I think the thing we miss most about him is his ability to manage the defence. Last season I think we suffered, espeacially Tomkins, because he didn't have Neil shouting and organising the back line.

15 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Time for Harry? · 0 replies · +1 points

I agree, but it would shake things up a bit. Remember when Peter Taylor was in charge for one game, he gave all the old codgers a boot, gave Becks the armband and effectively ushered in a new generation.

Feels like we need something similar to spark a bit of life in to the team, and the paying public.

15 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Time for Harry? · 4 replies · 0 points

Did anyone else notice Beckham at half time, had a word for every single player as they walked off the pitch, and he's not even on the coaching staff. He really seemed to care!

I am ready to get abuse for this comment but... If you want a revolution in the way the team is run why not give him the job for two years, I reckon he would take it even if it didn't pay a penny. Tell him he is not allowed to pick anyone over 28 and if they earn more than £50k a week they are ineligible. Might not be the best group of players but it would be a good team and would really shake things up. Klinsmann took over the German squad in 2004 with out any managerial experience but over saw some big changes there and went a long way in 2006.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Grant is the New Manag... · 0 replies · +2 points

Good news, been looking forward to this. Glad they got the new man in early enough to provide a decent period of the transfer window to shape the squad and pre season to start training. I think he will get a lot of respect from the players and I hope the two twats we have as chairmen will now shut it and stop using the press to manage the club (that's the definition of optimism!).

As for transfers, I hear some bloke called Ilan is free and looks promising...

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Gold & Sullivan's Ten ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Sell the freehold on Upton Park, lease the Olympic stadium, put the money in their pocket and walk away...

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Manager Shortlist Reve... · 0 replies · +1 points

Somewhere a hippo is feeling very insulted...

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Manager Shortlist Reve... · 3 replies · +1 points

Agreed, Tony Fernandes or Intermarket would have been much better, but have no fear the Davids will sell up... once they have flogged Upton Park to developers for big ££££ and moved us in to the athletics stadium.

16 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Carlton Cole Misses Out! · 0 replies · +1 points

It's a bit like signing a player you hate, once they are in the team colours you have to support them for the good of the club. Trouble is they remind of Bellamy, they just don't know when to keep their mouth shut.

I couldn't care less how they made their cash, but what annoys me is they bought 50% of a club that so far they have proved they can't afford to run (I know it needs to be restructured as a business but you need cash to do that). The Intermarket and Fernandez deals that were on the table always seemed more appealing as they had a plan that didn't seem to revolve around selling Upton Park.

As for their assertions about the financial state of the club I believe they talked it up significantly just to make themselves look better and justify not putting more cash in. But that's just my opinion... Hopefully a few years down the line Duxberry will write an (honest) book about his time in charge, that would be worth a read.

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