How does Nolan get 2 to 3 points for his nine minute contribution? Saturday was no different from every other week - we played with 10 men as Nolan has contributed next to nothing week on week. Now with his 3 game ban we can see how we do with a11 men for a change. His sending off was the best thing that could have happened..
Sam's biggest failure is the selection of Nolan - he may be an inspiring provider of speeches but if that is what we want select Boris Johnson. As a midfielder he should be passing, tackling, gathering the ball, moving in to space - spot the problem! He does none of this leaving it all to the rest. We are often playing with effectively 10 men. All the season ticket holders around with me see this and so does virtually everyone on this blog. Drop him Sam!
So another transfer window is past. What each window emphasises is that the players everyone wants to us get rid of have little or no residual value. Firstly we had the Curbishley debacle - Davenport, Boa Morte, Quashie, Dyer, Upson, Faubert, Lundburg, etc - all got rid off only after paying up their contracts or running them down (as Faubert is now doing) because they were on stupid wages. Illunga is another one (ok he was a Nani signing). Even the current board made a giant cock-up with McCarthy. I can guarantee we will not get a penny for Piquionne, Carew or Sears when eventually manage to get rid of them.Then coming to the signings Sam has made - Taylor, Demel, O'Brien and Faye all seem extremely injury prone and will need to be looked at harshly before being offered extended terms. Carew is past it. Papa Diop also has picked up some knocks and is now 34 years old. By contrast the three just signed are pacey, youthful and in form so I am going to be positive about them.
The tiger must change his stripes. My season tickets will not be renewed and I will be transferring to being a member only until I see some evidence of this. I have been going along since the 70's. When we got promoted under Lyall it was through passing football (and we got to two domestic cup finals at the same time). Swansea proved yesterday that you can still win games in the championship and keep the ball on the ground (as did West Brom last year). I do not mind a pragmatic approach but all Allardyce did at Newcastle was give everyone neck ache, and the miserable experience he serves up was also spotted at Blackburn. What is the point having an acadamey that teaches pass and move if we are going to move over to an arial bombardment. I prefer to fail trying to play the game properly.
The brevity of this statement is unreal and treats Avram Grant, the players and supporters with no respect. There should be an acknowledgement that as a result of the club's position the Board carried out a review of who should manage the Club for the rest of the season. The club should confirm that there will be no further reviews of the managers position until the season ends and the club regrets that officers of the club have leaked comments to the press and will take action to remove these people from the club. Dignity needs to be restored (as far as it can be!)
Everyone seems to agree that Grant ought to go and that it is worth waiting for the right appointment to be made. A simple statement should be made confirming that West Ham are actively seaking to appoint a new manager, apologising to Avram Grant that talks with possible candidates have been leaked in to the media, confirming that under the circumstances Avram Grant is relieved of his duties, thanking him for the dignity with which he has carried out his job, confirming that Kevin Keen or Wally Downes have agreed to take temporary charge until the appointment is confirmed. The people who leaked this to Sky and the BBC should not be employed by the club. A comunications man needs to be put in place who is the only outlet for press releases and everyone else should shut up. Easy!
Good news - but only if we have a premier league club to fill the stadium.
Apologies for saying 'footie' - a term I've picked up from my 5 a-side mob, but having been to about 500 games since 1978 I am allowed to vote! My main reason is that I would like to see a bit of success and in the comercial world we live in believe that is more likely at OS rather than Upton Park. Personally I have not been to see Essex play for 30 years but the income that cricket etc could provide could not do any harm. I have watched one or two games at stadia where the pitch is set a little back from the pitch and believe this is worth the sacrifice. Surely with a little lateral thinking the athletics track need not be there for 12 months and the pitch could be widened to a maximum when football is played. Look at the way rugby and cricket are played sise by side in Melbourne.
Totally in favour - I have also been to the site and believe that this is an awesome stadium that will provide for the entire East End including 20-20 cricket, athletics, etc as well as footie. Prices will come down not go up to ensure we get the stadium filled which means families can actually afford to get to a match. The other option is Spurs filling it with corporate bankers etc from Canary Wharf within a 5 minute walk of West ham church. No bloody thanks. The FA should be intervening to ensure Spurs do not get a look in. Tottenham has nothing to do with the East End. Finally no more walks from Canning Town or West Ham when the District Line is closed is another nice thought.
Despite all the clamour on this message board there is little or no chance any funds will ever be raised for Gabbidon, Illunga, or Dyer due to their injury records. I would imagine fitness issues will also radically reduce the valuations of Behrami and Cole. If McCarthy goes I very much doubt there will be a fee. If at all possible we should shed these guys but with the limited likely income I am delighted that the board said no to Sidwell with 13 midfielders already on the books (the decision was correct albeit notifying the manager via the press was fairly crass). Any money should no go on a right back and a goalscorer. Hopefully we do not have to wait until Behrami and/or Kovac are sold to generate funds as no-one is biting our hands off. Upson must stay unless another quality replacement can be found, as Ben Haim has gone back to Pompey leaving the often injured Gabbidon and Reid as our only experienced cover in the middle of defence. It would be unfair to keep move Spector there just as he is starting to get used to a midfield role. It is too early to judge Reid.
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