West Ham Thread

[sodhat]

First topic message reminder :

Didn't play badly but just cannot put it in the net. We may have signed Carew this week but we need a goalscorer like a Chopra, Miller or Phillips. Until then we will continue to get rolled over.

We didn't deserve to lose that one, but good luck to Cardiff, great set of fans and a passionate club. We will just have to get those three points back later!

[NickisBHAFC]

Christ, you really have it in for me lol

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Infamy! Infamy!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

3 wins in a row and 4 clean sheets...         Sounds like Adrian was on top form in goal... 

[Corporalhumblebucket]

4 wins in a row.         

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Three losses in a row but somewhat fortunate win against Hull brings us up to 34 points.

[sodhat]

Fans booed at the end even though we won

I'm not sure how many more seasons Allardyce will get. I would be very surprised to see him in charge for the first game after the move. Maybe even this summer will see it reassessed.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Up to 37 points with the win away at Sunderland. Must be very close to safety.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Up to 37 points with the win away at Sunderland.  Must be very close to safety.  

Your safe now corporal for me, no way Sunderland make37 points now.

Should be looking up!!

[sodhat]

We're not safe. We're never safe.

[NickisBHAFC]

Few of my mates went for a night out in Essex on Saturday, saw Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan out. Showed me pictures, Carroll looked so hammered! Love that bloke!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I think they'd be drinking since opening time so thats gotta be at least a 12 hour bender they were on

[NickisBHAFC]

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Finally Hammers stagger up to 40 points and another season of premiership football.

[Duty281]

There's only one Andy Carroll.

[jimbohammers]

Not sure I can take another season of Allardyce.

This year was the worst I have seen.

[jimbohammers]

Noble hammer of the year   

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Players player and HOTY - fully deserved. Love the guy

[jimbohammers]

Same here Dolph. Proper passion and by far our best player.

Reports Allardyce could be gone on Sunday   

[Corporalhumblebucket]

..... Reports Allardyce could be gone on Sunday   

Big Sam still here!  Hammers in fourth place and playing some fine attacking football.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Still in 5th place in early Dec.....

[kwinigolfer]

3rd place in "early Dec . . . . .", for a day or so anyway.
Fabulous atmosphere by the sounds of it at Upton Park - cat-in-Hell's chance of the same buzz at the Olympic money pit.

Corporal, the atmosphere back in the day at the BG was as good as I ever saw anywhere outside Anfield - seems they maintain that level even with all seats, fantastic when that place is rocking. (But I'd miss the days of the chicken run and the wags being politically incorrect towards Clyde Best and him trying to give it back to them!)

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Kwini - indeed a temporary 3rd place is quite remarkable - though old habits die hard.  Still haven't got out the habit of thinking how many more points until safe from relegation!

I went most frequently to Upton Park when Brooking and Devonshire were in their prime. Great atmosphere at times, though sadly they were often crocked and/or kicked out of the game....

[kwinigolfer]

Corporal,
My first game was when I was still a mere cadet.
Shut out of a day at Oval cricket (missing heroics of Graveney & John Murray), diverted to see the first home game back from the WC of Moore, Hurst & Peters - beaten 2-1 by Chelsea. Agree about treatment of Brooking (didn't he knock a ref out once?) etc, but saw enough of the Bonds/Lampard era to know that it wasn't all one way!
Always a soft spot for the Hammers, even when they don't deserve it.
Hope this current team sticks together thru January - and beyond of course. Hate it when good teams are broken up by predators and cash-in-while-you-can owners.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Already seen the Sakho to Liverpool rumours. Reid is linked away too. I think Europe might keep a few of them. And if we can bring in Song permanent, which is a big if considering how good hes playing and how much better he is than so many midfielders in this league, then we won't drop off in the long term.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hammers up to 36 points with that 3-0 will over Hull.  If we are not careful we will be safe from relegation before April!

[jimbohammers]

And no wins since then Corp....

[Corporalhumblebucket]

39 points should be enough Jimbo but ....

[jimbohammers]

.....This is West Ham we're are talking about

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It'll all be fine till Sullivan picks himself up front

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Form is temporary............mediocre-ness is permanent.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Why Liverpool fans will always be classless

[jimbohammers]

I'd take Sullivan up front over Carlton Cole

[jimbohammers]

He's got to go, surely!

Was at the game Saturday and it was terrible

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Momentum for leaving is gathering again, got to say I'm sick of him now

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Since the last posting on this thread David Cameron has been and gone as a Hammers supporter. I've been supporting the Hammers since at least 1968. Through thick and, mostly, thin.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

I  see Ancelotti is now available...

[Dolphin Ziggler]

So long and thanks for all the fish, Sam.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Slaven Bilic it is then.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Welcome and surprising 3 points away to Arsenal in first match of season.  Payet looks a good signing and Oxford had great debut.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hammers to sign Joey Barton? Presumably this would be just to make absolutely sure that next time we didnt get into Europe via the fair play rules.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The ref was awful today but frankly the appalling defending for the two goals, the second especially everyone was screaming in the stands for some tighter defending, will see us punished a lot. Deserved a draw. Obiang was really lively when brought on and Payet's finish was perfect. 

Sadly, our bench options when chasing were just poor. Maiga came on! We need a better reserve keeper (Rob Green actually might be signing), a striker and then I think a spare right back and a wide option are required. First two are necessities.

[jimbohammers]

A great start to the season for us. Gutted about Payet's injury. McCarthy should get a lengthy ban, shocking challenge

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hammers on 32 points after 20 games. Last two wins and return from injury of several key players have restored momentum. Beating Liverpool twice in a season is not something I'm accustomed to!   Through force of habit I'm still counting down points needed to ensure safety from relegation, but with a bit less anxiety than in some seaons.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hammers on 39 points after 24 games.  

[guildfordbat]

Hammers on 39 points after 24 games.  

Corporal - you can devote your relegation worries to Surrey now.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hi Guildford - a very strange feeling with a good chunk of the season still to run.  Mind you Tunbridge Wells FC are in the basement of their division - one above the bottom.  So I do have something to keep me going in the meantime!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hammers on a great run at the moment - now up to fifth place with 49 points from 29 games. Need to make the most of this purple patch - they don't tend to come round that often for teams like West Ham!

[kwinigolfer]

Very interested to hear the Corporal's sentiments regarding the closure of the Boleyn Ground era.
First game I went to there was the WHU vs Chelsea 66/67 season opener, and then only because we were locked out of a sold-out Oval. Hurst, Moore and Peters and it seemed everyone else began with the letter B!
Subsequently became an habituee of the chicken run during early/mid seventies, Mervyn Day, Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard, Devonshire, Pop Robson, Brooking and the inimitable Clyde Best who caught so much grief, and seemed(?) to take at least some of it in good heart. Consistently best atmosphere of any part of any ground I ever went to.
Will that ever be recaptured?
Truly the end of an era.

[guildfordbat]

Hi Kwini - glad this isn't another Hammers obituary as I first feared when seeing you had again posted here. Well, at least not for a player. I'll leave the Corporal and other Hammers' fans to answer your main question.

However, just to mention that coincidentally I was reading about Clyde Best the other day. As you indicate, the black Bermudan striker used to cop an awful lot of racist comments. Whist most were totally unacceptable, this one made me smile and apparently made him laugh. For anyone who doesn't like it, my apologies and I'll resort to the usual defence of saying it needs to be understood in the context of the time.

Anyway, during one game Clyde was getting a right b*ll*cking from the ref - probably a forward's tackle from the big man. As the official continued to lecture him, the crowd momentarily fell silent until a voice shouted out, ''If he goes on anymore, Clyde, move in next door to him!''.

[kwinigolfer]

Hi guildford,
Can't top that (well, not in polite circles), but apparently Clyde Best was photoshopped out of the photograph towards the foot of this Mail (apologies, it came to me via a link, honest guv) article featuring Geoff Hurst and his Upton Park memories:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3578907/Sir-Geoff-Hurst-painting-stands-scoring-double-hat-trick-ll-never-forget-Upton-Park-time-Olympic-Stadium-West-Ham-history.html

By the way, read the other day in a Frank Worthington article that Martin Peters (and Stiles & Ray Wilson) has Alzheimers. That's pretty distressing to hear about.

On a happier note, thought this would be a tough year in East London but West Ham have been terrific, haven't they. Thoroughly enjoyed watching them and hope they put on a show this evening. Why isn't Cresswell in England squads?

(PS: JJW must have been among the oldest living England cricketers, possibly along with In(ar)sole and Smith?)

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