West Ham Fans

Cannot see any of the young lads starting but would love too see one or two get a final 15 or 20 irrespective of scoreline. This would send a good message throughout the ranks of players and supporters of the clubs forward looking intentions.

It wouldn't surprise me if Tomkins gets a start and it's possible Sears and Ashton both start up front. How much noise would our fans make if they saw that? The atmosphere alone would give us an edge.

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

Sorry to change the subject but heres a free link its a live feed off setanta free of charge to watch the mighty hammers http://espnuk.blogspot.com/ West Ham Til I Die E6 Hammer

agree with you on most points but can we please stop using last season as an excuse for any mishaps this season. We talk about curbs getting us out of that mess but who went on that huge miserable losing run, losing 6 nill to reading and admitting he played tevez because the crowd were constantly calling for him. this season for me has showed how curbishly might not be able to make the step up from Charlton to where we want to be now. This season there is no way curbs will get the sack, no matter how bad we do, as long as we are safe. Because the excuse of last season and injurys are going to be there. so i will hold out and make my mind up on Curbs next season.

I think Zamora will be a good strike-partner for Deano but I also think Freddy Sears will work better with him but We can't play Freddy with him every game, that's too much pressure for a youngster who is just finding his feet in the first team. If Zamora isn't fit, I can see Curbs starting with LBM (groan) up front alongside Deano and Freddy on the bench. I have got us down for a draw today on my IKTS. A win would be a good result today. As long as Deano is playing we should either draw or win but, if Curbishly starts with Cole as a lone striker we will be lucky to get a point. Against Fulham last week, Everton lost their first game this year, so they will be going all out for a win today. Everton are without Cahill and Carsley so I hope we are playing them at the right time. Safe journey to everyone that's going. Most will have left by now, lets hope the trip home will be a happy one.

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

Haha that's terrible. You'd think a football journalist would realise that can't be right.

that is the rumour but i hope its just paper talk. If its true then what is curbs on. Carr is not the sort of player we need to be signing. He is not good enough is he ?

Got my tickets 4 the derby game, can somebody advise me on parking.Never travelled 2 game by car b4. Thanks for any help. Hope the atmosphere b special it will b my daughters first game. IRONS 4 LIFE, i love u west ham .

Hi welsh hammer, you have two choices. 1. Get to Upton Park early doors and then park in one of the back streets near the ground. Most places are not restricted and free on saturdays. You may have to drive around for a bit, but you will find a spot eventually. Once there, you can see the ground towering above the houses, so you shouldn't get lost. If you are early enough you can always have a pint in the famous Boleyn Pub before the game. 2. If not, there is a large car park behind the Denmark Arms in East Ham. Once there, it is about a 15 minute walk to the ground. You can follow the sea of happy hammers on their way to the match. The advantage of this spot is that you can have a quick beer after the game whilst you wait for the traffic to die down. Either way, I hope it is worth the journey and that your daughter is a lucky charm for us.

DDIOLCH R FAER AS WE SAY IN WALES,THANK U VERY MUCH MONKEYBOY REALLY GRATEFUL FOR U ADVICE.We r planning on getting there early so tha my daughter can saviour the atmosphere. Thanks once again.

Good for you Welsh Hammer....Irish Hammer here still needs one for the Derby match...Anyone got a spare would be much appreciated....Would make my trip asI am travelling over for the weekend and would love to shout the boys on!!!!PLEASE ??

Cheers clare keep my ear open 4 ticket 4 u. hope u lucky anyway keep the faith.

If we are to progress then sure, we may need players to suit the situation and, with respect, we may need to 'let some squad members go'. My point? Well if we are to attract those that will better benefit our team we need to demonstrate respect - and suggest that we all do exactly that up to and beyond the end of their contract(s). If I was being referred to as '...dead wood...' as often as I read it here I'd possibly say 'stuff you lot' and play for a wage and sod the passion. So, some might need to go but until - and after - they go we perhaps ought remember that all players have feelings, they wear our claret & blue and that, above all, gets my respect.

Well said that man!

Well said A Hammer. A sad but true fact, I feel, is that respect for anyone these days seems to be a rare thing.

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

Got respect for you Steve.

A Hammer... that is a very valid point and have to admit that I never really thought about it like that..Im sure most footballers would rather first team action then to run out their contract in the reserves but then again there are a few that have done...Lets hope we can just re shuffle the pack a small bit for the better...with respect of course !!! Hope Curbs plays 2 upfront on sat as I think we can get a result that way..they have a few injuries and if we get at them we can cause them problems..Sears to be used as a sub again I hope as I read a comment earlier about him being a TALISMAN!! For gods sake hes 18 and just played 20 mins of first team football...break him in gently and a star may be born please god..

That was me with 'talisman' Clarehammer. I just meant that he could be lucky for us and lift the morale of the team; I didn't want to add to any pressure on him. But he doesn't look like one who buckles under the pressure anyway -- what a great debut he had. I completely agree that he should be brought to the bench and used carefully.

Ashes - wanting to run before you can walk is not a bad thing, but you have to realise that you are gonna fall over a few times and sometimes it's gonna hurt!! Sorry, but i've always been an "Every silver lining has a cloud" type person...

Great post Ashes, and some good questions too. With regards our dramatic downhill slide last season, I think it's a common belief that it was a number of factors outside of the game but within the team. There was gambling, late night parties, Pardew screwing with players WAGs, it was basically a meltdown of discipline probably as a result of the success of the previous season, and the huge increase in wages for most of the players. That was why Curbs had to let players like NRC and Yossi go. The players that Curbs brought in to the club were all picked on their characters as much as their ability. Thats why half of our team are, or have been, Captains, either for previous clubs or for their countries. Anyway, I don't think that it will happen to us next season. Never say never I know. I don't think we will be able to call this a successful season but, I can't remember when we last looked to finish in the top half of the table and still be dissapointed so, I would say we have higher expectations for the team than we have had for a long time. That must surely be a good thing..

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

To answer all of your questions Ashes, i don't think this season will be as good as 05/06 - that was special!! Everybody tipped us to go straight down and we showed them what we could do - everybody at the club was on a high and we had some players who really felt proud of wearing the C&B. Adding to that, this season is definitely not as good overall - as it has always been it has been a series of peaks and troughs. To me the problems in 06/07 were down to several factors - 1) some players believing they had cracked it and were bigger than the club, 2) injuries to key players such as Ashton, 3) Pardew's inability to control the dressing room becuase of item 1. He could motivate the players when things were on the up but i think his inexperience showed when the chips were down; i don't blame him for it because it was unchartered territory for him. As for whether it could happen again - i hope not but we're West Ham and anybody who has supported us for long enough will know we have a history of being an up and down club. I really do hope that it's different now - we have a board that don't seem to be in it for their own ends and we have a manager who what ever you say, has steadied the ship a bit. I wouldn't go as far as saying it is a season to be proud of - it hasn't been pretty but to me, we are on the lower steps of the ladder to long term success, it's just a matter of whether the fans and the board give the people in charge time to get us further up it...Pride and passion!!

no way has this season been as good as 2 seasons ago. That season we played superb football beat some of the best teams in the prem and our players were earning rave reviews, not to mension our cup run. This season we are safe but it has been one dull, boring season

Thanks KP, BMS, JJ -- 'preciate the great responses. BEAT EVERTON!!!!!!!!

I would hope we get rid of some of the under achievers and poor signings made by curbs. Dyer,Ljunberg,Parker should go as they are too injury prone even though I agree on their day they can be match winners Ferdinand I just cannot make my mind up.one week he plays a blinder the next he doesn't look as if he has a clue Lucas Neil - too inconsistent Then there is the obvious one LBM I would like to see some youngsters brought on and also believe that Nani will try and attract some foreign talent from italy All in all we need a good shake-up. Keep the best and ditch the rest. In reality it will probably be somewhat short of my expectastions. We shall see

HAMITUP. You want us to get rid of Parker, Dyer, Lungberg and Neil. You must be really tired brov' get some sleep and read through your post again tomorrow. Either you will want to amend it or you are totally off your trolley. Lungberg has been our best player in some matches and since being fully fit, has played well almost every game. Parker is probably one of, (if not the) best players at the Club. Dyer, I can understand, he is injury prone but, if he gets a run of games and if any two of Bellamy, Ashton, Sears or even Zamora up front, Dyer will give them good service and be an asset I'm sure. Neil, we all know about him, he can play well and I think a game or two sat on the bench, might just give him the kick up the arse that he needs. I'd love to know who you would replace these players with and what you think that would cost. Please, do enlighten me.

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

a take your point about ljunberg and parker and even dyer but how many games are they going to play next season (the same goes for bellamy who i really rate but this groin problem has been going on for a long time). I agree they are all good players as long as they keep fit. If we do keep them then we need decent backup so I would hope there are players out there we could buy with a bit of flair to combine with the youngsters. I cannot give you names and I don't know how much money we will have to spend. If our owner has ambition (I assume he does as we have brought in NANI who i am sure is not working just for the love of the game) then I would have expected money to be available. Lucas Neil , I feel makes too many mistakes as does anton ferdinand. Basically I cannot see us being more than a mid-table team at best with the present squad of players. I hope I am wrong.

With out a doubt i am with you on Parker. He is the man to really carry us forward. He has been the best player on the pitch for us every game he has played be it fit or injured he has played blinders. Dyer has to be kept but he will get injured again and again and again, its just something we will have to put up with.

i still think a better centre back to partner Upson is needed, I know we have had a great defensive record but i still am not completely convinced as we leak far too many against the smaller teams. but we must get the creativaty side sorted out because i really cant see dyer producing especialy with his injury record.

I dont think we need to spend big! Our back 5 have been as good as any this season (bar those three 4-0 drubbings, what was that bout?) An the front 6 have been farily lame as they've usually been our 2nd choice players. I think keep the back five(maybe introduce some youngsters to develop into these positions) then play a front 6 of freddie.L/Parker/Noble/Faubert/Ashton/Bellamy that will get us into top 6! Not even making team have bowyer/dyer/sears/solano/zman/cole. If they all stay fit could be a fantastic season. And if they dont then players like collison and tomkins can take their chance! I think a couple of good young players and I would like to see a creative midfielder come in like elano! That'll do me!

I think we will be making some signings,just not over the top big money ones.We spent big last summerand look how many of those players have actually figured for us this season.Our young players deserve to be given the chance,otherwise they could just slide into obscurity,and i for one wouldn't want that.

We have a big enough squad to be able to get rid of 2 or 3 and bring in a quality player in return. This would possibly bring down the wage bill too. I think it all depends on how the last 8 games go, Faubert still has not played a single game fully fit. Parker is starting to show why he was brought. We don't really know if Bellamy is going to be able to continue until he has played a few games. In my humble opinion, all this means that no concrete decisions with regards spending should or could really be made with any authority before the season ends. I can see us looking to buy a pacy left winger which is what I feel we need, I know we have Dyer and Faubert but this season has shown we need back-up, I think one of our main faults this season, aside from the front men not scoring, is the service (or lack of) to them.

COYI!!!

West Ham Till I Die

You make a good point there, but I think there is a big difference between when we had Cole, Ferdinand etc. and now with Sears, Noble etc. We no longer have Terrance Brown! He was only in West Ham to make money and that is why most of our good young talent was shipped out. Please correct me if I am wrong here as well, but when we sold Rio we got 18 million which was said at the time to be spent on a new west stand, but to be called The Doctor Martins Stand, I would only assume that either Dr Martin's paid for this, or paid someone (TB) alot of money for this. We now have the Icelanders who have put a lot of effort into out club, not just on the grass but in the courts as well, they took us over and went through the Tevez affair and we came out fine! We have board that wants to push forward and will put money into the club, maybe not for the big signings people want (Because we won't get them we are west ham), but into developing an acadamy that has groomed (Not in the Gary Glitter way) so many youngsters that have went to be some of Englands best players and also in a new stadium or bigger Upton Park. The Icelanders are in this for the long haul and with the development of the youth team so are our future England International Stars. COYI

Phil, It the Dr. Martens stand as per http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Dr.+Martens Sorry to be an ar5e ache

Your not being an ar5e ache don't worry, I understand this was due to recognition of the sponsorship, but there would have been a lot of money involved, look at Bolton and the Reebok Stadium, Arsenal changing the name of theres to the emirates because of the money they received! I just feel that there is a lot more to the money TB made than us fans know about

Agreed that TB was a total blight. I dream about the day that he and Joorabchian feed fishes...

Valid point that you make there, Lorne. What worries me is Wengers understanding whereby he appreciates how damaging it can be to 'beast' young players when, apparently and put simply, their bodies are vulnerable because their bones haven't yet fully hardened ...and accounts for his easing-in of young Walcott. Amongst evidence of damage caused by beasting kids is Owen - the near terminal sick-note. Maybe fat-franks idle efforts for us were because he had a sixth sense to preserve himself as his lardy bones were setting? Anyone clued-up on physiology and whether having an academy is thus a liability? Anyway, given this relatively recent understanding maybe we should appreciate and reward our young talent although not beast them match-in, match-out. We'd need to delicately mix/match/manage our large squad, which is a challenge for both mangement to properly effect and for supporter to cope with when it (because we're West Ham!) goes pete tonge...