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How much responsibility do forums like this have?

Submitted by Betty Swollox on Tue, 01/09/2015 - 13:13

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Betty Swollox

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 13:34

I've been an interested observer from the start of this season, mainly because I've been on family hols, but I've seen a lot of knee jerking going on. The tone on forums like these has almost become totally extreme. If we win it's euphoria and champagne popping, if we lose it's almost suicidal. There's not much middle ground. A lot of fans were relieved when Allardyce went and although we know Bilic wasn't first choice, it was a better choice. Some were still sceptical, and critical that Allardyce wasn't given a fair go. Ironically one poster complains about this but also admits to not liking Bilic and never will. There slap seemed to have been this "I told you so" attitude when we lost to Leicester and Bournemouth. It was as if our whole season was defined by those two games. Having been around the block with West ham I can only put our results down to the true West Ham way. Not turning up for the lesser teams and spitting blood against the big ones. This is what I have noticed the difference between our past and present managers. The former would almost go to Anfield or the Emirates with a respect the point attitude, and then try not to lose at home. I think we now try and win every game regardless of who we play and that's all I ask for. Even the two games we lost at home, we never gave up and always felt we could come back and equalise.
So onto your signings. I think we have to take stock of where we are and who we are. We can't attract the better players around Europe as we don't challenge for honours. It's almost a vicious circle. Again a lot of posts on here about how crap our recruitment has been and the board have let us down etc... way before the deadline today. We have to realise that clubs aren't letting players go until they get what they want first and it's like a huge domino effect. The only teams that do there business early are the big ones with the money and the pulling power. I may be alone but I think if Adebayor comes, he'll do ok for a year. He'll have something to prove. Jelavic is a decent Prem striker and again a good back up. He's better than Cole and Maiga that's for sure. that gives up Sakho, Valencia, Carroll, Jelavic, Zarate, Cullen, Lee and possibly Adebayor as striking options over three competitions. Midfield looks better now attacking wise with Moses, Song, Payet, Lanzini, Zarate and Samuelson and holding midfield Oxford, Obiang,Song and Noble. Defensively we have two fullback for each position and three at right back if you count Tomkins. Ogbonna, Ried,Tomkins, Burke and Oxford at CB's and Kouayet can play there too, if needed. I think we have two good goalies too. So why all the panic? Why all the vitriol? Hasn't the last four years taught us to keep our powder a bit drier?
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189 users have voted.
moore2come's picture

moore2come

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 14:15

Not sure where in your post the responsibility in the title is asked but a decent post.
Felt the high's and lows from our results and have questioned our defeats. Two teams we could look back on at the end of the season and think what if? A shot at Europe, the unthinkable and the how the fuck? Played really poorly angst Bournemouth and after fighting our way back after schoolboy errors, being guilty of more and gifting a team their first win ever as a top flight club. The wins, well? Who would have thought? Didn't see the Arsenal one coming as they should challenge for the title this year but was quite optimistic on the Liverpool one. Sure it had been a while, something I'd never seen but I had a feeling and Lo and behold I get to rename a pooh fan at work 3-0 instead of 3-1 and that feels a bit sweeter.
As for the signings I've been a little underwhelmed we haven't done more up front. I'm giving Carroll my full support again this season but if he breaks down again Sugo had better hope it doesn't cost more than his medical bills! Lanzini looks lively, but not a poacher, Sakho is our no.1 option, Valencia will hopefully have a better season once fit, a couple of young hopefuls and a couple more who may offer something different. Was on the fence about Austin maybe coming but would take him over Adebayor who I'm not a fan of considering his age. Midfield is pretty exciting. Payet has shown what a good player he could be for us, Koutaye looks like having another great season, Song, when fit, could make the difference in us pushing up the table, I'm delighted with Obiang. Under 21 Spanish intl which must mean he's a much better option than Nolan. Noble could do well with the added quality around him. Oxford and Samuelson look excellent prospects, helping us build for the future and the addition of Moses on loan provides added width. Defence looks almost there. Could probably do with better cover in at least one full back spot although Tomkins could prove useful at RB. The Ogbonna addition looks effective. Sure he wasn't Juventus' first choice but can't be crap if he's there in the first place can he? A better back up keeper hopefully won't be a issue so sure we're not down to bare bones but we need a bit more luck on the injury front as this has, pardon the pun, been a bit of an Achilles heel the last few years. Hopefully a better style of play that Bilic brings will benefit that. Can't have been helpful last season having to put your body one the line week after week to protect a draw! Which brings us to Bilic. Heard the Fat waiter info back around the time Bilic signed and Sully's comment about it being a done deal but then Real Madrid come calling. And there's the rub. Sure we'd all choose West Ham but then we have em in our hearts. Others don't and convincing the cream of the crop to come to us is still a few years off :) Bilic is a good choice and I'll back him 100% for as long as he's here.
As for responsibility a certain poster has imo the last few days pushed the boundaries. I'm sure there's a bit of tongue in cheek there but I think the joke has run it's course. Enough debate has been had on it so I won't reopen.

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174 users have voted.

Chippy Dave

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 15:31

I'm going to have to disagree Betty, this is the place for venting your feelings IMO, in amongst like minded people we should all be able to put our views across without fear of being branded an 'Allardyce lover' or a 'Bilic hater', this forum doesn't survive without knee jerk reactions, we all know what its like on here when there's nothing to talk about. I also think that standing on the terraces you hear far more reaction than you'll ever see on here, for some this is their Upton Park on match days

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146 users have voted.

Betty Swollox

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 16:23

To both you and Dicksy, Chippy. I agree to a certain extent but I also think that some people set a stall out that almost makes it impossible to come back from sometimes. I use you an example of a more balanced poster. You don't get the Noble thing. Fair enough you're probably right to a certain extent. However he had a great game on Saturday and took his goal well. I think he stepped up to the plate and broke the hoo do of 52 years other captains failings up there. You as an individual would come on and give a credit where credit's due comment, but it doesn't change your overall sentiment. If we won something he scored 10 goals this season and got an England cap. You may come on here and say" I was wrong". However there are some that can't do that and then actually that extremism prevents debate and contribution. Two weeks ago anybody that was pro Bilic (which we all should be, as we all should have been with Allardyce at the start), was a demented misguided fool, for thinking he was any good. Now he's god. The owners two days ago were lining their own pockets, porno kings, mugs liars. Now they look like heroes. If we keep see-sawing so far, there will be no debate, just the ranters and the happy clappers. This is what this site became in the end last season, it was either all doom and gloom, or "I told you so", or "be careful what you wish for" stuff.

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163 users have voted.
nevillenixon's picture

nevillenixon

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 16:37

As soon as people log on they become potentially bi-polar, given the fact that something so dear to them that is capable of administering so much hurt, despair and occasional hope is what they are writing about. - Ed

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Hammers65

Tue, 01/09/2015 - 16:54

Supporting westham is about hurt,despair & occasional hope....Ive said from the start that i think bilic will do well,i prefer his attacking style.The wins against the arse & the scouse were incredible wins which none of us expected,as for leicester & bournemouth we made silly mistakes at the back,though both games we came back strongly second half.
Its a roller coaster ride supporting the hammers,& i admit i didnt think we would do any business in the transfer market -So apologies SUGO! With the additions today i believe we will go from strength to strength this season...

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