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Strange days indeed at E13

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Upton ParkNever a dull moment at the Happy Hammers that’s for sure. I’ve probably read more column inches over the past few months about our club than I have in the last ten years, and much of it I could do without.

If it isn’t news of our latest casualties, its news of the latest player who has spurned life in the East End for …well it seems just about anywhere else possible. Have we ever been such an unpopular choice for so many transfer targets in living memory?

Whilst the latest in a long line of foreign imports seem happy to see what we have to offer, in the guise of Italian Serie A stars Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino, it’s probably best that we all hold our collective breath, sit on our hands, and wait until they actually run out at the Boleyn in full kit before we start getting too excited.

Too many linked players have simply disappeared into thin air, most probably fearful of a looming relegation fight that may blight their precious CV’s, or, equally likely, concerned with the total lack of style and formation that has been the West Ham trademark and calling card during the current season.

The management and coaching staff have been pilloried and cursed, the Chairmen have been castigated for doing a very passable joint impersonation of Emperor Nero (for “fiddling whilst Rome burns” read “counting Olympic Stadium receipts whilst West Ham stumble towards the Championship”), and every fan who ever sang Bubbles has an opinion on just what the hell has happened to our precious club. Strange days indeed, and unlike any I can recall.

To see a half empty home ground hosting Manchester City in the semi-final of major cup competition was a shock, and helped to pull everything together, to clarify in black and white the turmoil and anger running through so many claret and blue veins. All the negativity, all the bile, all the despair, and all the frustration that has forced so many ever loyal Hammers fans to register their hurt and contempt at this 2013/14 horror showing was there for all to see in the form of empty seating in all corners of the ground. The silent protest was deafening, and wholly understandable.

But that was then and this is now. Lets re-group and take stock and actually realise its still in our hands. This isn’t late April and we don’t need to win our last five games to survive. Things are much better than that.  We are six points off of tenth place as we stand. It’s going to be a tough ask but it’s do-able. Fulham and Cardiff City are in worse shape than we are, of that I’m sure.

Andy Carroll is back and looking mean and lean. He must stay fit at all costs and that is in the lap of the gods. Winston Reid and James Collins are just about ready to help shore up a makeshift defence that has been beyond poor of late. The defending cannot get any worse from hereon in…it just cant! Surely Borriello wont be imported at great cost just to sit on the bench. Surely Sam ‘I know best’ Allardyce has finally seen the penny drop and knows that two up top MUST be the way forward. Don’t let us down again Sam. It’s serious now.

Then we have February, the month when our immediate future will be decided almost definitely. Three home games against the smaller boys, Swansea City, Norwich City & Southampton and Aston Villa away. A full attacking side, a full Boleyn, and, hopefully, a positive spirit that hasn’t been seen either pitch side or stand side for months now to roar the boys on.

I’m all for letting the top brass know when things aren’t right, when we aren’t happy, and when changes are needed, but on match days, and in times of crisis, only committed and vociferous Hammers fans are of any use to the cause, a cause we all need to get behind and support to the hilt. If the unthinkable does happen, then lets not provide Sam Allardyce with yet another excuse; that the home support wasn’t up to scratch!

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Plaistow born Spencer is a lifelong Hammer and having spent half-a century plus, enduring this lifelong obsession, along with every other West Ham supporter, knows exactly what it takes and what it means to wrap that Claret & Blue scarf round your neck every other Saturday and head off for the Boleyn !

A Chartered Surveyor by profession, Spencer, now 58, has played, coached and managed at semi-pro level within Essex for a number of clubs, and, simply unable to give up playing, currently turns out for the Iron Maiden Over 35’s side when he is not watching the Hammers, playing guitar in his Classic Rock covers band Gunrunner, or more probably, injured yet again!

5 comments

  • razor says:

    Great post son couldn’t sum that up better myself agree with all of it but were still left with an incompetent board that are not supporters just businessmen and woman, and a incompetent coach that hasn’t a clue on the modern game and can only take us down. Unless messi decides to save us playing in sams selection of right back and still scoring then this clown no matter who comes will take us back to when this board employed him in the first place. And that’s the allardyce way that wins you absolutely nothing.

  • simon says:

    I am a huge critic of Fat Sam but also a supporter of the Board- what may seem like the obvious to sack him must have some real cold facts behind the scenes why we don’t-
    G&S have spent money, and in some cases a lot of money- perhaps given they are not “billionaires” we should accept that they are doing the very best they can and sacking SAM- as we all in our hearts feel is best would mean these new arrivals would / could not be paid for- compensation “apparently” is in the region of several millions.
    What I would like to see is that money invested in the club with “future and positive” signings now- e.g Mcormack, Rhodes etc not wasted on journeymen over the hill. Now I know big signing won’t play for Sam so that puts the more pressure on achieving the above-
    One solution may be to move Sam upstairs and bring someone else in- presuming that doesn’t breach Sam’s contract.
    Sadly we are not rich- we never have been- but the priority must be to put a team out that entertains, stays up and shows pride- presently too many do not deliver that-
    Jarvis- not sure if it is confidence or ability but a 10+ million price tag shows no value-
    Joe Cole- has the passion but simply does not fit the system Sam plays
    Morrision- full of skill but life is about him not the team or us- again what is his position
    Rat- simply no better than Potts but on 10 times the salary
    Collinson- probably worth keeping but again not suited to Sam’s formation

    Get the drift- we are not geared to play Sam’s way- Sam;s way wont attract the right new talent and we can’t afford to sack him- at some stage he must take some ownership of the predicament and for the better good of the club either move on or change his beliefs- Sam it ain’t working!!!!

  • JB says:

    What are your views over this? If it is yes? Then make it happen now. West Ham need some excitement. Di Canio for manager. Let the fireworks begin!
    http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25886570

  • RonBoy29 says:

    Whats this about moving Fat Sam upstairs? I think it depends how high he should be moved. Perhaps on the roof collecting his beloved hoofed balls or waiting for the next helicopter heading for Bolton -the mind boggles! I imagine our new Italian mid-fielder will replace Mark Noble or Morrison (do you ever think Nolan would make way -be sensible please) but enough frivolity lets take Spencers optimistic approach and dream that we have bagged two late-developing super-stars who (perhaps like Kitson and Hartson) would give us a lifeline. Only one Tevez, of course, but in his prime he would never make Sam’s team (with all that tippy-tappy football) .Yes with Reid back, two up front, Dan Potts at left back, Nolan with another 4 match ban, we do have chances. We can all dream, cant we?

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