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West Ham’s season starts here

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Andy Carroll Matt JarvisAs the old disco song said: “What a difference a day makes” (for our younger readers, a disco was where old people used to dance!).

Post Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, the mood from every angle was probably as bad as I’ve ever known in all the years I’ve been a Hammer. There was literally no light at the end of what was turning into one hell of a black tunnel; poor morale, even poorer performances, an injury list that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Call of Duty Black Ops II, and old Sam morphing from confident to incompetent in a shake of Ricardo Vaz Te’s quiff!

And then it happened. Cardiff. If ever a game changed an entire clubs mind set and belief it was that one. The relief was almost tangible, the outpouring of hope and belief like a dam bursting. It wasn’t the win per-se, though heaven knows that would have been welcomed like a long-lost son; it was the manner of the win.

For the first time in a long time, much too long, we actually saw a quality that, like our fortunes, had been always hiding this season. We saw a level of commitment that gave us hope and faith in the team.

Mark Noble was the standard bearer supreme that day, wearing the skippers armband with joyous Canning Town pride. And boy did the lad do us all proud. And where Mark led, the others not only followed, they excelled. The so so average Taylors, Collisons and McCartneys of this world threw everything they could in the way of the opposition. The splendid Adrian, back still aching from the exertion of 11 recent net retrievals, dived and parried and dominated as if wired to the mains. The wingers attacked and pestered and chased and Carlton Cole eased across his man to slot home as if it was as easy as breathing.

But that was last week. Today it’s the Magpies and unless we treat this, and every other game to the end of the season, as though its the be all and end all, the Cardiff City result will be but another happy memory instead of a catalyst for survival and rediscovered East-London pride.

More of the same chaps. Work hard, hunt in packs, close down like your life depends upon it, make life hard, no, hell, for the opposition, get numbers forward when we attack, and keep looking down at the crossed hammers badge on your shirt, just like we all do, and let it spur you on to better things, to more effort, and to eventual victory. The newfound spirit and belief that has surrounded West Ham this week is but part of the good news. With key players very close to fitness now and a transfer window but half way through, I genuinely feel more optimistic about the situation now that I have done all season.

I urge Sam Allardyce and the boys to forgot the nonsense and embarrasssments to date,  in terms of results, performances and tactics (or lack of them !) and commence the season right here. A combination of graft and commitment, liberally laced with an attacking intent (you CANNOT effectively attack with one forward Mr.Allardyce; that’s official), spearheaded by the badly missed and self-proclaimed Messiah, steadily fed by the Stewart  Downing/Matt Jarvis pairing will give us a new look, a new feel, a new belief and a reason to get to the Boleyn with a spring in our step.

At 4.50pm today, we will all be clearer as to just how the rest of this season is going to be approached. I pray its based on attack and confidence instead of defence and hope. We have been given a lifeline Sam, for gods sake don’t throw it back into the water!

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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!

2 comments

  • Dave says:

    The waters are cold and deep and we are in it, right up to our necks fifty miles from the nearest land. To make matters worse we are surrounded by man eating sharks while bleeding from all the injuries we have.

  • Spence55 says:

    Cant argue there Dave. Grim mate !!

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