In the midst of reams of fabricated garbage regarding the past, the current and the future of West Ham, slowly emerging are glimpses of what we actually and truthfully can expect. In my lifetime of supporting West Ham, I don’t think I have ever been this excited for following season before the current one has finished. As it stands, I see it two ways; firstly we qualify for Europe and get to take West Ham over land and sea, or secondly we don’t but avoid the added pressure on a young, currently depleted side.

Is it win-win for us at the minute? Don’t get me wrong it would be devastating to not make 7th after a year of unrecognised (by the press, Lawro, Hansan and Linekar) progress, but it would certainly not be the end of the world missing out on an potential extra 19 games for next season. If we don’t qualify, we have an extra year under the guidance of a superb Zola, Clarke and Carr partnership to allow the younger players to settle into the pace and intensity of top-tier football. I personally am of the opinion that a good run in Europe could definitely hamper our league progess. Either way it’s a good time to be supporting West Ham right now.

I don’t want to dwell on what may or may not be, as we’ve learnt in the past it generally results in our dreams literally fading and dying, what I do want to look at though is what we are now.

In a weekend of football where the Mancs fielded and entirely non-English side, West Ham gave opportunities to a whole host of young, exciting, products of our Academy. All British (mostly English). This excites me more than the football Zola & Clarke have us playing (which has been top draw for the most part of this season).

All of Stanislas, Noble, Sears, Tomkins, Payne and Collison experience first team action at the weekend and, by all accounts, both Noble and Payne really shone. Right there we are looking at the future of what we can achieve, of what is possible.

I read too many times on other websites how wonderful other clubs are, or what a splendid job old saggy-chops has done over at the Spuds, or what an incredible youth system Le-Arse have. How about a quick step back and a look at what we have achieved this year…on a budget of nothing and with a potentially devastating injury list (a list that long would certainly ruin a season for Wigan, Bolton and definitely Fulham).

I cannot wait for next season to start. We will hopefully be welcoming back fully-fit versions of Ashton, Collison and Behrami. Add that to the wealth of youth that are bubbling under and I honestly believe we could be in for a special year…whether in Europe, or not.

God’s Green Acre

On the 30th May, something special is going down at Upton Park. It’s my chance to finally prove to Zola that I still have what it takes to make it as a player.

OK, that’s a complete lie, but it’s what I’m telling myself in my head.

I am playing at Upton Park in an 11-a-side game however to raise money for a breast cancer charity. After the success of our last fundraiser on here, I hope to be able to present the organiser of this incredible opportunity with a donation from procedes raised from my site.

There will be more of this to follow, along with some photos of me scoring the winning goal in front of my seat in the Centenary Lower(yeh, and Relegation-Fodder Roeder is a good manager)

IRONS!

Sam