Watch Huth, #4

First of all, apologies for not writing as regularly as usual. I’ve been working on a new project which you can find at BoleynGround.com. It’s shaping up to be a historical photo archive of the Boleyn Ground and Upton Park, so if you’re sitting on any photos you’re particularly proud of, whatever era, please do send them in.

It was the news that Avram has been charged with his comments about the referee, Mike Jones, after our disappointing FA Cup clash with Stoke at the weekend, that woke me from my blogging slumber.

I recently wrote elsewhere that Slur Alex Ferguson needs to start showing more respect (in light of his outburst at the officials that took charge of their defeat to Chelsea). I still stand by those comments. United expect everything to go their way (Rooney elbow) and when it doesn’t (Chelsea away) they lose their rag.

The situation with Avram is very different. It is a well known fact that Avram Grant very rarely explodes into a sea of emotion, so well known that it’s become a matter of genuine frustration for many West Ham fans. It’s not in his character, it would seem, to make unqualified, unsubstantiated and and unreasonable criticism about the performance of a ref unless it was fully and wholly justified.

Against Stoke it was.

The performance by Mike Jones was as bias and incompetent as I’ve ever seen. Not that it excuses our own performance on the day, we were poor. It was a disgrace and a full on kick to the nethers for every West Ham fan (4,500) who had spent the money on tickets, petrol, mini-buses, coaches, trains…whatever means necessary to get there. Ruined entirely by a limp referee who undoubtedly was told to buck up his ideas by Pulis at half-time, after allowing our goal that many believed to be fair and others a handball.

There was no such doubt about the NFL style blocking tactic adopted for Stoke’s first goal (in fact everything about it was NFL – long throw & blockers). Mike Jones, it was blatant and you missed it.

There was no such doubt about Etherington’s dive. He cheated. Mike Jones, you fell for it (I wonder if Matty has paid back that £800K we loaned him to pay of debt?)

There was no such doubt about the intentional foul to haul Hitz out of the wall for their second goal. Mike Jones, it was clear as day and you missed it.

There was no such doubt about the rugby tackle on Tomkins in the Stoke penalty area. Mike Jones, there are no more words.

We were rubbish but Avram, and every fan up there, is fully justified to believe that after that anonymous performance, Mike Jones you’ve cost us a place in the FA Cup semi-final.

But of course it’s superb to see a new underdog in the semi-final. It’s great that Stoke, a team of such footballing pedigree, beauty and honesty, have reached this stage of the competition.

So, how would I plead if I was Avram? Personally it’s about time that referees were accountable for their behaviour. And, if Avram decides to give the FA both barrels, I’d be fully behind it. Something needs to change. Or we’ll see more arrogant refereeing displays as they’re fully in the knowledge that none of their decisions will come under full and proper scrutiny by anyone other than the fans…and we all know we mean nothing to the FA. “You all need to show more respect”

Give us a reason to.

It’s a good question.

No really it is. The question refers to the weekend that Walcott confessed to diving in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Leeds – the confession came with an apology and remorse. It is the same weekend that Diouf stood over Jamie Mackie and spat the words “F*** you and f*** your leg” into his face.

But it’s not me asking whether Walcott and Diouf are of the same human race. It’s our very own, delightful, Karen Brady who can be credited with the question (in her irresponsible ‘Brady’s Football Diary‘ in the Sun)

So why exactly are we going after him?

He’s a shameful football player, with a disgraceful career to suit:

March 2003: fined two weeks’ wages by Liverpool and banned for two games for spitting at a Celtic supporter.

October 2004: banned from playing for Senegal after being caught in a nightclub.

November 2004: charged by police for spitting at an 11-year-old Middlesbrough fan.

November 2004: banned for three games for spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw.

December 2005: pleads guilty to drink driving and banned for 12 months.

November 2006: admits regularly diving to win penalties.

October 2007: admits to deliberately getting himself sent off.

January 2009: falls out with Anton Ferdinand and leaves Sunderland for Blackburn.

Throw in 67 yellow cards and five reds in his eight-and-a-half years in England.

(details from London Evening Standard)

I would be devastated if we were to sign Diouf. He would be the first player I’d happily boo before he’d kicked a ball for us. I’d happily boo him as he warmed up. I’d happily boo his name as it was read out on the team sheet.

It’s a matter of standards and principle West Ham.

Sort it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU1GKI4mbCg

WHAT? I'm in charge next week? (img from Independant)

All was going to plan in the Sullivan & Gold offices at Upton Park.

Slowly but surely turning the screw, increasingly making Avram Grant’s position as manager untenable. Avram himself wasn’t helping with results, it must be added.

“O’NEIL TO BECOME THE NEW MANAGER OF WEST HAM”, we hear immediately prior to Grant taking charge against Arsenal. A mole in the boardroom suprised us all (and I assume Avram too) with the leak.

Did they prepare, however, for a situation whereby a manager, who’s position is now untenable, has to be kept in a job because their despicable antics have left them no choice?

It wasn’t so long ago when we were in a similar situation as they gently, but forcibly, led Zola to the exit door. “We don’t sack our managers”, they cry as justification for the mutual dismissal of Zola. He wasn’t, of course, their appointment.

Grant was. And Grant is, I quote, “Our man”.

Criticisms have been aimed Grant’s way throughout the season. We still persist with 4-5-1 and continue to sit back, absorb pressure and concede. It doesn’t get any better. But whatever you think of Grant, his tactis, his ambition and his enthusiasm (or lack thereof), nobody deserves this treatment. Not him, and not the fans.

But how could it, with a pair of callous owners who objectify the fans and so far, their managers. They sell at us, they honestly believe that at the end of a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal we all want to hear Jeremy over the tannoy telling us of the great deals on matches in the coming weeks.

We don’t.

Neither do we constantly want to be told how great they are each time they “slash” prices, with “massive” discounts for members and that Birmingham is “kids for a quid”. And of course cup games, from now onwards, are going to have “Spec-tactular” savings. Until you get to the semi’s, then we’re going to whack the prices up again.

Stop telling us how great you are.

You’re not.

We’ve a proud tradition and you’re a disgrace to it. Throughout my life, I’ve proudly worn the claret & blue. At the moment I’m ashamed of it.

Your behaviour towards Zola and Grant reeks of cowardice. It’s gutless,  craven and vicious; frankly no way for owners of a football club to behave. You conspire in the shadows to overthrow a manager, who has a hard enough job as it is. There’s no dignity or integrity in tacking a backhanded approach to the dismissal of a manager, no matter how good or bad he is.

You’re cowards. All three of you. With one apparent focus….yourselves.

Constant appearances in the press, a “reveal all” column in the Sun. Is this honestly how you think, oh experienced ones, it’s acceptable to run a football club? Shallow promises to fans, leaks from within the club.

Speculation is supposed to be started by the press, not by the club itself. Sort it out.

With all of this going on, there’s still the expectation of the team to perform and drag itself of the bottom of the league, where it seems to be so mutually attached. You continue to tell us to get behind the team. Tell us how wonderful our support is.

How about that starts from the top?

I can only account for one occasion that you’ve listened to the fans and that’s when we asked you to stop spouting your mouths off in the press. The time you decide to do it conveniently came when everyone involved with the club actually needed you to make a statement. Nice one.

The statement, of course, did finally arrive.

It was a grovelling defence, declaring support for….. Karen Brady. Not Grant. Wouldn’t want to do them a disservice mind you he was mentioned, in passing.

A timid backing for a man who is now tasked with steering our side to safety, with a semi-final second leg, because who in their right mind would now want his job?

Somehow, I can’t see it happening.

Not so long ago, he was sacked.

Bookies have now slashed the odds of him becoming the next West Ham manager to 3-1.

Please no.

Please.

MyWHUFC are running petitions against the move to the Olympic Stadium and you can find the guys with a large banner and clip boards by the John Lyall gates before and after home games. If you’re against the move, or feel fans should have so far been consulted more, then please visit MyWHUFC.com and do what you can to help the guys out.

It was an interesting meeting and we’re hugely grateful to Ian for giving us the time to speak with him. The notes below were written up by Nigel of MyWHUFC:

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Ian Tompkins is a PR man who previous to working for West Ham was with Newham Council and before that British Rail. He seems to be a nice bloke (I’d say that even if I didn’t know he’d read this!) and is a West Ham fan.

I’ll cover what I think are the most important discussed:

Finance

Ian said that our debt is reducing and the plan regardless of whether we move to Stratford is that it will be to normal overdraft level by 2013.
He confirmed that the move is not to pay off debt.
He said that the move is to enable to club to grow.
He said that they don’t expect to fill the OS for every game.
He said that both Spurs & West Ham have had to submit bids based on Premier League, Championship & ‘yoyo’ status.
He said that the owners believe this is the best way forward to the club, although accepts that there is some risk.

Timescale

The preferred bidder will be announced by the end of January.
Contracts should be signed March / April, although Ian thought it may go beyond this.
If the move goes ahead we will play at the OS from 2014.

Running Track

Retention of the track is part of our bid so it will stay.
Ian agrees that it is not ideal, but says that the club are exploring a number of options, especially behind the goals, but cannot say more at present.
He also said that they are not spending a lot of money exploring it at the moment.
Ian is arranging to show some of us the stadium so we can see for ourselves that it is ‘not what you think’.
Questioned as to how the ground could be modified he said that digging down is not impossible – nothing can be ruled out – but later said ‘you can’t dig down’.

Consultation

The club intend to start some sort of fans forum soon.
Ian said that the owners had been busy sorting out problems on the pitch and with running of the club, so this hadn’t happened sooner.
Ian is aware that many fans oppose the move, especially with the running track and that surveys show this is a majority.
He has received many emails for & against.
He says that the club do intend to consult with fans, but not until they have firm information as they want people to be able to make informed decisions.
When I pointed out that the time from preferred bidder announcement to contract signing was 2 – 3 months, so didn’t allow much time for consultation, he said that consultation will start sooner than January.
He said that the Board will make the final decision but will listen to fans.

Boleyn Ground

Ian said that redeveloping the East Stand would take capacity to 42,000, but planning commission has run out and may not be gained if we applied again.
The club are not looking at this as an option at present.
Nor are they looking at a new purpose built ground as we don’t have the money for this.
He did not accept that any existing businesses (pubs, cafes & shops) would close if we moved.
He said that some may be able to move with us.

In summary & of most interest

The move to the OS is not needed to pay off our debt.
The club say they will consult but seem to have left little time for this. Whether any consultation will be meaningful & objective and whether they will take notice of it remains to be seen.
The track will stay and the club were unable to give any information on stadium modification to minimise its effect (strangely first he said it was confidential, then that they weren’t spending much money on exploring options – but that doesn’t leave much time to do so if contracts are to be signed by April).

Oh yes, Ian said that David Gold would join the meeting, or if he didn’t he’d go & find him – however Mr Gold did not grace us with his presence.

The meeting has not given me any confidence that this is the right move for the club & the majority of its fans. Some of the things he said did not seem to add up. We will look at the OS hopefully next week, and I hope will have the opportunity to further question the club.

———————

Thank you to Nigel for providing those notes.

My worries

Personally two comments particularly worried me.

1) Ian mentioned that “season tickets are going out of fashion“. My particular concern with this comment is that it does compound my fears that the move is not being made with loyal supporters and season ticket holders in mind. It’s a move that will most certainly favour one-time visitors and tourists. If this is to be the case then do what they do at Camp Nou and stick the tourists at the back, in the heavens.

2) Ian also mentioned that the club want to hold a fan consultation. Which of course is brilliant and what we want. Worryingly however the preferred bidder will be known in January and the final proposal and deal signed in March/April. This essentially gives the club February and if we’re lucky, March, to put together a proposal that deals with the running track issue and also to consult the fans. Somehow, I don’t see it happening.

And if season ticket holders really are going out of fashion then fully expect the club to invite people who’ve never been to Upton Park, never seen West Ham play and are in favour of watching West Ham in an empty & soulless stadium, to the meeting.

To be fair to Ian

To be fair to Ian he did explain that the whole process is essentially an exploratory negotiation and that nothing, as of yet, is set in stone. Once the preferred bidder is known then, assuming it’s us, the club will invest even more time and money on putting together thorough proposals that deal with issues such as how to deal with the running track. However as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t believe the timeframe can possibly allow for a thorough fan consultation.

I’ll keep you all posted

COYI

On the other, there is so much to talk about.

Spector, Cole, Tomkins, Obinna, Upson, Green……where do you stop with talking about player performances? Kovac maybe – not at all, he put in a very good shift last night. But I want to start with one man. Wally Downes.

The impact he has had on our team is tangible. He is the only change that’s been made since the Liverpool game – we have the same players, the same manager. Yet his methods, his attitude, his enthusiasm and his spirit have driven a team so low on morale into a side that has the confidence to not only beat Manchester United, but punish and embarrass Manchester United.

Nobody does that. Nobody.

It’s undeniable that desire and care were lacking in every game prior to Wigan. It was clear for all to see and that’s what made it frustrating for fans. Fans travelling hundreds of miles and spending hundreds of pounds to see a team who come out of the tunnel on a downer, dragging their feet and heads to the floor. Before a ball had been kicked.

It’s hugely frustrating as a fans. All we ask for is for the team to put in an honest, hard-working display and give it a go! We sat back against West Brom and against Blackpool – scared of losing. All that seems to have changed based on last night’s performance. The team were electric from start to finish – playing with a passion and a pride, playing like they cared. We could have lost that game 4-0 with the same performance and I still wouldn’t have been disappointed – we took the game to them and they crumbled.

Even in the last minute – at 4-0 up – Downes was on the touchline barking out orders, ensuring we didn’t concede. His hands were not in his pockets, he was animated and looking quite furious. Truly delightful.

Just what we needed.

Spector, Cole & LBM
These guys have taken a hell of a lot of stick this year. From me, and from everyone. For different reasons – apparent lack of effort and lack of quality have both applied. Last night, something seemed to click for each of those players. I’m not necessarily saying that in Spector we have a new Messi and in Cole a new Pedro but the players that turned up last night really did turn up. They clearly had points to prove after, if we’re honest, woeful seasons so far.

But each of those three were inspired – mistakes were not getting them down (and there were a few) and they played with energy and heart. The fans saw and recognised this. As they say, confidence breeds confidence and that was proved last night. The opposite has also been true this season and I can’t help but feel it is again the impact of Downes on these individuals.

It’s almost like a rollicking from Petrovic led to more mistakes.
A rollicking from Downes, who commands a different respect, leads to improved confidence and urgency to succeed.

No respect for Petrovic. Downes earns the players respect and they perform. Image from Daily Mail (http://bit.ly/hzDMDb)

I still can’t believe it!

Starting lineups and whinging Man United fans
In the aftermath of their humbling United fans (and Slur Alex Ferguson) were quick to point out that they played a weakened side. That’s a very fair point – a very expensive reserve side. But before you go around bemoaning that fact it’s only fair to remind you that we also fielded a weakened side. We started with a midfield of LBM, Spector, Kovac and Barrera for goodness sake.

So what you played some youngsters – Smalling cost you about £11M, Bebe about £7M and Anderson for about £18M. Johnny Evans has Champions League experience and that stupid Little Pea has been heralded as a replacement for Rooney and the next best thing. Let’s face it, the only quality Mexican on that pitch last night was Barrera.

Obinna make an absolute laughing stock of the Da Silva lads – both of whom play Champions League football for you.

John O’Shea is another with a lot of Champions League experience and Fletcher is a regular.

So don’t give me the crap about you playing a weak, young side. Ours was weak and we played youngsters (Hines came on and run your right back ragged).

In fact, of our starting lineup only Green, Upson, Obinna have been regularly making our starting XI week in week out. We were missing Parker, Noble, Gabbidon, Dyer, Behrami, Jacobssen, Piquionne & Da Costa. All of whom would likely be in our first XI if fully fit.

Compared to Tomkins, Smalling & Evans looked silly. Tomkins is only 22 don’t forget that.

The goals
There is no more left to say apart from IRRRROOOONS!

I’ve written about the ins and outs of Picklive before but it’s basically a live fantasy football game. I’d certainly recommend you play along whilst watching in the warmth of your own home!

If you need a little help with understanding how best to play the game then there’s a brilliant preview here which is full of tips.

CLICK HERE to play now

COYI!

As for the game itself, it is on according to the Official Site. Other people have also phoned the club to check and they confirmed, again, that it is on. However there are reports that the ref, Mark Clattenburg, is stuck on the M25. Which is brilliant news as he’s definitely got it in for us.

The players and the manager do not deserve our time.

Instead, I’ll leave you to enjoy this song – written for Avram

Image from Telegraph.co.uk

For what it’s worth, ignore what you heard from Collymore on TalkSport and Chris Waddle on ESPN. Our fans did not leave in droves to go home before half time. That is complete and utter rubbish. We were superb, yet again.

What so called football pundit assumes that fans would be going home at half-time and not just for a beer?

According to this article, as spotted by someone on Twitter, West Ham have begun the search for a property developer to ruin Upton Park assuming we win the Olympic Stadium bid.

Makes me feel sick.

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Don’t forget you can play along live to the West Ham v Liverpool game tomorrow night – WestHamProcess readers get a few free rounds chucked in. IRONS

The game is called Picklive and it works like this:

- You stick a quid in the pot then pick three players that are on the pitch (say Parker, Noble and Carragher)
- Then for 7 and a half minutes, you score points based on the actions that your chosen players complete:

- For example: Parker makes 50 completed passes (+50 points), Noble makes 10 clean tackles (+30 points), Parker also scores 3 (+60 points), Carragher scores and own goal (-20 points) and gets sent off for constantly complaining and having a red face (-20 points)

- The scores are tallied up at the end of the time (we’re on +100 points) and then the top three players win a share of the pot.
- You then pick three more players and go again!

The game is quality fun and I’d certainly recommend you give it a try just to see what all the fuss is about!

And to be nice to you, the guys at Picklive have also said that all WestHamProcess readers get three completely free rounds so you can suss it all out. Very nice of them. CLICK HERE or the banner below to get going

I can’t unfortunately play tomorrow as I’m at the game but look out for me when you’re next online, my username on there is quite simple: West Ham United.

IRONS!