Football Focus

[????]

So. The Olympic stadium......not sure about this, genuinely don't know whether to be excited or whether this will go wrong. Soul gone a bit, whatever, ..but will take the kids there for sure!

[StraferJack]

yeah it's a funny one the OS. Having moved grounds ourselves (and won nothing since) I'm used to peoplle carping about change in atmos, but in truth I struggle to see how we ever fitted in the old ground. So on balance I'm glad we did move

I realise the West Ham thing is different - but at least the running track won't sit between fans and teh pitch on match days

[Otta]

I quite liked the idea od Orient getting hold of it. Would have been funny watching them play in front of the front row each match.

['bout now]

I'm quite excited about it TBH, its all about the transport links for me. No more queueing for effing hours to get home. In a funny way I think this decision has probably done for Fat Sam, they need to increase the crowd and his brand of "muscle football" isn't going to do that.

Either way I expect WHUFC to be sold on to a city based concern within 3 years.

[El Pibe]

It has to be said that the infrastructure gains are a real selling point for me.

Plus there hasn't been much atmosphere at the boleyn for a while.....

[Otta]

Forest Hill - Canada Water (Overground)

Canada Water - Stratford (Jubilee)

Sorted.

[maxxi]

The atmos at UP may have dropped a notch or two since the 80s but it still has a lot more than I experienced on my visit to the Emirates.

The problem is the shallow gradient of the seating (particularly the retractable seats) means the bulk of fans will still be quite a distance from the pitch and the view may not be great either. I know they were talking about introducing a 'safe standing area' but is there really a market for that any more unless it is dirt cheap?

I need to see how they're going to do it in detail but I don't feel great about it and not just from an old trad. pov.

HOWEVER - if it does mean getting rid of Allardyce along with the 'it's-okay-as-long-as-we-don't-get-relegated' mentality like some latter-day Coventry City, then I'm for it. We have to move on blah blah, and it's a done deal anyway so pointless to demur.

Just hope it doesn't become another Ricoh arena with the fans leaving along with the atmosphere.

[????]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> It has to be said that the infrastructure gains

> are a real selling point for me.

> Plus there hasn't been much atmosphere at the

> boleyn for a while.....

Agree on the latter. The Chicken Run not joining up with the rest of the stadium really contributes to that grounds like WHL where it's one enclosed arena are far more atmospheric than our place nowadays :(...the odd big evening game excepted. Gonna be great to get to from here rather than that long walk and change at West Ham from Jubilee to District. Plus i was gobsmacked at how many of the pubs have gone round UP when I went a few weeks back!

[????]

I'm a bit worried about the view thing too Maxi.

Not been on KUMB or WHO yet to see what the diehards think*

*guesses 'moaning'

[Otta]

The locals where I work are basically saying that the real problem is that the Bolyn area will die a massive death as there are lots of businesses around there that are hugely reliant on the footy.

Within Newham Stratford has become it's own little bubble with Westfields and loads of investment to make it look nice for the games last year. The rest of the borough hasn't really benefitted at all, and is going to shit.

[????]

Yup...it was never all that but it feels really crap nowadays, generally SE London is far more, vibrant, hillier, interesting, varied and even prettier than the flatlands of East London

[Jah Lush]

My heart bleeds. No, really it does. I'm so glad Spurs never got the OS. You're welcome to it Hammers. It's not a purpose built football ground and that was why Spurs would have knocked it down and started again. If you think things are quiet at the Boleyn now wait until you get into a half empty OS. First thing I'd do at the end of the season is sack Allardyce and bring in Di Canio or even get Zola back. At least that way you'll be playing attractive football again and potentially get more bums on seats.

As for our own new stadium I believe work starts on that at the end of this season. Purpose built and on land adjacent to our current ground. Still on our home turf unlike the Wanderers.

[????]

yup, there are lot's of similar moaning spuds on their forums pretending they're not bothered too apparently

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

In two minds about the new stadium, think a ground share with LO might have been a good thing re costs and community spirit. But thinking of Chelsea village you lose the sense that is a ground surrounded by locals pubs and the shouting over land and sea

What will Westfield make of 54000 football fans is something else to think of.

2016 long way off

happy they are doing something with the Stadium but still not sure WHU is right fit.

[????]

RC - just dow the Barking Road the GreenGate, Castle and that little Wine Bar have gone added the old classics like the Prince of Wales, same all round the shop..there's not that many pubs left!

It's a great deal financially surely? just worried about some of the soul agreed,

Upside potential is cheaper tickets, larger crowds (lots of transients now cos of heritage and travel links, potential more attractive for 'new investment', higher profile, etc

[Otta]

Only good thing about Greengate going is that a Tescos opened on the site, which meant I had an option other than chicken for lunch when I was based around the corner from there. But yeah, lots of closed pubs. Then again, I went back to Liverpool in November for the first time in 10 years, and although there were loads of new and busy places in town, my old stomping ground had a lot of boarded up pubs which used to be great. Pubs are closing everywhere.

Still though, Bolyn will suffer.

[Otta]

Plus there is only one pub at Westfields, and I can imagine a "no football shirts" sign appearing in the window pretty quickly!

[Alan Medic]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> My heart bleeds. No, really it does. I'm so glad

> Spurs never got the OS.

Did Spurs ever really want it or was it a ploy. Are they being funded locally? I'm curious as I spent some time working at WH last year and one day received a cheque from Spurs for 'legal costs' if I remember correctly. It was for ?250k. Why would they be paying WH such a large sum? There may be a simple answer but I thought it curious at the time.

[????]

Of course Spurs wanted it. Thanks to spurs we didn,t have to buy it (the original deal) so have a state of the art prestigious stadium for ?2 million a year for 99 years and clear off our own debts. cheers Levi thanks for your interference :). Caryy on Enjoying that mile long walk up Tottenham high street in the rain Spuds fans!

[red devil]

Fook the Boleyn, it's Green Street I'll miss... :)

[????]

Friendly walk down there....not like the time you all tried to get off at Plaistow :)

[red devil]

What year was that then Quids?...Brick Lane '89 holds more kudos for Utd fans ;-)

[????]

86 I think.....I also remember going up to your place in April/May? '84 when it was lively!

[????]

men in black.... pah!

[????]

Don't forget the Beatrix....you ever seen the interview with Manny on that? quite funny...