Life outside the Premiership

[maxxi]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> I'm with you on BFS, but I've been a West Ham fan

> all my life and I've never met a fan who thinks

> the second tier is beneath us given how much time

> we've spent there.

>

Exactly - some of the best games I've seen/experienced were in the 1990-91 season and it's not like there's a 'fear' of the Irons not getting promotion eventually - there's too much support and therefore money for that - it's just that I'd rather not scrape into the Premiership and hang on using Allardyce's confused tactics. Get rid now and let's have some imagination and flair put back into the club.

*In a 'Just thinking...' kind of way - WH once took a manager with an Italian-sounding name from Swindon Town... didn't work out too well but maybe now's the time to repeat the exercise and see what happens...?

[Alan Medic]

I liked the bollicking old Paulo gave his players in the press. He's not afraid to speak his mind and the truth.I don't agree that WH play the long ball tactic, it just that they are not sure what to do in the final third of the pitch. Perhaps if their fans supported them instead of getting on their backs they would have won some of the home games they drew.

[murphy]

Maybe I'm wrong on West Ham fans, guess that's the danger of thinking callers to 606 are typical fans. Paulo would be interesting and has done well but would be a huge risk, one year doing well in Div 2, especially with someone so volatile, is nowhere near enough to prove someone as a good manager. If he can repeat the success next year and keep his temper in check then it would be worth looking at him.

[Chippy Minton]

It's always very difficult to generalise based on phone-ins and internet forums, especially with a club like West Hame that has a reasonably big fanbase, but....if you look at the KUMB internet forum there's a great number of people on there that seem to think they have more a right than, let's say, Reading to be in the Premiership. Reading have scored 7 goals against West Ham this season and won more away games than the club record number of away games WH have won, but the tone is pretty ungracious regarding last night's promotion*.

* This is based on reading KUMB, not based on comments from West Ham fans on the EDF!

[El Pibe]

Personally I say hats off to Reading, they deserve it.

I'm also happy to see Southampton go up as I've a few saints friends and long held a soft spot for them.

We didn't do enough and I'll be amazed if we win the play offs. I don't mind being in the championship, the relentless over hyping in the Premiership I find rather annoying truth be told. But I do worry about our finances the longer we stay down.

doc, ok long ball is a bit harsh, but we have only played like west ham in flashes, maxxi is closer when he talks of confused tactics. It has generally not been a great season. Perhaps the fans wouldn't have been as harsh if the players had played football better ;-)

[maxxi]

This (the poor tactical decisions and the defensive, passive-agressive stance of Allardyce - as a manager not in terms of the team)is why I think it would be great to see PdC given a couple of seasons to build a team, make his mistakes and get promoted with a team that stands a chance of staying up and maybe winning something in the long run.

The trouble is I don't think the owners are interested in anything other than trying to get the Olympic stadium and selling Upton Park for development - the football is secondary apart from it being a pre-requisite for getting the Stratford site blah, blah, blah...

[El Pibe]

Stevenage 2 points clear in the play off zone, woo!!!!

Dulwich in Second spot, yeah!!!!

West Ham two points off the promotion zone if we win tonight woo!

[Otta]

Hurrah for Charlton!

[maxxi]

At least it's gone to the last day (thanks to Reid and Collison) and although I can't see Coventry beating So'ton whatever else happens it's important to still be winning.

[????]

COME ON YOU IRONS

Let's finish positively....and......you never know!

[maxxi]

COYI...

(...and Play Up Sky Blues!)

[????]

oh well. Saints 2-0 up already :-S

[maxxi]

That's it now (3:0) - looks like Cardiff in the play-off first round unless Boro score... we never do well against Welsh teams.

[red devil]

Make that 4 and counting...don't think Cardiff's play off record is that great

[maxxi]

Unbelievably crass behaviour by BBC - interviewing players in the tunnel before the final whistle and keeping the manager from the celebrations immediately after - you're not Sky FFS.

[kpc]

Happy with our fourth place and B&B already booked on the Prom for next Friday night (incidentally, Blackpool are only charging ?15 to season ticket holders of both clubs). Blackpool's open style will allow plenty of opportunities and I feel reasonably confident of a trip to north London in three weeks.

In a one-off final, we fear no team...

[maxxi]

Tbh if we get past the Taffs I would rather WH be facing Blackpool than Brum...

[kpc]

I can understand that. ;-)

[maxxi]

kpc Wrote:

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> I can understand that. ;-)

Don't get me wrong - I just mean we have hammered them (Blackpool) twice this season whereas the Brummies scraped a draw each time.

Tbh I think Blackpool will prove such a thorn for B'ham and put them through two really tough games - so much so that even if the blues win they will be shot and WH will beat them comfortably... if we get past Cardiff;-)

[kpc]

maxxi Wrote:

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>

> Don't get me wrong - I just mean we have hammered

> them (Blackpool) twice this season whereas the

> Brummies scraped a draw each time.

>

> Tbh I think Blackpool will prove such a thorn for

> B'ham and put them through two really tough games

> - so much so that even if the blues win they will

> be shot and WH will beat them comfortably... if we

> get past Cardiff;-)

Sixty games so far, we've been through our tired patch and now on our second wind. Players coming back from injury and others stepping up to the plate. Yeah, too much going our way, we're doomed....

Whatever the outcome, intend to thoroughly enjoy the remaining games, even if that does mean drinking to excess.

[maxxi]

2:0!!!

COYI!

[????]

:)-D

[kpc]

Bucket and spade - check.

Kiss me quick hat - check.

Sugar lumps for donkeys - check.

Phone number of local STI clinic - er.

Blackpool here I come.

Good result for you guys last night - see you at Wem-ber-ley.

[????]

Thanks KPC....if I am totally honest I'd rather see Blackpool :))

[kpc]

That's cos we scare you.....(expecially Zigic).