West Ham thread *FA Cup Finalists. Come on you Irons!!*

[The Artist Known As GTM]

I don't blame you mate, it's the same everywhere there is no loyalty to the fans whatsoever...

It's become all about the money and to hell with the everyday fan - hence the changes to the football schedule etc meaning some days you get games every sodding day of the week...

Whatever happened to a Saturday afternoon! I know Europe etc has to be taken into account but I find it sad on a Saturday afternoon to see only 3/4 games on like a few weeks ago...

You will be able to find a ticket for the final mate but you will pay through the nose - now THAT irritates me, fans who sell at double or treble the face value...

It's all about the money my friend - gutted for you though but I will keep my eye out as a fair few Hammer friends are going to be going and will have tickets for it...
_________________
[img:af0aabb626]http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1478/gtm22pl.jpg[/img:af0aabb626]

[West_ham_hammer]

[Rush]

I'm very happy for West Ham over their achievements this season. Being promoted and staying in the Premier League without problems, reaching the FA Cup final, those are really great feats to accomplish. I do wish them the best for the final, it's not going to be easy but win or lose, they are playing in a European competition next year.
_________________
I will not warm myself by the fire - I will become the flame.

[West_ham_hammer]

Lionel Scaloni
Darren Blewitt
Trent McClenahan
Petr Mikolanda
Sekou Baradji
Matthew Reed

Those six players have been released by West Ham United football club this summer.

Lionel Scaloni although technically has been released by West Ham United Football club. When in fact he has returned to his club as he was only ever with us on loan.

I think it's possible we may buy him. I hope not. I am not a big fan of his. I don't think he brought anything to west ham what so ever. But then Tomas Repka's shoes are pretty big shoes to fill.

If we do end up with him, I hope he proves me wrong and turns out to be like Tomas Repka was.

[simmouk]

Are any of those players any good west_ham_hammer? Would they be interested in making a trip to sunny Coventry to play for the Mighty Sky Blues?! We can't pay them anything but we can give them an orange at half time if they are playing well...and im sure Mikey Adams would give them a lift to the nearest bus stop!

Aaaah, one can dream!
_________________
iSheep. Everywhere.

[West_ham_hammer]

Simmouk I couldn't possibly comment on 5 out of the 6 players. Lionel Scaloni is the only one I have ever seen play.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, But I think the other five have only ever played for the youth and reserve teams.

With West Hams excellent youth policy I am sure had they been any good there is no way we would have let them go. Take the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard etc etc.......... All cam e through West Hams youth system and have gone on to represent engalnd at the highest level.

But I think they could do a job for Coventry

[jonmoody61]

Bad news (I reckon) for the Hammers fans... Carl Fletcher wants a new contract! The midfielder failed to make an impact with you lot at Upton Park last season and with just twelve months remaining on his contract, his future at the club is far from assured. On the situation, he said "I have another year on my contract, I haven't talked to Alan Pardew about things yet, I'll just wait and see what happens. Some players like to sort out their future before the last year of their contract starts but I am happy to wait and take it as it comes. You never know, one day you could be playing for a team week in week out and then find yourself with a move away. You can never be sure, it's best to take it a day at a time."

Good or bad move for the Hammers? I don't rate him at all, though he did us Gunners a huge favour with that banger against Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the season when you won 2-1 to clinch Champions League football for The Arsenal next season!

[SE13]

Given the success of West Ham United last season, and I call it success, even though there were no trophies to display in the cabinet room, however Premiership survival against all the odds from the major bookmakers, and most pundits, PLUS being runners up in The FA Cup final in Cardiff only recently, on the back of a play-off win just twelve months previously.... What do the followers of West Ham United look forward to in the forthcoming season. Given the potential young talent swarming through the ranks, will the club be willing to open the chequebook to sign more players over the summer months, or will they look at either the lower leagues, or indeed the youth team for progress?

Naturally, The World Cup in Germany will throw a few names into the melting pot, as young players previously unknown to the scouting people emerge and become potential tournament stars, and teams such as Bolton Wanderers and so on often benefit greatly in this department....

So, any thjoughts?
_________________
It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[simmouk]

I agree with you on the World Cup front, I think that with the world wide coverage of the games, players who stand out will definatley catch the eye of managers, especially Premiership ones.

Ive heard of this player called...umm...Wayne Rooney?! Apparently hes quite good!
_________________
iSheep. Everywhere.

[Magpie]

I've heard of him too but somehow I can't see Alan Pardew being given sufficient transfer funds to shell out the £30 million that Manchester United would want for him!

On a more realistic note, it has been announced that Lee Bowyer has signed to rejoin West Ham. I put a bit in my Newcastle United thread about how I'm not really pleased he's gone but I'll be interested to see how the West Ham fans will receive him.
_________________
[img:72f68c01cd]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/YorkshireMag/newcastle_fc_fan.gif[/img:72f68c01cd]

[The Artist Known As GTM]

I think there is mixed emotion especially from West Ham fans I know regarding Bowyer.

No-one seems "pleased" by it more either angry or that they will give him a chance to prove himself.

I predict he will be a good signing for them, first meaty challenge he puts in or blood and thunder body throwing clearance and they will take him to their hearts.

He's that kind of player...
_________________
[img:af0aabb626]http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1478/gtm22pl.jpg[/img:af0aabb626]

[simmouk]

I think Bowyet will do a job for the Hammers but I will take time for the fans to get used to him. Depends how he is played, either straight in there at the deep end of maybe eased in as a sub for a few games before he gets a full start. He certainly won't shy away from any tackles!

Whats your view on Mr Bowyer, west_ham_hammer?
_________________
iSheep. Everywhere.

[theMagpie]

LEE BOWYA! LEE BOWYA! LEE BOWYA!

Good luck to him, a dickhead off the pitch a passionate player on it.

Lee Bowyer the season before the one just gone was fantastic for us, argubly our best player, the year before that he was **** and a pointless signing by Bobby.

Bowyer is a decent player, Chelsea couldnt handle him at Stamford Bridge this season when he played just behind Ameobi and made runs into the box.

Sure Bowyer has a bad reputation, but at this stage in his career he's learnt from his mistakes his idiot youth has gone he's about to approach his 30's he aint going to cause trouble.

Bowyer is a very passionate footballer, he'll get stuck in, i wouldnt mind seeing him stay because he gives us another option, however i think we need new faces. He's aggressive but that can be good, and offers the team a lot, his fighting spirit (no pun intended) is what has made Lee Bowyer move from his goalscoring Leeds right wing days to a good combative central midfielder.

Birmingham fans kicked off at the prospect of Bowyer, if they don't want better players than what they have then fair enough, but they're in the Championship now because the took the good boy Nicky Butt who is a **** footballer over the decent one bad boy Lee Bowyer.

I'll tell you what! Roeder better replace Bowyer, if his replacement is Nicky Butt then shame on you Glenn! And it's looking very likely it will be butt.

The thing about Bowyer is everyone hates him, thinks he's a **** etc, but when he's your player you love him, if you chant "get inta them, f*ck em up, get inta them, f*ck em up" Lee Bowyer literally will 2 footed snap everyone on the pitch

Legend

He isnt disruptive in training or anything, he's just in court every other month either for racial abuse, drink driving, speeding or assualt, thats not something Pardew can control because it has nothing to do with him.

He's been pretty average, but to the point where he is above ****, he doesnt do much his combativeness makes him above that **** Amdy Faye level.


You will like him, good luck to Lee, he will certainly get a good reception from me when he returns to St James'

[West_ham_hammer]

So West Ham have been dabbling in the transfer market then.

Jonathan Spector, a USA international. Signed from Manchester United.

Can't say I know a lot about this player, but I do trust in Alan Pardews judgement when buying players. Unlike previous managers (Harry wheeler dealer Redknapp) Alan Pardew seems to have his head screwed on the right way and has never signed a bad player (Scaloni was on loan, thank god)

The second was the rather controversial player in Lee Bovver boy Bowyer.
I can not stand the player personally, but Like I said previous, I trust Alan Pardew transfer wise. And he wouldn't have got him in if he didn't think he could do a job for us.

Also a message for Simmo, You have a class player in young defender Elliot Ward. He was immense in our push towards the premiership a few seasons back. I don't think he quite has what it takes to be a premiership player. Although he wasn't really given a chance to prove it with West Ham. But in the Coca cola championship, he will do a job for anyone.

Well just to add onto what I have already wrote.

We have signed a few more players in the close season.

Tyrone Mears, a player without any premiership experience. He has been signed from Preston North End. Apparently he is a right back. And the best bit is his speed at getting forward.
I originally thought he was being brought in as cover. But it seems from what I read, he may well be in the starting 11 every week.

Also we have signed Carlton Cole. I liked this player from what I saw of him when he was with Chelsea. Spent most of the last two seasons on loan at Charlton and Aston Villa. I think he may well challenge Dean Ashton and Marlon Harewood for there places this coming season.

Also a sad note. Shaka Hislop has left the building! On his day he was an excellent keeper. And last season kept us in a lot of games. Including that Fa cup Final that we drew (Liverpool won on penalties)
Good luck playing soccer in America Shaka.

Also rumour has it, we may be getting Shaun Wright Phillips on a loan deal.
If that happens I'll eat my hat.

[The Artist Known As GTM]

Spector was okay, didn't really see him get a great run in the team but he'll be a good squad player as I doubt he will be first team choice.

Carlton Cole has the potential to be a great striker, he always has the potential to be a complete arsehole.

A potential he seems to revel in, never really cared at Charlton, or seemed to... You'd think he would of tried harder at the Valley and Villa to get himself out there but he seemed content to meander.

When he's good he's a great striker - scored a couple of cracking goals for us but he can go missing. I think again he'll be a squad player for you and won't play much but he's always a big lad to throw on towards the end of the game.

Just seen a report that Ashton has said he's flattered by the reports from Newcastle but is happy at W-Ham...

He's only had half a season so I couldn't see him leaving. He has the potential to be an England regular - big, strong, old style centre forward very much in the Shearer mould.

And they are a dying breed but he's one to look out for - Rooney and Ashton with Walcott playing behind at the next World Cup?
_________________
[img:af0aabb626]http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1478/gtm22pl.jpg[/img:af0aabb626]