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

[Shearer's Shirt]

I see that Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian has refused to rule himself out of the running to buy West Ham United. What is it these days with everyone trying to buy football clubs? There doesn't seem to be a week goes by without speculation about some rich businessman trying to buy a club, I suppose it shifts the emphasis off the talk that somebody is trying to buy my beloved Newcastle United!
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[West_ham_hammer]

Well well well! Where does one start with West Ham these days? This time last week we were a premiership team a few games into the new season, and hoping for a top half finish. Forward one week and we have had more press coverage then we have had since West Ham won the world cup (we did)
Like many I was shocked and stunned beyond disbelief when I awoke to the news that we had signed not one, but two Argentinean internationals in Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. Even better, they are rated as two of the worlds best young players. Yes 'young players' West Ham haven't done the likes of Bolton Wanderers and gone and signed some 30+ player wanting to see out his days at a mediocre club for a bumper pay day.
There is much media attention surrounding the fact that west ham united don't have the money to buy one player let alone two. And seeing our record signing was Dean Ashton at 7.5 million, it's little wonder that we have the speculation surrounding the fact we just brought two players worth 15-20 million each Where did West Ham united find in excess of 30 million pounds? Where the club chairman's pockets deeper then previously thought? Not if past story's are anything to go by. Although our seasons that we flirted with England's elite, Ipswich, palace and such like. I think those seasons Terry Brown realised how much it hurt the progression of the club financially and talent wise. We lost a hell of a lot of players that season we went down. We lost the likes of Joe Cole (England international) David James (England international) Michael Carrick (England International) Glen Johnson (Verge of being an England international) That must never be allowed to happen again. And Terry Brown knows this, he learnt the hard way.
But will Terry Brown have that to worry about anymore? It seems not if the story's in the media are to be believed. We are about to get a takeover bid worth 100 million (amount varies on which newspaper you read) And as much as the fact we are more then likely going to get brought by some rich Russian/Iranian/Englishman or whoever excites me to degrees of wet underpants. I can't help but worry that we are going to head the way of Chelsea Football club. The question I have to ask myself are, do I really want to watch players perform for my club that are only in it for the money?

[SE13]

I think the question might be actually who owns these players. Obviously, they will play to the best of their ability, as they more than likely are in it for the money.

It all seems a little confusing to me....
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[West_ham_hammer]

I agree SE13. As much as it excites me to know with money we could be challenging for the premiership title. It worries me that we are going to get the 'Prawn sandwich brigade coming to West Ham. I have trouble enough getting tickets for West Ham games for big matches. This will make it virtually impossible. We only have a 35,000 seater stadium that is full to capacity most games, so how are we going to cope with the sudden influx of the prawn sandwich brigade? We are in urgent need of a new stadium. Upton park ids situated as such, that we have no room to expand. Plus Newham council would rather build Mosques then Stadiums.
Hopefully my next game should be Thursday week, which will be a Uefa cup game against Palmero. It will be a tough game But hopefully I will see our new signings playing for the first time. I must admit that although there reputation precedes them, I don't know an awful lot about them. Yes I saw them playing for Argentina in the world cup. But I can't say it was anything that stuck into the memory banks.

However these deals took place, one things for sure we may never know. There is talk that they were brought for us by associates of Roman Abramovic the Chelsea chairman. He wants to see how they perform in the Premiership and at the end of the season they will be moved on to Chelsea with west ham getting a 'nice little earner' from the deal. As much as I don't want to be a feeder club for anyone, to see two world class Argentinean players playing at west ham even for a few months pleases me immensely. With so many story's doing the rounds, I honestly don't know who to believe. But one thing is for sure, they are at this moment in time West Ham United players.

[SE13]

Seemingly, they are contracted to West Ham United for a considerable time, so the worst case scenario would give a season of being capable of challenging for perhaps The Champions League spot, maybe even The Title, followed by a considerable cash injection, which could be used wisely to build for the future.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[West_ham_hammer]

Having watched the press conference that took place at Upton park the home of west ham united football club. I was relieved to hear the west ham united manager speak about how the deal was a four year permanent deal and he assured every West Ham fan, and football fans thoughout the world. That Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez will defiantly one hundred percent NOT be leaving in the January transfer window. However he did not rule out the possibility of them leaving during the summer at the end of the 2006/2007 season. Carlos Tevez has also said that should another club come a knocking at the door of Upton parks towers, he would of course talk to them. It would be up to West Ham to convince him that West Ham united was the football club for him to be at. And the only way West Ham are going to do that is by winning something.
What ever happens. I can tell the grandkids I saw Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez play at Upton Park when I was younger. Possibly tell them about the time we won the english premier league title and the Fa Cup in the same season!

[Shearer's Shirt]

[West_ham_hammer]

What time was the game originally scheduled to be played Shearers shirt?
I am actually going to that game on Thursday. And reading your comments I actually didn't have a clue what time kick off was! I just assumed it would have been the normal time of a quarter to eight in the evening.

What ever happens it is going to be a very very tough game. Palemo are definitely not a team to be taken for granted as an easy win. It doesn't matter how they got there. They are in Serie A Which is the equivalent of our English Premier league.
We do need to get a decent win under our belts at Upton park on Thursday. Because it has been proven over the years how bad travellers English Football clubs are when travelling to Italy to play Serie A teams.

Before Thursdays game we have Aston Villa at homeon Sunday at 16.00 hours. That game should hopefully mark the debuts off Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. Although as rumour stands at this precise moment in time, it may only be Javier Mascherano that starts the match with and Carlos Tevez possibly making his debut of the bench as a substitute sometime during the game. But we shall have to wait and see on that one.
I'm sort of hoping they don't play on Sunday. I am unable to attend Sundays game. So if they didn't play Sunday I would witness Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez's debuts hopefully when I attend the UEFA cup game against Palmero on Thursday.

I can't wait now. West Ham back in Europe. It's been a while.

[woosaah]

I was really suprised when I heard you guys signed BOTH Tevez and Macherano.

Anyways, great work!

I can't wait to see how West Ham plays this season, a really good season last season too might I add.

[SE13]

Apparently, both players will be making their West Ham United and Premiership debuts this very weekend, and I for one, will be most interested to see how they adapt to the style of play in England.

My mind goes back a few years, when Tattenham Hotspuds signed the Argentine duo of Ricardo Villa, and Osvaldo Ardilles. At the time, it was a major scoop, not only for Tattenham Hotspuds, but English football in general (Argentina were then World Champions) We all said at the time, that they would never adapt to our winter conditions, and would flop, but both proved us wrong, so I suspect that something similar might happen at The Boleyn Ground, Upton Park this very season.

I feel certain that those West Ham United supporters frequenting this site will keep us abreast with developments.
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[Shearer's Shirt]

[SE13]

Well, it would seem that the two new signings Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez are destined to start their Premiership careers on the substitutes bench.

As it stands at this time, West Ham United are a goal to nil behind at home to Aston Vanilla, so it remains to be seen what part the duo will play, and indeed if they enter the field of play, what sort of impact they will have on the game, and West Ham United themselves.
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[West_ham_hammer]

Well that was a game where we rode our luck a tad.

I did cheer a little when Liam Ridgewell scored a goal for Aston Villa, well he's in my Fantasy football team! But in all reality I was hoping we would get one back straight away. And we almost did if Marlon Harewood hadn't missed a sitter.
I had to wait until the second half until I could cheer a West Ham United equalizer. A Paul Konchesky header from 20 odd yards which somehow brushed off Bobby Zamora's thigh into the back of the net. Yet again Bobby Zamora keeps his run going of scoring in every single English premiership game he has played in this season.

The sixtyeth minute saw the introduction of Carlos Tevez. First impressions were, what a fat porker!!! But his skills were something else. Unfortunately it did show that he wasn't match fit.
I was hoping to see the introduction of Javier Mascherano as well. But towards the end of the match Alan Pardew bought on West Ham Uniteds third sustiute which ended all hopes of Javier Mascherano getting his West Ham United debut.
In a way it pleases me. As I have said previously in this thread, I am going to West Ham Uniteds home tie on Thursday against Palmero. So hopefully fingers crossed, I will see his debut.
I was reading something on another forum that a West ham fan said about Carlos Tevez. They reckon he is too good for West Ham. That the other West Ham United players can't keep up and match his skills, which leads to moves breaking down. I actually agree to a certain extent. But I am off the belief that after training with the rest of the team for a few weeks they will be up to speed with his game. Which will benefit the team tremendously.

It's nice to see that Yossi Benyoun has signed a new 5 year contract with West Ham United. From what I read he has said that is is an exciting time to be part of West Ham United and with the new owners of the club coming (read into that as you will) he wants to be part of the future for West Ham United.
Yossi Benyoun has to be one of West Ham United's best ever buys. I think (And I could be mistaken) that we brought him for the sum of two hundread and fifty thousand pounds from Racing santender. I think his perfomances since joining us have more then repayed that fee 10 times over. Surely now he must be worth seven or eight million?

[StephenG]

West Ham United 0 - 1 Palermo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h.....341312.stm

Alan Pardew said before the game that Palermo would provide West Ham with a stern test in their Wafer Cup, first round first leg tie, and it was the visitors who came away with the advantage of an away goal. Looking on the bright side though, it is only a one goal lead, and a two - nil win in Italy will secure passage into the Second Round. Scoring once in the return leg would mean extra time (and maybe the prospect of Penalties ), at least.

Speaking as a Middlesbrough fan, I don't know what would be worse - having a nailbiting, rollercoaster ride (Quarter Final and Semi Final performances against FC Basle and Steuea Bucharest ) to the Final last season, only to fall flat on our faces to Sevilla, or to go out in the First Round. West Ham United might have to play better in the second leg, but I remain confident they can go to Italy and get a result.

[West_ham_hammer]

I thought we were unlucky not to score against Palermo. It is obvious that Palermo came with the plan of sticking 10 men behind the ball and counter attacking us. Which may I add they done an excellent job at.
I have yet to see a television replay of there goal. From where I was sitting, looking along the sideline. The ball looked like it had gone out of play before the Palermo player crossed it over for there goal. And a good few hammers fans thought the same.
I always knew this was going to be a tough game they are a Serie A team after all. Now we have the task of having to score two more goals then them in scilly, home of the mafia in two weeks time. It is achievable, but I'm not sure that we will do it away from home. But it ain't over till the fat lady sings as the saying goes.
I thought Carlos Tevez had an excellent game tonight. And looked a lot match fitter then he did on Sunday against Aston Villa. He was unlucky not to score against a brilliant Palermo goalkeeper. Javier Mascherano Played the full ninety minutes. And to be honest with you, I can't think of anything he done during the match. I'm not saying he had a bad game, I'm saying he is one of those players that seems to go unnoticed. Hayden Mullins like if you please. Hayden does a great job for the team, but his contribution goes largely unnoticed.
One player I was disappointed in tonight was Paul Konchesky. He gave his worst ever performance in the claret and blue of West Ham United. Every time he touched the ball he crossed it too long or gave it away very cheaply. He is better then that and I hope that will be a one of performance from him.
My man of the match has to be Yossi Benayoun. He never stopped running and for a little guy he doesn't half get stuck in to challenges.

I couldn't write all the above without writing about how dirty a side Palermo was. I haven't seen such disgusting tackles and brutality on a football pitch since the days when Leeds united and Millwall were considered dirty. How they finished with eleven men I will never know? Having said that the referee wasn't very good. He could have let the game flow a bit more instead of blowing his whistle every 30 seconds!

Looking forward to the away leg in two weeks time. Should we do the impossible, I want a easier tie next time around!!!