The team we fielded that day wasn't fantastic. Carroll was in goal in the days when a Carroll wanted to play for us. The back four read Dailly, Ferdinand, Gabbidon and Konchesky. Would any of those get into our present team, even when on top of their games? Perhaps Konch. In midfield we had Mullins and Reo-Coker, neither of whom have pulled up trees since leaving West Ham, and neither of whom could hold a torch to Diame and Diarra. And up front we had Sheringham and Harewood. Now I know Cole has his critics but he is surely at least as good as Harewood, whilst Nolan is a slightly more mobile version of Teddy.
So, of that team that kicked off 2005-06 so gloriously, only Etherington and Yossi would definitely feature in my team, and if Vaz Te hits his stride, he could be the equal of Matty at the very least. Of course, we did have Zamora waiting in the wings, and Noble, and Repka, and Ashton would join in January, but the point is, that team was not significantly stronger than the team available to Allardyce - and that team finished ninth and featured in the best FA Cup Final ever.
Of course, we were managed by Pardew and Pardew went into the season saying he wasn't targeting survival, he was looking for a top half finish. It sounded absurd. It sounded like spin. But he meant it, and he achieved it. Contrast that with Allardyce who has said that we need to be at our very best all season to survive. Which manager would you rather play for, apart from the fact that your wife would never willingly climb into the sack with Allardyce! "No foreplay love, get in the box as quick as you can is my philosophy!"
The Prem is weaker this year than in 2005-06. There's no reason why we can't succeed. Bugger 17th, we should be chasing "top half only" as Ewan McGregor says in Brassed Off. What we need is a positive attitude and a cauldron of support at the Boleyn. We can do it, if we all truly believe!
Come On You Irons!
Ha ha Hammersfan, thats the spirit you never know!! Im sure you'll finish in the top half (of the bottom 3 maybe).
ReplyDeleteSorry, finishing 9th and throwing away an FA cup final is you're most memorable season?? Time to give it up me thinks.
Been saying the exact same to every negative hammers fan ive spoke to this summer.Love the alladyce pillow talk how can that not get any womans juices flowing.
ReplyDeleteBillythehammer.
pahahahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteHey, what's with all this wet spam rubbish on our Leeds United site?
ReplyDeleteRare that I get to say this, but I was at that game. Watching the playoff final against Preston, my wife mentioned a trip to visit mom.
ReplyDelete"OK. But on one condition. We win today, I go to London for our opening game in August". The deal was struck.
I am shocked at your optimism, HF. Not like you at all. Did something fall into your tea? It was a great season, though. The 1-1 draw at Spuds was my standout for some reason. Anton scoring late on a clumsy header that trickled in. The dejection on the faces of the Spuds was a sight to see. But I would rather be in Sams care than Pards. We will never agree on this subject.
And Blackburn scored first that day.
The thing about the Pardew squad was pace. I remember us taking Arsenal apart at the old Highbury that season. Etherington, Benyoun, Zamora, Reo-coker, we had energy and vibrancy. But the game changes. Id argue that the league is not weaker this time in comparison to then. In fact, in the last few season, the promoted sides have fared well (spookily, apart from us, they tend to be fast, energetic, young teams). Allerdyce's policy is definately erring to the "hard to beat" criteria. As long as Diame and Diarra fulfil their potential, we should be solid. Still badly need pace and, if not creativity, then a striker who can guarnatee 12-15 Premier goals. I agree that the crowd could he helpful, but we seem to have lots of 12:45 starts, and I for one hate lunchtime Kick off's!
ReplyDeleteVery nice piece - who wrote it? Stani?
ReplyDeleteAm loving this iron stuff. It's funny enough Scunny refering to themeselves this way but then again, any town with a female sex organ in it's name is gonna get a finbarr saunders "Fnarr! Fnarr!" from me.
ReplyDeleteThe irony (see what I did their) seems completely lost by those who have forgotten their cockey rhyming slang. Superb stuff. Keep it up. Fnarr Fnarr!!!
11:10 You might want to give up writing as you're rubbish at grammar. It's "your" and not "you're" if you're interesting in learning something - but I should imagine it's probably a little too late for you - as they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
ReplyDelete18:44 the correct moniker is Finbarr Hawtrey Saunders "Warf! Warf! Sergei: "Your mother wants me to fetch her aerosol" K-Woo! K-Woo!
ReplyDeleteIf everyone holds hands at home games and just "believes" you can do this thing. " Belief" can move mountains as long as you all keep "believing". But remember,for everyone of you who stops "believing"....a fairy dies. So don't stop "believing" that you can stay up. As for the rest of us,it will beggar "belief" if you do stay up.
ReplyDeleteYou calling me 47+ years old 15:31?! Hahaaa! Na, it clearly wasn't me. I'd have tuned the radio spot on hahaaa ;)
ReplyDeleteVenezuela - was it one of those sex resorts where old men go to get paid favours from young girls? Top 10 finishes, sex resorts - bet you've used these for "ammunition" once or twice since eh Hamsterfanny! Can't beat a bit of nostalgia when knocking one out can you!, Going to have to stop this you're making this too easy.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the Pardew squad was pace.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the Pardew squad is that you're still paying for it now. Probably still paying him off too after giving him a clause in his contract that said he had ultimate say on who was sold. And then sold players without his say-so. I'll see you in court he said - Thank you very much.
Have you finished paying SU for Tevez yet?
Old dog!? How dare you 1917. I was a mere 25 when you had your (ok?) finest hour back in 2006. Come on, give me a break one grammar mistake aint that bad. It gets hard typing these things on iphones. I do find it a little sad you had to pick up on this though rather than actually challenge the content of my "writing".
ReplyDeleteOne assumes one is an iron? Dont be so defensive. You have to admit its a bit pathetic even by your (ok?) little club standards the way you openly celebrate mediocrity. I know you've never actually won the league but at least you've finished runners up a few....oh hang on.
1507 "As long as Diame and Diarra fulfil their potential"
ReplyDeleteYou say that sort of thing about 18 year olds. Diame at 25 - Posibly may have is best years ahead but you're in the PL know. Need proven talent.
Diarra. Thirty-One. Potential. Hats off for getting those three words in the same sentence.
19:59 sorry mate no offence - it's just that it seemed it had been written with some style and intelligence - I think it was a ghost writer.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the Leeds fans still hanging about trying to find out what it's like to support a proper club
ReplyDeleteNice to see the Leeds fans still hanging about trying to find out what it's like to support a proper club
ReplyDelete@Deane
ReplyDeleteNice to see you still ain't worked out how to use a computer. Your not 'avin' a wank now. Jus' press the enter once. Sort it out!!!
22:04; I should have elucidated. I meant "fulfil their potential with regards to the remit they have been given" i.e. shield the back four (especially the full backs) close down everything in sight and ensure every set piece is dealt with.However, being a mere 37 myself, I live in hope that 31 is still relatively young :-)
ReplyDeleteSo witty and well thought through you felt the need to say it twice eh, Deane?
ReplyDeleteYes Deane,because w,ham is a "proper" club and it plays proper football. Are you braced for relegation? That is what awaits your proper club no matter how much you believe.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww Darrenharry, did you come up with that all by yourself?
ReplyDelete