Ogbonna - Moyes' training sessions remind me of Juventus
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna has lifted the lid on the opening two weeks of work under new
West Ham United manager David Moyes. The Italy centre-half says the Scot has
brought new methods and ways of thinking to Rush Green and the players will
seek to put his thoughts into action at Watford on Sunday afternoon. Ogbonna
has been impressed with the former Everton and Manchester United boss, who
he says puts on training sessions akin to those he enjoyed during two
successful seasons with Serie A champions Juventus....
I am learning every day
It's a big change for us and it's so important. When you have organisation
and these kinds of people around, it can take care of everything. We have to
change and now we have a big chance to show who we are. It's difficult to
say our squad is better than our position in the table. Football is strange,
but everybody knows we can do better than we did already this season. I am
learning every day from David Moyes and his coaching staff. I am not
stopping learning every day and that makes me happy and comfortable. I'm
ready to play, but I'm not ready for my whole life, because someone can
always teach me something new. Every player can see around the squad and the
staff that we needed these kinds of people who can understand when it is
time to push on and time to take stock. I'm so disappointed for the last
manager because in football it happens that when things don't go well, the
first person sacked is the manager, but we know we have to improve a lot. We
want to say welcome to the new manager and I wish and believe that the team
is going to be better.
Upping the intensity
It is fair to say the intensity of training has increased and I think we
needed that. In the Premier League, our squad is really good, but we need to
play as a team and our squad can make a difference up front and at the back.
It's really important to have everybody fit and to fight for each other and
it's really good to train like this. We are positive but it will take time
to change everything. A lot of players have just come back from their
national teams and we only have a short time to prepare for the game on
Sunday. We need to stay focused and I'm sure we will be ready for Watford.
For now, we are talking a lot about ourselves because, first of all, we need
to concentrate on us rather than the future. We have to think about the
present because the present is the first moment of the future. We need to
take things step by step. When you get down, the first thing you can change
things is organisation. The new staff have given us a good way to see the
good points about us. You can see the things and what they are trying to do.
The new boss is no stranger to me
I knew David Moyes from before, when he was at Everton and then he went to
Manchester United. I knew about his training and how he evolved his methods.
When I see our training today, it's really close to Italian training. It's
really similar to Italian or Spanish training, tactical work but with the
ball. When I spoke with Pedro Obiang and the other players, they said 'Yes,
it's not just English training, but international' and that's why I say it
is an evolution. The Premier League is not just an English league. It has
international character, if you look at Manchester City, Manchester United,
Chelsea or Liverpool, they have many different things and that's why it is
the most important league.
Training sessions remind me of Juventus
If I compare it to Serie A and my time in Juventus, it is really similar. We
started with double sessions like I was doing a couple of years ago in
Italy. "Maybe we didn't have two sessions a day when we had two games in a
week, but when you have one game a week, you have to have double sessions
like this to be fit. "The harder you train, the quicker you get fit and when
we have time to train like we have had during the international break, you
have to do it.
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El Mhassani returns U18s to winning ways against Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s made a return to winning ways with a deserved 1-0
victory away to Aston Villa. The only goal of the game came just after 20
minutes as Anouar El Mhassani put the Hammers in front in an entertaining
fixture at Bodymoor Heath. The finish came as a result of a flowing team
move by the Hammers, with a string of passes eventually seeing the ball land
at the feet of Sean Adarkwa up front. The striker's excellent composure saw
him lay the ball off for El Mhassani, who coolly netted for the Irons U18s.
The victory was just the tonic the Academy side needed after a disappointing
loss last time out against Liverpool, having bested Reading in the game
prior. The win means West Ham U18x have taken six points from their last
three games and now sit 10th in the Premier League U18 South division. Coach
Mark Phillips said on the win: "We are positively delighted with the result
today. We changed our system slightly, as you will have seen, and it worked
wonders in this match. "The lads played some lovely football and adapted
excellently to what we asked them to do. We're really pleased with the
performance and it was a positive win for us."
The win puts the Hammers in good stead ahead of a contest next week away to
division leaders Chelsea.
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Diangana - Derby defeat will not define our season
WHUFC.com
Grady Diangana insists West Ham United U23s' bizarre 5-1 defeat by Derby
County will not derail their season. The Hammers went into their Friday
night fixture with the Rams at London Stadium knowing victory would take
them up to second place in Premier League 2 Division 1. However, a Derby
goal within 30 seconds and two more in the opening six minutes of the second
half rocked the hosts and, despite controlling possession for long periods
and creating far more chances than their opponents, Terry Westley's side
somehow ended up on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. "Letting in the early
goal really put us in trouble and the half-time team talk was to come out
and go for them, so to concede early again was really poor from us,"
admitted Diangana, who scored West Ham's consolation and also hit the
crossbar after being sent on by Westley as a second-half substitute. "We
just lacked that courage and strength to drive each other through the bad
times. "That said, this defeat is not going to define us. It's just one
setback and we're ready to make a major comeback."
Diangana said the Club's young professionals, including Sead Haksabanovic,
Dan Kemp, Domingos Quina, Nathan Trott and Toni Martinez, would learn a lot
from how they were punished for virtually every defensive mistake by Derby.
"That game replicated a first-team environment because if you make one silly
error, the other team will counter-attack and score, so it's a learning
curve for us and we have to be more reliable on the ball. "We sat down after
the game and got a telling off, but we've got to pick our heads up and go
again."
From Diangana's personal perspective, his performance was a strong one, with
the attacking midfielder playing his part as the Hammers attempted to launch
an unlikely late comeback. The 19-year-old capped his display with an
eye-catching first-time volley, which flew past otherwise unbeatable Derby
goalkeeper Josh Barnes. I was told to go on and give my all and give my
maximum and that's what I did. I don't score many tap-ins, to be honest, and
I'd rather switch it around and score more goals if they were all tap-ins!"
Next up for the U23s is a mouth-watering home fixture in the Premier League
International Cup, with Portuguese giants Benfica visiting Billericay Town's
AGP Arena on Tuesday evening at 7pm. There, Diangana insists the Hammers
will be eager to get Friday's defeat out of their system. "When we have a
match like this, we have a chance to do better straight away. They will be
similar to Villarreal, who we lost to in our opening match in this
competition, so it'll be up to us to rise to the test."
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Obiang - Moyes and his staff have given us positive energy
WHUFC.com
Pedro Obiang says the arrival of a new manager and coaching team has
injected the West Ham United squad with new energy. The midfielder says
David Moyes and his staff have upped the intensity of training sessions and
worked individually and collectively to improve the Hammers' fortunes. With
the whole squad back at Rush Green for the first time under Moyes'
management on Friday, Obiang expects the level to be raised again as West
Ham prepare for the Scot's first game in charge. The energy the manager and
his coaches have brought has been really positive and, in this situation,
for the players, for the supporters and for everybody, we are experiencing
new things," said the Spaniard. "Of course, we know what happened before,
but it is time to change and think about what we are doing right now and
that's what we are doing. "It's really important that we start afresh. Of
course, it has happened many times at every club, but now everything has
changed and it's not about one game, one player or one thing; we have
changed our mentality and we cannot have any more excuses. "If we work
together, every player and every member of staff, then we can do what we
want to do."
With just two training days ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture at
Watford to work with his full complement of players, Obiang says the direct
approach of Moyes and his assistants – Alan Irvine, Stuart Pearce, Billy
McKinlay and Chris Woods – is the right approach. Starting at Vicarage Road,
the Hammers tackle 12 games in 44 days, meaning the coaching staff have
limited time to share their philosophy with the squad. "The staff know what
they want and what we need. They are talking with everybody and teaching us
the new things they want to put in. They are dealing with us directly
because they don't have too much time to do this.
"We have a game at Watford on Sunday, then a busy time with many matches
and, with the international break, they do not have many sessions with the
whole squad to prepare us. For those of us who were here during the break,
they have given us the best, and that has been good. We are training more
than before, not in terms of time, but in terms of the quality of the things
they are doing. The manager has changed the intensity of many things, we
have done more things tactically, and he's bringing everything new for us,
which is good because he is giving us his philosophy. "It's similar to the
training I did in Italy [with Sampdoria] but, at the same time, it is
different because we have many coaches around, telling us what they want and
that can only help us."
Obiang says Sunday's game will not only give the players their first
opportunity to put Moyes' plans into action, but also the chance to achieve
a vital victory. "Without the fact we have a new manager, this game is
important for many reasons; it's important for us, it's important for the
changes, it's important because of where we are in the table, it's important
because this is the perfect time to get a win to improve our confidence, and
it's important for us as players to show who we are. "We know we have good
players, but in the last few months we have not been at our best, so we all
know we need to do more and we will work hard and try to do this. "Watford
changed their manager themselves in the summer and they have done new things
and have taken confidence from this, but this is the kind of game we can win
if we are hungrier than them and show our quality."
Sunday's Premier League fixture at Watford will be screened live in the UK
by Sky Sports, with kick-off at 4pm. For worldwide broadcast listings, click
here.
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Westley - We're disappointed but we will learn
WHUFC.com
Terry Westley admitted that there were very few positives to take from West
Ham United U23s 5-1 defeat to Derby County on Friday evening. The Hammers,
who went in to the game on a six-game unbeaten run, conceded inside the
opening forty seconds and sadly it set the tone for the remainder of the
match. It was West Ham's first PL2 match at London Stadium since they beat
Manchester United 4-2 in October, but in front of new First Team manager
David Moyes, who watched on from the stands, the youngsters failed to take
their opportunity. Derby led 3-0 at half-time thanks to two gaols from
Offrande Zanzala and one from Luke Thomas. The visitors then scored two in
the opening five minutes of the second period to put the game out of sight.
Grady Diangana did get one back, in particularly impressive fashion, on 69th
minute but by then the game was gone. Academy Director Terry Westley was
clearly disappointed at full-time but was quick to reassure his squad that
nights like this are just as important in the development process. "So much
in life you're looking forward to certain things and tonight ou're thinking
'main stadium, a team that we can compete against and new manager watching
in the stands' so what an opportunity for these players" he said. "The young
players have impressed the new manager with the way they've gone about their
business on the training ground at Rush Green, but tonight with all of that,
we failed on virtually every point – there isn't really a plus I could give
you. "We must not jump overboard about one result, yes we've been beaten
well on the counter-attack and their forwards were too strong for our
defenders and that really summed the game up. "But if you look at October,
the players have done really well so you can't all of a sudden just say how
poor they were – development doesn't work like that. We won't get over the
top about good result and likewise, we don't beat ourselves up about bad
results. "We knew before the game that defensively it was going to be tough
for us because so many of our players were missing – we had a lot of square
pegs in round holes, players out of position so we knew that whole defensive
unit was a bit of a gamble. In midfield and in attack, we created chances
but we were always going to let in goals."
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New boss Moyes has 'buzz' back as he prepares for Hammers bow
WHUFC.com
David Moyes says he has 'the buzz' back as he prepares to manage West Ham
United for the first time in the Premier League. The Scot takes charge of
the Hammers at Watford on Sunday – his 500th Premier League match as a
manager – and is relishing his return to the dugout. When asked what he has
missed most about being a manager after six months out of the game, Moyes'
response showed why he is widely considered to be a true 'football man'.
"Definitely getting on the grass and definitely getting out with the players
again," he confirmed. "I think the buzz of preparing for training every day,
getting the players ready. "And honestly, the big thing is that the players
have been good, they have responded and we have said 'Don't be asking for
anything else because we are not canging it. This is it so get on with it
and get to the level we need to get to'."
Moyes returns to a league which served him so well during a successful
eleven-year spell at Everton, where he was voted Manager of the Year three
times and led the Toffees into the UEFA Champions League, but also hurt him
during less fulfilling spells at Manchester United and Sunderland. A stint
with Spanish club Real Sociedad in between his time at Old Trafford and the
Stadium of Light also tested the 62-year-old, and now he gets the chance to
draw on those contrasting experiences as a Hammer, starting at Vicarage Road
this weekend. "I'm definitely a better manager because of the experiences. I
could go over old ground of go back saying at Manchester United I had a
four-year contract and only got ten months. My record would have stood with
most over one year, but we all understand the reasons – at United you have
to win all the games. I totally accept that I didn't win enough games. "I
went to Spain and joined a club who were avoiding relegation and we keep
them up, and we do the job, and we get to the following year and they just
think they a just below where they should be. Simple. "But there is very few
people who get the jobs in those countries, so I think both of those choices
were the right choices. Did they work out as well as I wanted? Not quite,
but they weren't disastrous by a long way. "The Sunderland job was. Bad
decision by me, but I've talked a lot about that. All I can do is to give my
best here, which I will do and try to get as close to perfect as possible."
Moyes is old enough and wise enough to know that he will be under immediate
scrutiny as West Ham manager. With the Hammers starting his reign inside the
relegation zone, the pressure is on to get results now, and the former
Preston North End boss knows points on the board are pretty much all that
matter at this stage. His reputation, he admits, is on the line, and the
nature of modern Premier League football means he will only have a short
period to enhance it, or he will become just another top-flight boss whose
future is called into question. "I think I've put my reputation on the line
a little bit and I'm happy to do that. If you want to judge me on the grass,
I'll challenge most. But I'm only as good as my players, like any manager.
I've got to try to get them to overachieve. "My players at Everton
overachieved, punched above their weight, came close to Europe every year,
Champions League one year. Always in the top ten and now a consistent top
team. "That period it took me to get stability, I don't know of any manager
or coach that will be allowed that period again to try to get that to work."
A victory at Vicarage Road on Sunday would certainly do Moyes' reputation no
harm at all, that is for sure.
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West Ham United: How David Moyes can save Hammers' season
By Greg O'Keeffe
BBC Sport
The son of a ship-building draughtsman, David Moyes has planning and
attention to detail in his DNA. The new West Ham manager also has hard work
wired deep into his psyche. It was a combination of those qualities that led
to him being described as Britain's best pound-for-pound manager while at
Everton. The Scot led the Toffees to a fourth-placed finish in the Premier
League in 2005 - on a relatively low budget. His star has dimmed since
leaving for Manchester United in 2013 - he lasted 10 months there, and
subsequently struggled at Real Sociedad and Sunderland - but Moyes says he
is ready to light it up again. It will not be easy to do that at West Ham -
a side low on belief, sorely lacking cohesion and under the threat of
relegation in a new stadium which is yet to feel like home. BBC Sport
examines some of the key areas the 54-year-old must focus on.
Fitter, faster, stronger
Of the 23 Premier League goals the Hammers have conceded so far this season,
11 have come after the hour mark. They conceded a 96th-minute equaliser at
Crystal Palace to drop two points, let in an 85th-minute leveller at
Burnley, and were booed by their fans during a lethargic second half of a
3-0 home defeat by Brighton.
Tired legs, tired minds or both?
Whichever is true, Moyes must trigger quick improvements without the benefit
of a pre-season. By holding double training sessions during the
international break, he has already underlined his approach. That intensity
will not drop. At Everton, he would work his players relentlessly to ensure
they had an edge on opponents. Former Toffees captain Phil Neville remembers
one gruelling pre-season run - known as 'the horseshoe' - Moyes made his
players complete. "His method is to push you to your limits in training and
then the match is easy," he told the Liverpool Echo in 2013. "If there was
ever a time I thought, 'I could probably shoot you', it was then.
"Afterwards Mikel [Arteta] was feeling dizzy and laid down on the floor of
the dressing room. I was bent over cursing in the corner calling him the
worst manager in the league. "He came in, saw that, and said 'we'll be all
right from now on' and we were."
Get the forwards firing
West Ham have scored just 11 league goals so far this season from 116 shots.
Moyes has to get them firing again. He must ensure there is no bad blood
with Javier Hernandez, who had only a peripheral role under the Scot when
both were at Manchester United. The Mexican striker has been one of the few
positives for the Hammers this season - four league goals meaning he has
double the tally of any of his team-mates. Moyes will also need to keep Andy
Carroll fit - and find a way to get the best out of a man whose attributes
could be a good fit for a manager who likes his sides to get plenty of
crosses into the box. West Ham have played 990 minutes of Premier League
football this season, and Carroll has featured in just 338. But perhaps
Moyes' toughest task will be to turn around the downward trajectory of Marko
Arnautovic's club record move to east London. Arnautovic, signed in the
summer for £25m, is without a goal in nine appearances. Last season, while
playing for Stoke, he scored seven goals and created eight of what
statisticians Opta call 'big chances' - where a player should reasonably be
expected to score. The latter tally was more than any of his team-mates. So
far this season, he has created just one. He cost more than twice the £11m
Sunday's opponents Watford paid for Richarlison, but his statistics pale in
comparison with the Brazilian forward.
Arnautovic, though, is defiant.
"I know how strong I am mentally, how I work on myself," he said during the
international break. "I have lost nothing and I'm not in crisis." It has
been reported that Moyes has been told he can sell the Austrian in January,
but if he can get him back to his best, he will be an asset. And it seems as
though the Scot will not be afraid to dish out some tough love to his
players. "I'm going to be direct," he said. "If they don't like it, then I'm
sorry."
Discipline - in every sense
The Hammers have conceded more penalties (four) than any other side in the
Premier League so far this season. They're also fourth in the table of most
fouls, with an average of 19. Against Crystal Palace last month, they went
in at half-time leading 2-0, only for Angelo Ogbonna to concede a penalty
five minutes after the restart. That came two weeks after Carroll was sent
off for two bookable offences in the space of 99 seconds against Burnley,
and even the experienced Pablo Zabaleta has conceded two spot-kicks. Then
there is the tactical ill-discipline, such as Michail Antonio opting to
cross the ball rather than keep it in the closing seconds of the match with
Crystal Palace, who broke upfield to snatch a 2-2 draw. In solving these
issues, Moyes can again draw on his experience at Everton. In 2007-08, they
picked up a league-low 27 yellow cards as they finished fifth in the Premier
League. And he will hope the additions of his former Goodison assistant Alan
Irvine and no-nonsense former England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce help
matters.
Find the next Pienaar and Baines
After what proved to be Slaven Bilic's final game in charge - a 4-1 home
defeat by Liverpool - left-back Aaron Cresswell acknowledged he and his
team-mates had let the manager down. Having formed an effective partnership
with Dimitri Payet down the Hammers' left, the statistics make it clear that
Cresswell's form has dipped. Last season, he delivered the second-most
successful crosses of any West Ham player (17), but he has managed just four
so far this term - three fewer than Zabaleta on the other flank. Perhaps
Andre Ayew's recent improvement - he has scored three goals in his past
three appearances - can help bring the best out of the man playing behind
him on the left. If it does, it could be a case of back to the future for
Moyes. Under the Scot's guidance at Goodison, defender Leighton Baines and
midfielder Steven Pienaar became one of the most potent left-sided pairings
in the Premier League. In the 2012-13 season, Pienaar scored six goals and
contributed six assists, with Baines netting five goals and having five
assists.
Trust in youth
At Everton, Moyes nurtured a young Wayne Rooney, and blooded future England
internationals Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley. He also put his faith in
Seamus Coleman, who he signed from Sligo Rovers as a raw 20-year-old and
would become a first-team mainstay. Like the Merseysiders, West Ham fans are
justifiably proud of a respected academy, which has produced talents such as
Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Jermain Defoe. Moyes could
win some early credit from a supporter base nursing wounded pride and
feelings of dislocation at their new stadium by putting his trust in youth
once again. ould he do that, centre-back Declan Rice could be the player
most likely to benefit. The 18-year-old has already made eight appearances
this season. Having guided Coleman from the fringes of his club side to the
Republic of Ireland national side, could Moyes do the same with Rice?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DAVID KELLY (THE NOT-VERY-GOOD FORWARD, NOT THE NUCLEAR SCIENTIST)
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 18 NOVEMBER 2017 AT 1:19PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Sid_lambert
"HAMMERS NAIL HITMAN KELLY" screamed the headline in the Friday edition of
the Daily Mirror. I remember it vividly, not least because it would spend
nearly two years pinned to the notice board in my bedroom that served as a
homage to all things West Ham United.
There'd been a gaping hole in my heart all summer created by the departure
of Tony Cottee to Everton. Images of the talismanic striker adorned all four
walls. I'd cut out every image, quote and interview. I'd memorised every
statistic, every word. I could tell you his favourite telly, his favourite
food and his favourite singer. For that fact alone, I was slightly jealous
of Luther Vandross.
But now my hero was gone. The man whose partnership with Frank McAvennie had
taken us so close to the league title in 1986, had given up on Upton Park.
And who could blame him? John Lyall's team had gone from heroes to zeroes in
the space of two seasons. From championship chasers to basement battlers.
McAvennie had gone to Celtic and not been replaced. Key players had lost
form and fitness. A threadbare squad – the Cearns family kept their hands in
their pockets in spite of the desperate need for investment – had clung to
their top tier status in 87-88. Cottee could see the writing on the wall. At
least his £2.2m fee, a British record, gave us plenty of cash to rebuild the
ailing Hammers.
There were rumours about Kerry Dixon from Chelsea, or even Big Bastard Mick
Harford from Luton, though neither materialised. Then word spread about a
player at Third Division Walsall who was a target for all the big clubs.
Kenny Dalglish had even been spotted at the Bescot Stadium back in May.
Christ, if King Kenny was interested, then he must be good. It would have
taken the Liverpool boss hours to get down the motorway at rush hour for
7.30pm kick-off. The last people to make that commitment to visit the
Midlands were the Luftwaffe.
This hot property in question was David 'Ned' Kelly, a golden-haired young
Irishman who apparently would have his pick of the top clubs. As the summer
went by, Arsenal and Liverpool kept their guns holstered. West Ham that took
their shot. A £600,000 fee was enough to secure the services of one of the
football league's top talents.
No matter your age, nothing quite gets the pulse racing like a newspaper
headline announcing a star signing. Your mind races. Your heart beats so
fast it wants to burst out of your skin. The possibilities are endless.
I can still see my ten-year-old self marvelling at that back page now.
Kelly, his blond mane whistling in the wind, in action for Walsall. I
pictured him in claret, blue and AVCO and laughed at Liverpool's misfortune.
How had they let him slip? The best striker in the league, or maybe even THE
WORLD, was on his way to West Ham and he only cost six hundred grand. Wait
until the other signings get here. We'll never be in relegation trouble
again.
Or so I thought.
With the cash burning a hole in the boardroom pockets, the summer didn't
deliver the transfer frenzy I'd hoped for. The only other summer signing was
Allen McKnight, a Northern Irish goalkeeper from Celtic. But there were
still problems all over the park that needed addressing. Alan Devonshire,
Liam Brady, Stewart Robson and Alvin Martin were stricken by injuries and
things had got so bad that Billy Bonds had packed away his claret and blue
zimmerframe to shuffle back into action at the grand old age of 41.
Even with my relatively poor grasp of maths – we hadn't even started long
division at school – the sums didn't quite add up. Where were the rest of
the signings?
Never mind, at least we had David Kelly.
The Irish striker isn't a man who divides opinion amongst the West Ham fans.
Try it sometime. Mention his name and you'll see many a middle-aged man
drift into the abyss of despair that was following West Ham in the late
eighties. God, it was awful.
The opening match of the 1988-9 season dealt West Ham a trip to fellow
strugglers Southampton. The team was much the same as the crap that barely
avoided being flushed out of the First Division the previous year. Brady and
Devonshire, whose joints were held together by chewing gum, were injured.
Steve Potts and Julian Dicks were the league's most inexperienced
full-backs, whilst in midfield Georgie Parris and Kevin Keen tried to do the
running for the slow-motion limbs of Stewart Robson, a shadow of the player
he'd been before injuries took their toll.
Allen McKnight wasn't ready for his debut so Tom McAllister started in goal.
And up front, David Kelly made his much-anticipated debut.
First impressions of Kelly were mixed. To call him skinny would do him a
grave injustice. He was one missed meal away from Bob Geldof getting the
band back together. To call him a soft touch was an understatement. He
looked like he'd lose a fight with a bus ticket. Starved of service and up
against seasoned hard men Russell Osman and Kevin Moore, he was bullied from
start to finish.
As were the rest of his team-mates. West Ham lost 4-0 in a scoreline that
flattered them. A 3-1 defeat at home to perennial relegation fodder Charlton
suggested that Lyall's side were in for another dismal season.
Kelly got off the mark in his fourth league start, a 2-2 home draw with
Villa, and scored in both legs of the League Cup tie with Sunderland,
including a brace at Roker Park. The Irons were reserving their best form
for the cup competitions, despatching Derby 5-0 and then humbling mighty
Liverpool 4-1 in a match that announced two-goal Paul Ince as an outstanding
talent.
Unfortunately, league performances remained terrible. The home form was
particularly galling. Fortress Upton Park was breached at regular intervals
and we would win a pathetic three home games all season. On the road, goals
were flying past Allen McKnight who was offered scant protection by the
defenders in front of him. Arsenal and Luton stuck four past us and by
December we were mired in 18th place.
To his credit, Kelly had actually scored 9 goals (5 league, 4 cup) by this
point of the season and there were tentative signs that a partnership with
Leroy Rosenior might be starting to blossom. Unfortunately, both men went
goalless during a disastrous December when we picked up three points from
five games and fell to the bottom of the league.
Fingers were being pointed. Blame was being shifted, both inside and outside
of the dressing room. The remnants of the Boys of '86 were protected by
their reputation and the new signings became convenient scapegoats. The
goalkeeper had already been christened "McKnightmare" after a series of
gaffes and game-by-game his confidence cracked further. It's worth noting
that after leaving Upton Park he barely played football again. It's a sign
that the club's transfer policy was hopelessly misguided and that the East
End can be a tough place to play football if you don't have a thick skin.
Meanwhile Kelly, who was clearly too raw to fill Cottee's shoes, became
another terrace target. No one questioned his effort, which eclipsed many of
his under-performing peers, but his quality wasn't enough for the highest
level. In the corridors of Anfield, Kenny Dalglish was applauding his own
judgement.
Despite that, the Irishman played his part in a midwinter mini-revival.
Arsenal were toppled in an FA Cup replay at Highbury and Kelly scored in a
precious 2-1 win at Derby that lifted us to the giddy heights of 19th
position.
His most meaningful contribution of the season came in a League Cup
quarter-final win over Aston Villa. Over 30,000 packed into the Boleyn
Ground to enjoy a welcome release from the drudgery of Barclays Division
One. After a tepid penalty miss by Liam Brady, Paul Ince put the hosts in
front from long range. Then Kelly took centre stage. Tony Gale flicked on a
Brady free-kick, Kelly spun his marker and in one explosive moment, lashed a
left-footer into the top corner. It was technique worthy of any top-flight
striker. If only we'd seen more of it.
He played a bit-part in the rest of the season after Lyall pulled what
seemed to be a masterstroke in re-signing Frank McAvennie from under the
noses of Arsenal. The hero had returned and Kelly was shoved to the
sidelines.
In the event, McAvennie would make 9 uneventful appearances without scoring
and it was Leroy Rosenior's late-season form that nearly provided the
greatest of escapes. Unfortunately, relegation was confirmed in a 5-1
battering at Liverpool.
Kelly finished the season with 11 goals in 39 league and cup appearances,
bettered only by Rosenior's stat of 15 in 39. The season prior Cottee had
scored 15 in 44. Set against that context, it's hard to justify Kelly's
unwanted place in West Ham folklore.
Though he made a handful of substitute appearances in the madness of Lou
Macari's brief reign, for many Irons fans he is remembered for that
miserable final season under Lyall. His name resurfaces occasionally. When
anyone talks about Worst Ever West Ham Strikers, a list that has lengthened
substantially longer under the current ownership, David Kelly always gets
plenty of mentions.
But was he really that bad?
The Irishman, who went on to have a respectable second-tier career at
Leicester, Newcastle, Wolves and Tranmere, once described his time at Upton
Park as joining a "bad team at a bad time." With the benefit of hindsight,
there's evidence to support that. Ray Stewart, Liam Brady and Alan
Devonshire were all sliding towards retirement. Tony Gale, Mark Ward, Alvin
Martin and Frank McAvennie would never again the scale the same heights as
they did in '86. Meanwhile, George Parris and Kevin Keen, both fine servants
for the club, struggled to establish themselves at the top level.
Football fandom is a world of absolutes these days. You can go from legend
to liability in a matter of weeks (just ask Romelu Lukaku). When you've got
the likes of Merson and Stelling spewing out soundbite after clueless
soundbite, there's no space for clear thinking.
It's not fashionable to say it, but some players are just at the wrong
level. Maybe the ten-year-old me still feels sorry for him. Or maybe David
Kelly just gets a raw deal.
I think of the likes of McCarthy and Mido, appalling, overweight and
unprofessional, and find it hard to lob him in with those lumps of lard.
Ultimately, he tried hard and wasn't good enough, in a team that wasn't good
enough, for top-flight football. But worst ever? Not even close.
Which reminds me, has anyone heard from Emmanuel Emenike?
About the author: Sid Lambert is a football writer who recently published
his new 5* rated book Cashing In. It tells the story of Ray Cash, a
19-year-old footballer making his way through the murky world of the Premier
League back in the 1990s, when football changed forever. You can buy it
here.
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AWAY DAYS: WATFORD
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 18 NOVEMBER 2017 AT 2:43PM
Thewesthamwayco.uk
Written by Katie S @flump9
Well things have changed a little since my last 'Away Days' article, last
time I was feeling positive that we would beat Crystal Palace and we had
Slaven Bilic as our manager. This time out, we have David Moyes and are
taking on a team that have had some good results.
It is hard to know what will happen this weekend, will a team with some
professionalism and passion turn up or will we see a tired team looking a
little lost? I wasn't happy about the appointment of Moyes, but I must
admit I am excited to see what Sunday will have in store.
If you are one of the lucky 2,100 fans making the short trip to Vicarage
Road, here is all the information you need.
My prediction is: Watford 1 – 2 West Ham
General Information:
Capacity: 21,977
Address: Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ER
Random Fact: The stadium opened a Sensory Room in December 2016 for
supporters with Autism, who can watch the matches in a spacious room that
blocks out the noise of fans in the stands.
Seating
Away fans will be seated behind the goal in the Vicarage Road stand. The
legroom is sufficient and there are no pillars, meaning no obstructions and
a decent view.
Travel
Directions/Parking
From London Stadium it takes approximately an hour depending on traffic.
The quickest option by car is to take the M25, but you can also take the
North Circular.
There is no parking available for fans at the ground and street parking is
restricted
for local residents with matchday permits. Watford town centre has several
car parks, the easiest of which for access to Vicarage Road is Church Car
Park on the inside of the ring-road, opposite the turn-off into Vicarage
Road. All town centre car parks are within a 10 minute walk of Vicarage
Road.
One good option is Gade car park is located just off Rickmansworth Road, it
costs £1.00p/h up to 5 hours and £6.00 for up to 12 hours.
Click here for some alternative parking options: Parking near Vicarage Road
Train/Bus
The nearest station is Watford High Street, a 10 minute walk away from the
ground and Watford Junction train station is about a 20 minute walk.
Watford also has its own London Underground tube station, which is on the
Metropolitan Line and is situated just under one mile from Vicarage Road.
Food/Drink
Be aware that you won't be able to buy any alcohol in the ground itself, but
I have listed below a few away fan friendly pubs.
The Oddfellows on Fearnley Street is just 5 minutes from ground.
The Moon Under Water (Weatherspoons) in the High Street, welcomes children
if they are eating and is probably the cheapest for food and drink.
There is also an O'Neills and Walkabout nearby on the High Street.
If you're not going to be at the match, make sure you keep an eye on
@WestHamWaycouk on Twitter for live updates throughout the game.
*Details correct at the time of writing this article.
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David Moyes believes Stuart Pearce can help spark a West Ham revival
Last Updated: 18/11/17 2:13pm
SSN
David Moyes says Stuart Pearce will fire up West Ham's under-performing
players and their disillusioned fans. New Hammers manager Moyes has drafted
in the former England defender as part of his coaching team along with Alan
Irvine and Billy McKinlay. No-nonsense full-back Pearce spent two seasons
with West Ham towards the end of his career, making 50 appearances and
scoring three goals. The former Manchester City and England U21 boss has
been out of management since leaving Nottingham Forest two-and-a-half years
ago. "He's got a real fire in his belly which hasn't changed since he was a
player," said Moyes. "He has bundles of experience, as a player and a
manager. He has great knowledge. "I want every angle covered. I feel as if
I've brought people in who can do different jobs for me as well. I hope if
they're all at it then it makes my job even easier at the top. West Ham have
got an awful lot going for them. We've got a fabulous stadium which we will
play in for the next 100 years. We have to start getting used to it and
start winning there. "I think Stuart will play a big role. He said we need
to make sure everyone is connected with the supporters. "Stuart has brought
a bit of what was here before, he knows what it was like. I hope we can pull
that together. "Will the supporters make it easy for us? If we win. If we
don't it will be a lot harder." Moyes will be without Javier Hernandez at
Watford on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, after the striker suffered a
hamstring injury on international duty with Mexico.
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MATCH PREVIEW: WATFORD V WEST HAM
By Dan Coker 18 Nov 2017 at 08:00
WTID
Blast from the past
Syd King's West Ham United arrived at Cassio Road, the former home of this
weekend's opponents Watford, for a Southern League First Division fixture on
28th March 1908 while en route to a tenth-place finish. The first Scout
troop outside the UK had been formed in Gibraltar the day before and British
film director Sir David Lean was born three days earlier. Maurice Ravel's
Rapsodie espagnole had recently received its premiere in Paris – it was one
of Ravel's first major works for orchestra.
With goalkeeper George Kitchen injured in an FA Cup second round defeat at
Newcastle the previous month, understudy David Clarke continued his extended
run between the posts. The Hammers recorded a 3-2 victory in front of 3,000
spectators. Len Jarvis (pictured) – or 'Dick' as he was popularly known –
bagged a rare goal on this spring afternoon. The never-say-die half-back,
who was employed at a Grays cement works before signing for West Ham, was
one of the club's most consistent performers but only scored five goals in
his 140 appearances for the Hammers over six seasons. His spirit was
typified in a match against Brighton when he sustained a deep cut which
required several stitches after a kick to the face – he returned to the
action, albeit heavily bandaged. His whole-hearted approach often landed him
in hot water with the authorities – he gained attention and press coverage
when he smashed Millwall's Alf Dean against a metal advertising hoarding in
a game on 13th October 1906. The incident was investigated by the Football
Association and Jarvis was banned from playing for two weeks. This strike at
Watford transpired to be Jarvis' last goal for West Ham before a move into
league football with First Division Bury over a year later, in the summer of
1909.
Outside-right Jim Frost was also on the scoresheet at Cassio Road – it was
his second of four goals for the club, having made his debut just two months
earlier. Centre-forward Harry Stapley completed the Hammers' scoring with
his last goal for the club – this was Stapley's final appearance for West
Ham before he moved into league football with Second Division Glossop,
having scored 41 goals in 75 matches for the Irons. He retained his amateur
status so he could continue working as a schoolteacher.
Watford would finish the 1907/08 campaign in 14th position, while Stapley
would end the season as the Irons' top goalscorer with ten goals in 25
games.
West Ham United: David Clarke, James Gault, Archie Taylor, Dick Jarvis,
Tommy Allison, Bob Young, Jim Frost, Billy Grassam, Harry Stapley, Billy
Brown, Fred Blackburn.
Club Connections
Former Hammer Mauro Zarate is now on Watford's books, although the Argentine
forward is currently with Dubai-based side Al Nasr on a season-long loan.
Other players to have represented both clubs, divided by position, include:
Goalkeepers: Billy Biggar, Ted Hufton, David James, Perry Suckling, Manuel
Almunia, Jack Rutherford.
Defenders: Jon Harley, Calum Davenport, Lucas Neill, James McCrae, Chris
Powell, Colin Foster.
Midfielders: Henri Lansbury, Alan Devonshire, Alessandro Diamanti, Stuart
Slater, Jobi McAnuff, Jimmy Lindsay, Joe Blythe, David Noble, Jimmy Carr,
Mark Robson, Valon Behrami, Carl Fletcher.
Strikers: James Reid, David Connolly, Jack Foster, Roger Hugo, Billy
Jennings, Peter Kyle, Bertie Lyon.
Len Goulden played for West Ham and managed Watford, while Malky Mackay
played for both clubs and went on to manage the Vicarage Road club. Glenn
Roeder played for the Hornets and managed both clubs; Gianfranco Zola has
managed both the Hammers and the Hornets.
This week's focus though is on a goalkeeper who represented both clubs in
the early years of the 20th century and serves as a tribute to those
footballers, and indeed all, who have fought for our country at this time of
Remembrance. Joe Webster was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1886 and
started his career with his local club Ilkeston United in 1907. He moved to
Watford in 1910 where he was signed as Billy Biggar's replacement. Biggar
was also a former Hammers goalkeeper himself, having made seven appearances
in 1902/03 before becoming an outstanding servant at Watford, for whom he
played 217 matches between 1904 and 1910, when he moved to Rochdale.
Webster had big boots to fill but adapted admirably, making 148 appearances
for Watford in the Southern League. Watford failed to forward Webster's name
for registration at the start of the 1912/13 season though and were fined by
the Southern League authorities. Webster played alongside the young Arthur
Grimsdell whilst at Watford – Grimsdell would go on to captain England and
skippered Tottenham to FA Cup glory in 1921 before returning to Watford to
serve on their board of directors between 1945 and 1951.
Webster (pictured) signed for West Ham United in 1914 and made his debut in
a 2-1 win over Gillingham at Upton Park on 1st September that year. He made
17 Southern League appearances for the Hammers in 1914/15, keeping five
clean sheets. One of these shutouts came in a 1-0 win at former club Watford
on 28th November 1914.
World War One was to interrupt Webster's West Ham career though – he had
three years active service in France, serving in the 17th (Service)
Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). This infantry
battalion was a 'Pals battalion' – a specially constituted battalion of the
British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting
drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their
friends, neighbours and colleagues ('pals'), rather than being arbitrarily
allocated to battalions. Webster's particular battalion was known as the
'Football Battalion'.
During the First World War there had been an initial push by clubs for
professional football to continue, in order to keep the public's spirits up.
This stance was not widely agreed with and public opinion turned against
professional footballers. One soldier, serving in France, wrote to a British
newspaper to complain that "hundreds of thousands of able-bodied young
roughs were watching hirelings playing football" while others were serving
their country. The suggestion was even made that King George V should cease
being a patron of The Football Association. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer
and creator of Sherlock Holmes, publicly objected and appealed for
footballers to volunteer for service, saying "If a footballer has strength
of limb, let them serve and march in the field of battle".
Conservative MP for Brentford and future Home Secretary William
Joynson-Hicks formed the battalion on 12th December 1914 at Fulham Town Hall
after a suggestion by Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener. England
international Frank Buckley became the first player to join with a further
30 players who signed up at its formation. The formation was announced to
the general public on 1st January 1915 and approximately 150 more enlisted
over the next few months, the battalion's ranks further swelled by numerous
amateur players, officials and fans. Webster's fellow goalkeeper, Tommy
Lonsdale, who had preceded Webster between the posts at Upton Park before
signing for Southend, also signed up. Press complaints continued though, as
there were some 1,800 eligible footballers – I have previously told the
story of how George Hilsdon, formerly of West Ham and Chelsea, hid in a
chicken run to avoid active service. Many footballers deliberately chose to
avoid the battalion by joining other regiments, causing the War Office to
initially have difficulties filling the 'Football Battalion'.
Webster fought as a Private on the Somme, at Vimy Ridge, at Ypres in the
Battle of Passchendaele and at Cambrai. He survived these battles and,
moreover, the Great War itself and re-joined West Ham after the Armistice,
with the Hammers having now been elected to the Football League. He made two
Second Division appearances, both at Upton Park, as deputy for Ted Hufton –
these were against Huddersfield in a 1-1 draw on 27th December 1919 and Port
Vale in a 3-1 Hammers win on 7th February 1920. The win over Port Vale would
be Webster's 19th and last match for the club – he went back to Watford as
the club's trainer at the end of the 1919/20 season and later held a similar
role at Northampton. Joe Webster died following an appendix operation on
15th October 1927 in Northampton – with his exact date of birth unknown, he
passed away at either the age of 40 or 41.
Referee
The referee on Sunday will be Andre Marriner; the 46-year-old's most recent
Hammers appointment was the 2-2 draw at David Moyes' Sunderland in April,
while he also took charge of our 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea in March, Boxing
Day's 4-1 win at Swansea and the 1-1 home draw with Stoke last November.
Prior to that, in last season's trip to Manchester City, he had failed to
send off Sergio Aguero for an elbow on Winston Reid with the Hammers
trailing 2-1 with 14 minutes remaining. The Argentine was retrospectively
charged with violent conduct and suspended for three matches, a decision
which did nothing to benefit West Ham. Marriner did, however, show leniency
that day towards the visitors by failing to issue Arthur Masuaku with a
second yellow card on more than one occasion.
Since we achieved promotion back to the top flight in 2012 the
Birmingham-based official has been far from a good omen for West Ham – he
has refereed 15 of our league matches, officiating in only three wins for
the Hammers, five draws and seven defeats.
Possible line-ups
Tommy Hoban, Craig Cathcart, Younes Kaboul, Nathaniel Chalobah and Isaac
Success are out injured for Watford, while Troy Deeney is suspended.
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, centre-half Christian Kabasele and attacking
midfielder Roberto Pereyra are all expected to be fit but centre-half
Sebastian Prodl and winger Andre Carrillo face late fitness tests.
Richarlison has had 39 attempts on goal in the Premier League this season,
second only to Harry Kane's 59 – the Brazilian has scored with four of his
seven efforts on target.
For West Ham United, Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho should be available after
international duty but Chicharito is out with a hamstring injury. Sam Byram,
Jose Fonte and Michail Antonio are also unavailable. James Collins is back
in training but is not yet ready for selection after seven weeks out. Pablo
Zabaleta returns from suspension. David Moyes will take charge of West Ham
for the first time in his 500th match as a Premier League manager – a tally
only surpassed by Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and former Irons boss
Harry Redknapp. The Hammers have lost only one of their last 13 league
matches at Watford.
Possible Watford XI: Gomes; Femenia, Kabasele, Britos, Holebas; Doucoure;
Pereyra, Cleverley, Hughes, Richarlison; Gray.
Possible West Ham United XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell;
Noble, Kouyate, Obiang; Lanzini, Carroll, Ayew.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
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David Moyes insists West Ham is not his last chance in management
Ed Aarons
Saturday 18 November 2017 22.30 GMT Last modified on Saturday 18 November
2017 23.15 GMT
David Moyes has denied that taking over from Slaven Bilic at West Ham
represents his last chance in football management and the Scot is confident
he can arrest a slump that has left his new side in the relegation zone.
Before Sunday's trip to face Watford at Vicarage Road Moyes pledged to
tackle the indiscipline that has undermined West Ham's dreadful start to the
campaign and led to Bilic becoming the first manager to leave the club
during the course of a season since Alan Curbishley resigned in September
2008.
His replacement returns to the Premier League looking refreshed after
leaving Sunderland in the summer following their relegation and, at 54,
still feels he has plenty to offer despite difficult spells at Manchester
United and Real Sociedad before last season's implosion at the Stadium of
Light.
"I don't think it's my last chance," Moyes said. "If you look at managers in
the Premier League, most have managed 10-12 clubs. Look at Jupp Heynckes,
he's had about 14 clubs and has just gone back to Bayern at 70. It's
possible to manage lots of clubs. Is this my last chance? No."
After 11 largely successful years at Everton when they consistently punched
above their weight, Moyes still has plenty of credit in the bank and, most
importantly, West Ham's co-owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, clearly
trust him to turn things round quickly. But a short-term contract until the
end of the season is an indication that he has, unlike Heynckes, something
to prove once again, having started his management career at Preston in
1998.
Moyes, who will become only the fourth manager after Sir Alex Ferguson,
Arsène Wenger and Harry Redknapp to take charge of 500 Premier League
matches, admitted he will be under more pressure on Sunday than during his
first Everton match in 2002, when the current caretaker, David Unsworth,
scored after 30 seconds in a 2-1 win over Fulham. They went on to avoid
relegation easily and, in an effort to instil some of his methods, Stuart
Pearce – who made 50 appearances for West Ham between 1999 and 2001 – has
been added to the coaching staff in his first post since leaving Nottingham
Forest in February 2015. Moyes expects him to have a major influence on and
off the pitch.
"I think Stuart Pearce will play a big role. He said we need to make sure
everyone is connected with the supporters," said Moyes. "We are not going to
play at another stadium. We are playing at our stadium and we are going to
be winning games over the years at our stadium and the supporters and the
players need to get used to that. Stuart has brought a bit of what was here
before; he knows what it was like. I hope we can pull that together. Will
the supporters make it easy for us? If we win. If we don't, it will be a lot
harder."
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West Ham's London Stadium troubles show why David Moyes faces bigger
problems than just results
ES Sport
David Moyes can park a bus across West Ham's goal at Watford on Sunday if he
likes; two, if necessary. Among the team's many troubles which led to the
downfall of former manager Slaven Bilic, they have the second worst away
record in the Premier League - as well as a desperate one at home. So
steadying the ship is Moyes' first job. A point at Vicarage Road would be a
satisfactory start, even though the Hornets' good early-season form has
evaporated, losing their last three games. After that, it is at the big,
awkward bowl of the London Stadium where Moyes has to make his biggest
impression. That's partly because the Hammers have been so dreadful on their
own patch this season, losing calamitously to Liverpool and Brighton and
being beaten by Spurs. And even more so, it is because of the enduringly
hollow and sterile nature of the place. This is the biggest problem Moyes
could encounter in Stratford, even though he has the bonus of an evening
start in east London against Leicester City next Friday. With just six
months to prove he is worthy of an extended run in the job, it is a fair
assumption that his first move will be to make the Hammers hard to beat. But
it may not be enough in an arena which has sucked much of the spirit out of
the fans and the players since the club left Upton Park last year. That has
nothing to do with a demand from the stands that the side plays in the
so-called 'West Ham way', although it would be welcome. It has more to do
with the urgent need to breathe some life into the new arena - and that may
not happen if the team simply become better organised, more defensively
sound and fitter than they were as the Bilic era unravelled. That will
hardly set the place alight. It's a Catch 22: there are more pressing
priorities than entertainment; but without it, most occasions in the stadium
feel flat and empty - certainly in daylight hours, although there has been
the odd rumbustious London derby at night. And so the problems perpetuate.
Of course, it makes sense for Moyes to set rectifying the basics first
because West Ham have to escape from the threat of relegation. According to
soccerstats.com, their away form ahead of the trip to Watford places them
second from bottom with a record of no wins, three draws and three losses,
with 13 goals conceded. Just as much, though, they have to put an end to the
humiliating fact that they have been taken apart so often on their new
pitch. Liverpool hit four there two weeks ago to seal Bilic's fate, and
Brighton and Spurs scored three apiece. Their home form places them fourth
from bottom – two wins and three defeats from five - with, notably, only six
goals scored in east London and 10 conceded.
Last season, Arsenal, Manchester City (twice) and Liverpool all ran riot
there - even Southampton won 3-0. It has been a joy to watch for all those
rival fans who were incensed by the terms upon which the Hammers secured
their new home, claiming the club had landed a giant tax-payer-funded
windfall. n reality, the stadium breeds a downbeat mood, a tendency towards
disgruntlement and rebellion and a general air of dissatisfaction and
dislocation. It is partly because it isn't Upton Park, of course. But even
more, it is because it isn't a football ground. So it doesn't feel like one.
And unless West Ham start dishing out a few good hidings there - or at least
rack up some consistently significant wins - it never will. Many critics and
pundits insist that the side's failures cannot be blamed upon the ground.
But I genuinely believe it is a large part of the problem - and the owners
have to find some way to get over it. It's OK for visiting teams - they only
have to play there once a season and revel in its space. West Ham have to
deal with the problems and the atmosphere it creates all season long. And
those complaints about supporters leaving early? Well, after an 8pm evening
kick-off, it takes a long, long time for the crowd to get back across the
windswept Olympic Park to join the lengthy queues to get into Stratford
station. Huge numbers of fans live in Essex. It's a long walk if they miss
the last train.
Any serious supporter knows that the 'West Ham Way' was as much about
fragility and disappointment as it was free-flowing football. And it was all
years ago, with the game now drastically changed from the days when
magicians like Trevor Brooking and Alan Devonshire were gliding about at
their best. Moyes doesn't have to live up to that. It would be a grossly
unfair expectation. It took decades for Ted Fenton, Ron Greenwood and John
Lyall to create West Ham's much-vaunted traditions. The new man has just six
months, at first, and his mission is clear - survival. Former boss Sam
Allardyce spelled out recently why even for him, the club was an awkward one
to manage. He included the owners in it. David Moyes, who has a big chance
to refurbish his reputation in east London, may be about to learn just how
much the move to Stratford has added to that peculiar 'West Ham Way.'
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