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From Claret & Blue In My Blood
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Iron Fist Is In: It's Time To Stop Riding On the Coattales & Nail Your Colours To The Mast.
Firstly: for those of you that tolerate this blog often, forgive me, but I feel that I'm speaking for most of you. But for those of you that are insulted by the following: take it as not so much a slap in the face, but as a bracing wake up call. You need to do some soul-searching. Yes everyone is entitled to an opinion, but it amazes me how many of the traditionally negative Allardyce haters have gone silent right now: what are you waiting for? Failure on Saturday?
It's time to nail your colours to the mast. Are you, or aren't you?
Yes, I'm speaking to all you Allardyce doubters; you Nolan detractors; you ne'er-do-well negative stereotypical anger-mongers with your cliched "West Ham Way" criticisms of our manager and team, but who conveniently forget the recent past: those of you who are amazingly silent during any Hammers' success (like NOW), but are the first to pop-off with your vitriolic negativity the moment something goes slightly awry under Allardyce's stewardship of our club.
I'm going to give you both barrels, right now. I haven't posted for over a week: that's a first in two years: I've waited patiently, biding my time, but now you're going to get it. And by-God, you deserve it! Read on if you dare, reflect if you have the balls, and digest if you have the fortitude. I doubt I'll change your minds; it's impossible to convert radicals, bigots, and the intolerant, but if I can part the hair on the crown of your parochial heads with my bullet, then I've done my job, and I'll get some satisfaction from that.
But first: a refresher, as some of your parochial minds seem to have short memories. So drink this up and swallow hard - take your medicine now. If you don't like the taste, it's probably because it hits home: at this point last season our club was as low as it has been for decades. After a disastrous couple of seasons under Zola, who, while playing some expansive football under admittedly harsh conditions, media scrutiny, legal challenges, ownership issues, and a tight budget, finally gave way to the bewildered Avram year and quickly to relegation. The club, prior to the two David's arriving, was almost unmarketable: buyers were NOT stepping up to the plate; future player targets weren't interested in signing, and sponsors were not queuing up, yet your expectations were sky-high.
Remember that? Think harder. I do. It was DIRE. As damn-well dire as I can ever remember.
The club was teetering under "the project". Debts were huge; they still are; however, with the current owners' business sense and the marketability that Allardyce has brought to the club this season the future is viable (yes, just one season under Allardye, the club is on the road to recovery - promotion or not!)
In the same way that all Spurs fans are German Bayern fans right now prior to the Champions-League final on Saturday, you have to ask yourselves where your hearts lie. West Ham with a PL future and Allardyce, or? Because you can't have one without the other! You can't have your cake and eat it: didn't your mother teach you that? Throwing your toys out of the pram the first time anything untoward happens isn't being a fan: it's being a fruit-cake. And the club doesn't need that, or you. Get lost, or wake up - I don't care: frankly I'm sick of your moaning.
Di-Canio? He's not ready: he's nowhere near ready! 2 or 3 more seasons after coaching a Championship Team perhaps. (That was perhaps!) But now? You're dreaming! You do yourself and the club a massive disservice believing such a mighty club can be helmed by a new managerial-lightweight without a substantial track record. Again, remember Zola? Of course you do, but you conveniently place that to one side and allow your heart to be coloured by DiCanio's tattoo, his amazing playing record, and a passionate West Ham cult-hero following, and your misplaced belief that only a West Ham legend can lead this team to success.
You're wrong. 8 words: Liverpool, "King" Kenny, one-hundred-twenty million pounds.
You'd rather see West Ham playing expansive football in the lower leagues than what you're seeing now? Sure, go nail your colours to Swindon, Crawley or Southend. We won't miss you, but you will miss us. You'll be back. Through thick or thin: that's a fan, whether you be West Ham, Blackburn, Chelsea, or Manchester City (kudos to City: well done: that was stirring support!).
So, win OR LOSE on Saturday, I'll will support the team and manager. It's Allardyce for me: we've come a long way, Baby, as the saying goes. Allardyce netted the club 86 points this season. That would have got West Ham automatic promotion in second place above Norwich's 84 points last season. Not satisfied? Well, try this: it would have secured automatic promotion in 4 of the last 5 Championship seasons to boot. Chew on that.
If not this season, then next. It's taken Allardyce and West Ham a while to gel, but, as Mark Noble put it:
"West Ham is a completely differently run club nowadays," Noble told The Sun. "Sam is in charge of everything and what he says goes. And the boys and staff have reacted to that. In the last few years, I've gone through the Great Escape, relegation, promotions, cup finals - it's all experience in the bank but it's been a bit mental. Now, you get the feeling things are turning around at Upton Park."
"A bit mental." Yes that sums up our recent past. Big Sam has brought stability, control, and discipline back to the club, and if that has come at the cost occasionally of snore-bore home draws, interspersed with away win records, 6-0 home victories, and some soul-searching after a very few home losses, then it's all been part of a learning process which can only make the club stronger in my honest opinion. And whether it is this Saturday or next May, I'm nailing my colours to my team and to Allardyce to lead them there
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COYI's and all you fans - GET BEHIND YOUR TEAM OR GO AND SUPPORT SOMEONE ELSE !!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Iron Fist Is In: It's Time To Stop Riding On the Coattales & Nail Your Colours To The Mast.
Firstly: for those of you that tolerate this blog often, forgive me, but I feel that I'm speaking for most of you. But for those of you that are insulted by the following: take it as not so much a slap in the face, but as a bracing wake up call. You need to do some soul-searching. Yes everyone is entitled to an opinion, but it amazes me how many of the traditionally negative Allardyce haters have gone silent right now: what are you waiting for? Failure on Saturday?
It's time to nail your colours to the mast. Are you, or aren't you?
Yes, I'm speaking to all you Allardyce doubters; you Nolan detractors; you ne'er-do-well negative stereotypical anger-mongers with your cliched "West Ham Way" criticisms of our manager and team, but who conveniently forget the recent past: those of you who are amazingly silent during any Hammers' success (like NOW), but are the first to pop-off with your vitriolic negativity the moment something goes slightly awry under Allardyce's stewardship of our club.
I'm going to give you both barrels, right now. I haven't posted for over a week: that's a first in two years: I've waited patiently, biding my time, but now you're going to get it. And by-God, you deserve it! Read on if you dare, reflect if you have the balls, and digest if you have the fortitude. I doubt I'll change your minds; it's impossible to convert radicals, bigots, and the intolerant, but if I can part the hair on the crown of your parochial heads with my bullet, then I've done my job, and I'll get some satisfaction from that.
But first: a refresher, as some of your parochial minds seem to have short memories. So drink this up and swallow hard - take your medicine now. If you don't like the taste, it's probably because it hits home: at this point last season our club was as low as it has been for decades. After a disastrous couple of seasons under Zola, who, while playing some expansive football under admittedly harsh conditions, media scrutiny, legal challenges, ownership issues, and a tight budget, finally gave way to the bewildered Avram year and quickly to relegation. The club, prior to the two David's arriving, was almost unmarketable: buyers were NOT stepping up to the plate; future player targets weren't interested in signing, and sponsors were not queuing up, yet your expectations were sky-high.
Remember that? Think harder. I do. It was DIRE. As damn-well dire as I can ever remember.
The club was teetering under "the project". Debts were huge; they still are; however, with the current owners' business sense and the marketability that Allardyce has brought to the club this season the future is viable (yes, just one season under Allardye, the club is on the road to recovery - promotion or not!)
In the same way that all Spurs fans are German Bayern fans right now prior to the Champions-League final on Saturday, you have to ask yourselves where your hearts lie. West Ham with a PL future and Allardyce, or? Because you can't have one without the other! You can't have your cake and eat it: didn't your mother teach you that? Throwing your toys out of the pram the first time anything untoward happens isn't being a fan: it's being a fruit-cake. And the club doesn't need that, or you. Get lost, or wake up - I don't care: frankly I'm sick of your moaning.
Di-Canio? He's not ready: he's nowhere near ready! 2 or 3 more seasons after coaching a Championship Team perhaps. (That was perhaps!) But now? You're dreaming! You do yourself and the club a massive disservice believing such a mighty club can be helmed by a new managerial-lightweight without a substantial track record. Again, remember Zola? Of course you do, but you conveniently place that to one side and allow your heart to be coloured by DiCanio's tattoo, his amazing playing record, and a passionate West Ham cult-hero following, and your misplaced belief that only a West Ham legend can lead this team to success.
You're wrong. 8 words: Liverpool, "King" Kenny, one-hundred-twenty million pounds.
You'd rather see West Ham playing expansive football in the lower leagues than what you're seeing now? Sure, go nail your colours to Swindon, Crawley or Southend. We won't miss you, but you will miss us. You'll be back. Through thick or thin: that's a fan, whether you be West Ham, Blackburn, Chelsea, or Manchester City (kudos to City: well done: that was stirring support!).
So, win OR LOSE on Saturday, I'll will support the team and manager. It's Allardyce for me: we've come a long way, Baby, as the saying goes. Allardyce netted the club 86 points this season. That would have got West Ham automatic promotion in second place above Norwich's 84 points last season. Not satisfied? Well, try this: it would have secured automatic promotion in 4 of the last 5 Championship seasons to boot. Chew on that.
If not this season, then next. It's taken Allardyce and West Ham a while to gel, but, as Mark Noble put it:
"West Ham is a completely differently run club nowadays," Noble told The Sun. "Sam is in charge of everything and what he says goes. And the boys and staff have reacted to that. In the last few years, I've gone through the Great Escape, relegation, promotions, cup finals - it's all experience in the bank but it's been a bit mental. Now, you get the feeling things are turning around at Upton Park."
"A bit mental." Yes that sums up our recent past. Big Sam has brought stability, control, and discipline back to the club, and if that has come at the cost occasionally of snore-bore home draws, interspersed with away win records, 6-0 home victories, and some soul-searching after a very few home losses, then it's all been part of a learning process which can only make the club stronger in my honest opinion. And whether it is this Saturday or next May, I'm nailing my colours to my team and to Allardyce to lead them there
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COYI's and all you fans - GET BEHIND YOUR TEAM OR GO AND SUPPORT SOMEONE ELSE !!
