COME ON YOU IRONS - The "official" West Ham United Thread

Seeing as everyone's at it, I'm gonna give it a go.

We're a Premier League team now, so we're sure to get some attention again.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, the East End's finest (yes we're better then Leyton Orient and Ford United) are back in the Prmier League. You know the league where you can only make a certain amount of progress and never reach the heights of teams with multi billionaire chairmans, Yanks or David Dein's.

Yes I'm bitter towards the Premier League as it hurts so many other teams in the country because of the money it recives.

Anyway, back to West Ham United;

I personally think we'll have a decent first season in the league. As I've stated time and time again, I don't think the gap is that much in at the lower half of the table. We can not only surivive, but an opportunity to push for a top ten sport in my opinion is not beyond us. Considering we still bulster the squad a little as we're in need of another striker and a center/right sided midfielder. We have things holding us back, like our chairmen still, who's been as nice as pie with our return to the Premier League, but of course he would when the shares of the club have risen and he's got a strangle-hold locked. Alan Pardew seems out of his depth. This is make or break of Alan, as like most Hammers, I believe that we're just as good as a select group of clubs in the league now. I'm not against the man and hope he does the job for us, I just can't see it after his niave tactics in the Championship last season. I hope I'm proven wrong, as one thing is for sure, he's an eye for a player. I'm happy with our signings and what they potentially bring to the club. Danny Gabbidon's been rated for a while by me as well. I've been looking at him for a while and it's a gain for sure. I'd like to see Mark Nobel's contribution to the new season, as it's typical of West Ham to produce more young talent to dazzle the English leagues. Now he's playing with the "eliet" and it's his chance to shine.

Inexperience is one area where we need to worry, but as I said before, talents we do have, have played in this divison. Teddy can really work wonders here and help out the youngsters who feel out of their depth. He's the brain on the pitch at West Ham, so his general like role will be priceless. Repka for all his bad points also has the experience and probably do better in the Premiership then in the Championship. One thing I never question is the mans commitment. He's over aggressive at times yes, but not that far off Julian ****s and if we go back to footballs past (and better days), some of the things he did on the pitch would just get passed off. Now's our chance to get a grip on the league and getting our name in the mix, I know a few underestimate out chances, but in my opinion, more fool you.

Squad for the new season; (copied I admit)

Goalkeepers;

Jimmy Walker
Stephen Bywater (Coventry)
Roy Carrol
Shaka Hislop

Defenders;

Danny Gabbidon
James Collins
Thomas Repka
Anton Ferdinand
Clive Clark
Paul Kochensky
Elliot Ward
Trent McClenahen
Malky MacKay
Christain Daily (please Leave)
Chris Cohen

Midfielders;

Yossie Benayoun
Mark Noble
Luke Chadwich (Stoke)
Matthew Etherington
Steve Lomas
Nigel Reo-Coker (Captain Fantastic)
Shaun Newton
Hogan Ephraim
Hayden Mullins
Gavin Williams
Carl Fletcher

Strikers;

Teddy Sheringham
Marlon Harewood
Bobby Zamora
Moses Ashikodi


Nice mixture of young talent and experience. Teddy's experience will be invaluble and seeing how Ferdinand, Ward, Noble, Harewood, Zamora, Gabbidon, Collins, Etherington & Reo-Coker cope with the move up will be interesting.

[The Party Host]

Well, whether they won trophies in the old days or not, whether their star players of the 60s helped England lift the world cup or not, and whether they do actually survive or not, West Ham are right now a Championship import into the Premiership, looking for nothing more than survival, with anything else a bonus, in order to be able to say that they are truly back where they belong. No judgement or personal preference there, just the way the system works. The Hammers went down, and they now have it all to prove.

The team looks promising, but at the same time as you said they lack Premiership experience, and as a whole a lot of them are inexperienced as a whole and need to show that they're made for the top level. The manager himself, Alan Pardew, has to show the world that he is a Premiership level manager, which I believe he COULD do.

Right now, today, in the legacy of West Ham United, it's the same as it was for them in 1993, and even for Charlton in 98 and 2000 - the opportunity has been earned without doubt. Now's the time we find out whether it's a wasted one, or if the chance can spawn success.

We'll all reserve final judgment on that question until May 2006 - and as you know yourself Scott, the majority of the WHUFC fanbase would benefit from waiting to see how things are then too.

Until then, make sure that even if you go straight back down, that you stuff Tottenham and humiliate Arsenal on the way down!

[Hammers4eva]

Finally, a West Ham thread.

Personally I'm a bit worried about our lack of strikers, with only Teddy being proven at this level, Zamora was useless for Spurs in the prem, and I don't think that Harewood is good enough for the premiership. And I have never even heard of Moses Ashikodi before.

Still, our defence is quite strong, and our midfield aint too bad, I think we have a decent chance of staying up personally, I hope so anyway.

Originally Posted by Hammers4eva

Finally, a West Ham thread.

Personally I'm a bit worried about our lack of strikers, with only Teddy being proven at this level, Zamora was useless for Spurs in the prem, and I don't think that Harewood is good enough for the premiership. And I have never even heard of Moses Ashikodi before.

Still, our defence is quite strong, and our midfield aint too bad, I think we have a decent chance of staying up personally, I hope so anyway.

Marlon's got the quality, it's his attitude I question. The man can play a game of football when he's up to it.

Ashikodi we got from of all people Millwall on a free after the club sacked him for pulling a knife out on a team-mate. Don't think he'll be there much longer.

We do need a Premier League striker. Dean Ashton would be my choice, but god knows who'll Pardew will sign.

[The Party Host]

You can have Lisbie for two bob if you want...?

Originally Posted by The Party Host

You can have Lisbie for two bob if you want...?

I'd rather have piles.

[The Party Host]

Never heard of him.. he any good?

[Hammers4eva]

Originally Posted by E3 Hammer

I'd rather have piles.

Originally Posted by The Party Host

Never heard of him.. he any good?

lol, this made me laugh.

Anyway, back on topic, that Moses bloke sounds a bit dodgy. I don't think Pardew will sign us a new striker, at least not anyone good.

Originally Posted by Hammers4eva

lol, this made me laugh.

Anyway, back on topic, that Moses bloke sounds a bit dodgy. I don't think Pardew will sign us a new striker, at least not anyone good.

Well as I said, looks like we'll be letting him go anyway. He's not good enough by the looks of things and with his sort temper, we really don't need that in our dressing room.

As for a decent striker, Dean Ashton would be my pick but Norwich are keen to keep him and he's shown know signs of leaving or wanting away anyway.

Freddie Kanoutie's a target and apparentley keen on a move back to Upton Park. Notice when he's not first choice he's more then happy to move across London again. Problem with Freddie is, he's lazy. Can be influencial, but we don't need players like him when we have enough trouble with Harewood and Zamora.

Just as long as we don't sign Andy Johnson. Man's on his arse then on his feet.

[Hammers4eva]

Originally Posted by E3 Hammer

Just as long as we don't sign Andy Johnson. Man's on his arse then on his feet.

Do you mean he spends more time on his arse than his feet?

Seriously though, he would be a quality signing, but he's just signed a new contract with Palace, and says he wants to stay there for now. Ashton would be good aswell, doubt he will go though, or Norwich won't let him go. I think Jason Roberts might be good, doesn't look like he will be getting regualr first team football at Wigan this season to me.