Slimy, Shifty Silkers Swagged the Sack of Silver
The Sack of Silver Slimy, Shifty Silkers Swagged
If Slimy, Shifty, Silkers Swagged the Sack of Silver
Where's the Sack of Silver Slimy Shifty Silkers Swagged?

Yep, and all in the honour of lining Bent Bazza's pockets even further!

Lofters, it would be nice to think that Nouble could make the grade, and he certainly seems to fit Big Sam's mould that strikers should be built like brick outhouses, although a pair of fancy coloured boots in the Piquionne line may help his cause as well. Yet, when I saw Nouble against Real Zaragoza--or should that read Surreal Zaragoza as they had clearly come to Upton Park as part of weekend holiday break in London in which a footy match seemed of secondary importance to them--Nouble looked far from impressive, and managed to get himself booked in what was an otherwise lethargic contest. Time will tell and we can only hope.

I can clearly remember seeing a kids programme in the early seventies, or it could even have been in the very late sixties, in which Brian Moore, on being quizzed by a group of children, confessed more than a liking for the Hammers. He didn't actually say that he was a "fan" of the Irons as that would have undoubtedly compromised him professionally, but it was as close as possible.

Happy New Year to all. I hope that we are not nursing too many hangovers!

With half the season gone then perhaps when can assess the club's progress in the old Division 2, although it hasn’t exactly been a good December for the team’s form. It seems many of the West Ham fraternity are content to put up with whatever football it takes to get the Hammers out of this division. A shame in many ways, but if needs must, and all that...

Much wringing of hands has been done over the club's long ball tactics. In the few games that I have seen it seems that Allardyce's team can mix things up tactically, if it desires. I have nothing against the long ball per se, and if it is used with the passing game then it can be a legitimate tactic. If it becomes the only form of play, like Wimbledon and Watford of the eighties, then it makes for some complete dross. Perhaps, the team at times, in certain games, can be guilty of hoofing the ball up field more than other teams, which does not make for much stimulating viewing. Certainly, this is not the most entertaining team in the club’s history. However, there have been times in West Ham's past when the long ball has been used, and to efficient, entertaining effect. The long ball, or Kick and Rush, has always been part of the British game, and, personally, I would much rather see a good, and the emphasis is on the word “good” and not mediocre, Kick and Rush team play than say some of the Continental teams that try to play football as though it were a game of chess. I remember the Rothmans Yearbook of 1975-76 celebrating in its editorial an Irons’ goal scored with the long ball kicked out of the goalkeeper’s area by Mervyn Day and latched on by Alan Taylor. I can’t remember if they were actually talking about this goal, but have a look at this from 1975-76 season against Manchester United on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEy9AHw6yfw&fe...

I can't understand why Allardyce persists with using Piquionne. He seems to be the first forward that Sam puts down on the team sheet recently. Maybe it is because he seems to fit in with Sam's philosophy that at least one attacker needs to be 6' 2" or more. Perhaps its Piq's dainty coloured boots that gets him the nod over the likes of Cole, but I would have thought that any footballing brain would understand that any piece of dreck from the Duffer Grant/Slippery Silkman transfer market rip offs should be bundled up and jettisoned within seconds of sighting! The River Thames is not that far away from the Boleyn.

Personally, I would like to see the club sign a genuine playmaker. The club has not had one since Benayoun left five years ago. I appreciate that this is easier said than done, and it may not be possible this transfer window when prices are invariably inflated. I think a playmaker would complete our midfield. Nolan has not been as effective as we would all like, but he does seem to be a motivating captain, which is more than useful. Noble, I think, would be more effective, playing with and off a playmaker, whilst Diop, much liked by the fans, and a great stalwart defensively when he is very effective in breaking up the oppositions’ play, strikes me, and maybe I haven’t seen enough of him, as being very, very slow when running with the ball; enough to make Noble appear to like an Olympic sprint champion.

All the best to you all for 2012.

Yes, SP, yet another abject performance in a season in which the Irons nearly went down, and undoubtedly would have done if it had not been for the marvellous form of Paul Allen.

Steve Potts that day also made his debut as a 17 year old. I can remember the Hammers being in the running until at least the second half when they crumbled, and they may even have scored first with Paul Brush. I also have an image of Steve Potts clearing off the line at the South Bank end, but then again the memory could be playing tricks on me.

Just got back in to Rome this evening after my brief sojourn in the UK. I was lucky enough to go to the game. Not the greatest game nor the worst for that matter that I have seen at Upton Park, but it was good to be part of a near full house, and the three points were much welcome. I also saw Iain at his book signing jamboree. Given the cold it looked like that he wished to be anywhere else rather than sitting out in the cold on the pavement! Personally, I thought that HammerHead was good for a laugh, and it seemed that the Barnsely fans took it in good spirit too.

Of the game I thought that Cole should have got MOM. Okay, it is true that he missed an open goal after a fantastic run, but the fellow worked his socks off. Nolan, undoubtedly, was not MOM, but I was very surprised that after the initial cackles and howls of derision there were sections that booed the decision. I have to say that from where I was sitting in the Upper West Stand it certainly sounded like booing, and I will be the first to admit that my hearing is not what it should be after decades of listening to The Stranglers, The Damned, and Motorhead at full blast!! I don't think I have ever heard a crowd treat their captain in such a manner in all my time in going to the Boleyn Ground.

The pleasant surprise of the day, apart from the win of course, was seeing Danny Potts making such an impressive debut for the Irons. I hope that it will be the first of many good performances for the club. The sweet irony for me was that I remember seeing his father make his full league debut for the Hammers. It was on 1 January 1985 when OPR came to the East End and convincingly beat West Ham 3-1--a disappointing way to start the New Year. That day too his father wore an unfamiliar number--number 11.

Interesting post, Iain. I never knew that Gascoigne had a soft spot for the Hammers. I remember seeing him the season he joined Spurs in the side that drubbed the Irons in April 1989. He ran a West Ham midfield of Ward, Ince, Dickens, and Brady absolutely ragged, and it was no wonder that Tottenham ran out 3-0 winners. Yes, John Lyall would have been manager in the close season of 1988; he was to lose his job after the club's relegation in the 1988-89 season of which Tottenham's double over the Hammers added to our plight. And certainly Gazza and McAvennie would have had a few jars together, and who knows what else too!

I was still way too young to attend the match, but I do remember very clearly the fall out from the whole mess.

Interesting to read the Hammers are unbeaten in the last six league clashes with Blackpool. Of course, this precludes the 1971 FA Cup debacle on January 2 when the Irons were well and truly smashed 4-0 by the Tangerines in the Third Round. To compound things, later that week Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Brian Dear, and Clyde Best were all fined a week's wages for going out for a late night booze up on the eve of the match. Moore and Greenwood had not always seen eye to eye, but this episode saw a further deterioration in their relationship. If you You Tube the match- -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxLKIeYrv7M--West Ham were a veritable shambles and it looks like the whole team had been on the razzle the night before!