Hmmm comment is free on the Internet and if you think there'are nasty comments on this site then you obviously don't read too many blogs. Personally I try not to be rude and it's somewhat cowardly to say on a blog that which you would never say to someone's face. I advise you to gow a thicker skin. Sorry sj but your posts are often long winded and tend to the bright side. IMO you could do with being a bit more sceptical and irreverent. Still I'm here most days so thanks for bothering in the first place.

the sooner he goes the better for all concerned .. he's been the cause of our creative constipation in midfield for some time. Collinson has much quicker feet and a better forward vision, plus of course he' s much younger and liable to get better. Scott nees to be deployed strictly within his limits, as in his recent England performances, to ge tthe best out of him unfortunately he's been allowed to believe he's the complete midfieldpalyer at west ham and we have suffered as a result. He is a trier however and I wish him all the luck in the world

I guess we are about to find out about a Parker-less WHU . While by no means a poor player, I have always felt his contribution was over-rated and he was responsible for losing as many games as we won with his reckless tackling and his habit of giving the ball away at crucial moments. I think now he has gone the midfield can really gel and move forward as it appears they did today.

I quote from Yorkshire Post

"However, it was a rare scare for the Hammers whose defensive organistaion and solidity proved the key to victory."

I'm more concerned about having a defence worthy of the name to start with before I get too worried about a lack of firepower up front- that will come.. Sam promised tight defensive performances away from home and that's what we got. All good teams are built from the back. A Zola or Grant team would have poured forward trying to win 3-0 and then got punished on the break by a Donny side that are not world beaters but do play nice touch football along the ground.

Iain, your maudlin musings on Sam are really getting on my nerves. Sam has a career win ratio of nearly 41%- not matched by any other than any manager with prem league experience bar those tht have worked for the big four -who obviously have an advantage. do you really think he managed that by getting his centre backs to hoof the ball skywards.of course he didn't. I m not going to predict how well or not he will do at west ham but it does seem you have crated a false narrative for yorself about Sam basd on the fact that at Bolton he got our number and played football designed to beat us.. would a long ball merchant really have bought JJ Ococha, Anelka, Nolan, Djorkaeff, Guiterez, Hierro, Pedersen andbattled us for Benayoun? no I don't think so-wished they'd played for us

<DIV>yeah Bazza, I am a miserable old git but I'm pleased you agree with me - as I wrote I truly hope we are both wrong- living in the north west it is not often I get bragging rights - which is probably why I'm so miserable! ..cheers.</DIV> <DIV></DIV>

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Optimism is laudable but it invites disappointment. The short answer is no, it won' t be a dry run for success at City - we'll get beat. Chelsea should have been four nil up and out of sight by half time and still won at a canter. Grant's tactics were disastrous giving the Chelsea wing backs free rein. It's all very well pointing out our shots on goal etc .. but the data proves our strikers generally muff clear cut chances and City's defence is unlikely to be as generous as Chelsea's. Yaya Toure will rip us apart in Midfield - we'll lose 3-1 - hope we don't, really do, it would be sweet as I live about a mile away from Eastlands but can't see it - stop clutching at straws and start analysing why we are so crap.

can't understand where your confidence that we will avoid relegation is rooted.. Chelsea, Man City to come and then Bolton- our bogey team; what is it ? no win in 17 or something ridiculous.. not for nothing did a Wanderers website post an article headlined 'Oh Good West Ham Time' last season. For the rest all relegation dog fight six pointers.. our confidence is better but still fragile .. obviously I hope we sqeak through but no margin for error.

Hello Rob, thanks for your comment. You wouldn't swop him for Messi!?! Of course we would have suffered without him ..as I said Hammer of the Year material - just not as good as you make out. -look at the stats..shots to goal ratio/ pass completion etc. We all need our heroes and if Scott is yours; fair enough but I can only assume you are not very old (19 perhaps) if you reckon he's the greatest West ham player of all time - personally Brooking, Devonshire, Bonds, Hurst, Peters Moore do it for me.

Hello devo see my reply to Headmaster which rolls up my repsonse to your original response. cheers...