en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/658984 Comments by D_McCailey http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/11/sad-news-dean-ashton-retirement-confirmed/#IDComment46819151 A real, real shame. I feel that Deano had the potential not only to be an England regular but an England legend. In my opinion he was the best player to pull on a Hammers shirt since Di Canio and the last couple of years have been incredibly frustrating and also incredibly sad. I hope the club keep hold of him on the training staff - between him and Zola they could teach our strikers a thing or two! Maybe the new John Lyall, who I also believe retired at 26? Whatever he does, I honestly wish him every success and happiness in the future. DEANO! DEANO! DEANO! Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:18:38 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/11/sad-news-dean-ashton-retirement-confirmed/#IDComment46819151 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/11/07/dean-ashton-to-hang-up-his-boots/#IDComment42369799 Extremely sad news, if true. Personally, I held Ashton at his best 3 years ago to have held the potential - still only 22 at the time I believe - to have been an England regular. Certainly, he would have been in the team now hands down. Of course, we would have struggled to hold on to him and he may well have been snapped up by one of the Big 4 by now. But, really, really sad news. A great loss to WH and England. I wish him all the very best for the future. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 20:51:45 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/11/07/dean-ashton-to-hang-up-his-boots/#IDComment42369799 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/31/vote-player-performances-at-sunderland/#IDComment41527811 Well said Devo - let's not forget that Sunderland have a very good home record and I personally would've taken a point at the start of the game. Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:07:38 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/31/vote-player-performances-at-sunderland/#IDComment41527811 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/26/player-performance-results-arsenal/#IDComment40747344 Looking at the fixtures, we finally have a decent run of games we should be looking to get points from up until the Man U game at the start of December. This fightback came just at the right time - but we need to make the most of it! My team for Sunderland: Green Spector Upson Tomkins Ilunga Faubert Behrami (holding) Collison Diamante (in the hole) Cole Hines Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:26:51 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/26/player-performance-results-arsenal/#IDComment40747344 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/22/what-is-our-strongest-midfield/#IDComment40222964 For a 4-3-3, I would agree with Parker, Collison and Behrami. My change perhaps would be up front, with Dyer coming in for Jiminez or Diamanti. For a 4-4-2, I would go with Cole and Diamanti up front, with a diamond 4 - Jiminez at the tip, Parker at the back, Collison on the left and Behrami on the right. I would expect to see Dyer on for Jiminez or Diamanti at some point. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:45:54 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/22/what-is-our-strongest-midfield/#IDComment40222964 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/19/turning-the-corner-to-a-brighter-future/#IDComment39345675 I agree with your post here SJ - I am starting to get a bit worried about how the season is panning out, but I don't see how changing a manager at this stage would be either practical or beneficial. The issues with the team's performances are more to do with not getting the rub of the green and behind the scenes uncertainty. I am hopeful that GZ & SC will turn it around, and believe they will do. I just hope they can do it soon before we get too stuck in the mire. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:41:54 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/19/turning-the-corner-to-a-brighter-future/#IDComment39345675 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/vote-stoke-match-player-performances-2/#IDComment39231413 Well said Goaty. There's been soooo much happening off the field this season - ownership/cashflow issues; injuries to key players; crappy fixture draw; loss of form of certain players who we don't really have cover for - but we have to keep the faith. Getting on the team's backs is not going to help anyone. I'm sure we'll turn it around, maybe not against Arsenal but maybe after that. A couple of wins and we're mid table. And we have actually been playing well but not necessarily been getting the rub of the green. COYI Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:19 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/vote-stoke-match-player-performances-2/#IDComment39231413 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/vote-stoke-match-player-performances-2/#IDComment39231022 Yes, that'll help up beat Arsenal...... Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:49:44 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/vote-stoke-match-player-performances-2/#IDComment39231022 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/stoke-match-thread/#IDComment39230942 Do we honestly think this run is down to Zola? I find that incredible. We've had little money to spend, have been close to administration, have a squad with key players coming back from injury while other have lost form, have had a shocker of a set of opening fixtures which has seen the team lose a lot of confidence. For much of the season we've been playing well just not getting the rub of the green - carrying on yesterday with a dodgy pen and a right hook that went unnoticed. Of course GZ has made some mistakes, but name me a manager that hasn't. What the team needs - what WE need - is for everyone to get behind the team, the manager and stop booing them. We've got Arsenal next game I believe at home. They are on good form. We could get walloped. That is more likely if the supporters start getting on the team's backs. Hopefully we'll be under new management soon, with people who can put money into the club. We HAVE to believe, and even if we do go down, we will still be West Ham and we will be back. COYI Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:48:24 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/17/stoke-match-thread/#IDComment39230942 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/15/the-best-thing-to-happen-to-west-ham-in-20-years/#IDComment38860032 I'm all for it. OK, so they didn't set the world alight at Birmingham but we are a much bigger club than them. They seemed to run Birmingham well, and Birmingham always seemed to have cash to buy players - OK so not the zillions of Citeh but money none the less. Also, being West Ham fans they should have the best for the club at heart. And with all the speculation about the club at present, I do agree that they'd be the best thing to happen to the club - although perhaps in the last 20 months rather than 20 years! Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:14:39 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/15/the-best-thing-to-happen-to-west-ham-in-20-years/#IDComment38860032 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/13/lies-damn-lies-and-hammers-storylines/#IDComment38739342 An excellent post CH, opened my eyes a lot - can I ask how you are so knowledgable? Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:13:43 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/13/lies-damn-lies-and-hammers-storylines/#IDComment38739342 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/12/parish-notice-maintaining-standards-on-whtid/#IDComment38383905 I think we all have to be aware that this is Iain's blog and if we don't like it or his methods, then we don't have to contribute to it - and we don't have to leave sarcastic comments. All that will happen in the long run is that Iain will get so fed up he'll close it, and to me that will be a shame. I agree with the stance Iain is taking here with regard to swearing, aggressive behaviour and so on. It makes a refreshing change to most of the stuff on the net. I understand why some people are annoyed about the Tory plugging, but then I also understand why someone who is trying to get voted in wants to take any opportunity to get votes. I would expect to see a similar pro-Hammers post on the Tory blog to balance things, Iain! ;-) Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:48:58 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/12/parish-notice-maintaining-standards-on-whtid/#IDComment38383905 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/08/eggert-magnusson-to-return/#IDComment37872869 I'm just getting to the stage that I want anyone to buy the club before the banks pull the plug! Wouldn't especially want Eggy if he was going to repeat his performance before, but you would have to hope he'd learnt from that time and the credit crunch and would be more sensible this time. Also, I wouldn't mind Sullivan/Gold taking over the club. Proven track record and Hammers fans. Just glad there seems to be some interest finally. Thu, 8 Oct 2009 19:07:51 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/08/eggert-magnusson-to-return/#IDComment37872869 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/06/the-case-for-the-defence/#IDComment37522686 I feel we generally have enough cover at Centre Back with Gabbidon, and the other guys mentioned (NGala, Da Costa, even Kovac) only called on if we have 2 or more injuries. I've said since August we need decent cover at full back in both positions. I'm sure the lads will turn it around and a lack of confidence caused primarily by an awful roll of the fixture dice at the start of the season is the main reason behind our current predicament. As for the owners, I'm all for Sullivan/Gold taking the club over. They have a history of solid finances, and financially committing to Birmingham to make them competitive, and they're hammers fans on top of it. Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:33:06 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/06/the-case-for-the-defence/#IDComment37522686 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37198878 *Deep breath* I have no idea how I feel about that one. First half we absolutely slaughtered them, should have gone in 3 or 4-0 up. Perhaps that is the most worrying thing - we seemingly have a real aversion to actually shooting! Second half was a joke - against 10 men, at home, 1-0 up, you would expect us to hammer home the advantage. However, a silly mistake by Upson and then our confidence seemed to disappear and we were appalling in the second half. However, we got the equaliser in the end. So, how do I feel about that? Pleased with the first half. Frustrated at lack of goals in first half. Disappointed we let them back in. Angry at our virtual collapse after they equalised. Glad Stanislas rescued us. We have to take the positives of course, but to me our biggest weakness at the moment is an inability to shoot along with an extremely fragile level of confidence. This is more likely the reason behind several of the players poor second half performances rather than wanting to get out. Sun, 4 Oct 2009 16:02:42 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37198878 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37193023 2-1 down! I cannot believe this.... Sun, 4 Oct 2009 15:17:12 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37193023 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37188454 COLE! Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:20:11 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37188454 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37186041 Just watching Sky Sports news - had to laugh. They had a 4-4-2 formation, with Ilunga (spelt with a double L) at right back, Faubert at Right Mid, and Jimenez at left back! You wonder how these people get paid! They'd also spelt Painsil's name wrong too. I mean, I probably just have too, but hey, I don't get paid to get it right! Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:00:50 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/04/fulham-match-thread/#IDComment37186041 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/02/man-city-player-performance-results/#IDComment36850117 Totally agree Laurie. We've had a very tough start fixture-wise. First team players to come back (Upson, Behrami, Collison, Dyer) and other players still not fully fit (Diamante, Franco, Da Costa) with youngsters who can only get better with experience (Hines, Stanislas, Tomkins, Nouble). I don't think we'll set the division on fire, but we'll have enough to finish safely. Fri, 2 Oct 2009 15:41:31 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/02/man-city-player-performance-results/#IDComment36850117 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/02/man-city-player-performance-results/#IDComment36849835 Hines looks an exciting prospect - I've been very impressed so far. Would you add Upson to that list IronRik? Personally I would, as our last couple of games is testament. Fri, 2 Oct 2009 15:38:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/10/02/man-city-player-performance-results/#IDComment36849835