en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/995090 Comments by HippoHammer http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/08/02/the-enjoyment-of-the-many/#IDComment90412756 Think this proves you're doing a good job Iain and the team! Keep it up and don't let the fools get the better of you. Mon, 2 Aug 2010 20:30:29 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/08/02/the-enjoyment-of-the-many/#IDComment90412756 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/07/20/transfer-gossip-the-situation-so-far/#IDComment87714214 We need a right back as much as a centre back, Faubert put in some good performances last year but I think he would be better in right midfield going forward and putting the crosses in for Cole. Talking about £12m players is fun and I want to give the Davids a chance but I just have this nagging feeling that we will come out of this transfer window having made a nice profit on players that will go towards cutting the debts. Not a bad thing in itself as long as we also end up with a stronger squad. Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:09:22 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/07/20/transfer-gossip-the-situation-so-far/#IDComment87714214 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/07/01/speculation-speculation-everwhere-but-is-there-a-deal-in-sight/#IDComment83751090 I think the Davids priority for the next season or two will be reducing the cost basis of the club and making it financially viable without them having to inject their personal cash every season, whilst keeping us in the premier league. I don't think we'll see any amazing activity until they feel the basics are sorted out and the club can manage its debt etc. To do that I think we are going to see a few loan signings and freebies along with a couple of big earners out the door. We are going to be relying on the Davids to spot a bargain (maybe using Football Manager to help scout) and AG using his influence. Someone mentioned earlier that we missed Lucas Neil as a solid right back and I would agree, but I think the thing we miss most about him is his ability to manage the defence. Last season I think we suffered, espeacially Tomkins, because he didn't have Neil shouting and organising the back line. Thu, 1 Jul 2010 10:40:46 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/07/01/speculation-speculation-everwhere-but-is-there-a-deal-in-sight/#IDComment83751090 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/27/time-for-harry/#IDComment82743135 I agree, but it would shake things up a bit. Remember when Peter Taylor was in charge for one game, he gave all the old codgers a boot, gave Becks the armband and effectively ushered in a new generation. Feels like we need something similar to spark a bit of life in to the team, and the paying public. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:27:03 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/27/time-for-harry/#IDComment82743135 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/27/time-for-harry/#IDComment82693597 Did anyone else notice Beckham at half time, had a word for every single player as they walked off the pitch, and he's not even on the coaching staff. He really seemed to care! I am ready to get abuse for this comment but... If you want a revolution in the way the team is run why not give him the job for two years, I reckon he would take it even if it didn't pay a penny. Tell him he is not allowed to pick anyone over 28 and if they earn more than £50k a week they are ineligible. Might not be the best group of players but it would be a good team and would really shake things up. Klinsmann took over the German squad in 2004 with out any managerial experience but over saw some big changes there and went a long way in 2006. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:02:58 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/27/time-for-harry/#IDComment82693597 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/03/grant-is-the-new-manager-confirmed/#IDComment78349201 Good news, been looking forward to this. Glad they got the new man in early enough to provide a decent period of the transfer window to shape the squad and pre season to start training. I think he will get a lot of respect from the players and I hope the two twats we have as chairmen will now shut it and stop using the press to manage the club (that's the definition of optimism!). As for transfers, I hear some bloke called Ilan is free and looks promising... Thu, 3 Jun 2010 10:41:02 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/06/03/grant-is-the-new-manager-confirmed/#IDComment78349201 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/18/gold-sullivans-ten-point-plan/#IDComment76131042 Sell the freehold on Upton Park, lease the Olympic stadium, put the money in their pocket and walk away... Wed, 19 May 2010 08:01:25 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/18/gold-sullivans-ten-point-plan/#IDComment76131042 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/17/manager-shortlist-revealed/#IDComment75944605 Somewhere a hippo is feeling very insulted... Tue, 18 May 2010 08:50:52 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/17/manager-shortlist-revealed/#IDComment75944605 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/17/manager-shortlist-revealed/#IDComment75828371 Agreed, Tony Fernandes or Intermarket would have been much better, but have no fear the Davids will sell up... once they have flogged Upton Park to developers for big ££££ and moved us in to the athletics stadium. Mon, 17 May 2010 14:34:30 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/17/manager-shortlist-revealed/#IDComment75828371 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/11/carlton-cole-misses-out/#IDComment75045944 It's a bit like signing a player you hate, once they are in the team colours you have to support them for the good of the club. Trouble is they remind of Bellamy, they just don't know when to keep their mouth shut. I couldn't care less how they made their cash, but what annoys me is they bought 50% of a club that so far they have proved they can't afford to run (I know it needs to be restructured as a business but you need cash to do that). The Intermarket and Fernandez deals that were on the table always seemed more appealing as they had a plan that didn't seem to revolve around selling Upton Park. As for their assertions about the financial state of the club I believe they talked it up significantly just to make themselves look better and justify not putting more cash in. But that's just my opinion... Hopefully a few years down the line Duxberry will write an (honest) book about his time in charge, that would be worth a read. Wed, 12 May 2010 11:34:57 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/11/carlton-cole-misses-out/#IDComment75045944 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/11/zola-fired/#IDComment74844986 Feel a bit sad he has gone, but I think it's the right choice. Better to do it now instead of after two games in to the new season which some clubs seem to do. If we can get a new man in soon they can try and shape the squad over the summer. There is always new managerial talent available after a World Cup campaign. Grant or O'Neil would be my number one choice, some one that commands the respect of the two fools in the board room. Bilic would be good but not got the league management experience. I just have this horrible feeling that the two Davids will get in someone they can push around so they can continue playing their real life version of Football Manager... Tue, 11 May 2010 10:42:04 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/11/zola-fired/#IDComment74844986 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/06/vote-2/#IDComment73269218 I am not going to bore you with my political views, but even if you're feeling apathetic towards everything at least go along and spoil your ballot paper, writing 'Crooks' across it is more of a protest than watching Sky Sports News all afternoon. Thu, 6 May 2010 10:40:17 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/06/vote-2/#IDComment73269218 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/04/mark-noble-renaissance-man/#IDComment72405783 A lot of speculating about new players, but who is going to want to play at a club when it's not even clear if it's the manager that wants you. That bid for Dorrans by the davids (I won't even give them the respect of a cpaital 'D') just showed what a disconnect there is between the board room and the dressing room. If I were a player I wouldn't want to play in an environment where I had been 'dumped' on the manager. We need to replace Zola with someone like Avram Grant just so we have a manager that can stand up to the board room as well as stand the pressure of following up on this season. Tue, 4 May 2010 14:40:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/05/04/mark-noble-renaissance-man/#IDComment72405783 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/04/29/zolas-cryptic-comment-and-who-is-calling-the-shots-on-transfer-policy/#IDComment71313333 Thanks for the welcome! I would like to think that Zola was thinking of his fall backs as well in January. A glut of strikers seems to be an attempt by the David's to solve the issues we had / have by going for the more glamorous position of goalscorers rather than the less flashy approach of making us more solid at the back. But before I get ripped to pieces for ignoring the front men I am well aware we needed at least one more through the door. Doc, I agree with some of your names, but I think Cole and Ilunga deserve a bit more credit, both have suffered with injuries but have shown real class in the not too distant past. Keeping Ilunga while bringing Daprela in to the team over the next season has got to be the most cost effective way of dealing with our left back position. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/04/29/zolas-cryptic-comment-and-who-is-calling-the-shots-on-transfer-policy/#IDComment71313333 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/04/29/zolas-cryptic-comment-and-who-is-calling-the-shots-on-transfer-policy/#IDComment71283852 Long time reader, but first post... Zola isn't calling the shots on transfers, the two old blokes that think they are playing football manager on their PC are. They used the press to help negotiate their purchase of the club and it looks like they are going to use the press to get rid of Zola and complete all their transfer dealings. Regardless of thier motives I don't think any one can argue that they bought half of a club they couldn't afford and now they are trying to sell the squad (and eventually the stadium) to pay for their lack of funds. An influx of championship players will mean a bigger squad, not a better one. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:16:56 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/04/29/zolas-cryptic-comment-and-who-is-calling-the-shots-on-transfer-policy/#IDComment71283852