en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/658666 Comments by Hotmort http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/17/match-thread-leeds-united-v-west-ham/#IDComment318384520 O'Neill it is ...what a wasted opportunity Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:08:07 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/17/match-thread-leeds-united-v-west-ham/#IDComment318384520 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/ten-things-we-learned-from-today/#IDComment308029469 I agree with that view entirely. If you are real supporters, give support, particularly when it is deserved. Sun, 4 Mar 2012 20:51:36 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/ten-things-we-learned-from-today/#IDComment308029469 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/03/my-first-west-ham-game-iain-dale/#IDComment307198100 I am not sure which was my first game but looking at the lists of players from those days, I distinctly remember seeing the first match of Gerry Gazzard who joined the Hammers from Penzance at the beginning of the 1949-50 season, which leads me to believe that I must have been watching them regularly,with my dad, in 1948/9 when I would have been either 11 or 12. I can well remember watching a team with Ernie Gregory, Ernie Devlin, Steve Forde, Norman Corbett, Dickie Walker, Tommy Moroney,Terry Woodgate, Eric Parsons, Bill Robinson, Danny McGowan and Ken Bainbridge. Dickie Walker was the Captain of the side, Tommy Moroney an Eire international, Eric Parsons became an England B International as did Ernie Gregory, who died only recently. These were the predecessors to Bond, Cantwell and Allison who were the architects of the modern West Ham that gave us Moore Hurst and Peters ...and the rest is History Sat, 3 Mar 2012 18:12:37 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/03/my-first-west-ham-game-iain-dale/#IDComment307198100 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/27/parish-notice-a-new-look-for-whtid-your-views-please/#IDComment303096877 Apart from sorting out the refresh system on the match threads, it does seem to me that the sytem is working well. I was going to suggest a spell checker but until it can distinguish beween "there", "their", and "they're" its not gonna be much help to most of us. Somebody suggested in the past few days in a slightly diiferent context, that it might be interesting to hear (I just typed "here"), the views of the owners to some of our thoughts from time to time. That could be interesting, if a little uncomfortable for them. Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:22:37 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/27/parish-notice-a-new-look-for-whtid-your-views-please/#IDComment303096877 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/26/a-message-to-whtid-readers-from-david-sullivan/#IDComment301963047 I enterd the post match discussion very late and made a comment there in answer to Wavid's comment that "Green needs to be more creative with his distribution and goal kicks". which I believe bears repeating, as it is a long term issue that I dont remember having been addressed previously on here. My point was that he continuously is looking to make a quick short pass to an outfield player, but very often finds all of them walking back upfield with their backs to him rather then running into open spaces looking to receive the ball. This was not just yesterday but has been a feature most of this season. Excuse the repetition, but in the light of all of the criticism of the long hoof up the middle to realtively short forwards playing against giant defenders, I thought that this was a point worth repeating. Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:21:05 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/26/a-message-to-whtid-readers-from-david-sullivan/#IDComment301963047 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/twenty-things-we-learned-from-the-draw-with-palace/#IDComment301929959 Wavid agree with you on all your observations. My only issue would be in respect of Green's distribution in that he continuously is looking to make a quick short pass to an outfield player, but usually finds them walking upfield with their backs to him rather then running into open spaces looking to receive the ball. This was not just yesterday but has been a feature mosyt of this season. Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:06:55 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/twenty-things-we-learned-from-the-draw-with-palace/#IDComment301929959 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/24/bobby-moore-must-never-be-forgotten/#IDComment300688986 It brings tears to my eyes, particularly the quotes that Goatygav has provided, from some of the most respected names in football over the past 50 years. Having watched him from his early days in the reserves right through until he left the club, including his three appearances as winning team Captain of three Wembley Cup Finals in three successive years 1964, 1965 and 1966 what a great man he was and how proud he made us feel to be Hammers fans. WHTID Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:44:16 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/24/bobby-moore-must-never-be-forgotten/#IDComment300688986 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/vote-player-performances-v-blackpool-4/#IDComment298552961 Ian, glad to read that you are planning to commission a new site. This one is not bad, but very difficult during the matches once the thread goes on to a second page. It doesn't automatically update which means that you have to refresh the first page and then go onto the second page and find your last place and this evening, it wasn't always showing the most recent postings. Maybe i am doing something wrong, but i have always found this issue whenever I have been following the match on it. Any way, good luck with the newly designed site and if it could include automatic refreshing. so much the better. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:45:57 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/vote-player-performances-v-blackpool-4/#IDComment298552961 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/match-thread-blackpool-v-west-ham-2/#IDComment298427291 Incredible ...what a win! Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:53:58 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/match-thread-blackpool-v-west-ham-2/#IDComment298427291 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-7/#IDComment297949712 Ian, is that the last episode of the interview or is there still one more to come? Either way, it's an absolute tour de force and you can indeed be proud of what you have achieved. Well done! Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:54:06 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-7/#IDComment297949712 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-7/#IDComment297946355 I would imagine it's part of her deal. If they asked her to give it up, they would therefore need to compensate her. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:50:07 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/21/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-7/#IDComment297946355 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/20/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-6/#IDComment297590782 Ian, this is the best yet !!! It would appear that DS has laid it all out in the open, and it is not pleasant. We,the fans, were taken in by the Icelanders in so far as we assumed that the richest man in the country had to know what the hell he was doing and that Eggy with his long term background in football would provide some expertise. Boy were we ever wrong? It could have ended disastrously and nearly did, but you have to give it to G & S they really have put their money where their mouths are. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:01:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/20/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-6/#IDComment297590782 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/20/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-5/#IDComment297272419 It is admirable that DS has had the courage to make it clear that it is just not good sense to expect some kind of supporter referendum on this issue. His point about who should be entitled to vote and how this might be controlled is perfectly valid, as would be the argument that it is not the supporteres who have to take the financial risks in this matter. i am sure he recognises the need to listen to and take account of supporters views, but no owner would go further than that. Another excellent piece Ian! Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:41:01 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/20/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-5/#IDComment297272419 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/19/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-4-benni-mccarthy-cost-us-7-million/#IDComment296666200 Thanks Ian ..you really have been working hard over the weekend ....Very interesting stuff, and a real insight into some of the thinking and attitudes behind our football club. I really do think that this should get the whingers off our backs and accept that G & S really do have the clubs best interests at heart. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:33:23 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/19/in-conversation-with-david-sullivan-part-4-benni-mccarthy-cost-us-7-million/#IDComment296666200 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/coming-soon-in-conversation-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment295293436 Sounds fascinating Ian. It will certainly give us a deeper insight into the past and hopefully a bit of foresight regarding the future. The club is undoubtedly at a crossroads and, personally I am grateful that it is in the hands of people who have already demonstrated their personal committment to its future success. Let's hope they have the means and the know-how to make it happen. I look forward to an intriguing read. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:50:03 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/coming-soon-in-conversation-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment295293436 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295277771 Sorry to come in so late on this one, but it was too good an opportunity to walk down memory lane. I have to admit I identify more with jphammer's post than any other here. Reading some of the names that only he included and which certainly came to my own mind on reading all your views. Noel Cantwell and Phil Woosnam in particular had the skills and the talent to have competed for that all time greats team. And having watched most of them over the past 60 years there is no doubt in my minf that Bobby Moore was by far the best of the best. My earliest memory was when we were in the second division in the early 50s and won a 3rd round FA Cup tie at UP against a Blackpool team that featured the great Stanley Mathews. It was the first time that I had seen a living legend and has stayed with me all my life. I was also luckly enough, as an 11 year old, to have been at Valentines Park the day that Australia scored 721 runs in a single day against Essex of which Don Bradman scored 181. Thanks for the memories guys. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:20:19 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295277771 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284887498 With regard to the record traffic on the site, you must find this very gratifying. It obviously proves that your format is right for us fans and certainly makes for a relatively high quality of debate, even if some of the opinions are sometimes OTT. Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:28:25 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284887498 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284877937 Having asked the above questions, we must all recognise that they are probably entering a period of very intense negotiations and it may be very unwise for them to be as frank as we would wish, without disclosing to both negotiating partners and competitors, information that is highly sensitive. Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:17:36 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284877937 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284875683 Congratulations Ian, a major achievement. It would be interesting to know whether there might still be a third alternative to the OS and UP. In my view the major problem with UP is the lack of both public transport facilities and parking. I think they already know how they would intend to increase the capacity at UP, but do they also recognise the need to upgrade the public areas including the toilets and the catering in order to match up to other first class facilities available at other football grounds? Finally, do they seriously think that they are willing and able to provide the financial support necessary to eventually make us competitive for a top 6 finish in the premiership on a regular basis, or would this require additional financing from a third party? Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:14:47 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/05/interview-with-david-sullivan/#IDComment284875683 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/04/ten-things-to-emerge-from-the-millwall-game/#IDComment284463950 Whilst agreeing with WHUFan no 32 on the issue of player bashing, I don't think we can ignore a situation where a particular player is consistently playing at a level which is below what we might reasonably expect from him on a regular basis. This applies particularly when he is taking a place which might otherwise be filled by a greater talent or a more in form player. It has to be a judgement call as to whether our Captain's contribution as a leader justifies him being played at the expense of any currently better player who is more likely to make an impact on the field of play. The issue of how we shall be able to take advantage of the talents of the recently signed players has been well aired on this web site in the past week and many people have pointed out that by automatically selecting the Captain, whose form is currently below reasonable expectations, the manager is limiting his opportunities to determine the best line up with his newly strengthened squad. The fact that the Captain is not available for the next three matches removes that difficult decision from the manager without having to question whether loyalty should prevent him from omitting him. I for one think that is a good thing for the club and the team. Sun, 5 Feb 2012 12:46:44 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/04/ten-things-to-emerge-from-the-millwall-game/#IDComment284463950