As not everyone uses the forums over there, I figured I’d share here too….assuming they are real (they certainly look it), Macron have more than exceeded my expectations with these two kits. First time in a long while I can say I’ve been delighted with both shirts for a season

Update: Of course, the new kit has now officially been launched…..for pre-order. Get it from the official site

IRRRONS!

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So how do you rate the signings so far and what do you think of the names we’ve been linked with? Rate them below.

10 = you are delighted with, or would be delighted with

Signings so far:

Strong Rumours:

Others

Your Suggestions
(obviously these have been added later, so the vote count won’t be as high as the others above)

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The Jewish Chronicle who originally published the story about Ben Haim failing a medical has now retracted that report, saying that he did in fact “pass the tests at Upton Park. However, any possible deal remains incomplete as Ben Haim has yet to sign a contract due to the player and club failing to agree a salary” [sic]

I apologies for misleading you all.

(for the “player and the club failing to agree a salary”, read: “Ben Haim wants more money because he thinks he’s the dogs. And that he thinks he’s better than £30k a week. Because, frankly, that’s no money at all. Really.” – this player is trouble.)

And, as a friend of mind just mentioned, did we all really believe players could actually fail medicals at West Ham now?

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“The Israel defender looked set to be reunited with manager Avram Grant, whom he worked under at Portsmouth, but it is believed that a groin injury that kept him out for two months towards the end of the season has not fully recovered.”

I’m not sure what all your thoughts are on Ben Haim, would be interested to hear – but I see it as a saving of £30k per week on a fairly average player. Of course, if people do leave then we’ll need to replace – but so far I’ve not seen many people leave…

For what it’s worth, these are Ben Haim’s comments about Avram Grant when he was at Chelsea (2008):

“If I knew Avram Grant was going to be the coach I would have signed for another club. It was Jose who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me the first time a year ago last January. The fact is while Jose was the coach I played most of the games and people who know me know that I would not have come here to be a reserve. I knew nothing good would come for me with Grant as Chelsea coach.”

Oh.

Update: Turns out the Jewish Chronicle were basically just making stories up. I apologise. Here’s an updated post

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“If Manchester City pay Aston Villa £50m for James Milner then Aston Villa have that £50m and are going to want to replace Milner.”

Are we to read from those from David Gold quotes that Parker  actually is available, despite SuGo quite clearly stating that he wasn’t for sale?

That, quite naturally, leads us onto the subject of potatoes and the following story about Frederick the Great of Prussia….

Incidentally this change of tune also comes after the deadline date for season ticket renewals. Strange.

“Frederick the Great of Prussia saw the potato’s potential to help feed his nation and lower the price of bread, but faced the challenge of overcoming the people’s prejudice against the plant. When he issued a 1774 order for his subjects to grow potatoes as protection against famine, the town of Kolberg replied: “The things have neither smell nor taste, not even the dogs will eat them, so what use are they to us?” Trying a less direct approach to encourage his subjects to begin planting potatoes, Frederick used a bit of reverse psychology: he planted a royal field of potato plants and stationed a heavy guard to protect this field from thieves. Nearby peasants naturally assumed that anything worth guarding was worth stealing, and so snuck into the field and snatched the plants for their home gardens. Of course, this was entirely in line with Frederick’s wishes.”

(for all your potato based historical desires, check out this site)

My point is this, by categorically saying that Parker is not for sale you will only serve to increase interest in him. Now some people are actively expressing interest, and money, SuGo are changing their tune a little. Is this exactly what SuGo wanted or would it be silly to suggest so?

Incidentally this change of tune also comes after the deadline date for season ticket renewals. Strange.

The flip side of the potato story is that if we actually wanted to sell the rest of the side (who were “up for sale”) then maybe a more suitable approach would have been to have said we’re “negotiating new contracts with them”…because I don’t know if it’s slipped anyone’s attention but there’s hardly been a wholesale shakeup that we were lead to believe there would be.

There’s every chance that we’re reading too much into this but if Villa want Parker enough then I’m sure we will end up selling him. I can’t imagine this will leave a great impression on us as fans – being lied to again, that is. Tread carefully.

I want to finish positively though. The new kit is quality and if the deals for Barreara and Remy go through then they would both be shrewd bits of business.

It remains to be seen.

COYI

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Reading that West Ham are a possible career move for basketball superstar, LeBron James had me in hysterics. Until, I realised that it was published by the club’s official site.

Of course, this isn’t going to happen and it’s clearly a windup – but I cannot fathom why the official site would republish it? Would not suprise me if, as part of cost cutting, we’ve outsourced the copywriting on our official site to some 10 year old kid on the other side of the world, who’s getting paid £1 an day.

If that’s the case SuGo, then I’ll do it for free so you can save that remaining £1.

If you missed the summer transfer rumour sensation that is LeBron James [basketball superstar] to West Ham [football team], as reported by West Ham then here’s a link. Alternatively, in case the link gets taken down for being a steaming pile, then here’s what it said:

“West Ham United has emerged as a shock possible future destination for NBA basketball superstar LeBron James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers forward could become a free agent this summer, sparking a worldwide scramble for his services ahead of the new season.

The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat are all rumoured to be interested in the 25-year-old, but Washington Post reporter Norman Chad has suggested that the Hammers could also be in the running.

“This would be the gutsy move for LeBron – head to England and the Premier League for a team that has never won a Premier League title,” wrote Chad in his ‘Couch Slouch’ column.

“The team is without a manager, so LeBron could bring in his own guy. Granted, he’s never played soccer, but, then again, David Beckham’s a big deal and I don’t think he ever plays soccer, either.”

Akron, Ohio-born James, who has spent his entire professional career with the Cavaliers, is likely to command wages in the region of £200,000-a-week.

In the 2009/10 season, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player earned a salary of $14.41m – or £9.949m by today’s exchange rate.

Having played alongside Shaquille O’Neal at Cleveland this season, James has proved he can partner a bigger forward able to hold the ball up when surrounded by defenders. He is also well-known for his deadly long-range shooting and his willingness to take control of the game when his side is under pressure.

However, it remains to be seen whether the club would be interested in a player as yet unproven in the Barclays Premier League.

Any move to West Ham is likely to leave US President Barack Obama with mixed feelings, seeing as the former Illinois Senator is rumoured to support both the Bulls and the Hammers.”

There are no words.

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Kindly provided by a user on Twitter, @simonjcole, here is a table outlining the distance from the pitch at the Olympic Stadium compared to other large football grounds in the country.

What are people’s thoughts now? My boss quite rightly pointed out that it won’t matter about the seats at the back because it will only be 2/3rds full anyway.

This again worries me

In other news: Check out the Global Football Monitor. It’s the world’s biggest football survey and it’s running for the world cup – get your votes in now!

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The deal is done and the seed sewn.   On Monday it was announced by the Club that the Two David’s and Newham Council had submitted their blueprint for ‘Life after the Olympics’, claiming that football and athletics can be “the best of neighbours” at the Olympic Stadium.  Also adding, albeit in the final sentence, that the venture will “see this club grow and move on to another level”.

The statement goes on to list the many benefits/beneficiaries of this alliance including:-

“Athletics (of course), Education, Cricket, Other Sports?, The Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre, Culture, Jobs, New Homes Shops and Community facilities, A Healthier and Fitter East London, Public Investment and Prosperity in the local area and a better quality of life for tens of thousands of people”

Wow …. Oh and although omitted from the long and impressive list of beneficiaries lets not forget Newham Council and the Two David’s!!

Perhaps one of their new schemes will be to hand out free promotional binoculars?

Now apologies for appearing a little selfish but as a paying supporter, I’m struggling to see how ‘My Club’ will grow and move to another level from this venture?  I can clearly see the winners and for them it’s a no-brainer!

Perhaps it’s time that our new owners explained just how they intend to transform our team within 2-3 seasons into a side that will constantly demand 50-60,000 seats on match days. Or how those that are seated behind the goals and behind the curves of the running track, will  be able to see what is happening on the field of play once the ball crosses the half way line?!

I’m all for change and taking West Ham United to another level but this should be for the benefit first and foremost for our Club and its  paying supporters.  This higher level will only be achieved from successes on the pitch first (failing a filthy rich new owner aka City/Chelski).

There have been fears from day 1 that the assurance to UK Athletics of an ‘athletics legacy’ at the new Stadium beyond the Games would render it a White Elephant.

How do they intend to transform our team within 2-3 seasons into a side that will constantly demand 50-60,000 seats on match days

My fear is that under these proposals West Ham United FC could become the White Elephant within a Multisports, Educational/Entertainment Cultural Centre.  When it does, we’ll all be longing for the good old days when we had a tight 35,000 seater atmospheric stadium that was designed and built solely and selfishly for watching the National Sport of Football!!

Yesterday the Two David’s made a 10 point pledge to the supporters including what they describe as the most important (albeit last on the list) that of “listening to what we the supporters (true owners) have to say”.  So here goes ….

To the Two David’s, please tell me – how will sitting much further away from a football pitch, (that is shared by ‘other sports’) in a cavernous 2/3rd full stadium, benefit attending supporters of West Ham United and how will this improve our match day experience?  Answers on a postcard please.

Two Bob

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FootballUnited.com have today launched the World’s biggest football survey – in preparation for the World Cup. Come and cast your vote here

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Is sacking Zola the right thing to do? Use the box below to chat more…

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Quick Poll

Here’s a quick poll for you – who do you want to see brought in as manager now?

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(please bear in mind that this was sent to me before we played Fulham and before Spurs beat City last night to qualify for the Champions League)

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Well it’s been a tough few weeks, but we can all rest, relax and enjoy the rest of the season now after Sunderland and Liverpool have done us a favour by killing off the competition of Premier League survival, but it was mainly Scott Parker who we can really thank for the goal that has kept us up. I count ourselves very lucky to be in this league as we have performed well under par, however so have the teams below us and it seems we’ve dodged the administrational bullet!

We can now look forward to a tough away battle at Fulham and a relaxed end of season fixture that could see Tottenham lose their “deserved” champions league place. Regarding that last home fixture, it’ll probably be the last time you see that starting 11 playing over Upton Park and possibly another manager in charge. As you full well know that in the news Gold and Sullivan have expressed their desires to rebuild the era at West Ham, by cutting the squad completely… except Parker, who at 29, has “several years” left on his contract, is that as a manager as well, because I can’t really see him playing for another 7 years! “Everyone has a price” say the West Ham owners… so I’ve managed to roughly give the players their valuation at the club from performances of this season. There maybe some discrepancy but I think I’ve hit a pretty accurate price.

Green £5m

Upson £3m

Tomkins £3m

Faubert £4m

Spector £1m

Gabbidon £2m

Da Costa £3m

Illunga £2m

Daprela £2m

Behrami £6m

Noble £5m

Collison £6m

Kovac £1.5m

Stanislas £3.5m

Boa Morte £2m

Dyer £1m

Diamanti £8m

Franco – Free

Ilan – Free

Cole £12m

Sears £2m

Hines £4m

McCarthy £1.5m

Totalling £77.5M, it’s alot of money to play about with and alot of wages deducted. Unless they sign a contract at 40% they are normally on.

Today West Ham are already looking towards rebuilding with venturing the pursuit of West Brom’s midfield dynamo Graeme Dorrans. The WBA hitman has grabbed 17 goals from the midfield and been named in the championship best 11 of the season. At the ripe age of 22 he seems a great buy for the club and a great foundation to build off with Parker.

Personally I don’t want to see Noble, Diamanti, Hines, Tomkins, Stanislas and Collison go, but rumours has it that all these players have had bids received my other clubs already.

Keep the faith Hammers, do some scouting to see who you want at the club. Who will be a great impact signing for half the price we already pay out!

ADAM From West ham Religion.

Don’t forget to join the West Ham Religion Facebook Group!, over 7,000 members!!!

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