I love supporting West Ham right now, it is the most exciting time that I can remember in my lifetime since perhaps the late 90’s.
How often in the past have West Ham fans been sweating over which star player(s) would be cashed in on? And how often have West Ham fans looked at the players that have been transferred into the club and felt frustrated at how poor the quality of those players was in comparison to the high fee paid for them?
Then there was the media, I don’t know about you but I had just about had a hat full of pundits and journo’s writing us off all the time. Predicting yet another relegation scrap, a struggle, an easy three points for the “bigger teams” and so on? I can never remember those people ever mentioning West Ham in a positive way; until now!
I’m a keen Talk Sport listener (other sports radio stations are available) and I also follow a lot of twitter accounts that report on all things football, as well as watching Sky Sports news when I can. Lately, whenever I hear West Ham’s name mentioned on any of these media sources, pundits and experts alike are full of praise and positivity.
Take the Colin Murray show’s recent club by club Premier League preview. When it came to speak about West Ham, Colin and Danny Murphy both spoke very highly about the transfer market, how well the Hammers have done to keep hold of the likes of Dimitri Payet, that the signings that have been brought in have obviously improved the squad, what a good bit of business Feghouli was for example, promising talent on a free transfer.
They also mentioned the stadium and how seemingly quickly the fans had taken to their new surroundings. And Slaven Bilic; how well he has managed the transition for the club so far, how attractive the type of football being played has been and will be to watch.
Everything West Ham right now is really positive. Great owners who do not sell star players anymore, a fantastic manager, a majestic and wonderful new stadium to watch some top quality players perform in. I literally cannot find any negatives (unless I divert onto the controversial topic of standing at games, which I will not do in this article).
Despite the media’s long overdue praise, despite all the greatness that has been and continues to be achieved both in the style of football being played and in the transfer market, if I log on to my twitter, all I can see is West Ham fans complaining.
The place is crawling with negativity. I would say (and I do not exaggerate) that on my timeline, 80% of the tweets I see about West Ham (from fans) are negative.
Frustration at not signing Bacca, not signing Lacazette, or God knows who else. A combined £30M has been spent on Payet and Ayew. One of them is being spoken about as one of Europe’s best players. Meanwhile Everton are splashing the same amount on a really overrated Crystal Palace winger.
Feghouli was brought in on a free. He is very talented and could do really well for the team this season. Then you have Håvard Nordtveit who for all his worth looks a top quality and comfortable addition to the midfield.
Add to this some really talented youths in Fletcher and Quina who join a really good youth team that includes hot prospects like Oxford and Burke who will form the spine of the club’s future superstars and you start seeing what a great summer West Ham have had in the transfer window.
Andy Carroll is fit for the first pre-season in a long time and he looks sharp.
Lanzini was signed this summer as well, he joins Payet, Feghouli, Tore, Antonio, Ayew, Carroll, Fletcher and Sakho in a front line that could terrorise any defence in the world.
West Ham have done nothing more than improve an already very strong and talented squad. The media and pundits can see this and call it a good thing. Yet all I can see is our own fans abusing the chairmen’s sons, abusing David Gold and generally moaning and groaning that Bacca wasn’t signed for £30M. What if he had and he flopped big time? What then?
Trust your manager, trust his scouts and the directors for so far, they have steered your club into a very good and enviable position. Stop being so ungrateful for what we have! This is the best West Ham (not just team but the whole club) I have witnessed in the 30 years I have supported them.
If Colin Murray and Danny Murphy can see it then why can’t you?
Totally agree! For the first time in years I am really excited about the season ahead! Great article. Trust the manager and directors, they’ve done an amazing job.
Spot on.
Is it a generation thing I don’t Think so as a northerner in the 70s got sick of people saying you have to support man u or Liverpool as they are the best I ran away from home at 14 and some how ended up at my uncle’s at plastow went to a game at Upton park the atmosphere bit me in the ball and been claret and blue every since knowing a lot of faces the only thing we complained about was the train times never about the team or club the odd chairman now and then but we the true fan of west Han bite the bullet and get on with it to me the so called winging fan are not west ham I carry my colours every where and accept what our board have done in the last few years so to you wingers support west ham or go support someone else
Spot on boooooooooooo
Dead right, when you look at where we are as a club now compared to when the Daves took over it is almost unrecognisable. The only worry I have now is the full back positions, any injury there and we are in trouble. But right now is the best time I’ve had as a supporter since the glory days of 1986, but the thirty year wait has been worth it!
Couldn’t agree more! If the owners weren’t supporters they’d probably want to give it up!
couldn’t say it better myself for the first time in my memory the top clubs are not guarantied all the points when playing us. Slaven has worked wonders and the board working hard for a steal on the stadium is very schrewed business! In fact if go as far to say the whole stadium deal is far better long term than any player we could have bought !
Our present owners have been amazing. They’ve put their hands in their pockets and made money available and helped build the strongest West Ham squad in my lifetime (I’ve supported West Ham since the early 80s). Not to mention keeping all of our star players when in the past, the likes of Terence Brown would have sold at the first opportunity.
It winds me up when I see people tweeting abuse and negativity to David Gold or the young Sullivan lads. You have nothing to complain about. For God sake enjoy this time being a West Ham fan because believe me, I remember previous years when there really were things to get depressed and moan about.
Great aricle, some fans need a reality check. Strong squad this season, really looking forward to it!
As someone so rightly says on your timeline, only the negative morons post on Twitter. I doubt they even bother going.
Nailed it
I am so excited at the prospect of this season and the future of West Ham. Everything you say is spot on and it is good to hear positive comments coming from the pundits. I can see only a bright future under the guidance of Slaven.
Never used to be like this, ‘we’ have short memories and I find some of the bilge spouted embarrassing. If the moaners don’t like it, go and support someone else. Great post, and COYI …… always!!
Absolutely behind you 100%
The owners have turned our club around in a very short period of time.
Our squad is the best by far for a vet long time and we have enough fire power to beat any team on our day.
Get behind the team and let’s drive them on.
COME ON YOU IRONS ⚒⚒⚒
Fully agree!
Without our present chairmen sticking their money on the line and building West Ham to where we are today, there was the good chance we could have been extinct, gone, no more…. call it what you like. They put money into the club some how. Worked on the massive debt, had the idea of moving us to the Olympic Stadium for a mere 2. 5 million a year rent (a new stadium would cost 300 million plus), decided we should buy younger promising players who can and would improve and help West Ham for a number of years rather than buying players who were at the end of their careers and just needed a rest home for one last pay day. We have our best young players on contracts that run for years so they are ours for a number of seasons How anyone can slag of the two Daves is beyond a joke. Today we have a strong squad of quality players and a manager who if things are not going well, has a plan B and a Plan C up his sleeve. We are moving upwards and this season should be better than last season, a top four finish is achievable. COYI.
Absolutely spot on mate
100% Agree with you. As has already been mentioned this is the new age of supporter who expects everything NOW.
If they had been at Oldham away in the league cup all those years ago in the pouring rain getting stuffed by an awful team on a plastic pitch in the middle of the week, then they would realise how good they have it now.
Thankfully someone talking sense. I have been a fan since 1964 and trust me, this is the best place the club has been in. I have seen Hurst, Moore and Peters play with some players who were not up to their standard. I have seen Di Canio plying his trade and becoming frustrated that his teammates were not as good as him. This squad is fantastic. Take a look at the other PL clubs outside of the big boys and see their transfers. Absolutely no match to ours. We are in a world class stadium for peanuts. Give the owners and staff the credit they deserve.
I agree. Everyone these days thinks they are a professional pundit. But I don’t think it’s just West Ham fans, you will find this in any teams fans forum. This is the result of social media where everyone can voice there opinions in an instant to the world rather than just down the pub with there mates. Real fans know what they know but you’ll always have the armchair supporters who alway know best and want to let everyone they are right.
As long as you believe in your team and follow them through rain or shine you’ll enjoy you life no matter who we buy or sell, win or lose. COYI !!!
As usual a well balanced aricle that I whole heartedly agree with.I have been supporting the Irons for over 40 years and am more optimistic this year than I have been since the mid eighties.Truly….COYI⚒
So so true, I believe that’s because they’re fans of success, and not real West Ham fans
It’s a great time to be a West Ham fan. The moaners are always gonna moan – when we’re competing in the CL in a few years they’ll still be moaning about something. #COYI