18 Feb 2015 06:33:20
Hi fellas, well it could be that Sams tenure as manager, might be coming to a close, the bookies certainly think so, rolling out all the usual suspects, bilic, moyes etc. we must remember that Sam was charged with getting us up from championship and keeping us in the premier, well he did that, but we can all see he reverts to type, and lumping, or crossing the ball to Carroll, will not get us into top six, that's for sure, so maybe he's taken us as far as he can, we shall see. If he's too be replaced talks will happen with agents quickly, reason a new manager will have his own ideas player wise, and this could not happen at a better time, at June 30th this year, our squad will be Adrian, cresswell, Tomkins, Collins, noble, kouyate, downing, sakho, Valencia and Carroll just 10, I have omitted doneil Henry, he is in watch that space column, dgs want rid of Obrien, Nolan, amalfitano, Jarvis and maiga, frees pay offs small fees anything will do but they want them to see the exit door, if song and jenkinson become part of the team, we will still need minimum eight players in, as there are no stars in development squad, and we need 20 first team players, is there anybody that does not agree with that now!, with so many players going, these next three transfer windows are the most important in the clubs history, and a golden oppurtunity, to put together a team that the new stadium warrants, Just after new year, a friend who works for Balfour Beatty, got me into the stadium for a peek, the ground is light years from upton park, and only the emirates and old Trafford are really in the same strata, dgs are bang on the ball, investment will come, and incidentally, I did not see any fans harassing and abusing roman abramovich, when Chelsea lost 4-2 at home to Bradford recently, that was shameful, but it looks as if David Sullivan is prepared to draw a line under the incident, I would not be so forgiving, Sam if and when he go's will be in demand from clubs near the bottom, and championship teams with ambitions, that's his forte, we are just before the dawn of a new era for west ham, we need that right man chosen to lead the team, and the right players picked to swell the ranks, not easy, but what an oppurtunity IRONMIKE

1.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 09:22:18
Hi Mike. I hear that we are giving medical to Nene but Sam doesn;t want him!

I don't quite see the point of going for Nene then because Sam won't play him as we all know as he did with Paulista and Zarate?

2.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 10:19:03
These are very exciting times for West Ham but not everybody seems to recognise the possibilities. Thank goodness for Ironmike his posts are fantastic and I always read them with anticipation.The latest comment about the new stadium should be read by every supporter and the player analysis given here is superb.Without wishing to be in any way alarmist the only cloud on the horizon is, clearly,! the manager going forward. If there is no-one 'better' than Sam then I hope that they will stick with him.If however someone of a higher quality is willing to come then so be it.The things that are worrying are firstly choosing somebody without input from someone within the game. Unfortunately the owners have previous as far as this is concerned. As Tony Cottee said anybody inside the game (and a lot of us outside) would have have said not to appoint Avram Grant.Do they now have that input? Secondly I hope that the owners do not pander to the likes of the car park mob and appoint someone to appease the wild romantic notions of some supporters.The likes of Bilic, Howe etc. who have no record in the premier league and Dyche and god help us Di Canio (who's record shows he is not good enough).Mike's point about the new stadium shows where we are heading, not before time, and some supporters seem to be frightened by it.We as a club need to think big and the most important job in the whole club is the manager so likewise. I read somewhere that Benitez would want £6 mill. per year so that he would be a non starter.That attitude is pathetic.If a manager like that could get you into the top six then the Sky money would more than support his wages-nevermind the topfour.What are we frightened of?, we seem to have a collective inferiority complex.As I said above I hope that the board get the managerial appointment right.It is crucial.

{Ed001's Note - Rafa would, I am sure, accept less to return to English football. He would be more interested in the budget being provided to build a competitive team than his wages.}

3.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 10:42:39
It's becoming increasingly obvious there is a divide at the club, when I posted last summer that sakho and a Metz youth player turned up at upton park, to meet dgs, without SAMs knowledge, all the fellas thought I had lost the plot, now you can see the problem yourselves, to make matters even more complicated, Chelsea have now confirmed their interest in Valencia, along with Seville and Valencia FCC, Chelsea are prepared to offer loic remy in p/ex plus cash or possibly remy and another, this can be areal dilemma for dgs, as remy was chased by us several times, and is proven goal scorer., there is a lot going on months before window, especially with those to be free agents, being pursued for pre contracts, two of our cb targets look to be headed elsewhere, zambrano to Milan, and schar to bayern, dgs have many decisions to make, IRONMIKE

4.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 11:10:47
Right on the money MIKE. Its clear something is amiss behind the scenes.

I still have concerns over this signature of NENE cause Sam won't play him!

Its clear we are being primed for a big future but I fear Sam may not be the right man to take us forward

5.) 18 Feb 2015
Give Sam the remainder of the season. I think he deserves that given what he has achieved in the league so far this season.

With regards to potential managers. I agree that the next choice in manager is critical, we need a manager that can come in and IMPROVE upon what has been achieved this year. That won't be easy.

Remmah, whilst I agree with you whole heartedly we need someone that has a proven track record I disagree that this new manager has to have a proven premiership record. The likes of Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers are perfect examples in recent years of young coaches that cut their teeth in the lower tiers of English football. Both are now managing what should be top 8 clubs and achieved good season finishes last year. I think both Liverpool and Everton have suffered in the league this year due to the demand of European football.

I don't think Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe are the way to go. Neither would be an improvement on Sam Allardyce. However, I don't think top level managers are going to want to join West Ham at this stage. We have not been a consistent club in recent history and this is the first season in a long while we have been genuine challengers for a European spot in the league.

The managerial decision is a big one, and DGS need to chose wisely and make an appointment early in the Summer. They need to be given time to integrate new players in to the squad and work with the squad to show them what they expect.

Who would I like to see in charge? In my opinion Slaven Bilic would be a great choice. He has been managing now for 14 odd years (admittedly never in a big European league) but he has experience of the Premiership form his playing days.

6.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 15:00:21
Moyes would be a great selection. Did well for years at Everton who played attractive football and took and beat the best

7.) 18 Feb 2015
David Moyes would be a good option, but he is happy in Spain.

Roberto Di Matteo would be a good option but he is happy in Germany.

{Ed001's Note - I thought the problem with Sam was the style of play? Neither Moyes nor Di Matteo play expansive, attacking, attractive football. Di Matteo makes Mourinho seem like a gung ho manager. Moyes is very similar in outlook to Allardyce.}

8.) 18 Feb 2015
Ed002 That's a very good point Ed

9.) 18 Feb 2015
18 Feb 2015 22:12:31
I can see us sounding out Slaven Bilic, has a past with West Ham and had success as a manager, if we are getting rid of BFS then we should give him a crack.
COYI