Football 2015/16

[eFestivals]

21 minutes ago, Barry Fish said:

Seem like the uncomfortable question of how the hell a suspicious package sat there for three days undetected and wasn't found until something like 60,000+ had been allowed to come into the stadium.

Do they not do a stadium sweep before a game ?

Football grounds are such soft targets.  The security is so piss poor.  I do fear that if someone really did want to do something there isn't much stopping them   Specially if we aren't even doing the basics of a proper stadium sweep the day of a game.

I'm really surprised that the likes of ISIS aren't disrupting footie games on an almost weekly basis. It would be such an easy thing to do.

But hey, at least Utd now have a chance of getting Champions League footie next season.

[The Nal]

27 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

But hey, at least Utd now have a chance of getting Champions League footie next season.

Still mathematically possible in legal terms so they can't sack LVG until they don't win 19 nil tomorrow. And they won't sack him on FA Cup final week. But he'll be gone next Monday. 

When you don't try top score you miss out on Champions League footie on goal difference

[ThomThomDrum]

It really is amazing how shit Utds goal scoring record is this year. The rest of the top 8 are all batting about 65 but Utd, who would traditionally, be heavy hitters are a lowly 46. Sunderland have scored more...

[The Nal]

10 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

It really is amazing how shit Utds goal scoring record is this year. The rest of the top 8 are all batting about 65 but Utd, who would traditionally, be heavy hitters are a lowly 46. Sunderland have scored more...

Only 2 more than Newcastle! Best defence in the league though. Score fuck all, concede fuck all. Zzzzz. 

[pink_triangle]

11 hours ago, LondonTom said:

 

Overall though a brilliant brilliant season for West Ham, one that won't be forgotten and lived up to sending the Boleyn away on a bit of a high. Going miss the old girl, but looking forward to my cosy tax payer funded season ticket seat next year

In terms of the name the Boelyn is it a name that was only used by the West Ham fans. Me and a friend were discussing and both thought we hadnt heard the name until the last year.

[TheGayTent]

4 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

In terms of the name the Boelyn is it a name that was only used by the West Ham fans. Me and a friend were discussing and both thought we hadnt heard the name until the last year.

It's always been the Boleyn. It's always been Upton Park. Some use one, some use the other. Some chop and change. 

Upton Park is the name of the district and the closest underground station. Technically the correct name for the stadium is (was...) the Boleyn. 

The fans use both, and the media use both. Go back and read newspaper articles from years gone by and you'll see it referred to as both in the same article. 

Jonathan Pearce is one commentator that would use both names. Though he is a stickler and more often than not refers to us as West Ham United - whereas most commentators these days nearly always drop the United when talking about us. 

[TheGayTent]

Hodgson says Walcott not picked due to a lack of games....but then chooses a number of other players that haven't been playing either...

[pink_triangle]

41 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

 

The fans use both, and the media use both. Go back and read newspaper articles from years gone by and you'll see it referred to as both in the same article. 

 

Do you think the Boelyn name has been used more often in the last year with the ground closing, or have me and my friend just been ignorant all this time?

[TheGayTent]

1 minute ago, pink_triangle said:

Do you think the Boelyn name has been used more often in the last year with the ground closing, or have me and my friend just been ignorant all this time?

I think it's been the same - you've just probably seen it more often because of all the attention it's had. 

The media coverage of it has been OTT. I mean it's important for the likes of me, but can imagine supporters of other clubs being right bored of it all. 

[ThomThomDrum]

4 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Do you think the Boelyn name has been used more often in the last year with the ground closing, or have me and my friend just been ignorant all this time?

Na I think your perception is bang on. It has always been Upton Park in my mind and would have noticed it being called so most of the time, but its only in the last 12 months that the Boleyn has been seemingly used more so than Upton Park.

 

Edit - In the media that is. I have no idea what Hammers fans would have referred it to over the years. The Irish Hammers I know would of said Upton Park however

Edited May 16, 2016 by ThomThomDrum

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, TheGayTent said:

Hodgson says Walcott not picked due to a lack of games....but then chooses a number of other players that haven't been playing either...

For all the debate about squad announcements, I often think people end up debating  between 4 players who will hardly play and another 4 who will hardly play. When I think back to previous tournaments and key players, its rare that they are ones that just scrape into the squad. Maybe Schilacchi in 90 is one example.

[TheGayTent]

3 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

For all the debate about squad announcements, I often think people end up debating  between 4 players who will hardly play and another 4 who will hardly play. When I think back to previous tournaments and key players, its rare that they are ones that just scrape into the squad. Maybe Schilacchi in 90 is one example.

Quite probably. That doesn't negate the fact that the words Hodgson has used to explain his choices make him look very stupid. 

[kaosmark2]

That England squad looks to have a seriously mediocre midfield. That's not me saying others should have been taken, just there's very few interesting options and lots of milners.

[pink_triangle]

9 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

That England squad looks to have a seriously mediocre midfield. That's not me saying others should have been taken, just there's very few interesting options and lots of milners.

Its funny I would struggle to say who Englands best player is now. In the past there has been concerns about big England players being injured, yet I think England could lose pretty much any player and have someone else of similar level as back up.  Im not sure if thats a good or bad thing.

Edited May 16, 2016 by pink_triangle

[eFestivals]

48 minutes ago, Barry Fish said:

I think its a nice way of just saying "not good enough"...  Who would argue ?

Pep, if the rumours are true.

 

[pink_triangle]

7 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

Pep, if the rumours are true.

 

I think from a footballing point of view Walcott would be mad to get Man City. He needs to be somewhere he will play regularly when fit.

[kaosmark2]

25 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Its funny I would struggle to say who Englands best player is now. In the past there has been concerns about big England players being injured, yet I think England could lose pretty much any player and have someone else of similar level as back up.  Im not sure if thats a good or bad thing.

I'd say it's almost certainly Kane, or arguably Rooney depending how far back you're prepared to go. Apart from those 2 I don't think anyone stands out and I couldn't even say anyone else I'd give a guaranteed starting spot to.

I definitely think it's a bad thing, it's not a case of trying to cram 14 seriously talented players into an 11, it's a case of having 40 mediocre players and trying to make an 11 out of them.

[eFestivals]

4 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I think from a footballing point of view Walcott would be mad to get Man City. He needs to be somewhere he will play regularly when fit.

Hmmm, dunno. Walcott's weaknesses - not tracking back enough, mainly - is the sort of thing that could see him sidelined in a team of almost any level, while at one of the strongest teams his need to track back is less, so his weakness matters less.

If I was him and got an offer from City right now, I'd grab it with both hands - cos it's likely to be the case that he'd be getting that offer because he was high in Pep's thoughts. It could work out very well.

 

[TheGayTent]

There isn't a team that is a step up from Arsenal that want Walcott as a first XI player. He's miles from being good enough. 

The liklihood is if he leaves Arsenal he joins a 'worse' team. The only reason someone like Man City might want him is to get their quota of homegrown players up. 

[eFestivals]

18 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

There isn't a team that is a step up from Arsenal that want Walcott as a first XI player. He's miles from being good enough. 

The liklihood is if he leaves Arsenal he joins a 'worse' team. The only reason someone like Man City might want him is to get their quota of homegrown players up. 

Not entirely sure about that.

While the 'Pep wants him' stuff in the papers is probably bollocks, if it were to be true I reckon there's a decent chance that Pep wants him because he rates him very highly. Pep was in charge of Barca when Walcott ripped them a new one, remember.

Of course, that's not saying that things would necessarily work out that way (with Walcott getting regular games), but I could see Walcott being willing to give it a try rather than take the step down offered by your lot.

Edited May 16, 2016 by eFestivals

[TheGayTent]

You think in a hypothetical world Walcott would choose Man City over West Ham? Strewth, that's a tough one to imagine.

England are pretty poor. Walcott isn't good enough to make a provisional 26 man squad. 

Walcott isn't very good is he...

Edited May 16, 2016 by TheGayTent

[eastynh]

 

5 hours ago, The Nal said:

Still mathematically possible in legal terms so they can't sack LVG until they don't win 19 nil tomorrow. And they won't sack him on FA Cup final week. But he'll be gone next Monday. 

When you don't try top score you miss out on Champions League footie on goal difference

Even when they do score, they miss out on league titles by goal difference. Fuck em.

In regards to Walcott, I think he is fantastic and would like him. Not sure what papers you are reading but there are absolutely no rumours at all up here regarding him coming. The rumours at present about Arsenal players are Sanchez (probably wants a pay rise) while we are eternally linked with Wilshire. The very, very strong rumours are Gundagon and Laporte. Seeing as these are both currently injured, I think Wilshire and Walcott would really not make sense. 

[eFestivals]

55 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

You think in a hypothetical world Walcott would choose Man City over West Ham? Strewth, that's a tough one to imagine.

England are pretty poor. Walcott isn't good enough to make a provisional 26 man squad. 

Walcott isn't very good is he...

Walcott's as good as a number of others who are in the squad, so all it really says is the squad's not very good &/or Woy isn't very good at picking squad's. Take your pick.

I can understand why Walcott's often seemed to be the fall-guy for squads tho, because he's more of a one trick pony than many other players, and with the limitations of tournament squads a manager might prefer the more-versatile.

But if he's as shit as you're making out I guess he's about perfect for the homeless, so fill your boots.

 

 

[TheGayTent]

28 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

But if he's as shit as you're making out I guess he's about perfect for the homeless, so fill your boots.

You'd love that wouldn't you. We'd just need to sign Sterling to play on the other side to make it perfect...

[Gucci Piggy]

Walcott right now isn't good enough for Arsenal. Walcott right now isn't good enough for England. Walcott right now sure as hell isn't good enough for what City will be looking to achieve under Pep.

If he moves it's to a worse team or, as said above, to fill a homegrown quota somewhere like City. His level is probably an EL team like Liverpool, although with the right signings Klopp may take them above this level.

At least he isn't as bad as Oxlade-Chamberlain who hopefully will now get his 3 year overdue move to Crystal Palace.