Des Wilson, the chairman of the ECB’s corporate-affairs committee, has delivered a blunt attack on those calling for reform of the first-class game, warning them that if they couldn’t be positive then they should “keep off our pitch”.Wilson’s comments came in a speech to the First Class Forum at Lord’s, during which he announced the best attendance figures for seven years. Crowds were up by 38% for the Tests against Zimbabwe and South Africa, compared with those against Sri Lanka and India in 2002, he reported, while there was a 22% rise in attendances for the domestic season as a whole, boosted by the new Twenty20 Cup. The number of people attending County Championship matches was up from 505,202 to 530,938.But Wilson issued a warning to those insisting that the domestic game needed changing, accusing them of destabilising the sport by saying that a number of counties should be closed down. He said that would “not be a reform but a retreat”, and that the constant sniping risked undermining the ECB’s negotiating position on broadcasting rights.Wilson repeatedly highlighted the increase in attendances. “In commercial language, this is growth and growth is what every business and every business partner dreams of,” he said. “That is why we object to the persistent talking-down of our negotiating position in relation to broadcasting rights.”The so-called reformers tell us we should be businesslike in the way we run cricket. But what other business has to endure those who claim to be its friends going out into the marketplace day after day talking down its value? I say to the ‘reformers’, this is our business. If you can’t be positive, keep off our pitch.”They’re advocating voluntary euthanasia when what the game really needs is an injection of confidence in its inherently good health,” he continued. “We need a winning England to fly the flag for the game, to win converts and make money, but all for a greater purpose: to revive and drive forward our game.”This is not Australia or South Africa, where a much smaller population is concentrated in relatively few places. We should not preserve the counties out of nostalgia for yesterday but because we need them today.”
Victory for Gary Stead’s Canterbury team against Otago at the Village Green in round two of the State Championship brought to an end a remarkable run for the side.It was their first win in 18 first-class games dating back to February 1999, when Craig Cumming, now with Otago, led Canterbury to a 302-run win over Northern Districts at WestpacTrust Park.Stead had his second triumph as a captain in his 26th game in charge of a Canterbury first-class team. He couldn’t remember the other win. “I’m sure I have. I would have been sacked by now if I hadn’t,” he joked.For the record, it was in 1995/96, also against Otago at Lancaster Park (now Jade Stadium). That day Stead’s team, which he was leading for a fourth time after three straight losses, was victorious by a five-wicket margin.Fittingly at the Village Green this week Stead’s 35 not out saw Canterbury home to a four-wicket triumph at 131/6 after the extra half-hour had been claimed on day three. It was Canterbury’s first win on their new ground at the eighth attempt.Stead told CricInfo, “I’m over the moon with it really. I thought throughout the three days we dominated things.””Day one maybe not as much as we would have liked after bowling Otago out for 214, but Michael Papps’ innings set up the game for us and set up a hundred run lead which was going to be crucial on a wearing wicket.”The 29-year old former Black Cap said, “It was getting low and I think Craig Pryor, David Sewell, Kerry Walmsley bowled into the wicket well, there was a little bit of inconsistent bounce at times and I suppose a little bit of nerves came into it from our guys. We haven’t been in this position for a while.”Showing visible signs of relief, he said, “Just to get that one under the belt I’m sure will be good for the future as well, just having that winning feeling. There’s a good feeling in our team and we’re playing some good cricket.””There’s a really good feeling in our team at the moment,” Stead commented on Canterbury’s resurgence in 2001/02.”I think the management last year had a slightly different style. Maybe (coach) Mike Sharpe and (manager) Grant McWhirter’s enthusiasm has added a little bit to the team. But the guys really want to do it for each other out there as well,” he said.”The effort that we put in with our pre-season training, our work in the nets, and our work before and after each game as well has been quite a thrill,” Stead concluded.Canterbury’s next game is on Monday at Gisborne against Northern Districts where Stephen Cunis is likely to replace Ryan Burson, who will be at a family wedding in Japan. Robbie Frew, who made 165 in a second team trial at the weekend may come in for Brad Doody at opener.
Another dismal collapse by the most successful state in Australian cricket history, New South Wales, saw Victoria handed a 148-run win in the Pura Milk Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.Sixteen wickets fell in little more than three hours today, with the Blues, chasing a realistic target of 265 to win in 91 overs, bundled out for just 116. Apart from Michael Bevan (43*), no other NSW batsman lasted at the crease for more than half an hour. Victorian captain Paul Reiffel put in a fine early spell, taking 3/23 to add to his 4/74 in the first innings to win man of the match.Victoria collapsed in the first hour of play today from their overnight score of 4/149 to be all out for 178, Stuart MacGill (3/34) and Jamie Heath (3/37) cleaning up the tail. Any thoughts of a morning declaration were put aside following the Victorian collapse, but the NSW bats squandered any prospect of chasing a competitive target.Bevan, who also scored 132 in the first innings, stood out among the NSW lineup. It is curious that he was the only New South Welshman in the Australian ODI squad to tour New Zealand who was not “rested” for this match. The Waugh twins, the Lee brothers, and Glenn McGrath (who has not played a shield match for NSW since October 1997) were all allowed to sit this one out.The other outstanding batsman of this match was Victoria’s Matthew Mott, who followed up his first-innings 148 with a dashing 99-ball 77. His second innings knock was completed in the late Saturday afternoon gloom, rain delays forcing play yesterday to continue until 7.44pm under floodlights.As a result of this win, Victoria are now almost certain to take second place on the Pura Milk Cup ladder and face Queensland in the final at Allan Border Field, Brisbane. They still have a remote mathematical possibility of claiming first spot on quotients, and likewise either Western Australia or South Australia have a slim chance of bumping them out of the finals.One thing for certain after today’s result is that Tasmania are now out of finals contention. New South Wales’ hold on the wooden spoon is looking a whole lot firmer after today’s dismal display.
Celtic have been handed a huge injury lift over attacking midfielder Tom Rogic this weekend…
What’s the latest?
Ange Postecoglou has allayed fears that the Australian international has suffered a significant blow after he was forced to substitute his fellow countryman in the first half on Saturday.
Gio Giakoumakis scored a hat-trick, with Daizen Maida also chipping in, as the Hoops won 4-0 in their Premiership clash. However, Rogic hobbled off the field in the 33rd minute.
The Daily Express quotes Postecoglou as saying: “Tom’s a bit sore. Hopefully it’s not too bad and now he’s away with the national team. We will see how he is.
“He got a knock on his ankle and it isn’t great but we got the ice on him at half-time and we seem to think it isn’t too bad.”
Buzzing
This update will come as a major boost to Celtic and leave Parkhead buzzing as the supporters will be delighted to learn that he has not sustained an injury that will keep him out for an extended period of time.
Postecoglou’s quotes suggest that it was more of an impact blow instead of any serious damage to his ligaments, with Rogic seemingly escaping without any long-lasting effects.
Therefore, fans will be pleased because that would mean that he will not be out for a number of weeks or months and that the international break may be sufficient time for him to recover. With Celtic in with a chance of sealing the league title and the Scottish Cup in the next two months, Rogic being available will be a sizeable lift for the head coach.
His performance in the 33 minutes he managed against Ross County illustrated why his absence in the upcoming matches after the international break would have been a blow. As per SofaScore, he won four of his five individual ground duels, created two chances and completed 100% of his attempted passes.
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He has been providing quality throughout the campaign as he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.00 in the Premiership. Rogic has chipped in with five goals and six assists in 17 starts in the division, creating a whopping nine ‘big chances’ whilst making 1.7 key passes per game.
This, including his display on Saturday, shows that he has the ability to be a big player for Postecoglou and Celtic and that is why the fans will be buzzing. He has proven his class in the league and the supporters will surely want a player with his knack for scoring and setting up goals to be available for selection at the business end of the campaign.
AND in other news, Forget Giako: Celtic’s 74-pass “easy target” proved his true worth to Ange vs County…
England performed slightly above expectations at Euro 2012, as Roy Hodgson’s young squad managed to meet our dampened expectations with a series of battling displays. However, a worrying trend has developed with this latest batch of promising youngsters and a select few of them may be in danger of getting ideas above their station before they’ve truly made it.
Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is believed to be haggling over signing a new contract to stay at the club, with reports indicating that he is thought to be demanding around £60,000 per week. He’s had an excellent breakthrough year at the club and his hard-working displays up top for England at this summer’s tournament showed he was capable of making the step up to international football far more comfortably than even his biggest fan could have previously envisioned.
Nevertheless, bearing in mind that he is *only* on £17,000 per week now, the club’s offer of around £40,000 per week would seem perfectly reasonable considering that he’s only 21 years of age and isn’t a guaranteed starter with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez also jostling for a spot up front. Welbeck has always seemed like a lovely chap whenever he’s been interviewed, so he must be being very poorly advised. Is it trial by the media, though? Is any of it even grounded in truth?
Former Manchester United forward Lou Macari had this to say on the matter, beginning the persecution, which at the moment is based solely on conjecture: “My main concern right now is Danny Welbeck – he’s had one good season, he’s only young and you never know which way they’re going to go. I’m hoping Danny signs his new contract, settles down and doesn’t listen to his advisors, like other young players do. Because I don’t think any United supporters want to see a long drawn-out saga over a contract. I just hope Danny realises these extended contract sagas, signing or not signing, don’t go down well with the fans.”
Throw Welbeck’s supposedly outrageous contract demands into the mix alongside the ridiculous Duncan Edwards comparisons that Phil Jones began to receive last year and you have a media simply willing to over-inflate the ego of any young footballer. It’s a well-worn routine – build them up to knock them down later when they will inevitably if they fail to meet the lofty expectations set out for them.
The club have suffered in particular recently at the hands of greedy youngsters (although I’m pretty sure Welbeck doesn’t quite fall into this category just yet) with the likes of Ravel Morrison, Paul Pogba and Ezekiel Fryer all at loggerheads with the Old Trafford hierarchy over their wage demands. You could say that Ferguson has lost touch with the younger generation, but he is well within his right to not back down to their silly demands – they’ve done nothing to earn the right to demand anything yet, and right now they’re all just merely potential. Ferguson allowed Pogba and Morrison to both leave the club and Fryers looks to be edging towards a move to Tottenham as a result, but what else could Ferguson be expected to do under the circumstances?
Over at Arsenal, the fawning praise for Jack Wilshere could eventually mean he struggles to meet expectations upon his return from injury. A series of ankle injuries kept him on the sidelines for all of last season but he’s already been touted to walk straight back into both the England and Arsenal teams – no pressure then.
If anything, Aaron Ramsey highlighted last season that after a whole year out from the game, you can struggle somewhat when you come back – his form fluctuated last season through no real fault of his own, he just missed a long spell at a crucial time in any player’s development. Wilshere has played just over 70 professional appearances, so how about before we heap a bunch of pressure on the 20 year-old on his return, we give him a bit of time to settle and get back into the swing of things? Sadly, we all know the answer to this before it’s even happened, he’ll be proclaimed the the club’s saviour, the man capable of helping the side bridge the gap on the title challengers, and he’ll disappoint.
At Everton, Jack Rodwell has been hyped up beyond belief and been tipped for stardom with England as the long-term solution to the midfield anchor problem, but he’s never been a guaranteed regular at his club. Injuries have hampered him and he made just 14 league appearances last season – Henry Winter may want to have his babies, but some perspective needs to be applied here.
Theo Walcott has struggled to meet everyone’s expectations of him since bursting onto the scene as a prodigious 16 year-old at Southampton. It’s not that he isn’t a decent winger now and his end product has improved massively, it’s just that he’s not the player that everyone originally thought he would be – that’s not particularly his fault (although his development has been painfully slow at times), rather the fault of the media for trying to proclaim him as the next big thing.
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The term ‘wonderkid’ should be reserved strictly for the confines of Football Manager, it has no place when actually discussing the merits of a player. Welbeck is the victim of poor advice, which is threatening to harm his reputation, while the likes of Rodwell, Wilshere and Jones have all struggled with unfair comparisons and weighty expectations in the past. Before we ruin the next generation for England, perhaps a dose of perspective could be applied to ensure that these players keep their feet on the ground in the future, who knows, they may actually surprise a few people then.
Arsene Wenger has hit out at his team and believes their lack of confidence, coordination and communication is costing the football club dear and could cost them of their chances this season unless the problem is addressed. The Frenchman has also vowed to keep faith with his coaching staff, despite the recent defensive frailties.
Elsewhere in the papers Javier Hernandez avoids lay-off; Villas-Boas fears for Torres, while Gareth Bale believes that Adebayor can fire Tottenham back into the Champions League.
Wenger to keep faith with coaching staff despite frailty – Guardian
Modric deserves a pay rise, says Redknapp – Guardian
Hernández avoids lay-off –Daily Telegraph
City launch multimillion battle to stop next Giggs signing for United – Independent
Villas-Boas fears for Torres after shocking miss – Independent
Spurs plotting to sign Swiss keeper Jakupovic as Gomes considers leaving – Daily Mail
Louis Saha refused to play in reserves – Sun
Bale backs Adebayor to fire Spurs into Champions League – Mirror
Villas-Boas lines up £20m January bid for Everton youngster Barkley – Daily Mail
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Sinclair: I quit Blues to get fair chance – Sun
Ben Arfa is worth the hassle, says Pardew ahead of crock’s comeback – Daily Mail
Manchester United’s long unbeaten run finally came to an end at the weekend. Wolves provided the type of performance which has seen them beat five out of the top seven already this season and also leads many failing to find an explanation for their ’false’ position at the bottom of the league. ‘False’ was the word United manager Sir Alex Ferguson used to describe the relegation threatened side, but he also then went on to praise his own team for their consistency so far this season. But what was Fergie really getting at? Is he secretly relieved that this streak is finally over?
It sounds stupid really, doesn’t it? Why would any team be happier now they’ve lost a game? By all means, in terms of their points tally in the hunt to regain the Premier League title, Ferguson and co would prefer three points to none, they would have taken one point after that second half performance. But now everyone has stopped debating whether United can go the whole season and emulate the ‘invincible’ Arsenal side, Ferguson will feel his side can get on with getting their form right to win games instead of grinding out results.
Considering their away form already this season, a defeat has been a long time coming. They let Blackpool walk all over them for 70 minutes. They were fortunate at West Brom and have drawn an incredible eight other games on their travels. That isn’t the form of a side looking to go the whole season unbeaten. Let us not forget how embarrassed they were in the Carling Cup away at West Ham as well. I take nothing away from Wolves though. As poor as United were in the second half, the home side were equally as impressive.
But Manchester United have bigger games coming up, without being disrespectful to Mick McCarthy’s men. Ask anyone connected with the team from Old Trafford who they would have rather of lost that record to, Wolves away or Manchester City at home? Bragging rights apart, what would that have done for United’s arch rivals attempts to win the title? Psychologically, it would have been huge. Similarly, now we are entering the business end of the season, if Chelsea ruined the run on March 1st at Stamford Bridge, that would have given them huge emphasis to go on closing the gap.
If Alex Ferguson’s men are to win this league, it will arguably be their best Premier League success out of the lot, considering their run in. As well as a trip to the champions coming up, they then go to Liverpool before trips to Upton Park, where they don’t have a great record, Arsenal, before Chelsea come to Old Trafford themselves. Mix in games against Everton, Newcastle and Champions League involvement, it is certainly going to be a tough 2011 for the Red Devils, so having the added pressure of continuing an unbeaten run would have been a distraction at best.
When Arsenal did it back in the 2003/04 season, nobody really expected them to do it, so the pressure wasn’t there. More than that, they actually had a squad which were equally as impressive away from home as they were at Highbury.
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Ferguson must have known that given how competitive the Premier League is now, seven years on from when Arsene Wenger‘s ‘invincibles, were born, coupled with the fact that the top sides have been consistently inconsistent, his side were highly unlikely to achieve such a feat. He even admitted so, so you could sense his relief. Manchester United don’t lose twice in a row too often, so you can guarantee some kind of reaction in the next match. That just happens to be at home to their cross city rivals from Eastlands. I suppose not a bad time to lose then, all things considered…
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This summer we have been treated to the Euros and the Olympics – well if you’re British or more specifically English, ‘treated’ isn’t exactly the right world when it comes to discussing international tournaments, but that aside there has been plenty of action to keep us entertained.
What this has also done is keep the players busy, and for those who have flourished during said tournaments, such as new Chelsea signing Oscar, the player should enter the start of the season on a massive high and be full to bursting of confidence.
The reason I say this however, is not through the expectation that certain players will build on said success, but through concern over the ones who have simply been awful for their country, and the wondering if this will have an impact on their club form.
Take Karim Benzema – everything the Frenchman struck turned to gold in the season gone by at Real Madrid, yet for France he was so poor that chanting ‘are you Torres in disguise’ would have been a detriment to the Spaniard – who in actual fact had a very good tournament. Pre-season for Chelsea not so much but then that’s a whole other kettle of fish.
For players who are very much confidence based, like Benzema, a bad international tournament has the very real possibility of derailing the start to the new season, and during the tour of the USA, the striker looks a shadow of his former self, and the sooner he gets a goal and forgets the summer, the better.
A poor international tournament can also make you seem somewhat less desirable to potential suitors, can’t it RVP, and the clubs that once looked so keen after a prolific season tend to fade away ever so slightly, again having a massive impact on the player for the up and coming season – especially if like RVP you are stuck with fans who adored you, a pittance of a contract of around a hundred or so thousand a week and a tiny stadium to play in next to the awful signings of Podolski and Cazorla. How my heart bleeds for the want away Dutchman.
There are some players who clearly can separate their club football from their country, time and time again certain English players have been found wanting for their country, yet been off the chart for their clubs – Frank Lampard I am looking at you.
Obviously players are human beings, and all react differently to set backs and poor displays – Ronaldo will obsess and obsess over something until he can get it right – should there be a penalty shoot-out this season, you can pretty much guarantee he won’t be waiting until 5th to step up.
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Some clearly have no issue putting it to one side at all, even being better for their club because they have that extra something to prove, yet the real worry is for those players – especially forwards where confidence is so key – who have a shoddy tournament and cannot get it out of their heads, and are in real danger of letting it derail their season before it has even started.
In light of the launch of the new football gaming phenomenon that is ‘Goaldash’ I decided to look at the six best football comebacks of all time.
1. Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United, Premier League 2001
In a match that lived up to the term a game of two halves with Tottenham leading 3-0 at the half time. Manchester United demonstrated their champions quality by coming out in the second half with Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham netting as United completed an brilliant five-goal comeback to leave Spurs completely shell-shocked.
[youtube AlK61BOscRA&feature=player_embedded#!]
2.Angola 4-4 Mali, Africa Cup of Nations 2010.
With only 12 minutes remaining of host country Angola’s opening match of the 2010 African Nations Cup match they looked to be cruising to an opening 4-0 victory. Then Mali got one back and then another with 3 minutes to go, surely just consolidations? However on the 93rd minute it was 4-3 and then amazingly on the 94th minute Mali equalised to complete a simply extraordinary comeback. The student who bet his full loan on Angola at 4-0 must have been in complete disbelief at the final score which cost him a reported £4,400!
[youtube OuS5Ry_Jg2s&feature=related]
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3.Liverpool V AC Milan, Champions League Final 2005
Milan went into the half time break on course to the Champions League trophy, 3-0 up after a brace for Crespo and a goal from Maldini. However three goals in an incredible six minutes from Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso put the Reds level and we all know what happened in the penalty shootout as Benitez’s side claimed their first European victory in 21 years and 5th title in total.
[youtube JQuK3KHh60Q&feature=related]
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4.Tottenham 3-4 Manchester City, FA Cup 2004
In one of the best FA Cup comebacks of all time away Manchester City were 3-0 down to Tottenham at White Hart Lane at half time. When Joey Barton was sent off just before the break, the game looked dead and buried. However a deflected shot from Sylvain Distin gave them a glimmer of hope, but goals from Paul Bosvelt and Shaun Wright-Phillips put City back on track, whilst a last gasp header from Jon Macken gave an amazing 10-man comeback victory!
[youtube EzVFZW_A2Wk]
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5.Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal, Premier League 2010
Arsenal sprinted into a 4-0 lead were coasting to an important victory in their Premier League title challenge. However Diaby was sent off and Newcastle won two pens and produced a stunning comeback with Tiote striking late on to secure a memorable point.
[youtube Yeiq0r9D3po&feature=player_embedded]
6. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, Champions League Final 1999
Bayern Munich too the lead after six minutes and managed to hold on all the way into stoppage time before an incredible two goal comeback from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunner Solskjaer on 90+1’ and 90+3’ saw Sir Alex’s men take the title home to England. The video below shows a different perspective of those unbelievable last few minutes.
[youtube LC_f9CB1Pmg]
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So what is Goaldash all about then?
‘Goaldash’ is a fabulous concept which fuses the Lottery format with pre-chosen football fixtures. Whereas you may use birthdays or your own favourite numbers to pick your six numbers, with ‘Goaldash’ you need to use your foresight of the Beautiful Game to select the six teams that are likely to score the quickest in the pre-selected 24 fixtures.
It only costs £1 a pop to enter and you have the chance to win a million pounds, every given week.
All you have to do is scour the 48 teams and pick out the 6 teams that are likely to score the quickest on the Saturday afternoon. The matches are chosen from the Premier League, the Football League, as well as the Scottish divisions therefore you will have plenty to work out and strategise before you make your selections.
Playing the Lottery has just got fun, especially as your odds are a damn sight greater.
Fancy your chances? Fancy winning £1million pounds? Why not give it a go!
Have you ever watched a more bizarre football match than Arsenal’s trip to Upton Park on Saturday evening? Not only did Wayne Bridge put in a very strong audition for a role as one of the ‘Chuckle Brothers’, but Avram Grant found himself giving his third stoical salute to home fans of clubs he has managed, waving goodbye in a manner that suggests he will not return but without any concrete proof to back his assertion up.
It was taken as read that the Israeli former Portsmouth manager was heading for the exit door in the hours before his Hammers side were comprehensively beaten by an ever-improving Arsenal at Upton Park. Rumours spread like wildfire in the run up to kick-off that former Aston Villa and Leicester City man, Martin O’Neill was in line to take up the reins at the end of the clash in Greater London.
48 hours on from the Grant funeral procession, however, and there appears no definite confirmation of a time of death – the manager seems, against all odds, to be living on, much to the bewilderment of the football community.
West Ham legend Julian Dicks has come out this week to publicly state what so many fans, not just those following the London club, have been thinking; what on earth are the board at West Ham playing at?
With remaining in the Premier League an absolute necessity for every single club in the top flight this season, were Grant to be relieved of his duties, the move would be accepted as a harsh but necessary step for a side that cannot afford relegation. However, the manner in which the Grant issue has been dealt with is another chapter of the soap opera that has become West Ham’s progress over the last five years.
The Hammers have had their fair share of controversy and turmoil in recent years. After a solid return to the top flight in 2005-06, the acquisition of Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascharano, ushered in a new era of English football, and ultimately one that very nearly cost West Ham their Premier League status. After a hastily arranged Premier League tribunal controversially chose not to dock points from the club over the illegal deals struck for both Tevez and Mascharano, the Hammers survived the drop only on the final day of the season.
The frustration directed at the West Ham board room is not new. Past chairmen have often felt the brunt of the fans’ anger. Terence Brown was on the end of a number of protests from Hammers fans, and whilst Eggert Magnusson brought much welcome funds to the table, helping stave off relegation in 2007, his non-communication with the Upton Park faithful and dwindling fortune alienated him from support.
It was thus with some confidence that West Ham fans will have looked upon last year’s takeover by former Birmingham City duo, Davids Gold and Sullivan, with a sense of optimism. I remember listening to Sullivan on the radio during the early weeks of the season as he outlined sensible aims for the Hammers over the next 18 months. Whilst his new side were short on quality across the squad, there was an acceptance that short-term survival would be the only way to secure growth over a longer period of time.
His assertions have been in contrast to the ultimatum atmosphere that has hung over the Upton Park this season. Whilst demands to improve the side’s fortunes have been met by the increasingly bemused Grant, a sense of chaos has engulfed proceedings, leading former skipper, Dicks, to brand the club a “laughing stock.”
The defender’s frustrations are understandable. West Ham fans have been through the ringer over recent years, and have found consistency impossible to come across. Surely they, more than anyone, deserve to know what is going on?
With two thirds of the transfer window already elapsed, the logic of sacking Grant at this stage would appear virtually non-existent. Would a newly appointed O’Neill be afforded significant funds to strengthen his charges, or would his brief be to simply jump up and down on the touchline in the hope his energy keeps the Hammers from falling?
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There will be fans out there that will feel that West Ham are feeling the full force of karma. Many Sheffield United fans feel that it was they, not the Hammers, that deserved to remain in the Premier League at the end of the 2006-07 season, when an almost certain relegation inducing point deduction was not imposed on Alan Curbishley’s men.
What the saga has proven, however it ends for O’Neill and Grant, is that the West Ham board have shown an alarming lack of regard for the fans. After the years of turmoil the club has endured, the supporters must be hoping that this is not a sign of things to come, whichever division they begin next season in.
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