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The Emotional Rollercoster Begins
Vinny 2:41 Tue Aug 11
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Much has changed at West Ham since the end of the 2014/15 campaign with new manager, new players, and a new outlook on the impending future of the club chances of having a successful campaign this season.
But in under a week the emotions around the club seem to have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other with crashing out of the Europa League to Romanian side Astra to beating Arsenal on the opening day of the league season in what was one of the finest West Ham away performances of recent times.
Debate was caused by the defeat in Romania and it had supporters arguing a number of points associated with no longer having a European campaign to deal with.
The Allardyce Era caused much friction between fellow supporters and it always seemed (whether it was true or not) that you were either Pro or Anti Allardyce. Some equated this to being Pro or Anti West Ham but this mindset was always misguided in my opinion.
What the Allardyce era provided to me was an opportunity to step back and review why I support West Ham and what the club means to me. The result of this review would see the thought of Allardyce continuing as manager to be a abhorrent conception.
The arguing amongst supporters about all things West Ham has probably always been there but the internet has caused it to go into overdrive with forums and twitter allowing everyone to voice their opinion when most of the time they are just throwaway comments from people who wouldn't be told they were wrong if factual evidence was slapping them in the face.
As manager Slaven Bilic surrendered the Europa League by putting out a side largely made up of unknown youngsters the message was simple – the club have had no interest in being part of this competition going forward. I don't want to go over the same ground that has been previously discussed but for me I will continue to stick to the opinion that this was the wrong decision and that some senior players could have been used to get us through against a very average Romanian side in FC Astra.
Being knocked out of Europe by a second rate Romanian side SHOULD cause disappointment amongst supporters. It was natural to feel low about what had happened and that we would no longer get the chance to travel around Europe and try to enjoy a European tour. It's not like West Ham play in Europe often. In my lifetime we have been in Europe just twice previously.
So on the Friday morning my feelings about the season and optimism I had gained with the appointment of Slaven Bilic had taken a severe knock. I found it difficult to shake my disappointment and looking at comments from other West Ham fans stating they were actual “happy” we had lost made me feel a little disillusioned with it all.
To compound this feeling of negativity that had sadly creeped in already it was Arsenal at the Emirates to kick off the Premiership season. This was a ground where we hadn't picked up a win since 2007 when a superb Bobby Zamora goal gave us a 1-0 victory.
Any West Ham fan who thought we would beat Arsenal on Sunday was either the most optimistic of people or just plain lying. I gave us no hope as I had seen nothing to suggest that we would be able to cope with the pace and technique Arsenal possess. But this wasn't just some smash and grab victory, this was a proper performance.
Much had been made of Allardyce and his ability to set out his stall against the bigger sides and get results. It was rare that we managed to get anything out of the bigger sides away from from home (I don't count Tottenham in that). One game that Allardyce did pick up a point was away at Chelsea where Jose Mourinho famously likened the West Ham display to that of “19th century football”.
In that game at Stamford Bridge West Ham failed to muster a shot on target. A 0-0 was lauded as if it was a victory and the opinion that the only way to keep the top sides out is to defend for your life was widely acknowledged.
Slaven Bilic (as we all hoped he would) clearly had another idea. His team was solid, the shape of the side effective to deal with Arsenal and push them out wide, but most importantly we could attack. We had players who could move forward with the ball in Payet, Zarate and Sakho. There was a threat, it wasn't just counter attack football, there was actually participation in the game.
Any non West Ham reading that might wonder what I am talking about but I am sure a few of you know what I am trying to say. The approach was different, its hard to pin point exact moments but there was a different feel to what was trying to be achieved.
The inclusion of Reece Oxford (he is 16 if anyone didn't know) will go down as a master-stroke from Bilic and so it should as his confidence in the ability and temperament of the player paid off big time.
The defensive displays from Ogbonna, Reid and Tomkins were superb. Even right at the end I recall Tomkins making a brilliant intercepting header to keep the clean sheet in tact.
Much has been made of the debut from Dimitri Payet but I too much give him praise on what was a display full of guile and whilst much is made of French footballers and their work rate there was nothing to suggest he suffers from this same trait as he certainly 'put in a shift'. The point where he breaks forward in the second half and with no options knock the ball past Koscielny and then leaves him on his arse was a joy to behold.
All of the players deserve credit. Cresswell for his energy to get forward as much as he could, Noble for his workrate and refusal to stop grafting, and Adrian for a number of excellent stops.
The goal just before half time might have come against the run of play but it was not like Arsenal had created great chances. The header from Kouyate was actually very good and whilst so much has been made of Arsenal's defender and the goal keeper Cech it has taken away from a wonderful delivery from Payet and a great run and composed finish from the hard working Kouyate.
As the second half started I think we all were just hoping would could get through those opening ten minutes without conceding and try to retain more of the ball. The goal from Zarate came as such as shock to me and seemed to come so out of the blue.
Zarate had struggled a little when on the ball with his insistence on not passing becoming a bit of frustration. If there were to be any changes made I think most of us thought it would be he that would need to come off, but those thoughts were quickly forgotten as he robbed Chamberlain of the ball and hit a shot which flew past Petr Cech and sent the West Ham fans in delirium.
I don't know about anyone else but I have been loving the pictures of the celebrations in the West Ham end for that second goal. The reactions from the fans are just superb and going back to my early point about what supporting West Ham is all about – it's that. It's that uncontrollable joy. It's that feeling that can be so hard to describe to non footballing people about why you go. Because when something like this happens it vindicates everything.
The comments from Bilic after the game was also refreshing. He wasn't smug – he was pleased obviously but he was honest in his assessment. He wasn't that pleased with the first half despite going in 1-0. He expected more and go that in the second period.
So the ups and downs of being a West Ham fan have taken place over just four days. The incredibly low to the highest of highs.
Next is a game against Leicester City who themselves have a new manager and new optimism. It will be the beginning of the end for West Ham at the Boleyn Ground (a notion which still for some reason hasn't sunk in with me) and another good performance will hopefully keep the positivity flowing because the negative stink around Upton Park has plagued us for far too long.
Twitter @vinnywhufc
Blog - vinnywhufc.wordpress.com
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
worm
2:42 Tue Aug 11
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Not impressed with the font size, Vincent
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Vinny
2:43 Tue Aug 11
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Amended
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Coffee
2:46 Tue Aug 11
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Nice one, Vinny. Good work.
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Sxboy_66
2:47 Tue Aug 11
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Decaf 2:46 Tue Aug 11
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Iron Duke
2:48 Tue Aug 11
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Welcome back Vinny.
Change the font FFS ;-)
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BRANDED
2:48 Tue Aug 11
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I never question why I'm a West Ham fan. Its like questioning why your cock is the size it is. You've got to be an utter cunt to change its size.
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Uncle Junior
2:48 Tue Aug 11
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A lot of words not much said though in all of that..
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Coffee
2:51 Tue Aug 11
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BRANDED 2:48 Tue Aug 11
You sure about the anatomy there?
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BRANDED
2:52 Tue Aug 11
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Come on. It WAS funny.
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Private Dancer
2:56 Tue Aug 11
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Good effort Vinny, but nothing there that hasn't been discussed a hundered times on the board already, so I'm sruggling to see the point here. Just saying.
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worm
2:57 Tue Aug 11
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10/10
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Krap not Pu
3:05 Tue Aug 11
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an excellent piece Vinny...right from the heart. Spot on , In the four year tenure of BFS you are quite correct can only ever remember just one positive shock result and that in deed was the 3 goal drubbing we handed to Spurs at the Lane. Let us hope this is the first of many.
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Chinkey Weasel
3:05 Tue Aug 11
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Good work Vincent.
I have to say, being at both the Astra game & the Arsenal game was fucking brilliant. Thursday to Sunday I have fucking loved being West Ham all over again, as yes, like the rest of us, I was well pissed off in the 2nd half of least season.
I fully expected us to get knocked out in Romania because of the teams we were putting out in the Europa League, which is why I paid silly money to go anyway. Had a brilliant couple of days met some top top West Ham fans all over Bucharest. Didn't moan when we got knocked out. We just haven't got quality depth in our squad to cope with the Europa this season which is a shame yes, as it would be fitting to have had a campaign at Upton Park this final season.
On Sunday, the whole team played well and it is certainly something to look forward too this season but I'm not getting carried away with anything, as something will always happen....it's the West Ham way of doing things! Rollercoaster indeed Vinny son!
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Prometheus50
3:11 Tue Aug 11
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good piece
but I must contend this point about the Europa League
For those Arsenal fans and their manager who would like to promote the view that West Ham were fresher and more match fit than they because of the Europa League, only need to take a cursory look at our team sheets for that competition to recognise that this simply wasn't the case
Indeed looking at the Arsenal line ups in their pre season and the Community Shield, I might even argue that they should have been the fitter, sharper team
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Mr Polite
3:12 Tue Aug 11
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Cheers Vinny
Pretty much summed up how I've felt about the past, the Thursday match and then Sunday.
Remember to be careful what you wish for though...
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The_Phantom
3:12 Tue Aug 11
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Nice piece as always Vinny.
Totally agree re Europa.
Still disappointed but we soldier on and Sunday was bloody marvellous.
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ivan
3:22 Tue Aug 11
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enjoyed reading that.
It was indeed a proper performance ,im still trying to take it in
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Hammer and Pickle
3:24 Tue Aug 11
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Nice to read a text describing what I see and feel. Keep up the good work, Vinny.
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gph
3:27 Tue Aug 11
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Ignorant git, that Mourinho.
The 19th century featured 2-2-6 formations and the like.
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Brucies_Star_Prize
3:31 Tue Aug 11
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Nice piece Vinnny.
Most positive I've felt about West Ham for a long time.
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