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, 10:08 Wed Mar 28
We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

MOST of us on here were, and are, neutral about BFS. He was brought in to do a job because he has a good record and is a professional to his fingertips.

By all means discuss the inns and outs of our performances, pointing out tactical errors, substandard performances etc, but drop the postings reeking of visceral hatred of the man and try being objective.

We knew what we were getting when he came in and he is doing exactly what it sez on the tin. Let's deal with it.

, 12:32 Fri Mar 30
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

It's good to see that by and large the postings on this thread are taking an objective look at our football right now.

In answer to Baggins I am not advocating Pulis type football merely asking the question so that posters can take a look at what Stoke are achieving and how their fans feel overall.

I am interested by posters saying with the squad we've got we should walk this division. I noticed that our squad only provided two players in the press choice of the season and so too did Reading and Southampton. Thus the conclusion a neutral, but not someone with claret and blue glasses, would come to is that BFS has much the same material to work with as do our two credible promotion rivals.

I am sure that the fans of Reading and Southampton are overwhelmingly pleased with their team and managerial performance and that is probably to do with the different expectations at those clubs.

As regards the style of football we play I don't like it but I am prepared to go along with it for now if it proves effective in gaining promotion. It is misleading to say that we are a route one football team but we are generally set up with a big man up front for the rest to play off.

Like most fans I never considered BFS a WHU managerial option until I'd experienced the Zola/Grant wasted years. The employing of BFS by Gollivan was an acknowledgement of their Grant mistake and their failure to replace him with O'Neill. They knew they were taking a risk of losing the fans but for them BFS was the best option available to push for a quick return to the premiership. I fully expect Gollivan to have plans in place to replace BFS and I reckon that they have their eye on several emerging managerial talents. One thing for sure is that to attract the best talent both player and managerial, to play the football we yearn for, we need to be back in a comfortable postion in the premiership. That is what BFS is being paid for

Gentile 12:17 Fri Mar 30
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

"MOST of us on here were, and are, neutral about BFS"

Really?

Your problem has always been your arrogance.

Most fans are fed up with our club resembling Stoke City irrespective of position and results.

I hope he takes us up then quickly leaves.

Hammer and Pickle 11:18 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

The problem I see is not so much that it isn't clicking, as it hasn't been allowed to click...

... as yet, I hope.

Capitol Man 11:11 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

I don't think we're quite clicking as BFS would like us to. Hopefully Saturday will. If we took a few more chances I think the confidence levels would improve and we'd start racking up a few goals and playing better, but it's not happened.

He takes responsibility for that but I'd like to see us close out the season. The outrage when there's still so much to play for is beyond me.

I'm not sure that he's the right man in the long term, but I'd much rather make that decision at the end of the season, with hopefully promotion secured, than all the foaming at the mouth we're getting now when despite a bad run we're are in a very strong position. Far batter position than we ever achieved last time we were down here.

Having a better squad is an advantage, but never makes promotion a done-deal - nor does a big name manager - given the experience at Forest and Leicester.

SDKFZ 222 11:06 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Whatever the rights, wrongs, or otherwise with regard to our current perceived style of play, I have actually rather enjoyed going away in particular this season feeling that we can win most matches. Some of them have been quite turgid, admittedly (i.e. Brighton away where we dug out a win) but others have also been quite sublime, like the 4 goals scored against Blackpool, Watford and Forest. Not every game Barcelona wins is through beautiful football, after all, sometimes they dig out wins as well.

What we all have to realise is that we are playing where we are. If and when we attain promotion then building and improving on a team takes time and money. Those of you who were supporting the team throiugh the late 80's and early 90's will remember this. We lasted one season before we were relegated again in 1990-91, because of the weak and parlous state of our then team.

At present we have emulated our best ever record of away victories. This wasn't even something that the Lyall and Greenwood teams could achieve, arguably playing some of the best football by some of the best players ever throughout our entire history.

Stranded 11:05 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Capitol Man. I honestly have no way of knowing which options would or wouldn't work to maintain a mid-level premiership place in the coming years. If I did I'd be knocking on the owners door offering my services.

But I do know that if this relative success came as a result of basing future West Ham teams on the models of Fat Sam and Tony Pulis, I for one would be nowhere to be seen. West Ham are the only club I ever have, and ever will support. But I would derive little pleasure, and take no pride in watching football played that way.

To paraphrase something someone said on here the other day, if Tony Pulis is the answer you're asking the wrong question.

mentor 11:04 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

He's fucked up. Everyone who goes to the home games know it, but the idiot can't see it.

Hammer and Pickle 11:02 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Problem is, pound for pound (in both senses of the word), we shouldn't be looking for points at this stage of the season.

Sam really should have had us well ahead of the pack by now and he bloody well knows it.

Mad Dog 10:58 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

I'm sick of the myth that only shit negative football.could get us promotion.

We have much stronger squad than saints. Aside from lambert not one of their team would get into our side.

they dont play negative football, but are winning games you'll notice.

The way we play us grinding out a few results but.it's no guarantee of promotion.

In fact on the occasions when we do play nicely we're tearing teams to shreds. But then we go back to grinding.

I'm not suggesting sack bfs now would be suicide with a few games left, But I fucking hate him. I hate his arrogance,.i hate his style, I hate his refusal to adapt or change and I can't forgive him blaming the fans for.his fuck ups

Capitol Man 10:50 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Stranded 10:45 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda


But that's not really based on anything that we have actually managed to achieve.

You CAN win and compete with the big clubs and play good football, but we haven't.

Look at the Prem table, with a few exceptions it's pretty well a list of spenders, top to bottom. Villa should be doing better, Newcastle over-performing. We need a base to compete at even a mid-level in the prem.

Stranded 10:45 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Side of Ham. I don't think the issue is people failing to understand what you're saying. It's that they don't agree.


Get it?

Capitol Man 10:45 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

I think in theory you could, but the odds are against it. I think the odds improve if we focus on areas we can compete on, fitness, discipline, physicality, a system.

With a few seasons of success you can hopefully start to pick up better players and evolve things to a more entertaining style.

The academy was listed as a way we could compete, and even a decade ago we might have done, but the other clubs have stepped up on that and we're starting to lose the race for the talent.

Look at the Man City academy plans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14973122

We need a sustained stay in the prem to sort out our finances in the next few years, improve the facilities, and compete at a mid-level in the prem.

Then I think we should be aiming for better football because right now we don't have the foundations in place to achieve it.

Side of Ham 10:36 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Baggins yes you can but not against the top 5 teams like we used to be able to from time to time in the past, now we'll have to find another method where you can break their rthymn or upset their apple cart. Get it?

Hammer and Pickle 10:36 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Baggins sums it up for me there.

Selling the soul of WHU for a weaker quality of success.

Baggins 10:32 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Sorry lads, but u CAN play football and win games in the top division. I see no reason why we have to go down the route we're going to 'compete' with anyone.

As for money, we aren't going to win the league, we aren't going to be regularly winning cups, no matter what football we play. So why not try and entertain and be positive? Obviously you have to be sensible about it against top sides but I don't see why we have to abandon this philosophy because of one relegation.

Side of Ham 10:30 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Totally agree Capitol!

Capitol Man 10:23 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

I'm torn on the whole thing really, I want good football, of course, but I also don't want to spend the rest of my time supporting West Ham to involve watching us go like lambs to the slaughter to maybe 40% of the games we play in, to never compete or even challenge for a title, and be kept going on the odd cup run which is likely destined to end in failure.

I know supporting West Ham has never been about the glory, but every few years we used to be able to pull together a decent season - I struggle to see how we do that now, at least if it's not through organization, discipline and an effective playing system.

If we try to play good football on a tight budget we are essentially doomed to yoyo.

And I don't actually mind the championship. At least we enter every game knowing we could win it, rather than scratching off 40% before the season starts (with the odd exception).

Side of Ham 10:21 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

No Baggins it's one way, and it works for them, but we are far from being in a position to out wit the likes of Man City as we don't have nor can we afford players with the guile to pass through them, and the more realistic option sways towards a Stoke kind of outside the box method, yet to be confirmed until we can get to have them on our fixture list. Except they will do pretty, and we can hope at best for pretty ugly.

COOL HAND LUKE 10:17 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

You can play football against your peer group, but up against the top 4 or 5 sides you do have to bundle them out of their natural rythmn to stand any realistic chance

it's called "showing obscene commitment" (wasn't that what Fergie said about us that time..?)

Capitol Man 10:16 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Not necessarily saying that's the only way. But it's effective.

And a longer stay in the prem will give them the chance to invest over time and build a squad that can better compete in football terms.

I think Stoke and Pulis have a much better chance to build a side that plays better football now then when they were promoted. Does anyone fancy them to get relegated any time soon?

Not saying I want us to play like Stoke - but if we don't accept that elements of that are necessary, then how do we become competitive with clubs with virtually unlimited spending power?

Baggins 10:06 Thu Mar 29
Re: We should not let the anti BFS brigade set the agenda

Capital - The only way to beat Man City is to take 5 minutes over every set piece, pack your team full of giants and launch long throws everytime you get one within 40 yards of the box?

That is total utter nonsense.

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