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1985 9:59 Wed May 4
If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Been thinking about this as there has been a lot of (perhaps premature) talk of us being on the cusp of a new era. Pundits and reporters alike talking about how we have some great players, a very special manager and our move to a 60,000 capacity stadium all contributing to some sort of aligning of the planets that could turn West Ham from not even being also-rans to becoming a major force in English football.
Let's say that happened. How do you think our fans will be? How will you behave? Bolshy? Arrogant? Cocky?
Like me, living down south, you've probably endured working with hundreds of Man Utd fans over the years who have said in the run-up to a West Ham v Man U game things like 'of course we're gonna tear you a new one' or ' the league's our's again' (in August). The arrogance, the sheer twat-factor of some of these people.... and no humilty, no recognition that when they did lose, it might have been down to the other team being better than them. And then the hoards of Chelsea fans who, during their successful years, reaked of...well, I can't even think of a phrase, other than classless bell-ends basking in the glory bought by Roman's billions - a club with no heart (where were they when the team was struggling) and absolutely no soul. When they were last in the second tier they were getting 15k attendances.
Then I think about Man City fans. Yes, they have also been bankrolled to success but there has always been a fairly decent support there (getting 33k when last in the second tier). The few City fans I have met over the years have never had the gob of their Manc neighbours, even when they were winning the Premiership.
That brings it to us. Perhaps a similarity with Man City fans in as much that we've supported our club through the bad times, through relegations and years of disappointment.
Can't really talk about Arsenal fans during their success as I didn't really know any. Other than two, and they expected everything about their club to be 100% perfect 100% of the time.
If we do hit the big time in the coming years something tells me our support will carry themselves well and will have a bit more class than others who have been there before us.
Come On You Irons
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Darby_
5:42 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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We'll soon look a lot like Ty and Claude.
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BRANDED
4:44 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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It honestly doesnt bother me. I never started supporting West Ham due to some cleverly worked out scheme or even where I was born. I was purely and simply a mug glory hunter who refused to move on. It worked a bit but for most years its been a massive let down. Still, every victory makes me feel good and long may that continue.
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Sven Roeder
4:28 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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We will be fine.
Obviously all of our fans have known little success and have built up so much CHARACTER it fucking hurts. We deserve a few days in the sun.
Personally I'd be more worried about the fans of some of these 'big clubs' who have had a generation of always being in the top 4 and the Champions league.
Would love another mid table Chelsea season or Man U and Arsenal slipping out of their usual positions.
Can you imagine if they move on Wenger & Arsenal are sitting mid table ? Lovely
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Lily Hammer
4:14 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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It's one of my biggest fears, and the real substance behind the phrase "Be careful what you wish for."
I'm not a big fan of the band James, but a line in their song "All Sit Down" stuck with me ever since I heard it........."If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor."
I've always thought we were guilty of this, back in the day.......that's what "LYALL OUT!" was down to. After doing so well, and justifiably believing we were headed for glorious things, we* didn't react well to the return of underwhelming underachieving.
*I never joined in with the Lyall Out chants, but saying "we" was me sharing the collective responsibility.
Personally, I'm up for the experiment of seeing how we turn out after a nice little decade or two of TOTAL DOMINATION.
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Ricky Bobby
3:49 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Leicester took 135 years and by all accounts this year is a freak of nature, we have been going nearly as long and we have never won the league.
If we get ARAB/RUSSIAN/CHINESE Billion investment and win the league before I leave this mortal earth I will be more than happy.
I don't give a fuck what other supporters think or say.
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Lertie Button
3:41 Fri May 6
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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If a lifetime of supporting West Ham doesn't teach you humility then nothing can.
If we become successful then the plastic fans will stand out cause of their sense of entitlement, the rest of us will always be sweating till we hit 40 points
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Mr Anon
8:50 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Got a mate who's a Watford fan who tells me their forum has loads of people calling for the manager's head because they didn't do a Leicester! Deluded fans exist everywhere.
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SDKFZ 222
8:43 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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As long as we don't become arrogant with a sense of entitlement like the Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal supporters.
I've noticed that a number of our younger supporters are already starting to become like this, after reading through a number of online forums, etc.
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Johnson
8:19 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Actually it wasn't modding it was me using the greater than and less than symbols flidded the site out.
QUADS
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Johnson
8:19 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Weren't really though Lewisham were they?
Demand for ST at Upton Park = less than 26,000
Demand for ST at OS = more than 75,000 or so
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Johnson
8:18 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Idiotic modding
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Johnson
8:06 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Weren't really though Lewisham were they?
Demand for ST at Upton Park = 75,000 or so
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Eerie Descent
7:39 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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What a load of cringey, boring, godly drivel.
What the fuck is being a supporter of a football club for if not to enjoy watching the team play, and give it the fucking big one to cunts who support other teams?
This world gets fucking blander by the day.
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Lewisham_Hammer
7:05 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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I was also thinking about this recently.
I also wondered if we are going to hear chants of 'where were you when you were shit'?
Answer = We were here!
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andywestham
5:13 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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we all know this is West Ham, right?
We're just as likely to be struggling next season as we are to do well again.
That's the West Ham way. Always has been, always will. If by 'one of the big clubs' you mean in terms of support, then that's always been the case. The move to Stratford will just serve to show that more obviously in the physical amount of people that will be watching.
What I will hate more than anything is that if/when we do struggle, all those additional fans turn out to be one-season-wonders and don't turn up the next year and we are left with a three quarters full stadium.
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gph
3:20 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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The minute we qualify for the Champions' League, I'm going to suggest we form a European League with no relegation from the qualifiers...
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Curbs Little Helper
3:14 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Married to a Chelsea fan, there is only one thing I could be arrogant as f*** - Even this year loved rubbing his nose in it!
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holyhandgrenade
12:30 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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chim chim cha boo 4:23 Thu May 5
Good words, post of the year
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Russ of the BML
12:27 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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By the way, some really good posts on this thread.
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Russ of the BML
12:26 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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Show humility in company and arrogance when alone.
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Grumpster
11:37 Thu May 5
Re: If we do become one of the big clubs, how do you think our fans will be?
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I'm sure it completely depends on the individual, as chilled out middle aged blokes like myself won't change a single bit and cocky is one thing I've never been and wouldn't be comfortable being.
All I ever want is for our fans to get behind the team, which is why it's sometimes frustrating reading the match threads, as the negative postings if we ever have the nerve to not play well or go a goal down are a little embarrassing.
Always considered our fans to be a better breed to all others, though the younger influx and the premier league has turned many into the wrong sort of monster, craving and believing success should be a given.
Let's just support the team and owners as well as we can, as only a fool would be blind enough to see we really could potentially be onto something special at the moment and unlike the mistakes of 1986 where we failed to strengthen and build on it, we need to embrace it and give the cocky buggers amongst us the chance to right get in our rivals faces because of success on the pitch :o)
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