How will Rafa and the players react to the behind-scenes events?

[beejay]

Before anyone goes on about them being professionals and well paid to play football blah blah, take a look at West Ham this season following their early season change of ownership saga. It seemed at times that they felt they had an excuse to play sh*te and that's human nature for you.

 

We are on a fantastic run and hit a high point on Tuesday night after a difficult but dare I say it, a championship winning performance in grinding out a result to move within 2 points of 2nd and maybe in contention for the title. With the prospect of players coming in the following day in particular the highly regarded Javier Mascherano, and the imminent completion of the DIC investment everything was looking very very optimistic for the whole club, not least Rafa and the senior players.

 

Next day, DIC pull out and both Manu & Chelsea win easily. F***.

 

Now what? Will there be a negative reaction? It's down to Rafa to keep the players on their toes and focused but what about him? He must be thinking deep down that the board have f***ed up and bang goes my transfer kitty in the summer, I'll be back to scratching around for bargains.

 

We'll see on Saturday I guess but if they are not up for it and the crowd are also distracted by the boardroom turmoil, the bluesh*te will sure as hell boot us all over the pitch.

[Mike]

you're right.

we're f***ed aren't we?

im ending it tonight.

[Gilps]

I'm not entirely convinced there's a direct conection between DIC pulling out and Chelsea and the Mancs winning.

[Rimbeux]

I'm not entirely convinced there's a direct conection between DIC pulling out and Chelsea and the Mancs winning.

 

Half expected all three as my head hit the pillow on Tue night...

[Kite]

Two teams to win the league at the same time.... will that mean then there would be three teams in the Charity Shield match if Arsenal win the FA Cup? (modern football is going to the dogs altogether... )

[Cobs]

it will make absolutely no feckin difference whatsoever

 

 

hope this helps

[jfogarty]

you're right.

we're f***ed aren't we?

im ending it tonight.

 

What razor are you going to use??

[Knox_Harrington]

If the players don't get a result Saturday they only have themselves to blame.

[beejay]

it will make absolutely no feckin difference whatsoever

hope this helps

 

West Ham? Killed their season.

 

The whole club presumed the takeover was going ahead until Wed morning. Many of the players and the manager talked openly about it. And you don't think it makes any difference at all?

[R A Softlad]

What razor are you going to use??

 

 

Anyhoo, the DIC announcement was made at 4pm on Tuesday...

[Knox_Harrington]

West Ham? Killed their season.

 

The whole club presumed the takeover was going ahead until Wed morning. Many of the players and the manager talked openly about it. And you don't think it makes any difference at all?

Bad management, bad performances, casual football and two unplanned signings (along with Reo-Coker's s****) killed West Ham's season. Again, look at the coaching and playing staff and their incompetence before trying to apologise for them.

 

We fail, the responsibility lies on the pitch and in the dugout. s***house for anyone to think anything else.

[Jarg Armani]

i'm worried, but that's because it's the derby. i know i'm probably a bad red for saying this, but i don't really care about the behind the scenes events. mainly because i don't know about them, and can't be bothered getting in a lather about unknown doings and dire mutterings.

 

i am only concerned with the events in front of the scenes. my main wish is that cahill keeps up his kerazy rekord by biffing one in his own net, before being carried over to the corner flag and forced to do the boxy boxy celebration against his will.

Edited February 2, 2007 by A.Melia

[Cobs]

West Ham? Killed their season.

 

The whole club presumed the takeover was going ahead until Wed morning. Many of the players and the manager talked openly about it. And you don't think it makes any difference at all?

i think you're being a drama queen

 

players are never thinking about boardroom goings on when they're training or when they are out the pitch playing. It makes no odds to them who owns the club unless they aren't getting paid.

 

 

West Ham over achieved last season and are struggling this

 

 

'Ipswich Syndrome' i believe it's called.

[Maldini]

Their "success" went to some players' heads and they believed their own hype, that's why they've been poor this season.

[stressederic]

West Ham? Killed their season.

 

The whole club presumed the takeover was going ahead until Wed morning. Many of the players and the manager talked openly about it. And you don't think it makes any difference at all?

 

Look at it this way.

 

The team are on a long winning run, but are playing catch up to Chelsea and United. There is nothing a takeover will do to change this.

 

The transfer window has just closed, and it would appear that Rafa has got players in that he wanted. There is nothing a takeover will do to change this.

 

The players are all on very lucrative contracts and will get paid their weekly fortune no matter what. A takeover is hardly going to see them all be put out on the dole.

 

The manager is loved and adored by the supporters, has proven credentials and is rightly regarded as one of the best in the World. A takeover will not change this.

 

I honestly don't think many of the players give a s*** about the DIC situation. The manager and coaching staff may do, as they have to work directly with the owners, but Rafa strikes me as to pragmatic and obsessed about football matches to lose any sleep over it.

[hideNseek]

Their "success" went to some players' heads and they believed their own hype, that's why they've been poor this season.

Exactly. Afrer one season they suddenly all thought they we're playing for a top four club or something and stopped trying, sadly seems to be happening to Wigan too.

[Cobs]

Exactly. Afrer one season they suddenly all thought they we're playing for a top four club or something and stopped trying, sadly seems to be happening to Wigan too.

are you tring to tell me that Wigan's problems aren't due to a boardoom takeover?

[Guest Scot]

I think we should accept a bid just to end the speculation

[stressederic]

are you tring to tell me that Wigan's problems aren't due to a boardoom takeover?

 

Suspend your disbelief.

[Cobs]

I think we should accept a bid just to end the speculation

at last some sense

[Knox_Harrington]

I think we should accept a bid just to end the speculation

Are you currently in possession of the mickey?

[Guest Scot]

Are you currently in possession of the mickey?

 

Funnily enough I got an ESCROW statement in the mail today.

[Knox_Harrington]

Funnily enough I got an ESCROW statement in the mail today.

YES! Was never a massive fan of ESCROW though. The Mickey, Man Born Of Ape and Compassionate have always been my top three.

[Guest Scot]

YES! Was never a massive fan of ESCROW though. The Mickey, Man Born Of Ape and Compassionate have always been my top three.

 

The mickey and ESCROW are as one. Like amichai and rape; greg danes and misery; Cobs and Dando.

[Knox_Harrington]

The mickey and ESCROW are as one. Like amichai and rape; greg danes and misery; Cobs and Dando.

ESCROW was the proposed bet with Smithdown wasn't it? Or another proposed bet? I know the Mickey can be converted into ESCROW and held in it if need be but they aren't quite Cobs and Dando.

 

Ripley would know but he's not around. Banders probably knows....