Conference trucks::football;1

 "An imposing goalkeeper (Miklosko) and a dazzling forward (Slater)
  should help ease a difficult transition for a West Ham side that
  bears little resemblance to its cultured predecessors. Billy Bonds
  did a fine job last season in coping with the extra demands of an
  FA Cup run to the semi-finals while keeping the side on course for
  promotion. Now comes the hard part."

  {Independant Saturday}

  Ins:  M.Thomas 500.000 from Tottenham
        M.Small  400.000 from Brighton
        D.Martin  20.000 from Fisher Athletic

  Outs: J.Quinn   40.000 to Bournmouth

                      Result Saturday 17 August 1991

                           West Ham  0-0  Luton

Details so far for the hammers...
    
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7

The hammers fight back from 1-0 down after a torrid first half where
the keeper kept us in the game more than once, and then took the lead
when Palace crumbled in the second half.....(so I was told)...
                                                                      
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10

    Does any body have a fixture list for West Ham, this is for a friend,
    not me............ Honest Guv
    
    Ta,
    
    Ian

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry				11

    A draw from a difficult match away to Oldham, but a game West Ham should
    have taken after so many chances....Oldham going 2-1 after a Breacker own
    goal, McAvennie replacing Morley after he missed two sitters, and made
    it 2-2
    
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry				11
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12

    First win in yonks over the Spurs to keep us afloat at the base of
    division one.  Sheffield Utd on Tuesday in the rum-a-dum cup and
    then we'll put a few in at Highbury on Saturday!  
    
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
==========================================================================
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry				11
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15

    A colleague here in Dublin with poor taste is in the position of either 
    attending West Ham's destruction next Saturday or whatever match they are 
    playing the following Saturday. He sees them so infrequently that he 
    prefers if they have some chance of winning when he does go to a match so 
    is reluctant to go to Highbury next Saturday. Does anyone know who/where 
    they are playing on Saturday week?

    Peter,
    
    There are no 1st Division games being played on November 9th, owing to
    it being 4 days before England's crowning glory in Poland.
    
    Tell him to go on Saturday - it's his only chance of seeing some decent
    football during an 'ammers game :-)
    
    Rob

     A collegue has asked that I post this - otherwise I wouldn't be seen
    dead in the Hammers note... ;-)
    
    
     Does anyone know of a ticket going spare for this weekends game? (You
    must be joking, I hear you say!!). I have the misfortune of working
    alongside a part-time West Ham fan and he is desperate to obtain a
    ticket (Hammers end only). Reasonably prices only please. 
    
    If you are in a position to help then please contact him direct. Phone
    Cliff on 7830 1217. He is there until 18.30 daily
    
    
      S�mon
                                                                

Well well,
west ham are on a roll.

First there was saturday's win over spurs, and now I hear they've
beaten United in the cup last night - sheffield united that is.
Where will it all end?.....crucifiction of the gunners next saturday?

We're forever blowing bubbles, etc.

Kev

    Sorry, no tickets ere...you can get one if youve got a 'blue voucher'
    and goto the ground 9.30-17.00 Mon-Fri.  But check first if any are
    still free on 0898 121865 (ticket info), 081-4722740 (general enq.).
    
    Should be a good game...the hammers have Slater,Bishop,Keen and now
    McAvennie in good form, with Small getting his 12th last night in 
    the rum-a-dum Cup. 
    
    Forthcoming matches at Upton Park,  Nov16 Liverpool, Nov30 Sheff Wed,
    Dec14 Southampton, Dec21 Sheff Utd.  and Dec4 we have 4th round of the
    rum-a-dum (draw Saturday on s+g show).

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry				11
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18

    I think Hammers deserve a pat on the back for Saturdays result.
    
    How are they playing in general ??  Im sure Bonzo's got them playing
    the 'old way' ??
    
    Paul

    
    Peter Spencer
    
    
    Are you there ?????????????
    
    
    Wot Bout That Then..............
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    or are you in hiding....

    Not in hiding Liam, I've got used to losing the odd match again this
    season!!!! In shock maybe that we can even contrive to lose to such
    lowly sides as Everton, Villa, Coventry (x2) and now the 'ammers but 
    not in hiding. Thank Gawd that Joe Farrell is away this week. He's the 
    'ammers fan I was referring to a few back. 

    West Ham announced they will issue a debenture (sp?) share scheme to
    fund converting Upton Park to a 25,000 all seater stadium by 1994.
    
    The issue will ( they hope ) raise over �15.5M .
    
    Has anyone got know any further details?

    Looks like the Hammers are having a fairly good time of late, beating
    mediocre sides like Spurs and Arsenal...
    
    It's a pity it's got to end on Sunday when they meet real class
    opposition for the first time this season...
    
    prediction : 	West Ham	0
    			Liverpool	3 (Rush, Saunders, McManaman)
    
    Stew.
    

    We are on the box Sunday, a match that always produces great football,
    lets home, win or lose, it continues to be so.  I predict a 3-1 win.
    
    West Ham have taken 7 points from the last 9,  but the extra long 
    break will have let a little steam escape.  On the plus side Small
    has had chance to rest his injury, and should be in the team, to be
    announced this afternoon.
    
    Other news:  
    
    o  Rosenior has still not left, Steve Perryman has not made his mind up 
       if he wants him.
    o  Charlton are now staying until End-of-Jan at Upton Park...it was only
       for three weeks originally!!
    o  Bonds has been looking at a Carrow Road youngster this week, as well
       as a Norwegian International....Anyone know who?

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    
    A great game against the pool, if only there were goals.  In the end a
    fair result all round, although I felt (unbiased of course) that it was
    West Ham that had the more chances in the game - super saves from Grob.
    
    We've beaten Arsenal and Spurs, and drawn with Forest and Liverpool, in
    the last 30 days .... its Man united's scalp next weekend!

    What a game that was..
    
    I am a Manchester United fan myself and i was willing West Ham to win..
    
    They were the best side on the day and looked very comfortable playing
    the ball around..
    
    The game had everything apart from goals..
    
    I am looking forward to the game on Saturday but am confident United
    will get the win they need..
    
    Nigel..
    
    Come on you reds..

    re.last
    
    > They were the best side on the day
    
    they had the better chances, but failed to convert them.
    Liverpool held possession for longer periods.
    I think it is fair to say that the sides were equal to each other.
    Ian.
    

    I think both sides should be congratulated on a superb match. Good
    flowing football, and end to end stuff...just like the old days.  Good
    to hear Bonzo's at Upton park for a few more years.
    Paul

    
    	I taped the game and watched it later. Well played both sides.....
    	West Amm for their 100% effort and 'pool for their composure.
        If it wasn't for Grabatair.....8-(
    
    	I hope we can sort you out at OT on Saturday then let you get back
    	to your fine run of games...8-)
    
    	Andy.
           

    
    An entertaining game by both sides yesterday. West Ham played lovely
    football as did the Pool and Grobbelaar deserved his man of the match
    award and he is certainly the best keeper around at the moment. Let's
    hope that the hammers can go to OT next saturday and take three points
    off the scum.
    
          cunno.

              <<< Note 55.28 by ESSB::MCUNNIFFE "Achtung Baby" >>>
                      -< A good exhibition of football.  >-

    
>    An entertaining game by both sides yesterday. West Ham played lovely
>    football as did the Pool and Grobbelaar deserved his man of the match
>    award and he is certainly the best keeper around at the moment. Let's
>    hope that the hammers can go to OT next saturday and take three points
>    off the scum.
    
>          cunno.


Martin,

I am begining to find your blinkered noting style somewhat tedious. Please
moderate your style.

Regards,

Stuart

    Re -1
    
    Dont agree there, Stuart...Cunnos note was fair wrt the Hammers/Pool
    match..was it the last sentence you didnt like ??
    Paul

    re. -1 and -2
    
    yeah, i agree. Cunno was understandably complimentary towards the
    Hammers. could it be a case of 'give a dog a bad name?'
    yrs, Ian.
    

Most reports suggest Man Utd should have had 4 or 5 against the hammers
who were taken apart by Giggs and Co. at the back. Sheffield Wednesday
at home next week, then a tough crunch on the 4th away at Norwich in the
Rum-a-dum cup.                                           
    
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    
    	Last nights result,   West Ham 2-0 Brighton,  two goals from the
    	one and only McAvennie, his first two-up in two years.  
    
    	Anyone know when the draw is?	Watch out Palace. 

    
    Rosenior is now on loan to Charlton (playing at Upton Park so he does
    not have to go far!)
    
    West Hams bond scheme announced.  Buy a bond to get a seat for 50 years
    in the new 25,000 all-seat stadium.   Bonds cost between �500 and �975
    to buy, and can be brought for just �13 a month (low interest) over 
    5 years!!   They need to sell 19,000 bonds and raise �15.5m............
    
    Other clubs must be watching carefully how this goes, and I predict
    over half the first division clubs will do it by end 1992.
    

    
>>>    Other clubs must be watching carefully how this goes, and I predict
>>>    over half the first division clubs will do it by end 1992.
   
    I doubt it - Arsenal's hasn't exactly been an overwhelming sucess, nor
    have Tottenham and Newcastle's share issues - surely people aren't
    naive enough to invest money in a 'business' as dodgy as football ? 
    
    Paul

Well, West Ham's plan has got advantages over Newcastle's at least. Newcastle 
were desperate for immediate cash, a minimum of �100, and for that you got a 
fixture list!! You had to be up in 5-figures before you got to see any 
football 'for free'. This Hammer scheme just looks like a multi-season ticket 
- should be much more popular (shame it's only West Ham to watch, though!!)

grahame

    
    Does the bond actually give you a season ticket - or just an option to
    buy one ? If you get a season ticket thrown in, it may be worth it, but
    surely that means West Ham wouldn't make much money on ticket sales for
    the next x years ?
    
    Paul

    The scheme is a 'hammers bond' that gives you the right to buy a 
    season ticket for your seat for the next 50 years.  There are a 
    number of advantages/schemes ...
    
    If you apply by end January then theres a discount on season tickets 
    next season, plus entrance to a draw for 10x5years season tickets free.
    
    With the bond you get 10-25% discount on the remaining 5000 seats
    available on a on-the-match-day basis.
    
    Elected members of the new scheme will meet the West Ham directors
    4 times a year to discuss the running of the club (They openly admit a
    major problem has been the closed shop policy of previous years).
    
    Cost is �500 to �975 a bond, depending on where you want to sit. This
    is paid in two parts end-Jan-92 and end-Aug-92.  You can buy them over
    5-years using a loan scheme they have set up.
    
    Currently 10,000 people have applied for the prospectus. 

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Wednesday in the first half, hammers taking the second. Late goal
    by Sheffield took the points in a game that deserved to be 1-1.
    
Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
========================================================================
West Ham	1 - 2	Sheffield Wed	Breacker		19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
West Ham	1 - 2	Sheffield Wed	Breacker		19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    This is the Hammers Christmas 3 pointers.....
    
    	26 Dec		Away ASTON VILLA
    	28 Dec		Away NOTTS COUNTY
    	1  Jan		Home LEEDS
    
    Villa and county are tough ones, the Leeds a walk over	;-)

    Beware all you hammers fans, on January 4 1992 the almighty Farnborough
    Town will descend upon Upton Park.  It looks like another 3rd round
    exit for the Hammers (remember Torquay 2 seasons ago).  With our
    frontline of Dean Coney and Simon Read anything is possible.  I hope
    you will be able to accommodate for 5,000 Farnborough fans, if not
    squeeze up down the home end please.  Up the BORO!
    
    Prediction:  Farnborough Town 3-1 West Ham United
    

    Liney,
    
    yep, Upton Park will accomodate the away fans somehow....Not sure what
    deal the teams have arranged payment wise, but West Ham may need the
    dosh!
    
    After recent performances by West Ham this may well be a close one -
    but hopefully not 3-1 to Farnborough!  (Maybe 1-1)
    
    The BIG MATCH at Upton Park this weekend though is CHARLTON v. BARNET

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    
    Farnborough	1-1 West Ham  (I wish this terminal at smaller letters!)

What is happening to this team?

The two times I saw them this season was against Liverpool, and Man. Utd. They 
looked impressive enough in one of those games. Can they have gone so bad that 
nobody seems to be surprised at the 1-1 draw with a bunch of postmen?

Has anyone out there seen any of their recent games. Who is to blame for
this recent run of 'form'. I hear that nobody wanted to leave Upton Park on
Saturday.....calling for the board's resignation, but they can't be that bad.
Maybe they should play in the replay :-)

    RE. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TEAM?
    
    Search me! a case of Arsenal-itis I think - They can play, but the more
    the results go against them the worst they are playing....since the
    Liverpool game West Ham have taken one point in 6 games, and that was
    *very* lucky against Sheffield Utd (Even I agree it wasnt a penalty!).
    
    Apparently Bonds is giving in to transfer requests, Celtic will step 
    in to take Slater for 2million this week, as he as turned down the
    new WH contract.   Morley may also be going,  possible in a swap with
    Mark Draper at Notts County....
    
    As for the fans...the bonds scheme has hit problems...mainly they can-
    not see what extra you get from owning a bond, and the fans are unhappy
    at the fact WH have no money when they average 24,000 home gate...
    
    Tonights match  Southampton V. West Ham is live on SKY at 7.30pm, I
    hope we get a result to lift the team.
     

    
    RE: What is happening to the team?
    
    According to my morningpaper (who's been wrong before), all West Hams
    players are on the transfer list.
    
    "I dont want to sell my best players, but i am prepared to sell them to
    by som new ones", says manager Billy Bonds. 
    
    Probably is Stuart Slater the first one to go, Celtic is interested in
    him. Trevor Morley is also expected to leave West Hame soon.
    
    I do hope you have a good reserve-team...:-)
    
    Mats

    			Zenith cup semi-south 
    		  Southampton   2-1   West Ham United
    
    I thought the Referee at the WH v. Sheff Utd game was generous -  The 
    penalty decision last night was far worse...No way IMHO, in Bonds HO,
    in Southamptons manager Ian Brantfoots HO, in everyone elses HO, except
    Matthew Le Tissiers and ref Mr. Axell, was that a penalty.  He dived,
    he cheated, he scored.
    
    aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (IMHO)

With regard to the probable sale of Stuart Slater, he may well be off to Celtic,
with Brady having already offered 2 million, but Everton have an interest in him
too. WEst Ham offered 300,000 for Pat Nevin recently which was turned down,
but he may be thrown in as part of any re-negotiations which might occur.

Also, Brady says he can't move for Slater before he raises cash by selling some
of his current squad. Is Hayes (ex-Arsenal) one of these, or is he already gone?

If Slater has to go, I'd rather see him at Everton, who are putting together
quiet an impressive side.....good tip for the cup.

And oh....another result for the hams, from last night's ZDS cup match at 
Southampton :

            Southampton 2 West Ham 1

I think it was Bishop who scored for West Ham, in the first half, with two late
goal from Southampton, by Shearer (I think) and Le Tissier from a penalty. Ah 
well, twas only the ZDS, didnt want the hassle of extra fixtures later on anyway.

 - Kev

    
    I doubt if Slater will go to Everton now, Kendall was interested in him
    after his performance in the cup, but he's bought four similar type of
    players in Ward, Beardsley, Johnston and Waryzcha since then  - so I
    presume that Celtic would be the favourites - but they'll have to sell
    McStay to raise some cash first.
    
    Paul

    I heard on the radio this morning that Everton were indeed interested
    in Slater again... Unsure if Liam Brady (Slaters ex. agent) is still
    interested in getting Slater to Celtic.
    
    Notts County say they want 750,000 for Mark Draper (presumably plus
    Trevor Morley)

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

re: -.1         Title:  Unbeaten against London clubs!

> West Ham	 3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
> Wimbledon   	 2 - 0   West Ham	-			2 ********
> Sheffield Utd  1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
> West Ham       0 - 0	 Luton 		-			1

********      A great victory for WHU ;-)

Al

    Arh..err..eh...well, almost unbeaten against London clubs!

    Does Luton count Tone ? They are sure to put another nail in the
    coffin this Saturday 8-)
    

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    
    Not that I'm that interested, but is there a good reason as to why we
    can't see notes 59 and 60 here ?
    
    Ads.

    Search me! ... must be some irrate Luton fan .. or that ref from
    the Southampton game... or were Sheffield Utd fans trying to claim
    those lost 2 points?

	RE .61

	What appears to be the problem?  Reply .60 is fine!

    Any Wrexham fans out there?  Whats West Hams chances on Saturday?
    
    Bookies say West Ham are 25-1 to win Cup, Wrexham 750-1, so we must
    have some chance ( than again Arsenal were 5-1 favourites !! )
    
    Others are:	 7-2 	Manchester Utd		33-1	Cambridge
    		 9-2	Liverpool               40-1	Blackburn        	
    		 6-1	Forest                  40-1	Leicester
    		10-1    Aston Villa             40-1	Notts C
    		11-1	Sheffield Wednesday     40-1	Portsmouth
    		12-1	Everton                 40-1	Sheff Utd
    		16-1	Chelsea                 40-1	Southampton
    		18-1	Norwich                 50-1	Ipswich
    		25-1	West Ham                66-1	.....the rest..

        ��	10-1    Aston Villa  
    	
I'll have a Tenner on the Villa

�.L.

    We are still in the FA cup....JUST!!
    
    2-2 draw against a well organised Wrexham - yes thats Wrexham from the
    fouth division who have not won away in **15 MONTHS**!
    
    I fancy West Ham to win by serveral goals in the replay - away from
    Upton Park and the current "atmosphere" that exists there at present.
                                          

Another lucky FA Cup draw - next round away to Oxford/Sunderland

No first division opposition yet. Maybe they can get through this bad patch
(long and very bad) and by the time the 6th round comes by, they might be
playing with a bit of confidence....who knows?

 _ Kevin

.66> Another lucky FA Cup draw - next round away to Oxford/Sunderland

	Don't count your chickens. Despite Greavie's kiss of death, Malcolm
Crosby's red & white army still have a 100% record, and intend to hang on
to it.

    I don't believe you guys have ignored the threat of Oxford Utd.  They
    have already thrashed Sunderland 3-0 at the Manor in the league and see
    no reason why they won't do the same in the cup.  I can't see the
    Hammers (or Wrexham) as too much of a problem in the next round.
    
    People in Oxford especially at the Manor are well pleased with the
    draw.
    
    		Brian.

Fair enough Brian, but I'd still see Man Utd or Notts Forest as a 
bigger threat / worse draw than Oxford/Sunderland/Wrexham.

 - Kevin

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Whats the usual team line-up these days. Where are the weaknesses, and is 
there any money to buy any players?

    The line up is getting younger and weaker as the months go by, the
    injury list stretches to nearly the whole first team, but some money
    is available as Bonds is actively looking.
    
    Wrexham 0  West Ham 1
    
    Was live on SKY last night (although they advertised Scottish football)
    It was a tough match on a very bumpy pitch that did not suit the ball
    skills of Slater or keen. The deciding factor was the presence of
    Dicks, Foster and Breacker.  Foster headed the 28th minute goal, after
    a lively start by the welsh, West Ham just holding the game thereafter.
    
    Breacker though should have gone in the first half after
    bringing Wrexhams Karl Connolly down when just about clear of the
    West Ham defence. The referee told SKY at half time that he thought one
    of the other West Ham defenders could have got to the player, thus in
    his mind we wasent clean through, yellow card - Strange one that.   
     

    West Ham bond owners will now get reduced (anyone know by how much)
    season tickets for the next 10 years.

    Got the 'hammers bond' revised letter yesterday.  The North Bank season
    tickets will be reduced from 190 squid to 140 squid for bond owners,
    for the next 10 years. Best bonds in the North Bank cost 975 squid for
    the 50 years, the rest about 750, then the corners cost 500 squids.

    Away to Sunderland tomorrow in the FA cup.  Of my four teams, WH,
    Spurs, Man Utd and Blackburn,  West Ham are the only ones left. Worst
    still I backed the other three, but not the hammers!!!!
    
    A draw (again) will be enough, then we can progress to the next round,
    with a midweek game at Upton Park......

.75>    Away to Sunderland tomorrow in the FA cup.  Of my four teams, WH,
.75>    Spurs, Man Utd and Blackburn,  West Ham are the only ones left. Worst
.75>    still I backed the other three, but not the hammers!!!!
    
	Look on the bright side. You could have wasted money on West Ham
as well.

    Re. -1 The bright side is we are almost there at Weeemmbllyy ;-)
           I did notice your 4-0 prediction!!!!
    
    Re. Tommorows game, West Ham will be missing;-
    
    	McAvennie, Thomas, Miklosko, Bishop, Parris and Gale 
    
    I have a bad feeling about this game... At least we can consentrate on
    the Championship.
    

    The only way you are going to Wem-blee Tony is if the FA move the
    stadium, brick by brick,to Fantasy Island !!

    The Hammers drew at Sunderland (1-1)

    
    went to a 'do' in East London on saturday,
    they played 'im forever blowing bubbles' and all the hammers fans were
    cheering and stuff.
    i thought youd WON!
    perhaps hammers fans are just naturally happy?
    
    Ian.
    

    		Sunderland  1-1  West Ham
    
    Seemed a fair result having listened to capital-gold, Small back on the
    score sheet. Tony Parks again making some important saves...
    
    Will be a good game on wednesday 26th Feb at Upton Park....The winners
    travel to Chelsea in the next round.

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    Its now time to concentrate on the championship ;-)
    
    West Ham 2-3 Sunderland
    
    John Byrne was the man who put us out with a couple of first half
    goals....Everton you can have Attevald back, his ball across our
    penalty area in the 6th minute setup Sunderlands first. Martin
    Allen scored each side of the interval to make it 2-2 and all to
    play for ... alas a 78th minute goal from David Rush made it 2-3.

.66> Another lucky FA Cup draw - next round away to Oxford/Sunderland

	Very lucky draw! :-) :-) :-)

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
======================================================================
West Ham	0 - 2	Everton		-			27
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
=====================================================================
Liverpool	1 - 0	West Ham	-			27 <-bottom
West Ham	0 - 2	Everton		-			27
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
=====================================================================
West Ham	0 - 2	Arsenal		-			27 <-Still
Liverpool	1 - 0	West Ham	-			27 <-bottom
West Ham	0 - 2	Everton		-			27
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
=====================================================================
West Ham	2 - 2	QPR		Small, Breaker		28 <-and
West Ham	0 - 2	Arsenal		-			27 <-Still
Liverpool	1 - 0	West Ham	-			27 <-bottom
West Ham	0 - 2	Everton		-			27
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

Yippeeeeee

Were on a roll now - one win in a row, best run of the season. Lets dish out 
the same to Man city, man Utd, Sheff wed, forest, coventry, and palace........
and we might finish 3rd last.

Did anyone out there actually witness this historic turning point in the season?

 - Kev

Home		Score	Away		WH scorers		Points
=====================================================================
West Ham	4 - 0	Norwich		Rush(2),Dicks,Bishop	32 <-Still 	
Chelsea		2 - 1	West Ham	Allen			29 <-Bottom
Leeds		0 - 0	West Ham	-			29
West Ham	2 - 2	QPR		Small, Breaker		28 
West Ham	0 - 2	Arsenal		-			27 
Liverpool	1 - 0	West Ham	-			27 <-bottom
West Ham	0 - 2	Everton		-			27
Sheffied Wed	2 - 1	West Ham	Small			27
West Ham	1 - 0	Oldham		Thomas			27
Luton		0 - 1	West Ham	Small			24
West Ham        1 - 1   Wimbledon	Morley			21
West Ham	1 - 3	Leeds		Dicks			20
Notts County	3 - 0 	West Ham	-			20
Aston Vill	3 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		20
West Ham	1 - 1	Sheffield Utd	Dicks			20
Everton		4 - 0	West Ham	-			19
Manchester Utd	2 - 1	West Ham	McAvennie		19
West Ham	0 - 0	Liverpool	-			19
Arsenal		0 - 1	West Ham	small			18
West Ham	2 - 1	Tottenham	small,thomas		15
Oldham		2 - 2	West Ham 	small,McAvennie		12
West Ham 	0 - 1	Coventry	-			11
Notts Forest	2 - 2	West Ham	small,small		11
West Ham        1 - 2   Manchester City brown			10
Crystal Palace  2 - 3   West Ham	thomas,morley,small	10    
Norwich		2 - 1   West Ham	small			7
West Ham	1 - 1   Chelsea		small			7
QPR		0 - 0   West Ham	-			6
West Ham	0 - 2   Notts County	-			5
West Ham	3 - 1   Aston Villa	small,rosenior,brown	5
Wimbledon   	2 - 0   West Ham	-			2
Sheffield Utd  	1 - 1   West Ham	small			2
West Ham      	0 - 0	Luton 		-			1

    Bit late for this, 
    
    West Ham fans are being asked by the supporters club to walk out of 
    tonights game 5 minutes after half time.  Sod that...if I pay to get
    in I want to see the whole match....then again as someone has already
    mentioned the game will be over in the first half anyway!

So did anyone leave the match just after half-time or what?
Is the feeling among the supporters that bad towards the club/management 
these days. I assume the bond scheme is still the issue here.

Personally I feel all these bond schemes are a joke anyway. What do the 
supporters get for their money - a more modern stadium which they won't like
and won't own even though they've paid for it. I say they won't like it as
these all-seater stadia kill the atmosphere at a game. The money should be 
raised somewhere else or better yet, not at all. Every club needing an all-seater
ground is financially impossible and unnecessary, simply limiting the number of
people allowed on the terrace surely solves the problem?

So its Div 2 next year? A chance to rebuild and do the job right in Div 1 the 
next year. God I'm getting old!

- Kevin

    I left before kick off :-)

    Oh well ... it was fun last time we went down, lets hope we can come
    straight back up.....
    
    Did you know we are this first team to be relegated to the 1st DIV.

    Anyone got the fixtures for the new season?
    
    Ian

	Barnsley 0    West Ham 1

	Scorer Clive Allen, Mike Small was sent off with 7 mins to go.

	Phil.

    
    Barnsley hit the woodwork and had a clear penalty appeal rejected.
    
    Ian.

    
    Any of you Hammers got any info on Celtic's new 1.5 million pound
    player, Stuart Slater ?
    
    Is he worth that kind of cash ?
    
    Was he a favourite with the fans ?
    
    Is he as good a player as Liam Brady leads us to believe ?
    
    In anticipation
    
    

Have to mention it :

West Ham   6 - 0   Sunderland

Things are going quite well this year in division 1. Record is now 6 wins, 
2 draws and 2 defeats - league position - 5th.

Out of the coke cup this week though, going out to Crewe

Oh well......

re -1

Bit quiet since Kev Huh! Huh?

                       James.

Thought I'd do a bit of housekeeping, so I'm in here in the West Ham note trying
to find the light switch - ah there it is..now to dust off these cobwebs.

Lets see - just hoofed out of the FA Cup by Barnsley 4-1 last Sunday. Good Luck 
to them - they're a good side. 

The Hams are currently 3rd in Division 1, the results seem to be going well and 
things are looking good for Premier League football next season. If anyone in 
DEC goes to West Ham games, a match report or two would be appreeciated - a match 
report in the Irish papers is rare enough.

Who is on the team these days? 

How are they playing?

Is it true that Julian Dicks has just bought an AK47 from Ian Wright?

Well???


 - Kevin

P.S. 

What ever happened to HUGH::RAYNERT ??

    Re Whatever happened to HUGH::RAYNERT
    
    		Tony left DEC ~Oct. last year !
    He is currently working for some banking organizaation in the City.
    
    I have his 'phone number(s) if you need more than just a report on a
    Hammer's game -;)
    
    Dave

Did the 'ammers play on Tuesday and if so, who did they beat..ahem..what was 
the score?

Also. whats the top of Div 1 look like now??

    West Ham 2 - 1 Grimsby
    
    Newcastle           x pts
    West 'Am            x-5 pts
    Swindon or Millwall x-9 pts I think

Great results at the weekend, Portsmouth losing 4-1 at Sunderland, while West Ham
won against Swindon on Sunday. This result puts the hammers back in 2nd place for the 
first time in about a month, and with one game to go, all that is needed for 
automatic promotion is to get as many points as Portsmouth in their last game, 
and not have Portsmouth score 2 more goals than west ham do.

The matches are 

	West Ham v Cambridge
	Portsmouth v Grimsby

The four teams in the playoffs are 
	
	West Ham / Portsmouth
	Swindon
	Leicester
	Tranmere.

Derby County, despite their ambitions, didn't even get close in the end.

    
    It's still possible that Newcastle could be in the play offs if they
    lose their last 3 games (or get one draw) and assuming both West Ham and 
    Portsmouth win their remaining game (by a hatful if Newcastle draw a
    game).
    
    However, it's not that likely.
    
    Tim

re -2

I see Kevin appears when West Ham are doing the business.  Where were you when 
they were in a little trouble earlier in the season?   The question must be
asked.

                             James.

    
    Just found the football notes and was reading the Man Utd notes and
    all the congratulations when I thought there must be one for the
    Hammers.
    
    Great results at the weekend have put us in the frame for automatic
    promotion but Cambridge will be scrapping for points as they are in 
    deep trouble and only a win will do them wheras Grimbsy have really
    finished their season. Will Porthsmouths two sent off players be
    suspended at the weekend. Maybe that will help. We need a win and
    with a few goals to keep us there, because those play offs are a
    real lottery.
    
    Come on the Hammers.
    
    Pat

    RE -1 and the praise for ManU - "sycophantic" is the word that springs
    to mind ..
    
    Ray

    
    	Yes,  wonderful stroke of luck coming at this stage of the season.
    All fingers crossed for the last games (WH and P).  
    
    	Assuming prem. league football next season (just for the moment),
    does anyone know the financal status at Upton Park?   What's the bank
    statement look like?   Do we have anything left from Cottee, Ince,
    Slater (is he still alive?) etc?
    
    	I can't help but think one or two extra players might come in
    handy next season.   Comments?
    
    Cliff

Yeah...IF the hammers go up, and IF they have money (I don't think so), then 
they could do quite well. Otherwise, its going to be tough for them to survive. 
They don't play the power football of the likes of Sheff. Utd - they aim for a 
prettier game, but it needs a lot of class to pull it off succesfully.

Anyway, for now, lets hope they do the business on Saturday, and it'll be time
to celebrate.

P.S. I'd like Swindon to go up too - thats a club thats been on the verge of 
success for a while. I saw them play once this year, they were on SKY in a cup 
match and got trounced by Man City or someone. They had an awful defense, but 
looked like a useful side if they could get a few things right.

 - Kevin

    RE: -2
    
    "RE -1 and the praise for ManU - "sycophantic" is the word that springs
     to mind .."
    
    Ray,
    
    I am afraid "dictionary" was the one that sprang to mind for me when I
    read this. However its a nice looking work and really trips off the
    tongue.
    
    I was examining the MU file to see had the great "Cunno" come to grips 
    with his great disappointment.
    
    Enough of MU they have had their day. What we want now is them to be
    visiting Upton Park next season. Lets hope we get the result that puts
    us up automatically.
    
    If this does not happen haw are the play offs arranged. I know the
    final is played at Wembly but who do we play in the semi, is it a 
    draw or do 3rd play 6th and 4th play 5th. Is it two legged or not.
    
    Pat 

    Pat,
    
    The play-offs are :
    
    1st Leg 	6th v 3rd, 5th v 4th
    2nd Leg	3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th
    
    And away goals count double (if I remember correctly) only after extra 
    time in the second leg.
    
    Winners meet at Wembley probably on weekend of 29th/30th/31st May.
    
    But hopefully the 'ammers will trounce Cambridge on Saturday and send
    them down.
    
    Rob
    

    .114>    But hopefully the 'ammers will trounce Cambridge on Saturday and send
    .114>    them down.
    
    As the conference's token Brentford supporter, I endorse that
    wholeheartedly ! And if Charlton could manage to stuff Birmingham as
    well, I'd be equally and eternally (well, 'til next season anyway) grateful.
    
    Jim

    
    Jim,
    
    ...confident of getting a result at Ashton Gate them ;-)
    
    
    ...as the conference's token Notts County fan, I just pray we get a
    result at Derby tonight, 'cos I don't think I could stand a nail-biting
    90 minutes glued to the Radio during the game with Sunderland on
    Saturday =:-0
    
    Rob

    .116>    Jim,
    .116>    
    .116>    ...confident of getting a result at Ashton Gate them ;-)
    
    Of course - see the Brentford note for a fuller response.
    
    .116>    ...as the conference's token Notts County fan, I just pray we get a
    .116>    result at Derby tonight, 'cos I don't think I could stand a nail-biting
    .116>    90 minutes glued to the Radio during the game with Sunderland on
    .116>    Saturday =:-0
    
    After the 97th minute (!) equaliser you got against us on Easter Monday,
    you surely don't expect sympathy ?! :-) I just hope one of the two of
    you goes down - nothing personal you understand - and as we don't seem
    to have a Sunderland rep in the conference, let's agree it will be
    them, eh ?
    
    Jim
    

        Well I hate the Hammers so I hope Cambridge give you a good
        thumping on Saturday.  That would also help the cause of good
        football and hopefully ensure that Birmingham go down.  
    
    
        I hate the BLUES
       
        Barry  

    
    	I've been disappointed by all the jingoism entering this
    conference, but this must take the biscuit for mindless football
    hooliganism.  How can any football lover hate the Hammers?   
    
    Cliff

        Easy.  There constant coverage on TV.  Trevor Brooking and 
        Brian Moore who keeps saying West Ham are the acedemy of 
        football.  I hope you lose to Cambridge meaning Pompey go up 
        then beat Tranmere in the play-offs and then get beat by 
        Leicester in penalties at Wembley.
    
        Now that would be a dream! 
    
        Barry  

    
    	I think the BS from the box has pissed off the West Ham board too.
    It's not impossible to imagine a change of styes,  I see it creeping
    in.  Billy Bonds as manager,  Martin Allen as Captain.  (We even tried
    Julian Dicks as captain).   Ludo can already kick the ball the length
    of the pitch.  Closed season signings of Fash and Vinnie and bob's your
    uncle.
    
    

West Ham are up!

Beat Cambridge on Saturday 2-0, while Pompey beat Grimsby 2-1. 

    Yes we are in the Premier division next year. 
    
    Saturday was nailbiting here listening to the results until we
    were 2-0 up. 
    
    I think however we need to make a few signings to make sure we 
    stay up. It will be very hard next year. Whats our panel like.
    Have we got any cash to make signing or will we just be trying 
    to survive. 
    
    But its great news that we went up as I would have hated to have
    the lottery of play off's.
    
    Pat
    Pat

    
    	I asked the same question a few back - anyone know the state of
    WHFCs accounts?   In terms of signings.   Even without
    injuries/suspensions etc,  I think we'll struggle without a central
    defender,  and a new target man.    Does anyone else think Morley will
    make it in the premier league?    He seems a real favourite with the
    regulars,  but I'm unconvinced.    Poachers like Clive Allen need
    someone to attract the attention.   
    
    	Still,  there's some good news.  I man not be a fan of Morleys, 
    but does anyone else remember what a liability Kelly was?   Keegan must
    have him on steroids.  
    
    Cliff

    
    
    Kelly a liabilty!! in a bad side maybe,but playing with good players
    in the best side in the country  LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS.
    

Kelly was having a promising start to his career, and then went to West Ham. 
For some reason, everything went wrong for him...just couldn't score. The fans 
were on his back, which I suppose just made things worse, and he couldn't get 
out of his slump. 

He needed a break or a fresh start. Newcastle have been lucky
enough to get Kelly back on form. I don't know what price Newcastle paid for him, 
but I'm sure they got a good deal there. 

Also, that lad Cole seems to be having a 
great season at Newcastle since his move from Arsenal......great buy. Was it 
Keegan who bought Kelly also?? 

    
    Kelly has been superb this season. Ardiles bought him for �250K. Cole
    is a terrific player -- a certain future England player. He's 21 now
    and worth every penny of the �1.75M Keegan payed for him. 
    
    I'm glad the Hammers went up, but seeing that's there's no money (even 
    to keep Speedie) then I think you'll be straight back down (I am here to 
    be shot at if I'm wrong).
    
    Tim

    
    	Apparently when Kelly went through his terrible spell (with West
    Ham) he was fantastic in training,  showed tons of skille etc,  but he
    couldn't do anything right on match day.   West Ham were stunned when
    anyone offered anything for him.
    
    	As you say - I gather he's had an excellent season (although
    interestingly he did nothing at Upton Park during the 0-0 draw) I'd
    still be worried someone puts another spell on him....
    
    Cliff

    
    
    He did score against West Ham at St James back in Sept 92,and from what
    i can remember of the goal it was one of the better ones in his 28
    goal total.

    RE: Last few !
	
    It seems David Kelly has regained his form with Newcastle and good
    luck to him. He has always performed well for Ireland scoring goals
    in his matches. I think when he was with the Hammers the "Boo Boy's"
    got on his back and his confidence slumped. A similar think happened
    with a keeper we bought from Celtic (Knight I think). Why so called
    supporters get onto players from their owen team always strikes me
    as very ironic. I wonder where Knight is now. He was the Northern
    Ireland keeper for a time.
    
    Back to us in the premier division next year I seem to detect a lack
    of confidence in us surviving. It will be hard no doubt but do all
    premier division clubs not get a payment from Sky each season. Or
    are our finance's so bad we will swallow the cash into the overdraft
    or Upton Park so that it is TAYLORED.
    
    Pat 

    
    Saw on today's paper that David O'Leary may be signing for us
    for next season. Any comments. What are our centre halves like
    or are we going to play a sweeper.
    
    Pat

     Re -1,
           Pat, 
               I would absolutely love if Souness sold Torben Piechnik & Stig
 Bjornbye. Maybe the Hammers could do us a favour and put in a bid for both of
 those plonkers.


      C U N N O

    
    RE: -1 
    
    No thanks Martin.
    
    Pat

    
    	I heard the same thing - free transfer apparently.    Someone asked
    about our defence.   We've looked good at full back (imo) Breaker (and
    Brown) good right backs,  who get forward well.   Julian `nutter' Dicks 
    is worth a place (from the neck down) as England's left back.   At one
    stage with Big (old) Alvin Martin as the marking centre back, and the
    skilful geezer (for some reason I've forgotten his name) sweeping
    behind him,  we looked good in the middle too.   At the end of the season
    without Martin,  we wern't as good.
    
    	I can't help but think O'Leary might be slightly past his best.
    Although not too excited by the offer from Anfield (-.2) perhaps we could
    ask if thay can locate that bloke who used to be some good before they
    got hold of him.   Mark Wright his name was.   Perhaps we could help
    him out of his Sourness-induced hell.
    
    	With him; and Cantona up front (plus Giggs out wide and maybe
    Billy the Fish and the Large Breasted Red Skin Winger) perhaps we would 
    have a chance of staying up.
    
    Cliff

    
    I don't suppose any of you Hammers would consider buying back that
    prolific striker Stuart (two goals in 53 games) Slater, would you ?
    
    SQFCSC
    
    

    
    	Too young for us mate.  Looks like Billy's only interested in
    people from his own era.  Perhaps he's looking for an excuse to don the
    kit himself.  
    
    	How much did we get for Stuart Slater?   (no meaning to rub it
    in).  Although never a real goalscorer,  he was a great runner with the
    ball,  very skillful running at defenses.

    
    1.4 million !
    
    I must admit, in the matches he has turned it on......he's been a joy
    to watch. Unfortunately, these are few & far between !
    
    SQFCSC
    
    

	Could someone either post West Ham's coming season fixture list or
	send a copy through the internal mail to Ray Shaw @SBP.

	Ray

    Could someone in the know post the fixtures for next season.
    
    Are there any new signing for the coming season.
    
    Pat

    Pat,
    
    I don't have the fixtures, I'm afraid, but I did see that The Hammers
    have signed much travelled 29 year old defender Simon Webster from
    Charlton.....
    
    ...unfortunatety, he could be out for the season following a 'tackle'
    in training yesterday that broke his leg. No prizes for guessing that
    the culprit was....
    
    ....Julian Dicks
    
    
    Rob

    Falkirk 1    West ham 1  (A Dive in the penalty box *:@)


    Don't think the rest of the Premier league has anything to worry about
    going by last nights performance...!!!
    
     

	Some old news:

	Dunfermline 2 WH 1

	Billy Bonds Has been watching Brett Angell, the Southend striker, and
	Chapman of Leeds.

	Ray.

    
    Well our pre-season friendlies in Scotland went well. A draw at Falkirk
    and a defeat at Dumfermline. The big guns in the premier division must
    be shaking in their boots. 
    
    We will go down if something does not improve. I thought I saw in some
    paper lately that we signed Dale Gordon from Rangers for 700 K. Is this
    true. He did OK with Norwich but I do not think he ever set Ibrox
    alight with his displays. Our other signing was dispatched to hospital
    by Julian Dicks. Not a lot to look forward to. 
    
    Lets hope we do OK for the coming season. Anyone out there have the 
    fixtures and do we feature on Sky during the season.
    
    
    Pat

    Dale Gordon was signed and was playing against Falkirk last thursday.
    
    
    
    
     

    Re 143
    
    There was a letter in a magazine by a West Ham supporter complaining
    that weren't going to be on TV in the earlier part of the season.  
    
    
    
    
    Gary

    West Ham Utd 1993/94 Fixtures
    
    Sat 14 Aug     Wimbledon         H
    Tue 17 Aug     Leeds Utd         A
    Sat 21 Aug     Coventry          A
    Wed 25 Aug     Sheff.Wed         H
    Sat 28 Aug     Q.P.R             H
    
    Wed  1 Sep     Man.Utd           A
    Sat 11 Sep     Swindon Town      H
    Sat 18 Sep     Blackburn Rovers  A
    Sat 25 Sep     Newcastle Utd     A
    
    Sat  2 Oct     Chelsea           H
    Sat 16 Oct     Aston Villa       H
    Sat 23 Oct     Norwich City      A
    
    Mon  1 Nov     Man.City          H
    Sat  6 Nov     Liverpool         A
    Sat 20 Nov     Oldham Athletic   H
    Wed 24 Nov     Arsenal           H
    Sat 27 Nov     Southampton       A
    
    Sat  4 Dec     Wimbledon         A
    Wed  8 Dec     Leeds Utd         H
    Sat 11 Dec     Coventry City     H
    Sat 18 Dec     Sheff.Wed         A
    Mon 27 Dec     Ipswich Town      A
    Tue 28 Dec     Tottenham H       H
    
    Sat  1 Jan     Everton           A
    Mon  3 Jan     Sheff.Utd         H
    Sat 15 Jan     Aston Villa       A
    Sat 22 Jan     Norwich City      H
    
    Sat 12 Feb     Man.City          A
    Sat 19 Feb     Q.P.R             A
    Sat 26 Feb     Man.Utd           H
    
    Sat  3 Mar     Swindon Town      A
    Sat 12 Mar     Blackburn Rovers  H
    Sat 19 Mar     Newcastle Utd     H
    Sat 26 Mar     Chelsea           A
    Tue 29 Mar     Sheff.Utd         A
    
    Sat  2 Apr     Ipswich Town      H
    Mon  4 Apr     Tottenham H       A
    Sat  9 Apr     Everton           H
    Sat 16 Apr     Oldham Athletic   A
    Sat 23 Apr     Liverpool         H
    Sat 30 Apr     Arsenal           A
    
    Sat  7 May     Southampton       H
    

	West Ham Utd 0  Wimbledon 2

	It can only get better......

	Phil.

    Only saw the bit "goal" on MOTD but we looked leaky at the back. I 
    saw in one of todays papers that BB is trying to sign Ronnie 
    Rosenthal from Liverpool. Any further news.
    
    Lets hope for something better tonight in Leeds (wishful thinking).
    
    Pat 

	Prediction for tonight

	Leeds 1 West Ham 2 


	Phil. 

	See the Leeds note for last nights match report.

	Ray.

    Well we got our first point on saturday with a 1-1 draw at Coventry,
    which was not too bad since they had won their two previous matches.
    The goal was scored by Dale Gordon so he is also off the mark. Home
    matches against Sheffield Wed tomorrow and Q.P.R. on saturday so lets
    hope for good results.
    
    Pat

    
    I think...
    
    Heard on the radio that West Ham scored two.

    
    	Me to,  Shef. Wednesday were kind enough to let us in for the clubs
    first premier league 3-pointer.   Anyone got any details, scorers?
    Team?
    
    Cliff

    
    Clive Allen got both goals, both in the last 10 minutes I think.
    
    Dave...

To save Cliff from buying a paper, team:

Miklosko; Breacker, Dicks, Potts [lovely names!!], M Allen, Butler, Morley, C 
Allen, Gordon, Foster, Rowland.

And Bishop seems to be on his way to Soton, with Breacker also on his way out 
- strange.

g

Apparently Breacker and Bishop have signed new 3-year contracts with WHU - I 
see my timing's still with me.

g

    Did not see MOTD on saturday due to being in single channel land (no
    BBC). From the reports on the newspaper on sunday we got well and 
    truely licked. 0-4 at home to Q.P.R. seems a very bad result. 0-4
    at home to anyone is bad and I think confirms that we will struggle
    this season. Any comments from any regular at Upton Park on whats 
    wrong and how can it be corrected.
    
    A long time sufferer.
    
    Pat

    
    I always thought when West Ham got promotion that they would struggle
    this season, I dont think they have a good enough side to be in 
    the Premier league. 
    
    Andy..B

    Thanks Andy for the vote of confidence but after 0-4 on saturday 
    against QPR and 0-3 last night at OT maybe you are correct. I wonder
    did we play anyone in defence for these two matches. Maybe thats 
    why we let 7 in. 
    
    But if they were not in defence where the hell were they because 
    they were not up front as the big zero goals for would signify.
    
    Thankfully there are other teams in similar trouble so maybe we
    might survive.
    
    Pat 
    

    
    Is Billy playing?   Frank?   Bobby?
    
    

    Well things have started to improve a little. A good result on saturday 
    at Blackburn. From what I saw on MOTD we passed the ball around well.
    2-0 away from home nice one. We also won 5-1 in the coca cola cup last
    night against Chesterfield. So at least the scoring is improving. 
    Chapman I think will be a good signing. Burrows and Marsh plus cash
    for Julian from the pool not bad either.
    Heres hoping for more improvements.
    
    Pat

    Billy Bonds has also just completed the signing of Dutch Under-21
    International Jerone Boere from Go-Ahead Eagles for 165,000 quid.
    
    I reckon we're on the way up......
    
    Ian

       <<< Note 55.162 by WELCLU::BROWNI "The Man who sold the World" >>>
                            -< ALSO SIGNED....... >-

>>    Billy Bonds has also just completed the signing of Dutch Under-21
>>    International Jerone Boere from Go-Ahead Eagles for 165,000 quid.
>>    
>>    I reckon we're on the way up......
>>    
>>    Ian

IAn,

It's Jeroen Boere and according to my information it was a couple of years
back that he was an under-21 international.

T_

    
    	Under-21 international a couple of years back - that's fine with
    me,   still makes him under-30, - young for a West Ham signing.
    
    	2 Nil at Blackburn was a great result,  but from what I saw of the
    highlights we we're v. lucky to get away with a clean sheet.  Still,
    the points are what matters.  
    
    Cliff

                      <<< Note 55.164 by HEART::DIDCOCK >>>
                           -< where does he play?. >-

    

    Another three points on saturday against Chelsea. Only saw the goal
    and Dennis Wise's "tackle" on MotD. Anyone have a report. We are 
    still however in the danger zone. I still think its going to be a
    fight all the way but I am more optimistic after the recent signings.
    
    Pat 

    
    In case anyone's interested the scorers were Burrows, Chapman and
    Holmes.  We increased our goals in league total by 50%!!!

    
    Some of the nicest Premier league football I've seen in a long time
    came from the 'ammers last night.  

    Good win last night. I saw most of the match on Sky last night and
    thought we played some very nice football. The battle between Alvin
    Martin and Niall Quinn was a rugged affair. We deserved to win. 
    
    Here's hoping for another win on saturday..
    
    Pat 

As it is the Kop's last year I decided it was my final chance to
achieve something that I had wanted to do for years. Stand with the
Liverpool supporters on the Kop.

My wife is from Liverpool and I from East London and her familly still
live in Liverpool. So I travelled up from the Solent Friday, got drunk
in the local pub in Knotty Ash (yes really) and went with my Liverpool
supporting brother-in-law to the game.

The first half West Ham were brilliant. I have not seen them, apart from
on Sky last Monday, for over a year and I was impressed. I held a season
ticket until a couple of years ago and if they are dishing up that kind
of football I am only sorry that location and cost keeps me away.

We could have been 3 up by half-time and it was only poor finishing and
some good goalkeeping that kept us out. There I was 13,999 Liverpool 
supporters on the kop and me, and I was the only happy one at half time.

The second half was different, Redknapp was great. For me he changed the
game. He took West Ham's domination of midfield away and was forever running.
It wasn't the fact in the first half that West Ham were winning the ball,
but rather Liverpool giving it away, that changed.

Liverpool steadilly came forward, with West Ham still playing good football
but being forced to defend more. Then the first goal. The kop had been
slagging Clough all match but there he was! 

The goal destroyed West Ham completely but they kept at it. Potts in defence
was outstanding but it was a pity that Chapman was getting nothing.

The second goal finished it and with a goal like that with the ball
rebounding everywhere finishing up in the net, there is no answer - 
and you know it is not your day.

Despite being a disappointing result, I was pleased with the West Ham
performance, just a pity we lacked the final punch.

Ray.

    
    Just heard...
    
       West Ham  3 - 3  Norwich last night
    
	Allen		Sutton (2)
	Jones		Fox
	Morley

	Goal Sequence

	West Ham 0	Norwich 1
	West Ham 1      Norwich 1
	West Ham 2	Norwich 1
	West Ham 2	Norwich 2
	West Ham 2	Norwich 3
	West Ham 3	Norwich 3

   Ian

    I see the West Ham fans (dipsticks the lot of em') behaved themselves on
    Saturday.  
    
    
    
    /Gary

    Thanks Neil...
    
    
    
    /GAry

    Pot calling kettle black.
    
    
    

	Crunch match on Saturday against Ipswich, whoever loses will
	be dragged deep into the relegation battle. A win for West Ham
	will ease their worries.

	The remaining fixtures could be very interesting:


    Sat  2 Apr     Ipswich Town      H
    Mon  4 Apr     Tottenham H       A
    Sat  9 Apr     Everton           H
    Sat 16 Apr     Oldham Athletic   A
    Sat 23 Apr     Liverpool         H
    Sat 30 Apr     Arsenal           A
    
    Sat  7 May     Southampton       H

	Does anyone know the two missing fixtures from the list above?

	Hopefully, on Monday evening West Ham will be languishing in mid-
 	table mediocrity.

	Phil.

    I think West Ham still have to play Blackburn at home towards the end
    of April.

    5 potential 6-pointers plus three teams vying for Championship/Euro
    honours. Sounds like a bugger of a run in to me.
    
    Paul.
    

>    I think West Ham still have to play Blackburn at home towards the end
>    of April.

Yep, they were meant to meet on March 12th, but I guess it was postponed
due to the Hammers cup run(out).

Colin.

What a weekend!,  West Ham 2 Ipswich 1 and at White Hart Lane:


	Spurs 1 West Ham 4
		Jones
		Morley (2) 
		Marsh



This was sweet revenge, especially seeing that West Ham's season had taken a turn
for the worse after losing 3-1 to Spurs at home. One more win and the Hammers 
should be safe.

Phil.

Will it be easy to pick up a ticket for West Ham V Everton on Saturday.
I plan to visit upton park for the first time.

�@

    <<< Note 55.183 by ESSB::BLONG "UNITED Premier League CHAMPIONS 1993" >>>
                                -< Upton Park >-

>>Will it be easy to pick up a ticket for West Ham V Everton on Saturday.
>>I plan to visit upton park for the first time.
>>
>>�@


Brian,

be there on time and after you entered Upton Park stand behind the goal on the
left-side , stay a bit on the side otherwise you'll be in the middle of all
these Hammers fans. I was there a year and a half ago when they played 
Birmingham and it was good fun.

T_

If anyone out there know's this seasons fixture list could they reply on notes,
or mail me.  Also does anyone know what the ground capacity will be without the
north bank, thanks Mark (Steve Potts for England!!!)

Forty2::mdavies

I'm surprised that nobody has posted this yet.

CEEFAX had a report that Bonds has quit West Ham.
The managerial post has now gone to Redknapp following
Bonds' departure.

Anyone else to fill in more details.

/Kev

As reported in the Daily Telegraph:

Bonds has made it clear that he resigned after the board told him they wanted
Redknapp to assume full control.

Bonds said" I had a meeting with the chairman. The board wanted to
reshuffle the pack. They wanted Harry to take over as manager and me to take a 
job as paid Director. I delined that job because I still feel I have something
to offer as a manager. I have no hard feelings against anyone at West Ham and I
wish Harry all the best. The club have paid me up what is left of my contract. I
feel my record at the club has been good and I leave them better off than when I
started as a manager. I want to get back into the game. I will be looking for 
something. I'm only 47 and still think I have plenty to offer the game".

Storrie said "It wasn't a case of taking the managementship away from Bill. He
decided to call it a day. We offered him the opportunity to stay at the club by
becoming a Director, the first player to do so. But he declined. We did
everything possible to keep him. If Harry had gone to Bournemouth there is a good
chance that Bill would have resigned anyway so we were in a no-win situation.
There is no ill feeling between Bill and the club. We are sad he's going. It's
a big blow but it is time to move on and we have appointed a great manager.

Redknapp said "For two years Billy's had days when he's said 'I've had enough'.
It's been going on with him a long time. We all know what Billy was like as a
player. When he sees people not meeting those standards it makes him low".

Ray Shaw says "It is a sad departure. He has given me, my familly and friends
a great deal of pleasure over the many years he has spent at West Ham".



Ray.

Well everbody, apart from the faithful, are predicting that West Ham
will be relegated this season. Even the Today newspaper 'stupid'
computer prediction put them at bottom of the league for the first
21 matchs, bet the programmer was a Chelsea supporter.

To me this is great news, the same was said last season and apart
from a few hiccups I thought that the lads did quite well, pity
about the Luton result though and it would have been great if
we had held on against Man Utd. Thoroughly enjoyed the Man City
result , 3-1 I think.

Predictions for the forthcoming season: 

	West Ham will beat Man Utd 
	West Ham will get a EUFA (sp?) place
	but this will not be needed cause they'll win the FA cup
	Top London club

	

Mind you I would settle for West Ham getting off to winning ways on 
Saturday, then atleast we would be out of the relegation zone for
atleast a week.

Phil.
		

Are West Ham in the Premier league this season..???? 8-)


Tony

It seems MU supporters are so vain that they dont
know who their opponents are in the Premiership -).

But we won't mind when we draw great pleasure in
seeing their opponents beat them this season,
that includes teams that they didn't realise 
are playing in the Premier -).

Phil.

    OK, what's the real story behind Joey Beauchamp going to Swindon.  It
    seems incredible to outsiders that he made public statements about a
    wrong move after 2 days!
    
    Anybody got an inside track?
    dave c 

    
    I hope West Ham survive this season.  I alway's like to see them do
    well except when they play Chelsea, it almost broke my heart when I saw
    Chelsea beat them 2-1 at the bridge 3 seasons ago (Allen having just
    transferred scoring the consolation goal), this result almost
    garranteed them relegation.  It was particularly bad as it is the only
    major football match I have ever attended with my father, a life long 
    West Ham fan.
    
    Before I started going regularly to the bridge to watch the greatest
    team in the world, I used to regularly go to Upton Park with friends
    from West Ham, they lived in the flat across the road from my Nan's.
    
    It was hard work being a Chelsea fan in those day's but I remember
    standing in the schoolboy's enclosure right up by the pitch, cheering
    on the 'Ammer's and leaning over trying to touch players when they
    where taking corners or throw in's (secret pervy alert).  It cost 50p
    entry but we would alway's try and sneak in.
    
    A stroll down East Ham High st with my Nan and Grandad in the morning
    followed by Pie and Mash then off to the game was my idea of a prefect
    Saturday in those day's.
    
    My Nan used to live not 200 yards from the old memorial park where West
    Ham's first stadium was (Anne Bolyen??).  It had been turned into a
    yoof club that I used to go to.
    
    There was something about Upton Park and the East End in general that I
    can't quite put my finger on.  I miss it since my Grandad died and my
    Nan moved to Cornwall.
    
    Enough of this over endulgent, self-disclosure, reminicent clap trap,
    times change and I'm off to the Bridge on Saturday to see the Super
    Blues.  The only team that I have really loved even when I had to 
    attend West Ham games and be dragged along to Arsenal games before I 
    was old enough to enjoy the most consitent thing in my life, 
    my football team.
    
    Loz.
    
    PS good luck West Ham.
    

Is anyone travelling by car to West Ham V Newcastle, on Wednesday 31 August.  If
so I'm willing to share petrol etc.  If so, can you call me I live in Earley,
Reading, my phone number is (0734) 665995, or can you mail me at forty2::mdavies,

cheers Mark (Come on you Irons!)

Have all the fellow irons gone to sleep, could be understandable considering the
impressive start to the new season.

    
    	Try the Sheff Wed note - they've been talking about "irons" all
    	week 8-)
    
    	Andy.

	Well I am still here, alive and kicking. I wish I could say the same
	for our team!

	What's the news on Cottee and Dicks. I've missed the papers all week.

	Ray.

Cottee joined us from Everton on Tuesday with 100 grand, in exchange for
Burrows, should be some interesting reactions at the next home game, although
personally I think he's one of the best strikers we've ever had, and he's still
got the pace.  Dicks is considering a three month loan with Birmingham City,
taking him back to his roots.

Here's hoping that Cottee marks his come back game with a hatrick,
while highflying pool figure out whos playing where.

Does anybody know about this Southend striker that we are hoping
to swap Lee Chapman + cash for?. 

Phil.

    <<< Note 55.198 by RDGENG::YERKESS "bring me sunshine in your smile" >>>
                        -< Things can only get better >-


>Does anybody know about this Southend striker that we are hoping
>to swap Lee Chapman + cash for?. 

 Isn't the deal with Southend, for full back Chris Powell?

 Stuart

re .199 

Thanks Stuart, you could be right I only heard it briefly on Radio 5.

Phil.

	Re-.197

	The last I heard was that Dicks had refused the loan to Birmingham.

    
    Zut Alors! There is life in this topic, shame that the same thing can't
    be said about the season so far  ;-)
    
    I'm one of two Hammers 'supporters' stranded in Evry hoping that you
    blokes back there were going to keep us informed of events, so now that
    some life has been stirred in the ol' dog can it be kept fed and
    watered?
    
    Steve, hoping for some up-to-the-minute info and looking forward to
    doubling the 'Goals For' ASAP :-{}oooOOO
    
    PS apologies for the 'bubbles'  
    

    
    re .-1 
    
    apologies, also, for the title

    
    Closet?  What closet?  Are you referring to 'trap 2' Steve?  Sorry
    World this is an 'in joke' in Evry, we have to try to amuse ourselves
    coz there ain't a lot more to laugh about out here!
    
    Ian

    Well .194 was a call to fellow 'irons' so out-of-the-closet seemed
    appropriate. No, not Trap 2, I just Owen emerge looking rather flushed!
    
    Steve.

    
    OK, so now that at least two more of us have 'owned up' to being
    Hammers fans, can someone please let us know if our great start to the
    season continued against Villa, thanks?
    
    Ian

    
    Around the 86th minute....Cottee..1-0...
    
    Dezzz. 

    
    WAHAY!!!
    
    3 points, doubled the GF, Cottee scores on home return...
    
    We've reached the dizzy heights of 17th place and are (technically) ahead 
    of Spurs, can't be bad but can it last?
    
    Steve
    

    
    I just want to say a quick thanks for the answer to my request
    yesterday, and to apologise for not saying thanks when I read the
    response.  I have to admit I spent the whole day lying down to recover
    from the shock!
    
    Ian

    
    Well, it didn't last.
    
    We lost 2-1 at Walsall last night in the 'okey-Cokey Cup.
    
    Steve
    

    
    
    Walsall 2 West Ham 1.......Back to form ?

    
    Good grief, we scored another goal,
    
    but, does that mean we're out?

re .212,

We couldn't even manage to score ourselves, it was an 
own goal. Walsall's winner was a Potts own goal also. 
The return leg could be embarrassing seeing that were 
finding it difficult to score at the moment.

Phil.

    
    Yeah but its ok, if away goals count double then our 'standard' one-nil
    win will be good enough!   :-)

    
    Did we play Saturday?  Sunday?  Do we play tonight?
    
    If the first two, did we win?   If the last, will we?
    
    Ian

    Played yesterday
    
    West Ham 0 - 2 Arsenal
    
    

Not sure if this was the final score...but I turned off the radio as i couln't
mentally cope anymore.....at 5.25 (about 15 mins to go)....score was us 0
gooners 2...Tony mule got the first for Arsenal.....and nice guy Wright got the
second....it seem we were all over Arsenal...but seaman had an inspired game,
making eleven crucial saves throughout the game....The Irons played Chapers and
Marsh up front...with Hutchinson dropping back into midfield...by all accounts
Chapman had a super game..but was constantly denied by (sod my wife and kids...I
want the Arsenal PR secretary in my bed..Mr David Seamen).....looks like October
will be a difficult month, with Chelsea away next saturday...and Man Utd away to
come...

attendance just over 18,500 (sold out 2 weeks ago)...
apparently there were 25 arrests....if anyone is interested....it was felt that
the presence of several Arsenal fans in the Bobby Moore stand was not
appreciated...can't for the life of me think why!.......

    
    
    
    
    
    My brother supports Arsenal!

    
    Don't worry Ian, we can share our grief...
    
    
    
    So does mine <8-(
    

Anyone got any team news for tonight's second round second leg Coca-cola cup tie
against the mighty Walsall?

    
    
    
    To us?

re .222

They didn't play, I think it's next week.

Phil.

    
    So what's with the reply before mine?
    
    I don't know when they play ever!

    
    What an incredible delight it was to discover the result of the match.
    2-1 away even.  Seems like every time we score in a league match we
    double our league tally for the season.  Who will concede the four that
    we will put away?  Always assuming we DO score again!
    
    Now I think we're ready for mighty Walsall!

    
    WAHAY!
    
    Chelsea 1	West Ham 2
    Furlong 62	Allen 52, Moncur 66
    
    Our second win of the season and we've doubled the 'Goals For' again.
    
    Steve.
    		

    West Ham 2		Walsall 0	(aet)
    
    Don't know much more but I think Moncur got the 'winner' in extra time.
    
    Chelsea in the next round, let's hope it's a repeat of last Saturday.
    
    Steve

    
    If it was 2-0 aet, then that implies 1-0 at 90 minutes, in which case
    my prediction was pretty damn close!  Can someone confirm the ruling,
    if it had stayed 1-0 aet, would West Ham have qualified on the away
    goals ruling?
    
    A btw, which division are Walsall in?  Are they having a good season?
    
    Cheers,
    Ian

Ian,

Walsall are third division mid table rubbish (QPR of the premier league), but
last night they were trying to continue a recent run of 4 successive wins. 
After AET we would have won in away goals.....is Chelsea home or away....and
when's the game, cheers

Mark

They're in the third division and they're having quite a decent season. I think
they're sixth or thereabouts. Obviously they're not as good as Donny. 8-)

Mike

    
    We come visit you, 26/10.
    
    Re. 227 What happend last Saturday then?
    
    Revenge is sweet, will we get a taste?
    
    COME ON YOU BLUES!
    
    Loz.
                 

    
    -1.
    
    OK, OK, so it was Sunday...

    
    And that takes me back to the first game of soccer I ever saw live,
    when West Ham played Palace at Palace (I was 11).  Jimmy Greaves had
    just joined West Ham from Spurs, and had a 35 yard shot disallowed.
    
    We only drew that day (1-1).
    
    Ian

    
    Back to normal, oh well never mind, there's always the cup!
    
    Ian

	Today newspaper mentioned that Julian Dicks will be
	signing today for 500,000 pounds, with additional 
	payments for each appearance upto an additional
	500,000.

	Sounds like we have made another good deal, and I'm
	glad he's back.

	Phil.

Harry for the "businessman of the year" award?

Colin.

    
    How much did Souness give you for him?

	Re: .236/Dicks

	Well almost. Simply selling him at all would have sealed it. The act 
	of actually buying him back has gone and blown it.

	Ian

RE .237

	If I remember it was 2 million plus package, that is:

	David Burrows, since gone to Everton in exchange for Tony Cottee 
	plus 250K approx cash deal.

	Mike Marsh

	+ cash but I can't remember how much.

	I know that West Ham started badly last season but this deal was a
	turning point after which they played quite well.

	They seem to have made other shrewd buys this season, that is
	Moncur & Hutchinson.


	Phil.

Re: Ian

Two million minus half a million - work it out.

Julian is a fine player, he'll do fine as long as he has a
strong manager and doesn't nut anyone.

Colin.

yep, but nutting Chelsea and Millwall players should surely be part of his game!

    re .240
    
    Julian is a Dick(s) !!!!
    
    

	Message on Radio 5 this morning was that Julian is expected to sign
	today.

	Ray.

    The deal apparantly seems to be great.
    
    West Ham have paid 100,000 quid down, then pay Liverpool 50,000 for
    every 25 games Dicks plays in future up to a maximum of 1.1 million.
    
    If you work it out, he will have to play 50 games a season for the next
    11 years to cost that much!! Sounds like a good deal to me.
    
    Rumour also has it that he will be making his first appearance against
    Southampton at Upton Park tommorrow.
    
    Ian B

    Will you be there to seem Dicks in action Ian or are you off to watch
    your favourites ( Watford ).

    
    Are we well?

re.246

	Yes. apart from Julian Dicks' left knee report. Seems it could
	go at anytime and for this reason no insurance company will
	insure this knee. It appears that he would fail any medical/fitness 
	test and yet West Ham are willing to take the risk. It also explains
	the appearance money part of the transfer deal. This might be a
	big financial risk for the Hammers, but it might just pay off.

	Saturday's result was 2-0 to the Hammers, good report on Martin Allen
	and Matthew Rush (both scored). Matthew goes past fullbacks with ease 
	and will be a very useful player once he crosses consistently.

	Chelsea on Wednesday at home in the fizzy pop cup.

	Spurs away on Saturday, my prediction is 5-3 to the Hammers.


	Phil.

    
Re: .242

BOYD'O,

Julian was pictured in the w/e papers with bald head and bulging
eyes - looking like something from the film "The Hills Have Eyes",
and the caption was "THE DEVIL IS BACK".

Say no more.

I still say that he's a fine player (cont. page 94).

Colin.

Cracking game last night, witnessed from the chicken run.  The Hammers were well
on top in the first half.  Having got the lead so earley you felt 1 against
Chelsea would never be enough.  Mad Dog could would have put it beyond the
reach, had he not have missed a header just before the interval.  

Hoddle must have fired Chelsea up at half time, as the came at us wave after
wave, Terminator had an inspired game and he's as good now as he was before he
left to go to Liverpool, sporting a concentration camp hair style he certainly
looked the part..

Man of the match for me was Ludo, he made 3 world class saves, twice denying
wise as Chelsea stepped up a gear, the irons had their moments too in the second
half, cottee went close, Mad dog had a chance cleared off the line, but we were
mainly pegged back throughout the second half.

Mathew Rush is going to be some asset this season, playing on the right wing he
mad some brilliant runs and got plenty of crosses in for hutch and cottee to get
on to.

Home to Bolton next....and i'll have to watch that one in a bar in Lanzarotte...

    
    OOOpppss!!!

oh Morley Morley..oh Morley Morley...is back and playing against Leicester on
Saturday instaed of Lee "hee-haw" Chapman.

    
    M,
    
    can you remind me of last night's result ?
    
    Paul

    
    Them being someone who hadn't won yet this season!  Oh sorry week!!

    
    Back to usual - the 1-0 scorline that is - with Dicks scoring a late
    penalty after playing most of the game with only ten men.

    
    Dicks scored?  Then we've already got our monies worth!
    
    Ian

No reples of eleven days....what's happening.. Anyone got ant team news for
away V Sheff Wed, namely availability of Moncur, Hutchinson, Mad dog etc...

    
    No replies?  No games I guess!

    
    Oh dear!
    
    Ian

    And to rub it in, Alvin Martin suffered a broken rib and a collapsed
    lung !!
    
    Bang goes my dream of Fantasy Football glory !!
    
    ( I know, I know. Alvin Martin :-) )
    
    

    Is there a West Ham internet mailing address? If so could some kind
    soul point me in the right direction, its for a friend, you see.Thanks.

    >its for a friend, you see
    
        Yep.. I wouldn't admit to being a West Ham supporter either! :->
    
    	Rick.
    	

re-1,

yep, there's a West Ham Mailing list send mail to the following address
and put WHUFC in the subject line, this will ensure it gets mailed to everyone
on the list,
 
[email protected]@internet

Mark (Hammer through and through, and proud of it, Endsleigh League here we     
      come)

>Mark (Hammer through and through, and proud of it, Endsleigh League here we    
      come)

    Yup, another step nearer following Saturday's 0-1 defeat by Coventry.
    
    malheureusement,
    
    Steve
    

    
    Repeat note 258, but played at our place!

	Away to QPR on Sunday (on SKY?), the result from this match
	should indicate whether mid table mediocrity or an exciting
	'stressfull' relegation battle.

	Phil.

    Re: On SKY ?
    
    Yup !

Heard on radio 5 that Les Healey has signed a two year
contract for West Ham. I hope he's just there as back up.
The 'ammers wouldn't be the same without big Ludo.


Phil.

    re -1
    
    Who is Les Healey. Have the Hammers reverted to some witch doctor to
    cure their problems?
    
    Stuart
    

Stuart,

I can only presume it's the goalkeeper who previously
was in the Aston Villa squad. He's famous for replacing 
Jim Leighton in the Man Utd goal in some cup final, can't 
remember if it was the FA or League cup.

Phil. 

    
    Isn't Healey the Australian wicket keeper? Is this a joke? Have I got
    the wrong sport?
    
    Steve
    

    .271
    
    that reminds me.... 
    
    Dom, the great English cricket team were slaughtered by the Aussies in
    the First Test down under....
    
    
    now back to your regular programming....
    
    Ray....
    
    up the R's....

    re -1, -2
    
    Could it be Les "Mr Angry" Sealy?
    
    Paul.
    

    >Dom, the great English cricket team were slaughtered by the Aussies in
    >the First Test down under....
    
    Ray,
    
    I'm probably no longer the great cricket fan you think I am, but
    thanks anyway. It's pretty hard to keep in touch with the sport in
    Italy...which probably explains why my enthusiasm has waned over the
    years (I thought they were due to tour Australia after Christmas!).
    
    So what was the damage?
    
    Dom
    
    P.S. Shouldn't this be in the QPR note? ;-)
                                                               

    Dom,
    	just go into REPAIR::CRICKET and look at note 257 to see the
    shallacking dished out to the poms...Ica

	According to R5 the Irons have now taken Northern Ireland player
	Michael Hughes on loan from Strasbourg until the end of the 
	season. The Today newspaper speculates that this may eventually
	lead to a 1 million pound transfer. Previously Michael played
	as a winger for Man City. Does anyone know anything about him?.

	Phil.

    
    Yes. He shot to stardom after scoring a blinding goal in an
    International match and yes he did play for Manchester City. Shortly 
    after he was snapped up by a continental team (which I thought was German).
    	
    Whether he has done well in continental Europe is not well documented.

    Neil

He always looks pretty useful when he plays for NI and I believe he plays
left wing/midfield type of position. He's about 22/23 years old?

I think he went to Strasbourg after his first with Man City and they promptly
got relegated to the French 2nd Division.  Haven't heard much since.

I don't think he will add much to your team though.  What you really need
is a striker who can run faster than my 3 year old niece and is taller.

    
    "At half-time only four goals have been scored in the premiership...", 
    
    Sounded a bit dreary to me and I feared that all four had been scored
    at Upton Park by the visitors...but hold on, what's this, "...West Ham
    2, Man. City 0..."; "Wahay!!" I declared to myself and about 16 million
    other shoppers in Regent Street, much to their dismay. 
    
    I briefly forgot the fact that I detest shopping, the West-end and 
    middle-aged women who wield umbrellas, until I realised that if I had done 
    the shopping three weeks ago - instead of going to the pub - I could have 
    been present to witness the 'ammers (potentially) finest 90-minutes so far 
    this season.
    
    Hearing the final result delighted and angered in equal measure as I
    sat in a grimy pub with a consoling pint of Guinness, the taste of
    which improved greatly on hearing both United's and Arsenal's results
    ;^) 

    Oh, well, I'll be there next time...
    
    
    
    Steve.
    

I was at the game and it was West Hame all the way, City didn't have one
change the whole games. Well done Hammers.


T_

    
    A departure from my normal curt style of reporting the bare bones of
    the results, this time I want to say, 'Gor Blimey' and 'Bluddy Ell', we
    only done a win!  And not only that the boys (or one of 'em) scored 3,
    'quite remarkable David'.
    
    So...
      To finish off...
    
        Merry Christmas one and all,
    	  Ian

    
    I seem to remember reading somewhere that we won, away, scoring twice!
    
    Ian
    
    P.S. Please verify my sources!

    re:-1
    
    >> I seem to remember reading somewhere that we won, away, scoring twice!
    
    'tis true - you've drawn Arsenal or Millwall in the 4th round.

nope,
	chelsea have drawn Arsenal or Millwall

    West Ham have drawn QPR. Away I think

    re:-2
    
    Whoops, yep you're right.  All these London derbies confused me !

    
    Apparently this should have been sewn-up in the first half. We appear
    to be playing our best football so far this season, but the results
    aren't coming, and as we all know...
    
    Fourth from bottom, looks like a real struggle from now on. So'ton on
    Saturday and Sheff. Weds. on Monday. We need to win at least one of
    these, draws won't do as the goal difference is also bad.
    
    Steve.

    >Saturday and Sheff. Weds. on Monday. We need to win at least one of
    
    Steve,
    
    I've got the 25th as the date for West Ham v Sheff Wed which would make
    it the Wednesday, not Monday. Have Sky changed the date to televise it?
    
    Paul.
    

	Watched from the last 15 mins of the first half on Sky.
        And my comment (in Victor Mildrew voice) "I do not believe it!"

        Incredibly, West Ham commited 10 fouls which from the Ref's
        view resulted in Alvin Martin being sent off after 10 mins
        for stumbling and then falling into Mark Bright in Wednesday's
        half of the pitch. The referee said at halftime that he sent
        Alvin off for a rugby tackle. If I remember there were 4
        bookings against West Ham in the second half, of which included
        Tim Breaker being sent off for a second yellow card. Sheffield
        Wednesday committed 23 fouls and had 3 booked I think. But it
        was not a dirty game, the ref seemed intent in stamping out
 	West Ham's passion for the game.

	The commentators mentioned that Wednesday were best in the first
        half. Chrissie Waddle's goal was a well struck peach of a goal,
	from the righthand side of the penalty area. However, Ken Brown
	did seem to stand off too much from Chris giving him room for
 	the shot which was impossible for Ludo to save. The second half
	began with sustained attacking from 10 men West Ham, but nothing
	seemed to fall their way. At one time it looked that if West Ham
 	did manage to get a goal that they might go on and win. But that
	all changed after Tim was sent off and mistake lead to Wednesday's
	second goal. Ludo came out and totally missed a corner kick and
 	the ball fell kindly for Mark Bright who couldn't have an easier
	chance. Eventhough Wednesday now had the upperhand 9 man West Ham 
	still managed to counter attack. 

	Moncur was given man of the match, quite unusual for a player
	on the losing team. Notable performances also from Danish
	international Rieper who came on when Alvin was sent off, he
	played a good game at the back. Also performances from Matty holmes 
 	and Beoere caught my eye but the whole team played well.

	Chris Waddle played well in the first half but was uneffective in
	the second. Didn't see much of Wittingham who was replaced by
	Watson. Watson looked good at times going forward but his
	finishing was really poor, especially a sitter he missed towards
	the end.

	This was a good match apart from the dodgy decisions, and with 
	refereeing like this I'm not sure how long football will be 
	considered a contact sport. 

	Final score West Ham Utd 0 Sheffield Wednesday 2

	Though West Ham are in the relegation zone they will be playing 
	their relegation rivals over the next 4 matches. So we should
	have a clearer picture in a month or so.


	Phil.

Maybe the ref tought West Ham were playing Man United in their new Blue and
white strip, and sent off the two West Ham players so thet United could get 3
points to help them win the league again this season. :-)

�@

    WHAT A REF
    
    ALVIN MARTIN MADE A DISCUSTING CHALLENGE AND SHOULD OF BEEN SENT OFF
    FOR SURE...THE REF HAD A BRILLIANT GAME AND SHOULD BE GIVEN MAN OF THE
    MATCH....I LOVE HIM AND THINK HE IS GREAT
                THANK YOU     
                      MRS DANSON  (REFS WIFE).
    

Oi Postroom,

stop shouting will ya.

    
    I guess  no one noticed, but we won 2 - 1 away!
    
    Sorry Leicester but you're gonna be relegated...

    
    Wow 8^0
    
    
    What an important match tonight.
    
    Prediction:-
    
    West Ham 2
    Everton  0
    
    If not were in big trouble....
    
    8^{
    
    Tone
    

Yes the relegation battle is heating up, from looking
at the table it would seem that only the top six are 
secure of not being dragged down into the relegation 
zone. I think the main crunch game is Coventry away 
on Saturday but I'm looking forward to a Cottee hattrick
this evening.

It could be quite an exciting end of the season for
quite a few premier league clubs.

Phil.

    
    Did we win?
    
    

    
    	The 'Am		2	Moremoneythansense	2
    	Cottee 2		Rideout
    				Limpar
    

score correction.

West Ham 2-2  Kenny Brown

    
    I dunno what's happenned in between, but this last weekend we beat my
    old enemies (The Arse coz my brother supported them...).
    
    Score Them 0 - 1 Us...

    
    Has anyone got a run down on the matches to come/left this season as
    things are getting just a tad on the dangerous side for our lads, the
    hammers..
    
         8*{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{
    
           Tony 

	Norwich this weekend and a win is a must for 
	the Hammers, also it may draw Norwich into the 
	quagmire.

	I hope our 'arry continues to play Rapier at
	the back.

	Hammers have two difficult fixtures against
	Blackburn and Man Utd, so I hope that they
	get a few wins in before then.

	Phil.

    
    Could have been worse, a double from Cottee in the last 8 minutes to
    get a point.  We move out of the bottom four, and battling performances
    like this are what keep teams up!
    
    Ian

    
    Well how long can we get away with 1 point games that we should be
    winning.   
    
    Back in the bottom four again and things are looking worst.
    
    Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!!!
    
    8*{{{{{{{{{
    tony

	Aston Villa 0 - West Ham 2

	Excellent win that takes them out of the dreaded
	bottom four.

	Moncur scored a peach of a goal from 25 yards
	and then set up the second for Hutchinson.

	No more matches for 3 weeks, hopefully other
 	sides like Crystal Palace and Southampton will
	continue to show bad form. Otherwise, West Ham will
	have a mountain to climb when they start to play
	again. Especially, seeing that two of the 'ammers
	remaining home matches are against Blackburn and
	Man Utd.

	It will be a pity if West Ham goes down because
	I think our 'arry has put together a good side
	that is beginning to tick and I believe will do
	rather well next season.

	Phil.

	Extremely important couple of matches coming up and
	we need atleast 4 points from Wimbledon home and 
	Ipswich away.

	Fortunately, for West Ham things are beginning to look
	grim for Norwich and Man City. Palace like West Ham
	have a difficult run in. Even Chelsea could be in 
	trouble.

	Good draw at Forest last Saturday and the break doesn't
	appear to have dented their current form.

	A nail biting finish for 10 sides, I can't remember there
	ever being so many sides involved in a relegation battle,
	so close to the end of the season.

	Looking for a 3-1 win tonight, "come on you Irons!"

	Phil.

    
    West Ham  are considering moving all reserve games  for next season 
    to Victoria Road stadium - home of Dagenham and Redbridge. 
    
    They are the fifth Premier side to consider the community related 
    share option..   Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle  already share Vauxhall
    Conference facilities, whilst Everton are talking with Runcorn to
    consider the same.
    
    
    Gary

    
    This must be the sign of a true supporter, concentrate on where the
    reserves play, and not the first team results!!!    :-)
    
    Did we play over the weekend?  I guess we must have done, but, I
    suppose we lost as usual...
    
    Anyone care to put a French exile in the picture?
    
    Ian

    Won at home to Wimbledon 3 - 0.
    
    Drew at Ipswich with a last minute equaliser

    
    Brilliant!
    
    But why did we only draw with Ipswich, that's the one game we *should*
    have won.  Mini match report anyone?
    
    Out of the relegation zone as well (ok, on goal difference...)
    
    Thanks,
    Ian

                      <<< Note 55.311 by MOEUR7::SMITH >>>
                          -< 4 out of 6, pretty good >-

>    But why did we only draw with Ipswich, that's the one game we *should*
>    have won.  Mini match report anyone?
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^   

     See .310


     Hope this helps,

     A Flippant-Eagle

	West Ham 2 Blackburn 0
	Rapier
	Hutchinson


	Looking forward to watching the match on video this
 	evening. Strange thing was that I wasn't surprised 
	by the result, not that Blackburn are bottling it
	but that West Ham are playing well these days. They
	have been for sometime, but for some reason they
	weren't getting the results.


	QPR Wednesday and Palace on Saturday, I would settle
	for 4 points.


	Phil.

    
    Re -.1
    
    Wow, are West Ham really playing 3 games on Saturday????
    
>>	QPR Wednesday and Palace on Saturday,
    
    JBG 8-)

    
    West Ham always seem to do well against the 'top' teams.  I remember
    one year (there have been a few) when they were relegated, and they
    took 7 points out of 8 (no 3 point winners then!) against the season's
    F.A. Cup finalists (Man. Utd and Liverpool).
    
    Trivia question, which year was it?
    
    Ian

    
    The same year Liverpool first won the European Cup ???? 
    
    Absolutely delighted for West Ham...still a little work to be done but
    playing like that and they should take a depleted Liverpool.
    
    Dezzz.

    With the remaining four matches I think we will get six points from QPR
    and Liverpool but nothing from Palace and United. Which will still put
    us safe. 
    
    If West Ham could play like they are now all next season we could see
    a place in europe for us.  Dont you think?
    
    
    Tony 

re .317

 Tony,

 I also predict 6 points from the last 4 games, but
 from QPR and Palace. Though I would love them to
 beat Man Utd, we came quite close last season.

; If West Ham could play like they are now all next season we could see
; a place in europe for us.  Dont you think?

 Don't know, all depends if they can keep Rieper along
 with other key players in the midfield. Things can change
 so quickly these days, but our 'arry seems to have the 
 knack of buying good players.

 I don't think they will be touted as candidates for
 relegation before a ball is kicked, as the press did
 before the start of this season.

 Phil.

    Phil,
    
    Looks like QPR blew both our points predicions out the window.
    
    Right we'll have to try again....I think 5 points out of the last 9.
    1 from Palace
    3 from Livepool (this will be a typical shock result)
    1 from United
    
    

 Tony,

 Predictions a side last night's result was not too 
 bad. For most of the second half West Ham were down 
 to 10 men, Martin Allen sent off for second bookable 
 offence. Also none of those in the relegation zone 
 won and we have moved above Coventry on goal difference.

 I have a gut feeling that we will beat Man Utd on
 the last day of the season. So my amended predictions
 are 

 3 from Palace
 1 from Liverpool
 3 from Man Utd

 Bit of a nail biter this Saturday, though Palace need
 to win more than we do. I think an ideal opportunity
 to play Matthew Rush and hit them on the counter attack.

 Phil.

re .320

; Bit of a nail biter this Saturday, though Palace need
; to win more than we do. I think an ideal opportunity
; to play Matthew Rush and hit them on the counter attack.

 Whooops just remembered that Matthew will miss the next
 3 matches through suspension. Seems this came about 
 because he was sent off while playing in the reserves
 and Harry was not too pleased with him. Also Tony
 Cottee is out for the rest of the season through injury.
 Hopefully, Boere will be playing or Trevor Morley will
 be available.

 Prediction for Saturday 1-2 to the Hammers.

 Phil.

    
    Phil
    
    I think predictions are not our strong point!
    
    One last try cos were running out of matches.
    
    3 points from the pool
    0 points from the Munchies
    
    Hopefully Everton, Palace & Coventry will all fail tonight and we wont
    need any points from Man U....
    
    Tony

re .322

Tony,

;    I think predictions are not our strong point!
    
;    One last try cos were running out of matches.

	Ok I'll go for 
    
    0 points from the pool
    0 points from the Munchies


	-)

 Like you I'll be interested in the results tonight.


	Phil.

    
    Well it looks like we might not need any points unless Palace actually
    beat Newcastle on Sunday.
    
    When is our match against Man U.
    
    Tony

re .324

 Tony,

;    When is our match against Man U.

 Sunday as well, hopefully a win tonight and we will
 be safe!. Come on you Irons!.

 Phil.

    
    
    Latest score
    
    West Ham ....3  Liverpool....0

    
    ...I hope so!!!
    
    Ian

    
    ....and thats how it finished. I reckon Liverpool are simply alibi
    building so that noone will be able to claim "fixed" on Sunday when
    Blackburn beat them 7:0 8-)
    
    	Well doen to West Ham who have now avioded relegation (again 8-)
    
    JBG

    Not that one would claim it was fixed.....
    
    but did anyone else reckon Hutchison's two goals were two of the
    softest you'll see all season? Either James wasn't trying - or he
    clearly has no place in the England set up. Man U should be going to a
    tribunal if Looneypool look that switched off on Sunday.
    
    Bitter of Selhurst
    
    

 Great win for West Ham last night with 3 good goals.
 The first one was a Holmes blast that left James with
 no chance. Don's two goals where placed perfectly again
 leaving James no chance.

 Liverpool played some good football but as Roy Evans
 pointed out they had little penetration.

 I thought Trevor and Don combined well up front and
 the back seemed fairly solid.

 Ten games ago it looked bleak for West Ham but they have
 come through with flying colours, all apart from last
 weekend when I think they played the wrong tactics in 
 looking for a draw. So role on Man Utd on Sunday and
 hopefully show that wins against Liverpool and Blackburn
 were not gifted but well deserved. Could West Ham be a 
 thorn in Man Utd's championship hopes as they were when
 Leeds took the honours?.

 Phil.

    >thorn in Man Utd's championship hopes as they were when
    >Leeds look the honours...
    
    	I sure hope so... :->
    
    

	What a nail-biting exciting game, superb performance by
        Ludo. West Ham played as I hoped they would and I think
        Harry got the tactics right that was to hit them on the
	break. My main disapointment was the booing of Ince, I
        mean the shirt incident happened 6 years ago!. With the
        barracking that he was receiving I feel that he showed
	great restraint and it only stirred him on to give a 
	good performance. Alex Ferguson's post match comments
	impressed me also.  

	In the first half, Matty Holmes had a shot that hit the 
        bar from just inside the penalty area. Then Matthew Hughes
	(ironically an ex Man City player) scored with a well
	placed volley into the bottom righthand corner. For most
	of the first half West Ham contained Man Utd well apart
	from a break by Andy cole and shot that rebounded from
        the right hand post. Hammers deserved to be infront at
	half time.

        Second half, was totally different Man Utd were fired up
	and came out attacking. Unfortunately, the Hammers were
	playing to deep hence they found it difficult to turn
        defense into attack. Fine header from Sharpe from which
	Ludo made an outstanding save. Then came the goal from
	Mc Clair, the West Ham defense pushed up leaving Brian
	unmarked but on-side, fine header leaving Ludo no chance.
	Man Utd continued to attack but big Ludo was defiant.
	Irwin came close from a free kick that just cleared the
	bar by no more than a couple of inches. West Ham started 
        to come back into the game after Harry instructed the 
        players to push up out of defense. Bishop was allowed
	to much room and his shot just cleared the bar.

	There was a debatable penalty, the ball was crossed into 
	the West Ham penalty area and for some reason Tim Breaker
	put his hand up only for the ball to seemingly graze his
	finger tips. Looking at the replay the referee had full
	view of the incident and may have decided that it was
	unintentional. In my opinion I didn't see the ball change
	projectory, so my first thoughts were that Tim did not
	make contact. However, according to the Today Newspaper
	Tim did mention contact was made but was sure if it should
	have been a penalty.

	As the seconds ticked away, there was a gallant try by Man
	Utd to seal the win but it was not to be. The Hammers defense
	looked at sixes and sevens but big Ludo stood firm.

	I felt sorry for Man Utd, so close and yet so far.

	Well done Blackburn and I look forward to watching them in
	Europe next season. Things look rosy for West Ham especially
	seeing that Rieper has now signed a three year contract.

	On Match of the Day, when Kenny and Jack were being interviewed
	a redention of "I'm for ever blowing bubbles" was coming from
	the Rovers dressing room. Which made my day, for though I have
	been a West Ham fan since moving down south some 29 years ago
	I was born in Blackburn and I know my relatives there in Rishton
	must be having a great time.

	Phil.

    Good report, Phil - thanks (I still haven't seen the highlights yet!).
    Given your West Ham/Blackburn allegiance, you must be one of the
    happiest noters in this conference today!
    
    Dom

    
    I saw some highlights on French TV Sunday evening, they put together a
    mixture of both games, switching from one to the other and back again.  
    They ended up by showing the last 2 minutes of Blackburn, then switched
    back to Man Utd for the last 5, and then back to Blackburn to show
    Kenny asking the question "Did Utd win?"
    
    As to the West Ham performance, I dunno!  I just got the impression
    that for the last 10 minuts of the game, their were 11 West Ham and 8
    Utd players in the West Ham penalty area, with one more Utd player wide
    on each side, and the big goalkeeper on the half way line!!!
    
    On the basis of performances rather than results this year, I hope West
    Ham can go on to have a good season next year.  I'm ever hopeful!
    
    Ian

    
    Did anyone see the London fives tournament on Sky Sports on Sunday.
    
    I know that Wycombe won for the 2nd year running and that West Ham lost
    in the 1st round to QPR but I missed the match so I dont know how they
    lost. Can anyone enlighten me 

    
    Does it really matter?  Its a bit of end of season fun that has no
    relation to current form!
    
    I didn't see it either!
    
    Ian

Marc Boogers has signed for 1 million, voted 3rd best player in Holland last
season, he'll partner TC against Leeds (home) on 19 August,


Mark.

Friendly - 31-Jul-1995

Bouremouth 2-2 West Ham United


Bournemouth win on penalties.

well we seem to be scoring goals; 3 against TSV Munich, and now 2 against
Bournemouth, not sure of the goal scorers,

Mark

    
    
    RE Bournemouth match scorers were Boogers & Bishop.
    
    Steve Jones (ex Hammer) scored twice, his second strike being from
    close range in the final minute.
    
    Anyone know the fixtures for the up and coming season?.
    
    Phil.

these are the first three:

Sat 19 Aug Leeds Utd (H)
Wed 23 Aug Man Utd (A)
Sat 26 Aug Notts Forrest (A)



Mark. 

    Whats the credit card booking number for West Ham??
    
    	Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    
    Rick,
    
    I believe the ticket office telephone number is 181 548 2700 
                                       enquiries is 181 548 2748 
    Phil.

	More results during previous week:

	Oxford 3 WHU 2
	Charlton 0 WHU 1

	Ray.

    
    West Ham are away at Woking in I think the last warmup  for both sides.
    Mr Rednapp has promised a full strength team for the game Tuesday 15th.
    
     

West Ham 1-2 Yeboha

On this evidence we're doomed.  Viewed from the East stand upper, the hammers
started with promise, no sign of Robbie Slater so Danny Williamson played on the
right side of midfiled with Hutchinson pushed up to play alongside TC.  He's
got no hair but we don't care (Alvin martin) was on the bench so last season's
partnership of Reiper and Potts at the back was resumed.  No Matty holmes so  
Keith Rowland plugged the gap on the left side of midfield. 

John Moncur played a blinder in the first half and at half time we were unlucky
not to be 2 up.  After the interval (17 mins) Leeds were a different side, 
West Ham started giving the likes of Rod Wallace too much room, which mean't
plenty of crosses for Yeboha.

Hutchinson rarely shined, Bishop had an average game and although Williamson
scored the goal, he failed to make an impact throughout the rest of the game,
Keith rowland played ok.  Cottee looked busy throughout the 90 mins, but didn't
get the necessary service. 

After 75 mins Williamson was subbed, Hutchinson dropped back to make room for
Boogers to play alongside Cottee (why didn't Redkanpp start with this
formation?).  West Ham had more shape, Alvin also came on for Rowland.  

Rekon were get wasted by Man Utd on Wednesday igf we play klike this, i'd like
to see this side fielded on Wednesday.

                   Ludo

Dicks      Reiper     Potts       Breaker

      Moncur     Bishop    Slater

                Hutchinson

            Cottee        Boogers



Mark. 

	Mark,

	Good to see a report. Thanks for putting it in.

	Ray

    It looks like Dicks might be in serious trouble for stamping on
    Spencer's head last week, possibly a long term ban and hefty fine.
    Proper order too, he's a nasty piece of work....
    
    Ray....

    
    Urm,
    
    Can anyone explain West Ham's buying philosophy ??
    Does Harry/Bonds look for the player who will a) p*ss off 
    after 10 mins (Beauchamp) b) needs to be committed 
    (boogers) c) well he used to look nice in a West Ham 
    Shirt (Cottee, Dowie) or is a complete and utter 
    W*nker (dickshead).
    
    Pj
    
  

    Pj,
    
    Its easy to decipher the Whammers buying philosophy . They do not want
    anyone with ambition otherwise, heaven forbid, (a) they may stay in the
    top flight on a consistent basis and (b) they may win something.
    
    That would never do.
    
    Stuart

Wimbledon 0 West Ham Utd 1

	    Cottee 18 mins

Good win for the Hammers by all accounts that now 
takes them up to 13th in the league on 9 points. 
Listening to Radio 5, there was a spell for ten minutes 
towards the end of the game when the Dons couldn't get 
hold of the ball.


Phil. 

    
    Unlucky Hammers to be caught by a 90th minute equaliser!
    
    [I only saw the two goals - no highlights!!!]
    
    
    Ian

    
    Clearly from the draw for the 4th round (81.67) we lost to Southampton,
    any news anyone?
    
    Its a shame, victory would have given us a draw at mighty READING (or
    bury).
    
    Ian

2-1

Watson put Saints ahead, and Cottee (I think) equalised.

Shipperley got the winner in the 72nd minute.

Al

Sheff Wednesday 0 West Ham 1
	          Dowie

Good win, though Wednesday hit the bar twice and
Dowie could have scored a second but hit the same
cross bar also. 

Phil.

    It is my understanding that John Harkes(american world cupper) now
    plays for you guys--has he seen any action yet--if so how has he looked
    
    rick tomman
    
    american fan

    rick
    
    juergen sommer is in goal for qpr now.
    
    regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

RE .356

Rick,

Not sure if John Harkes played on Saturday, didn't
see him in the highlights. I'll try and remember to 
keep you upto date with his performances.

Phil.

    Apparantly Harkes came on as sub and got a warm welcome from the
    Wednesday fans. Don't know how he played though...
    
    Al

    Thanks for the last few--being from Mission Viejo,California-where the
    USA team trained for a year prior to WC 1994 I got to know quite a few
    of the players and try to follow their careers
    
    If Harkes is healthy--he has a very high work rate and can be quite
    exciting--So if from time to time you can report on his play it would
    be duly appreciated
    
    regards
    rick toman 

    
    Oh dear etc!
    
    Us 1 Villa 4, what went wrong?  We've been on a bit of a roll...
    
    Ian

Ian,

Not sure what went wrong, only player missing from
usual line up was John Moncur. There were a couple
of cracking goals from Villa.

Julian Dicks now starts his suspension.

Phil.

Ian,

Forgot to mention Marc Boogers came on as sub. Personally,
I'd like to see him start a few games, but I'm not sure
if they should drop Tony Cottee or Ian Dowie. Taking into
consideration current form, Tony would be the one to drop.

Phil.

    Is Rob Slater still playing??
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    Simon Webster has announced his retirement. He hasn't recovered from a
    "Dicks Special" on the training pitch.
    
    

    
    Cottee got one...

    
    We won, Cottee got the goal.
    
    [If I remember correctly what I was told!]
    
    Ian

re last

	It looked an excellent bit of indiviual skill on Tony's part.
	Let's hope he keeps it up.

	Well that's 5 wins 5 draws and 5 loses, not bad after a real
	shaky start to the season. Hopefully, next season we can show
	how a team should play in Europe -).

re .360

	Rick, Harkes played on Saturday and according to the radio
        had a shot cleared off the line early on. He was substituted
	whortly after half time and was given a player rating of 5 out
	of 10 (average was between 6-7).

re .364

	Rick, Robbie Slater has been on the bench for a little while,
	but he does look competent from what I have seen of his play.
	Slater replaced Harkes in the second half on Saturday.	

	Phil. 

    re-368
    
    
    thanks for the news it is appreciated
    
    rick

	Lost 4-2 Blackburn at the weekend, though I understand the
	match was a bit more one sided than the score suggests. 
	Bright point, Robbie Slater enjoyed his return to Blackburn
        coming on as substitute in the second half, scoring the 'ammers
	second and being brought down for a penalty (a bit late for we 
	were 4-0 down at the time). Let's hope that this is just a
        gliche like Villa's result. A win on Monday away to Everton
	would certainly bring me a smile.

	We have drawn Southend at home in the FA cup.


	Phil.

    Phil,
    
    	How is Robby Slater playing this year... has he just been out with
    injury??
    
    	Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

RE .371


	Rick,

	No he hasn't been out with injury as far as I know.
	Though he got a few games after the transfer with
	Holmes, he hasn't been getting into  the starting
	11 for a little while. Even so, he has come on to
	replace Harkes (around the 60th minute) in the last
	two matches and did well against his old club last
	Saturday. He certainly looks to have the potential
	to do well.

	Must go as I've got my one on one.

	Phil.

    
    Everton 3 - 0 West Ham
    
    Miko sent off
    Dicks went in goal
    Ferguson returned from jail for them

    I listened to the last 15 minutes of the game last night on 5-Live.  I
    think every other word was "Ferguson".  You would think he was the
    only one on the park.
    
    William

    
    	I switched on at 9.50-ish to hear what the score was. At the end
    they play a wee replay of the commentary to show you what the game was
    like. Did we hear a commentary on any of the goals ? Ah mais non. We
    heard a description of Duncan Ferguson taking off his tracksuit and
    coming on to the pitch as substitute.
    
    Malc.
    

	Comfortable two-nil win for the Hammers against Southend.
	They have drawn Grimsby Town in the next round at home.

	Phil.

    >Grimsby Town...
    
    Tough game... Grimsby are in good form at the moment....
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rivk.

    
    
    
    
    
    >>    Cheers,
    
            Rivk.	
    
    What's this ??
    
    Rick Forgets First Name Shocker !!
    
    Rick Kidnapped By Icelandic Fundamentalists !!
    
    Someone Tries To Steal Ricks Catchphrase !!
    
    
    Ian.
    
    PS;	You were bloody lucky !!
    
    

    No way... it was all skill.. as Reading will find out on Wednesday..
    we're a class act.. unlike Rangers.. 
    
    So Phil.. how do you think West Ham will do at Elland Road this
    weekend??
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    Ian,
    
    I thought that you had copyrighted the sign-off phrase, 'Cheers, Rick'.
    Presumably, Jarvis will be paying you a suitable amount of Lamb Chops
    to settle this debt.
    
    Stuart

re .379

Rick,

I was quietly confident until yesterday's comeback by Leeds.
West Ham are beginning to bubble eventhough results havn't
being going their way of late. Leeds have not been too good
at the back and Moncur and Williamson might just exploit 
that frailty. Therefore, I think there will be a few 
goals possibly 3-2 to either side. I just hope Leeds
are not upto it as they were against Man Utd and Yeboah
has a very quiet match.

What do you think? especially if Thomas Brolin returns.

Phil.

re .381

Why did I open my mouth....

;What do you think? especially if Thomas Brolin returns.

Thomas gets a brace against the Hammers and we struggle
to get some shots on target against Leeds ten men for
much of the game. Personally I feel West Ham would have
done much better if Chapman had got a yellow card instead
of the red one. Fortunately, all the teams below had bad
results apart from Bolton who picked up 3 points. 

West Ham play Man Utd on Monday (Sky) and we need to start
winning fairly quick so as to not get stuck in the 
relegation quagmire.

I believe Don Hutchinson has been sold to Sheff Utd and that
we are looking to buy Slaven Bilic (sp?)(needs work permit first)
as well as Dumitrescu (sp?) from Spurs. 


Phil.

    You got Dumitrescu for something like 1.5 million. He's agreed to take
    a huge wage cut in order to play for the Hammers. Bilic will be coming
    as long as he can get a work permit and in theory as he is the Croatian
    captain he should get one but you never know. West Ham seem to be
    collecting wingers these days with Dale Gordon, Michael Hughes, Stan
    Lazaridis, Robbie Slater and now Illie Dumitrescu. Is this a cunning
    play to starve the Premiership of wingers or does Harry Redknapp only
    buy players who have good names!
    
    Graham

 re. 383

 According to Peter Storrie, Illie will be given a free role
 behind the front two Tony and Iain. Should make Monday's
 match alot more interesting if Illie plays.

 Phil.

    <<< Note 55.384 by RDGENG::YERKESS "bring me sunshine in your smile" >>>
                          -< Dumi, Ludo and Slava(?) >-

> According to Peter Storrie, Illie will be given a free role
> behind the front two Tony and Iain. Should make Monday's
> match alot more interesting if Illie plays.

I believe Illie can't play as he has to apply for another work permit as he
is changing clubs. This is expected to take about 2 weeks.

B@

    
    The goal scored in the 8th minute by Cantona...
    
    United's second win in 20 years at Upton Park came despite West Ham
    firing on all cylinders in the second half.
    
    Nicky Butt (Man Utd) was sent off 15 minutes before the end for a
    second bookable offence, so for the second time in a week or so, West
    Ham failed to profit from a 'material advantage'.
    
    

For once I almost felt sorry for MUnited and the treatment
meeted out by Dicks on Cole.  He was furious with the two
footed challenge and then was more so that Dicks got away
with it.  This was the reason Butt went in for the kill and
got himself sent off.

Of course, Cantona got Man of The Match for a few nice
looking flicks in the first half.  Is it my imagination
or does every MoTM where Munited are concerned go to
a tele-poll which is invariably won by Giggs or Cantona?

                      James.

    James,
       I think if you cut the refs head off (good option in my book) you
    would find the words "100% Hammers" in rings. 6 Utd players booked, 1
    sent off, disallowed goal !!! No Hammers booked, goal against
    disallowed, Dicks kicking all and sundry, Potts smacking Cantona in the
    box (blood/snot etc) not a chuffing word from the cretin in green
    
    RIGHT- now I have got that off my chest I would like to say I thought
    Utd (Cole excepted) played incredibly well considering the pressure West
    Ham and the Ref put them under. Cantonas goal was class personified.
    Good to see Sharpe spraying the ball around (accurately most of the
    time Dave !). All the West Ham team played well (Dicks did play well
    apart from his thuggish tendancies!)
    
    Would say more but I have to go. Excellent entertainment all round for
    both the right and wrong reasons.
    
    Bonus points to Cantona for keeping the head/stopping Cole from getting
    sent off/not rising to the bait and all on the anniversary of THAT
    incident !!! 
    
    
    			Stretch.

    Stretch,
    
    An interesting summary of the refs performance. Only marred by the fact
    that WHU should have had a penalty when C*ntona headed the ball with
    his hand in the first 3 minutes. Nice objectivity, matey.
    
    Stuart

    O.K Stratto,
      I suppose I will concede the intentional (?) handball was cancelled
    by the disallowed unintentional handball in the great scheme of things.
    BUT the ref was still a bag of Merde !!!
    
    			Stretch.

At least the Manc won, so the ref. didn't do the job completely right
;-).

I thought poor Andy Gray was going to have a heart attack, he got
so emotional over the Cole/Dicks incident.

                         James.

    James,
      I have saved .387 for future reference !!!
    
    			Stretch.

Re -1

Stretch,

May I rot in hell before I say a good word about MUnited!

                     James.

Big win for West Ham last night beating Coventry 3-2.

All goals coming in the second half, the Hammers had
gone 2-0 up but City dragged it back to 2-2, only for
the winner to be scored 4 minutes from the end.

I believe Dowie got 2 and Cottee scored the second.

It seems Slaven Bilic has had to go back to Germany
because his work permit has not come through yet. Let's
hope it doesn't take to long. Ilie Dumetrescu has the 
same problem, it appears he has to re apply for one
after moving from Spurs.

Were also looking to have the young Portuguese star Dani
signed up on loan till the end of the season.


Phil.

    Could someone enter all the scores from last night games please.  I
    completely forgot to look at MOTD.
    
    William

    Villa 0 Looneypool 2
    West Ham 3 Coventry 2
    Forest 2 Leeds 1
    Southampton 1 Man City 1

    Stratto!, Stratto!, Stratto!

    At least you don't have a pineapple on your head!

    Under your desk. You Godamm PERVERT!!!

Mark Rieper scored West Ham's first goal last night and
not Iain Dowie.

Also Frank Lampard junior came on as sub in the second half 
to replace Moncur.

Phil. 

    
    For what its worth, and for anyone who doesn't already know, West Ham
    beat Forest 1-0 and were stunning.  Though with 17 foreigners in the
    team the apparent 'hopes' to get into Europe next year (yes that's what
    was said) will be bogged down in the selection!
    
    OK, so its not 17, but its lots!
    
    Well played the Hammers

Ian, I believe it is 12 but don't ask me to name them all.

I'm looking forward to next Monday's game. It's against Tottenham,
and hopefully Ilie's work permit will come through in time.
It's at White Hart Lane and because of this I fancy our chances.

Phil.

    It is a lot. I can name 11 on the Hammers books.
    
    	Miklosko (Czech)
    	Reiper (Denmark)
    	Bilic (Croatia)
    	Harkes (USA)
    	Dumitrescu (Romania)
    	Coyne,
    	Lazaridis,
    	Slater (all Australian)
    	Dani (Portuguese)
    	Boogers (Dutch)
    	Hughes (Northern Ireland) although for all intents and purposes he
    				  counts as British I suppose.
    
    	Graham

    add to that the Nigerian goalkeeper who is expected to make his debut
    for them at the weekend.
    
    Stuart

    What about Dowie? I would have to question his race before his
    nationality!
    
    			Stretch.

    
    Is Boere still on their books ??

      <<< Note 55.407 by METSYS::HERO::CHEWTER "Do you like our fish?" >>>
                         -< Another one from Holland >-

    
>    Is Boere still on their books ??
     

     He is currently languishing at the San Selhurst in Palace's reserve
     side.

     Stuart

>> Is Boere still on their books ??
     
>  He is currently languishing at the San Selhurst in Palace's reserve
   side.
    
    Hasn't the lad ever heard of cyanide pills ? 
    
    Dom 

    
    The Electronic Telegraph mentions 
    
    	"a brace from Northern Ireland"
    
    in my book that's two, Hughes and who?
    
    Ian

    Maybe your going to sign Nigel Worthington.... (Please!!!!!)
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    Rick,
    
    Is there any player in the Leeds team that you would like to keep
    other than Yeaboa (sp)!?
    
    Chelsea supported!!!
    
    
    William

    Macca.... Gary Kelly... Tony Dorigo, Brian Deane... Noel Whelan, Mark
    Ford...
    
    There are quite a few.... :->
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    Rick,
    
    	Sorry to mention this but......anyone who wants to keep Brian Deane
    is asking for trouble and I think you'll find that you've failed to
    hang on to Noel Whelan already !!!
    
    
    Brian bloody Deane !!!
    
    
    Ian.

    He's certainly been the most committed player in our team & I would be
    sorry to seem him go... at the moment I'd be happier to see Brolin go..
    he just hasn't done the business....
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    A lesson for all West Ham players.
    
    Ball + Net = Goal
    
    According to the radio they didn't have their sights quite right last
    night. Oh and well done to the Grimsby!
    
    Graham

    Text last night had a bit of news on the Dumitrescu (sp) move being
    off. Dept of Employment has refused new permits. Mr Redknapp snr is to
    appeal. Same applies to Hottigers move. 
    
    How they can be paid to sit on the bench, at best, for so long and
    still have a permit, but when they move to a club where first team
    placing is virtually 100 % the get refused? Like go figure!
    
    			Stretch.		

    In order to qualify for a new permit they have to have played in 75% of
    their previous club's last x amount of games, which in these 2 cases,
    (Spurs and the Toon), isn't the case. It's a pity cos they're 2 bloody
    good players....
    
    Ray....

    But as Dumitrescu said " How could I play 75% of Tottenham's games when
    they loaned me to Sevilla for half the season"
    
    Graham

    Ray,
    So basically we will not see them playing in the Premiership if these
    are the rules? Sad or what?
    
    				Stretch.

    .421
    
    I think the PFA** had a lot to do with this rule. They were trying to 
    protect their members' interests, in other words `sod the fans, we're 
    alright Jack, pull the ladder up'....
    
    Ray....
    
    
    **PFA Professional Footballers Assoc.

 Spurs 0 Hammers 1
         Dani


 Thoroughly enjoyed watching last nights match in what
 turned out to be an entertaining game. I thought West Ham
 played some excellent football on what was a bad pitch.
 Tottenham seemed content in hoofing it into the box, and
 in the first ten minutes of the second half this ploy seemed
 to be working, however West Ham players worked hard and 
 for the rest of the match looked the most likely winners.
 Loads of goal attempts, something 14 to Spurs and 19 to
 West Ham, many of which where just inches past the post.

 Positives for West Ham were the back four, Slaven Bilic 
 looked a class act and looks like he will be a welcome
 addition to the team. Dani and Michael Hughes were causing
 the Spurs defence a lot of problems, but often it was the
 pitch that beat them.

 I'm looking forward now to Saturday and the game against 
 Chelsea, which should be another entertaining game. Just
 hope the match on Wednesday against Grimbsby goes smoothly
 without the need for overtime and penalties.

 Well that's 3 wins on the trot, against Coventry, Notts Forest
 and Spurs. Great stuff!.


 Phil.

    Phil,
    
    	You're right to say it was an entertaining match. Best football
    I've seen for a long time !! How the hell Cottee managed to hoof that
    chance over the bar I'll never know !! I thought Ian Bishop had an
    excellent match in the centre of the park and Reiper and Bilic
    contained Sheringham and Armstrong very well. Hammers were a bit lucky
    with the goal, but they thoroughly deserved the win.
    
    
    Ian.

    
    Bad pitch...abysmal for the Premier league. How can a groundsman get
    away with presenting that piece of turf..It's no wonder Tottenham's
    home record is below average. For a team that 'does' like to play
    football (except when they visit Anfield ;-) ) Gerry Francis should
    insist on a better surface for his team.
    
    Anyway West Ham deserved to win this. As Gerry Francis said after the
    game ..'played like a Cup tie'. Dowie should have buried this game with
    the opportunities he had. 
    
    Dezzz.

    I thought the passing was not as badly affected as some of these notes
    imply. The only thing was the ball kept slowing down as if it was
    filled with lead. Billic looked very impressive. Good game on the whole
    and the Hammers did indeed deserve the win. Someone ought to have a
    word with Bishop about his shoot on sight from the half way line
    tactics. Nayim you are not (Sorry to remind you Stratto).
    
    			Stretch.

    Watched last nights match on sky and thought it was very entertaining.
    Dowie should have had a hat trick and Cottee at least two. We must 
    have had six chances in the last 20 minutes to clinch it. This guy
    Dani looks very talented and I thought Dicks had a great game. If 
    they get over Grimbsy then the Chelsea match should be a cracker.
    Bilic and Reiper looked good and more or less snuffed out the 
    Armstrong/Sheringham treat.
    
    The pitch was terrible which gives great credit to the players for the
    quality of play. However I watched sky gold after it and say Man. City
    against Spurs in December 1969. No undersoil heating, snow, frost, B&W
    TV. It was more like Torvil and Dean than football.
    
    Pat

    Chaps,
    
    If you get off the tube at Upton Park and turn left, away from the
    ground, there are two pubs at a junction after a few hundred yards. 
    
    What is the name of the one on the right hand side as you are
    walking away from the station?
    
    thanks
    
    Peter

    
    The Spurs pitch is said to be so bad because the London Monarchs 
    play American football on it. Word is that Francis is trying to get
    the contract cancelled - but no joy so far.
    
    Richard.

    
    Mr Jenkins...how the blazes are you...a couple of pints next week per
    chance...
    
    GridIron...yeah I forgot about that one...with all the money the NFL
    have couldn't they get a sub to play at Dagenham & Redbridge. 
    
    Dezzz.

    
    They got 3 (THREE!), we got none, can't bear to read the match report.
    
    Helpfully, Ian

    
    Another good result the weekend.
    
    Thats 6 wins from the last 8. 
    
    I predict at least another 12 points from the rest of the season.
    From Bolton,Man City,Sheff W & I think its Q.P.R. aswell isn't it?
    All at home.
    
    Europe is still a small possability.......get your passports ready.
    
    Tony.     8*)

    
    Passport?  I'm already here, just waiting for them to arrive.
    
    Ian

    
    sorry....its not QPR its Wimbledon
    
    Still predict 12 points from the rest of the season though.
    
    Tone
    

	Well I think the 'ammers need more than 12 points to get
	into Europe next year.

	A win tonight could be on the cards if they reproduce the
	the form shown at Spurs a few weeks back. Should be an
	exciting game were the pressure is on Newcastle rather
	than West Ham, certainly makes a change for West Ham
	fans at this time of the year.

	Phil.

	Well done to Newcastle they look certain to take the
	premiership that's if they continue playing as they did last
	night.

	West Ham were never in it and just when they did start 
        to give a glimmer of being able to compete, Potts was 
        sent off.

	One thing good was that the Hammers spirit never died during
	the 90 minute on slaught. Many a team would have just given
	up, playing against a team in such good form. Bilic still
	looks a good buy, displayed a lovely shiner too.

	Les Healey played his first full game for West Ham, the team
	he supported as a lad. He had a very good game, his best save
	being an instinctive one saving a certain own goal.

	Downside was Ian Bishop's display, he was often easily robbed
	of the ball in midfield. Though I must admit we were playing
	to defensive, therefore there was not too many passing options.


	Phil.

    Phil,
    
    	>>Les Healey played his first full game for West Ham
    
    	Is this Austins Dad ???
    
    
    	Ian.

re .437

Ian

Ok, so it is Sealy and not Healey, guess I have been watching to much 
Cricket. With the amount of balls Les had to catch, one could easily
mistake him for keeping wicket (though a cricket ball is nothing like
a football).

Phil.

    ......And you can't stump someone.......unlesss you're Julian Dicks !!
    
    
    Ian.

    
    We won again, and are now 11th, level on points with Chelsea...
    
    Ian

Ian,

Yes, it was the triple D, that's the first two goals from
Dowie, then a screamer from Dicks, followed by an excellently
taken goal by Dani.

I'd like to see Harry play Dani a lot more.

Phil.

    Anyone know the result of the FA Youth cup against Liverpool 1st leg
    played this week. I checked newspapers and teletext in vain for the
    result.
    
    Pat

    
    2-0 to Liverpool, without Michael Owen.
    
    Neil

    ....and in case you didn't know, it was on Sky. The 2nd leg is May 17th
    but don't know if Sky will be showing it. They usually show both legs
    of the FAYC though.

Fixtures for the up and coming season, looks like we need to get a
good start to the season.

Home matches are in uppercase.

Phil.


August 17 	Arsenal           
August 21  	COVENTRY CITY     
August 24	SOUTHAMPTON       
September 4	Middlesbrough     
September 7	Sunderland        
September 14	WIMBLEDON         
September 21	Nottingham Forest
September 28	LIVERPOOL
October 12	Everton
October 19	LEICESTER CITY
October 26	BLACKBURN ROVERS
November 2	Tottenham Hotspur
November 16	Newcastle United
November 23	DERBY COUNTY
November 30	Sheffield Wednesday
December 7	MANCHESTER UNITED
December 14	ASTON VILLA
December 21	Chelsea
December 26	Wimbledon
December 28	SUNDERLAND
January 1	NOTTINGHAM FOREST
January 11	Liverpool
January 18	LEEDS UNITED
February 1	Blackburn Rovers
February 15	Derby County
February 22	TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
March 1		Leeds United
March 5		NEWCASTLE UNTED
March 8		CHELSEA
March 15	Aston Villa
March 22	Coventry City
March 29	ARSENAL
April 5		MIDDLESBROUGH
April 12	Southampton
April 19	EVERTON
April 23	Leicester City
May 3		SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
May 11		Manchester United

    Easy start, easy run in (bar the final game!)
    
    
    			Stretch.

re .446

	Yes, Man Utd will find this a difficult last game if their
	chasing the championship :-).


	Phil.

	Well not long to go now, oooh I'm excited Tommy :-) , and 
        injury scares abound at West Ham.

	The Arsenal encounter on Saturday should be very interesting, 
	a win would be sweet revenge for the 1-0 loss of last season 
	at Upton Park.

	How will Paulo Futre and Florin Raducioiu fit in?. Personally,
	I feel Paulo is an exciting prospect and will do well in the
	Premier League. I wonder what Harry feels is the best striking
	partnership? Paulo and Iain ? perhaps he'll play 3 strikers.

	I think they'll revert to 4-4-2, until Slaven comes back from 
	injury. Then they might try 3-5-2. I think Julian Dicks will
	shine this season as Slaven has been a good influence on him.

	Midfield could be a problem and John Moncur and Ian Bishop will
	miss the start of the season through injury. In the case of
	Ian this may be a blessing in disguise for the Hammers for at
	times he looks woefully slow, it's a pity because otherwise 
	he would be an excellent player. I hope Williamson continues
	to improve and that Ille will fit in and start to show the form
	that we know he is capable of.

	In defence, Richard Hall, Slaven Bilic, Steve Potts and Mark Bowen
	look set to miss the start of the season. This will give 
	Rio Ferdinand a chance to stake his place.   

	Exciting times at West Ham, eventhough though they're now described
	as the Foreign Legion or West Ham United Nations. Even so I'm sure
	the philosophy of how football should be played will remain the
	same. If they play like they did at White Hart Lane last season
	consistently then this could be a successful year for the club.

	I have to admit, I haven't looked forward to a start of a season as much
	as this one for a long time. Whatever the outcome, whether it's relegation
	battle, mid table mediocrity or challenging for a place in Europe I'm 
	sure the team will do the fans proud.

	Phil.

	Arsenal 2 West Ham Utd 0

	Oh dear, not the best start to the season. From the match reports
	the Hammers had atleast two excellent chances after going 2-0
        down by half time. Marc Rieper headed over the bar with an empty
        goal in front of him, being a defender I guess he could be excused.
	Steve Jones supposedly missed atleast 4 easy chances. 

	Rumours are that Paulo Futre had a bust up with Harry Redknapp.
	Harry said that there is no problem with Futre and there was no
	row for he can't even speak English.

	Two very important games coming up this week at home, these are
	the sort of games they need to win convincingly. Coventry City
	on Wednesday should be entertaining, but Southampton may be 
	difficult to break down as seen by yesterdays result.

	Still optimistic.


	Come on you Irons!

	Phil.

    Well its not all doom & gloom Phil... we ended up beating you 2-0 at
    the start of last season & you managed to finish above us in the
    league.... :-> 
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

	Rick,

	Yes I remember, but we did get one goal scored by Williamson.
	At the time, no one could touch Tony Yeboah. 

	Thanks for reminding me :-) because we didnt have too good
	a start, for our first win came at the end of September against
	Everton. 

	You must have been pleased with three goals on Saturday, but
        less so with your defence.

	Phil.

	West Ham 0 Wrexham 1

	Thankfully I didn't see the match and havn't bothered to read
	any reports. The only concilation I can think of is that "things
	can only better" .

	Phil :-(

    RE -1

re prev

A certain someone's getting a bit trappy aren't they Peej ?

A good win under your belt and you're having a go at everyone !!   8-))))))))


Jeers

Mad

    
    Re -1 
    
    Can't help my natural sharp wit and good humour taking hold today...
    
    Oh where is Mr Coleman when you want to take the p*ss....
    
    Pj

    >Things can't get any worse, can they?
    
    Next year you could be playing Reading.
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

re .473

 	What Rick?. West Ham find themselves having committed some 
	irregularity and are demoted 2 divisions to the second division, 
	surely not! .

	Only joking, I'm confident both sides will avoid relegation.

	7 wins from the Hammers remaining matches should suffice. 

	My only worry is that 16 0-0 draws will not be sufficient.

	Phil.

	Looks like the 'ammers 'ave signed Kitson for 2.3 million.
	I really hope this changes things for us. If I were 'arry
	I'd revert back to a back four as at the end of last season,
	and put Bilic up front with Kitson. The sad facts are Bilic
	and Dicks continue to be the only ones likely to score when
	West Ham play :-( .


	Phil.

         Premiership strugglers West Ham have snapped up Arsenal striker John 
         Hartson for five million pounds.
    
         The Welsh goal-ace will make his debut in tomorrow's relegation 
         battle at Derby.
    

    
    Five million ?? !!!!!!   At this rate I could be transferred to Methil
    Marbles for about a million groats !
    
    Transfer market is nuts....
    
    Trevor

	I have to agree, this is crazy money for an average Premiership striker.
	Let's hope John becomes above average. I think Harry has panicked because
	he realises what fixtures the Hammers have left, and it doesn't look
	good. If West ham stay up, then it will be money well spent. Personally,
	I feel it is the tactics 'arry is deploying rather than the lack of
	quality strikers. Instead of paying out 5 million, why not try Bilic 
	upfront for a couple of games and revert back to 4-4-2.

	I always remember the signing of Ted McDougall all those years ago
	and how this brought optism. I can't say the same having signed 
	Kitson and Hartson and for a cool 7+ million pounds it's crazy money.

	Anyway, West Ham must win on Saturday away to Derby. Two goals, that
	is one from each striker would be sweet. Let's hope both of them
	make a name for themselves and the problems West Ham have had with
	strikers will all be forgotten.

	Phil.

Hang on a minute, when did the whammers buy a news reader ???


2 goals against Derby ???............No hope, their defence is too good, and the keeper's a gem.




8-)

Mad
Who_only_had_enough_money_to_buy_russel_hoult_in_the_FFL

    4 goals in 26 appearences (admittedly he was normally on as a sub) is
    not 5 Million quids worth in my book!
    
    
    
    				Stretch.

    You have got to be joking!
    
    5 million for him???
    
    The biggest problem with transfers like this is the knock on effect at
    the lower end of things were money is soooo much tighter. IE manager
    Dodgy Bloke of the 3rd division sees this and now wants 1.5 million for
    mr 35 year old over the hill... Mr 'I played for England once' of the
    1st divsion are now talking 3 million for strikers...
    
    Silly money. (And he's Welsh!)
    
    Alen.

    Good to see all that money didn't go to waste over the weekend.
    
    Derby 1 - West Ham (going doooooooooooown) 0
    
    Didn't the 5 million wonder buy get booked?
    
    Alen

    >>Didn't the 5 million wonder buy get booked?
    
    Yes, within a matter of minutes.
    
    
    
    
    				Stretch.

And is'nt he now suspended again.

	To be or not to be?, that is the question. Well the refereee said
	it was going to be 1-0 to Derby County, giving them 10 out of 10
	for their acting skills.

	I feel Saturday's result was disasterious for the Hammers for we
	have some very difficult fixtures to finish with.

	Don't know if Hartson will be suspended, if so Harry might change
	his tactics and revert back to a back four and play Bilic up front.
	

	Phil.

West Ham 4  3 Spurs
Hartson		Sheringham
Kitson		Howells
Dicks (2)	someone else(?)

Watched this on SKY last nite, the game had been given the go-ahead late in the 
day due to a new rain cover. The weather looked sh*t. Gusts of up to 80mph and 
driving rain.
A most enjoyable game that I have watched for about 2 days. The whammers looked 
keen and Kitson & Hartson chased everything, they played outta their skins. 
Ferdinand looked cool at the back, feeding the ball out, but showed his 
inexperience a couple of times but I am told he's normally a striker !
Dicks was, well, Dicks, Hard working and committed, and scored a peach of a 
goal.
Spurs played well, Anderton's back in good form, Sheringham looked back to 
fitness again. But I Walker is absolute Sh*te.

 Good game, but bad report of it here.

Mad

RE .486

	Anderton scored the other goal for Spurs.


	This was a big, big win for the Hammers, and could be the boost they
	so desparately needed. Julian showed the commitment that he has shown
	all season. Michael Hughes also had a good game, being involved in
	much of the final build up play.

	Kitson looks promising and this could work out to be the perfect partnership
	with Hartson. Hartson is out for the next two games, so it looks like
	Dowie will return to the side.

	Leeds on Saturday at Elland Road, hopefully we can sneak it by the odd goal :-).


	Phil.

    >Leeds on Saturday at Elland Road, hopefully we can sneak it by the odd
    >goal :-).
    
    	Hmmmm...

	One thing that came out of the after match interview with
	our 'arry was that John 'artson's signing fee was 3.2 million.
	This could rise to 5 million under certain circumstances, like
	West Ham United winning the Champions league.

	Phil.

    We got to see this match in the states Monday night on ESPN2.  Very
    entertaining contest.  Sheringham's goal seemed to surprise even the
    commentators, who weren't sure the ball went in.  Ferdinand did look
    very calm at the back, especially for a teenager.  Every time I see
    Julian Dicks play, he has an impressive game like this one.  Why
    doesn't he play internationally?
    
    NAZZ

re .490

;Every time I see
;Julian Dicks play, he has an impressive game like this one.  Why
;doesn't he play internationally?

	NAZZ,

	Yes, I agree with you, that is every game he puts is an impressive
	and inspiritional performance. The reason for him not being picked
	for international duty is probabally that his former disciplinary
	record precedes him. What impresses me is that he has turned that
	round now and has a good disciplinary record but hasn't lost any
	of his enthusiasm or aggressiveness. I believe Glen Hoddle was 
	watching on Monday, so he might be considered though I doubt it.
	Pity, for I feel he could add alot to the spirit of the England 
	team in the same way that Stuart Pierce has done in the past.

	Phil.

    Did Julian Dicks not say a couple of years ago the he didnt give a toss
    about playing for his country, as long as he knew he was doing the
    business for his club team?
    
    Mark.

    
    The Mighty Whites 1 - Poor East End "Blinky Blonky Blimey.. Mate" Cockneys 0
    
    Haven't seen the highlights yet... but we won so I don't really care
    how we did it at this stage of the season... all Leeds want to do is to
    avoid relegation.
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

	All I saw of the highlights was, a looping Dowie header hitting the
	cross bar. A right mix up between Julian and Ludo, led to gifting
	Leeds a goal. Now in the bottom 3 again, it doesn't look good as
	the Hammers are the bookies favourites for the drop.


	Phil.

    
    
    
    Someone has just informed me that BILIC has been sold..
    
    Anyone know different! or is this just a rumour.
    
    Tony.
    
    

    Tony,
    
    Is the the same kind of thing as the grenade cheat? (that ought to
    confuse a few people!!!)
    
    
    
    
                            Stretch.

re .495

	Tony,

	Were they playing championship manager? I have heard nothing, but I guess
	it could be possible if the likes of Newcastle or Man Utd put in a big bid 
	for him.

	With Rio Ferdinand doing well, and the likes of Richard Hall coming back
	from injury perhaps Harry could be swayed to let Bilic go if the money
	was right. 

	If this is true, then it would be a shame for Slaven has been a great
	signing and a joy to watch.


	Phil.

    There is nothing on Reuters, IRN, Teletext etc. The word that rhymes
    with rollocks springs to mind!
    
    
    
                 	Stretch.

    
    Stretch,
    
    
    NO grenades, honest.
    
    Did you really check Reuters only that is apparantly where the info
    came from.
    
    FROM HONEST TONE.

    Snarf!
    
    (You sad sack, Sretch!)
    
    RE: Billic
    
    It's not on any of the aforemetioned sources, all of which are pretty
    quick with the news.
    
    
    
    
                        Stretch.

re .495

	Tony,

	Looks like Slaven Bilic is staying :-).

	Will the next rumour be that someone has signed Julian Dicks!.

	Phil.
	

    >Looks like Slaven Bilic is staying :-).
    
    Well according to todays Express it says that he has handed in a
    transfer request and is going to move for �4.25 million

	Rick,

	Thanks, it appears that he has a clause in his contract that if
	someone offers more than 4.25 million then it's up to him to choose
	to stay or go :-(. It appears that Everton might be lining up a 5 
	million pound bid (according to Sky). The thing West Ham have in 
	their favour is that Slaven would have to renew his work permit, 
	which would take at least 3 weeks.

	Phil. 

	West Ham 3   Chelsea 2

	Dicks (pen)  Vialli
	Kitson 2     Hughes
	
	West Ham get three important points against the Azurri of Chelsea.
	Kitson looks a good signing and could soon be the top scorer above
	Julian :-). Dowie is not destined to score so hopefully Hartson will
	be back soon. Chelsea supposedly dominated the first half with 
	Vialli scoring in the 26th minute. On came Danny Williamson and 
	Porfiro at half time and the game turned with West Ham being the
	dominant attacking team. There was a disputed Dicks penalty early on 
	in the second half followed by the Hammers pressuring for the win.
	Porfirio set Kitson up for his first goal and having the lead the
	Hammers took their foot off the peddle. On came Mark Hughes and the
	game changed in Chelsea' favour. A nail biting last 15 minutes and
	Mark Hughes scores in the 87th minute. The Chelsea fans taunting
	"West Ham's going down, their going down" just added to the sense of
	disapointment. West Ham get a corner, which Michael Hughes takes and
	Dowie heads it goal wards, will the keeper save it? no as Kitson 
	deflects it into the goal, Yeeeeeeeeeeeees! 3 valuable points to the
	Hammers and they climb out of the bottom 3 relegation places.

	Down side is that Danny had to come off with an injury in the second
	half.

	Slaven Bilic has voiced that he will be staying until the end of the 
	season, and with the inspired way he played last night that's great
	news for Harry. 

	I hope Porfirio signs on the dotted line, for West Ham look some much
	better when he is playing. He looks a key player to West Ham staying 
	up this season. Certainly looks like an exciting end to the season,
	it would be ironic if Everton go down. My teams for the drop are
	Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland or Derby.

	Phil.

	Seems we dominated much of the game apart from the last ten minutes.
	Kitson was denied a clear penalty and Hartson had a good opportunity
	to open the scoring. Looks promising for Premiership survival, but a 
	win tomorrow against Wimbledon would be a big boost.

	Downside was that Frank Lampard jnr broke a leg and will be out for 
	the rest of the season.

	Phil. 

	Another valuable point from last nights clash against the Dons.
	We left it a bit late again, with Stan the 'flying down the wing'
	Man scoring right at the end.

	Jones missed a penalty for the Dons as well.

	The second half, was reported to be quite exciting after Porfirio
	had been brought on in place of Potts. Wimbledon had taken an
	early lead through Harford.

	Coventry away on Saturday is a big one, a win would be great but
	a draw would not be a bad result.

	Phil.	

	Coventry City 1 West Ham 3

	Rieper og	Hartson 2
			Ferdinand


	Excellent win for the Hammers even after going 1 goal down.
	West Ham have certainly scored some corking own goals this 
	season, and Marc's was no exception.

	Great display by the front two and Mr Gould must have pleased
	looking on seeing his Welsh striker bag two goals.

	Things are beginning to look good for the Hammers, yet we still
	have to play Southampton away and Middlesborough at home.


	Phil.	

	West Ham 0 Middlesborough 0

	A point last night was not as bad as it might seem. Debuts
	for Richard Hall and Lomas. John Hartson could have sneeked it
	at the end. Most reports claimed that Middlesborough played the
	better football on the night. 

	It's strange while others quibble over too many matches being 
	played over a short period of time, West Ham having been having 
	the opposite and this was the first game they have played for
	16 days. Personally, I'm glad they are not extending the season
	as I don't believe that having long periods between games is 
	good. I'm sure Man Utd will be up for it on the last day of the
	season and it will be a great if they need 3 points to clinch
	the championship.

	Phil.

	It's amazing that season after season the fortunes of teams like
	West Ham, Southampton and Coventry change when there's just a 
	handful of games left. This season is exciting as ever and 
	hopefully on Saturday West Ham will pick up 3 points at the Dell.

	For every ones interest here are the remaining games for the teams
	still in the relegation battle, it doesn't include Blackburn and
	Everton though I think the latter could very easily be drawn into it.


	Notts Forest 31 points -23 Goal difference
	------------------------------------------
	Leeds (H)
	Derby (A)
	Wimbledon (H)
	Newcastle (A)

	My prediction is that they will get just 4 points from these games


	Southampton 31 points -10 GD
	----------------------------
	West Ham Utd (H)
	Coventry     (H)
	Sunderland   (A)
	Blackburn    (H)
        Aston Villa  (A)

	My prediction is that they will get no more than 6 points

	Middlesborough 33 points -8 GD
	------------------------------
	Sunderland  (H)
	Tottenham   (A)
	Aston Villa (H)
	Man Utd     (A)
	Leeds 	    (A)

	My prediction is that they will get 8 points

	Sunderland 34 points -23 GD
	---------------------------
	Liverpool   (H)
	Middlesborough (A)
	Southampton (H)
	Everton (H)
	Wimbledon (A)

	My prediction is that they will get 4 points

	West Ham Utd 34 points -10 GD
	-----------------------------
	Southampton  (A)
	Everton      (H)
	Leicester    (A)
	Sheff Wed    (H)
	Newcastle    (A)
	Man Utd      (A)

	My prediction is that they will get 8 points

	Coventry  36 points -10 GD
	---------------------------
	Southampton (A)
	Arsenal     (H)
	Derby County (H)
	Tottenham    (A)

	My prediction is that they will get 4 points


	So I predict that Notts Forest, Southampton and Sunderland will be relegated.
	Whichever, way it goes it'll be exciting and nail biting right down to the
	last day.

	Phil.

	Southampton 2 West Ham 0

	I hope this was just a minor hiccup, a win against Everton next
	Saturday is now a must.


	Phil.

	West Ham 2  Everton 2
	Kitson 2    Branch
		    Ferguson

	Can't believe what happened on Saturday, at half time coasting 2-0.
	Second half, Hartson says to Kitson do you want to get your hattrick?
	Kitson declines, Hartson says go on and Kitson promptly misses. It's
	all down hill from there with Ludo making a total hash up to let Duncan
	in to score. Further, Sunderland win which means West Ham go into the
	bottom three. Fortunately, we still have a fighting chance, though I 
	believe that this week's match at Leceister will be crucial. 

	Phil.

	Leicester City 0 West Ham 1
			 Moncur


	Great win for West Ham last night, which was really appreciated after
	last weekend's fiasco. Supposedly, a poor game to watch and a bit
	niggly (10 bookings) but the points are the important thing. 

	Still a lot of work to do, but there is hope. A win against Sheffield
 	Wednesday or Newcastle at home is a must.

	The relegation battle looks like it will go to the wire though I can't 
	see Notts Forest escaping. However, it's still unclear who will join
	them. 

	Phil.
	

	Great win for West Ham last Saturday...

	West Ham 5  Sheff Wednesday 1
	Kitson 3	Carbone 1
	Hartson 2


	West Ham play Newcastle tonight at Upton Park which is live
	on Sky. Then Man Utd on Sunday at Old Trafford. Newcastle need
	to win to have any hope of winning the title, but it would
	mean beating Man Utd on Thursday, winning their last game and
	West ham getting a win at Old Trafford on Sunday. However, I
	believe West Ham will win tonight and put an end to the Geordies
	slim title hopes.

	Phil.