WORLD CUP RANT
Pissed off really as still keep thinking about our own Cup Final and everytime I do which is often I always feel gutted and proud at the sametime.Which is unusual you know because to be on a losing side in a FA Cup final you normally only feel sick as a parrot.Dont know about you but I always felt sick when I think of the 1981 League Cup final we lost to the scouse in a reply when I thought we were robbed of victory at Wembley.But to lose a final and feel proud of your team like I do all these months after is something to credit those currant lads who wear the claret and blue with pride today and I mean that cos I didnt think I would be going to Cardiff Milleanium Stadium three years on the bounce.So lets give a hats off to Pards too for he never had a name for two years as it was only 'West Ham's claret and blue army that got sung as his name stuck in your throat a bit as you found it hard to work out why he took off 3 forwards in that first Play-Off final lost and how do you ever forgive losing 4-1 in a no show at Millwall. You don't but that don't say you cant take your hats off to a manager who has obviously took a long hard look at himself, dug in and took the board on (We sold the best now get us promoted son) and the fans who thought we should have had Curbs or some other big name.Com'on admit it for I am we were wrong cos we finally have a manager who believes and has a purpose and a drive about him to really want this club to do well and aside from a brilliant Wenger style transfer business last summer he has done what I have not seen for several managers, maybe back to Lyall where we have a team/squad who want to play for the shirt.We have that now and the team spirit is that good now that as a fan I feel confident we can keep hold of our best players, Coker, Gabbidon, the emergance of Anton, the call from pundits that Ashton should have gone to the World Cup. The way Mullins appears to be a key player that has repaid a lot of faith Pards gave him and what about Benayoun? don't tell me his first half performance against the reds wasn't a vintage Alan Devonshire out there. Zamo is better than Jermaine (No, but don't blame Sven the Yid manager killed his chances by hardly playing him in the league). We first sung the Zamora ditty out of Bobby's loyality to
being a geniune hammer fan but since his vital goals helped put us back where we belong he is another player that shows much more confidence now and that song of 'He comes from White Hart Lane and he's better than Jermaine' has had more meaning of late and is probably closer to the truth as to why Sven made the big mistake of not taking Defoe also how unlucky was Konchesky our next Julian Dicks for sure.
I have always got time for people that prove you wrong and I've been doing it myself all my life and spare a thought for Roeder and how he came back and as the unfancied coach and pulled a massive club round the corner. West Ham v Newcastle this season will be a interesting manager's battle of wits for us fans. But whatever I will predict that in the next World Cup unlike this one that only featured Scaloni and Shaka from the currant squad yet ex-hammers read: Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, David James (Eng), Paulo Wanchope (C Rico), Serhiy Rebrov (Ukr), Stan Lazaridus (Aus). 2010 expect to see Reo-Coker, Anton, Konchesky, and of course Deano for a England managered by Bill Gardner look-alike Big Phil (Maclaren?how long will you give him and how many more notes on paper will he write saying Tel, help me out).
But what of this World Cup on the day of the final I write this holding Ladbroke coupens saying 12 and 14-1 France (Sorry big Henry admirer) and that still wont cover me for what I have lost backing our boys per game. what do you say and where do you start when only yesterday I was asked why am I driving around with car flags still? They were those Lads Army ones which I felt were cool but I still slunk down in the seat when I looked over my shoulder at my frayed flags still fluttering, felt a right cunt and there's our Rio worrying about showing his face to pop down his local Sainsbury. No I won't knock our Lions when you remember the tears of our boys who gave their all with ten and saw in men like Rio and Terry real shattered hearts.But you do think and you will lie on a beach somewhere this summer thinking you watched some two-bob teams in that World Cup string five passes together effortlessly yet us at times passed like donkeys. the teams own admission after every game was we are playing pony yet they still felt they should have been in the semi-finals. Work that one out I cant but on paper Real Madrid who also play in white always feel they should win the Champians league. Well that might be the answer to two of them cos Owen in a Liverpool shirt was the bollox as was Becks in a Manc shirt and the Owen in Newcastle shirt whatever both have lost the pace, maybe not the quality for that level. Lamps to me Fat Frank to you but as I earnt well out of backing him as first goalscorer in his claret and blue era I think of him as Lamps in a three lions shirt.But here's a player who has paid the price in this World Cup for seemingly holding more ambition to keep his record of being ever present and not missing a game for Chelsea past two seasons that includes Champian's League. Cos how do you play two leagues a season at the highest level and have just a month off to then comeback and find yer form for the World Cup. Yeah right, and I do think the Champians league has robbed the World Cup from the big name players performing with any consistantcy like the heros in past tournaments I mean did you see the true Ronaldinho ? No. Italy had easy passage of games until the semi and that until the final later today is their one performance. Brazil did the golden Brazil in one game only, Dutch showed promise then fizzed out, As of Portugal and their cheat,Of France I had been trying to sell on my ant-post slips until they did it against Brazil. Mexico surprised, the Africans entertained with enough skill and strength to surely interest Wenger's cheque book but again will always fail through no disclipline. Argies for me were the only team that did it for more than one game and the Aussies won the Jack Charlton dogs of war trophy for their heroics, while I would say hosts Germany broke the mold because Ballack was consistant and Klose every time I see him I think he is made for our Premiership league.So what am I trying to say here to rap my World Cup rant, yeah the Champians League commitments being a league and the commitment needed again to qualify for places through your own leagues has robbed the World Cup of ever seeing individual performances that raise the game and stakes that makes the World Cup the greatest ever tournament.Now what have you done with your white van flags and when do they come out again is the question I leave you with cos mine I know got binned due to having 2006 printed on them like a MUG!!
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