Will my beloved Hammers be promoted?

[exosculate]

I have got my fingers crossed, but they've been there before and we all know how that turned out.........

 

[mmmSkyscraper]

For me, I hope it's West Ham cos they've got a decent support and a top flight history. That said, it will mean more cockneys (real ones this time) in the Prem, and that's never going to be a good thing.

Come on Preston. Or Ipswich.

 

[kakuma]

west ham are ok in my book

great colour scheme

 

[kained&able]

the ipswich game will be danm tough especilly as sheringham is still out.

we could and should beat all the teams in the play offs but im guessing all thier fans will be saying the same thing so umm we shall see.


dave

 

[nightowl]

hmm, on the one hand it's only two tube stops to see argyle at upton park if you lot stay down, but then again do i want to see them get stuffed again so close to home next season???? decisions decisions

 

[Red Faction]

should do
its a re-run of last year against ipswich
still you always have that ability to just fuck it all up at crucial moments

would be nice to have a decent prem team in the east end
but as leyton orient arent going up anytime soon
you'll have to do

 

[NoCoolNickname]

Hope not.

 

[Spion]

I can't abide claret n blue so, no, stay down.

I want Preston up to add to the number of Blues games I get to see in the north

 

[sipotential]

youve no chance west-ham get a roasting by ipswich
just like millwall gave them a lesson in football
the prem ballon payments stop.. ur still
40 million in debt , have to go into
receivership, the earth then opens up
swallows the hole of the ground team, supporters
you all then burn in hell...
happy day's.................

 

[exosculate]

youve no chance west-ham get a roasting by ipswich
just like millwall gave them a lesson in football
the prem ballon payments stop.. ur still
40 million in debt , have to go into
receivership, the earth then opens up
swallows the hole of the ground team, supporters
you all then burn in hell...
happy day's.................

I'll put you down as a probably.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I hope we will, but we probably won't.

 

[Chuck Wilson]

As I offered on another post, I think West Ham have been remarkably lucky to make the play offs and it is precisely for that reason I have a sneaky feeling that thye will make it. Ipswich will be a hard game, I think Joe Royle is probably the best Division 1 manager about but I despite their inconsistencies West Ham only have to win two out of three to get through or is that one out of three and a score daw away or one out of three and a penaltly shoot out or golden goal?

 

[Chuck Wilson]

For me, I hope it's West Ham cos they've got a decent support and a top flight history. That said, it will mean more cockneys (real ones this time) in the Prem, and that's never going to be a good thing.

Come on Preston. Or Ipswich.

Aren't Wigan , which is a scouse overspill, already promoted? You'll be able to see your six fingered cousin again when he comes to Anfield.

 

[STFC]

I certainly hope the Irons do it this time around. The way I see it they're the form team, and Ipswich must be feeling pretty deflated at the moment having been so close to going up automatically. They certainly won't fancy going to the Boleyn on Saturday, especially if the atmosphere is anything like I'm told it was in the same fixture last year. I predict 2-1 on Saturday, and 1-1 at Portman Road. 2-0 against Preston in the final.

 

[hammerntongues]

I certainly hope the Irons do it this time around. The way I see it they're the form team, and Ipswich must be feeling pretty deflated at the moment having been so close to going up automatically. They certainly won't fancy going to the Boleyn on Saturday, especially if the atmosphere is anything like I'm told it was in the same fixture last year. I predict 2-1 on Saturday, and 1-1 at Portman Road. 2-0 against Preston in the final.

Last years play-off with Ipswich was the best atmosphere I have been in at a football ground for years ( sad reflection ), bear in mind though that this year it is only the first leg so it`s not going to feel quite the same.

I don`t even like hearing myself say it but I`ve got a good feeling about this year.

C`mon you Irons..........

 

[STFC]

Last years play-off with Ipswich was the best atmosphere I have been in at a football ground for years...

All my West Ham mates tell me the same. I've been to Upton Park 6 or 7 times this season and a couple of times last season, and I must admit to being quite disappointed with the atmosphere. I'm hoping it will be different on Saturday.

 

[marksims68]

I'll be at Upton Park on Saturday (in the away section) so I'm hoping us Tractor boys generate some atmosphere ourselves.

I must admit it was rocking last year........lets hope us blues do the same at fortress Portman Road.

COME ON IPSWICH!!!!!!!!

Mark.

 

[djbombscare]

I'm just keeping positive and believe that it will happen NO DOUBT ABOUT IT !!!



I have faith

 

[Calum McD]

Hope you beat Ipswich so North End get to avenge the 1964 cup final

We've beaten you at Upton Park on our last 2 visits so will be feeling confident.

 

[Wide Eyed Angel]

i reckon west ham might do it. as long as derby don't it's all good, i'd like to see them fall at the last hurdle, it's quite painful, and having seen forest go down this season they need to stay in the 'championship' in the name of local derbies!

 

[Andy the Don]

I have a feeling you could sneak it. Your not as good as last season, when you deserved to go up, but Palarse nicked it.. But I can see you go through 1-0 on agg & then sneaking it at Cardiff.. In fact I can see a trip to the bookies to put a tenner on West Ham going up.
(Sorry that's the kiss of death..)

 

[exosculate]

Well the no chance people can eat humble pie.

 

[Sorry.]

Well the no chance people can eat humble pie.

not finished with the sour grapes yet ...

 

[Batboy]

not finished with the sour grapes yet ...

that's the spirit!

Have to say the play offs as excruciating as they are for the three clubs that do not make it, are an entertaining/exciting way of finishing the season. At the end of the day it does appear to favour the form team and West Ham were the form team in that last month of the season in the same way Palace were the year before.

From Preston's perspective this may have done them a favour because there is a lot to build upon and you could have a better team next season and one that would be better equipped for the premiership with automatic promotion in the way Wigan have succeeded.


As regards West Hams prospects for next season I do not believe they are automatic relegation candidates. A lot will depend on what new players are brought in but they are a club that produces fantastic home grown/youth talent (think Lampard, Defoe, Cole, Johnson, Ferdinand, and Carrick No fewer than 6 England players) and with the new blood coming through the future could be bright again providing we get through next season. The Hammers are a big club with 'real' supporters so back where they belong.

So eat your humble pie and sour grapes and start looking forward to next season..it is only a game....

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Batboy, much as I admire your optimism, that batch from the early noughties was one of the greatest batch of English homegrown players ANY club has produced in the last 20 years. Our board were foolish enough to sell them instead of investing in a few quality older players to balance the younger yet good players (such an approach would have meant a permanent spot in the top 5 for us IMO) which was why we went down.

But do you really think a batch as good as that is going to come through in the next year?

I seriously doubt it (much as I'd like to believe it!)

 

[Batboy]

Batboy, much as I admire your optimism, that batch from the early noughties was one of the greatest batch of English homegrown players ANY club has produced in the last 20 years. Our board were foolish enough to sell them instead of investing in a few quality older players to balance the younger yet good players (such an approach would have meant a permanent spot in the top 5 for us IMO) which was why we went down.

But do you really think a batch as good as that is going to come through in the next year?

I seriously doubt it (much as I'd like to believe it!)

I think West Ham have proved that they have one of the best if not the best youth policies/set ups in the country. Tony Carr is still there and I do believe there will be more players to come through. The very fact that Lampard, Cole etc came through West Ham encourages promising youngsters to sign with West Ham because they know they will be given a good grounding and that the opportunities to flourish are there. Cole was a shining example, obviously influenced by his parents who encouraged him to sign with West Ham despite being based in Highbury and a big gunner fan. West Ham attract the budding youngsters and have shown how they can be nurtured. Therefore any parent with a promising son with a number of clubs clamouring round would look upon West Ham as the club for the youngster to go to.

Anton Ferdinand is beginning to look impressive, Mark Noble is highly rated and there are apparently others. Next season I'm going to take my 5 Y.O to some of the youth matches and have a nose. The youth matches of the last few seasons have been exciting and I grant you the batch from around 5/6 years ago that pulverised the youth league were remarkably good but the youth teams have still excelled in recent seasons too. More to come me thinks.

Of course the secret is to hang on to them. Ferdinand leaving was when the rot set in. Obviously the club needs to run its finances better (Not let the likes of the Rednapp's run out of control with a cheque book) and as you say ensure we have good quality experienced players brought in.