Latest Opinion

As far as football seasons go, this one has been quite eventful for WHUFC. Besides the inescapable fact that West Ham United are leaving the Boleyn Ground after 112 years for pastures new (and publically owned), results on the football pitch have not been too bad.

Wins away to Arsenal, Liverpool (finally after so many years) and Man City as the first three away matches, unlucky not to have done the double over Chelsea, and reached the FA Cup quarter finals are just some examples. There have been disappointments along the way as well like sacrificing our place in the Europa League, the manner in how we exited the FA Cup and refereeing decisions in recent months.

Back in August I moaned about the lack of overall squad depth and this was addressed by the club with its transfer day deadline dealings. One has been sold on (Jelavic), another looks surplus to requirements already (Song), a stockpiled Chelsea player left their depot only to be returned when the season ends (Moses) and a man with his ice cream cart rocked up from Nottingham Forest (Antonio).

Gone were Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan and Modibo Maiga and previously, Stewart Downing. January saw the addition of Sam Byram in the face of competition from Everton and Emmanuel Emenike as the replacement for a China-bound Jelavic.




Overall and a nice change for once, we find ourselves with a squad that is stronger than where we started with room to manoeuvre in replacing those on loan to ourselves or on the peripheries of the first team squad. Usually we are lumbered with complete dead wood throughout the squad but even before factoring in West Ham United’s usual penchant for trying to polish a turd, the playing squad looks promising going forwards.

Strong players who previously enhanced our squad - like Kouyate and his drive and willingness to directly run with the ball - have been supplemented with the likes of Lanzini to thread the play together. Cresswell's attacking intent is assisted with the addition of Payet on his wing. Any combination of centre half can be the player who presses the attacker whilst Ogbonna is the no nonsense “see ball, win ball” defender who also isn’t afraid to play the ball from the back.

Over the park all season there have been contributions and a strong collective spirit which has seen the club reach its highest points total since football began in 1992. This has not been achieved through luck.




Slaven has been a breath of fresh air for a set of fans that have spent the last couple of seasons fighting among themselves about the previous manager. There has been no negativity from the manager towards the fans. The results have helped but even if the results which currently see us sitting in 6th place with an outside chance of 'Champions' League qualification were not there and we were adrift in mid-table, the playing style alone has been enough to see a marked change in attitude from fans towards the clubs playing staff management.

This last season at our famous Boleyn Ground had seen West Ham United unbeaten in the league since August prior to last weekend's 4-1 reversal and delivered plenty of memories in such a poignant season for our club. Mark Noble fully deserved his testimonial at the old ground and the day itself was a great celebration of both the faithful servant to the claret and blue cause and the club itself.

The FA Cup replay against Liverpool with Ogbonnas dramatic last gasp winner and the atmosphere that night captured in this YouTube movie, beating Chelsea and Tottenham so they can never laud it over us as winning their last matches at our ground. There is so much more I could list but this season, regardless of how it will end in Stoke-On-Trent on the 15th May has been one to remember.




It’s easily within our remit to do a West Ham and flop next season. So many brave new dawns have failed to materialise in the past as those fortunes are always hiding but with the move to the new stadium, coupled with the new TV deal kicking in from next season you just never know and we could be on the verge of something good here on a consistent basis.

The current squad and manager look much happier than in previous years and the togetherness comes across as natural and not forced. It might just be me being cynical but I am always waiting for everything to come crashing down and to be the punchline to the joke.

At the moment the joke is on “football experts” in various media forms and misogynistic dinosaur pundits currently working on beIN sports in the Middle East. Be careful what you wish for, you’ll regret changing managers, good luck fighting relegation. Think I’ll stick with what we have at the moment thank you very much, come what may.

A reversal in form and performances next season should not see the start of discord with the manager. Teams need time to build and not everyone can pull off a Leicester. This team since promotion has been built and has been added to with further additions to come in this summer, European football or not. Rome was not built in a day and short term solutions to longer term issues has been the norm for too long at West Ham United.




Now things have started to take an upwards trajectory, it is time to carry on building and to seize on the opportunities that present themselves to us now. Not before however giving the Boleyn Ground the send off it deserves.

There won’t be a dry eye in the house in the home end tomorrow night but let’s not make it a wake, let us celebrate everything about the previous 112 years and regardless of any campaigns on West Ham United's website which state history starts in 99 days or so, your history helps to make you who you are and guides you towards your future. A history of triumphs and failures that can never be erased or forgotten.

The official capacity of the Boleyn Ground is just north of 35,000 but there will be more then that there on Tuesday 10th May. Family and friends both here and no longer with us will be present as they always are, blowing those pretty bubbles in the air.

* Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the highlighted author/s and do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy or position of KUMB.com.