Late David Gold, Sullivan and Brady

[GaryP]

No it’s not.

A start would be a full public apology for the lies and spin that convinced thousands of us to support the move from The Boleyn.

A start would be the immediate dismissal of Brady.

A start would be removing London from that ****ing badge.

Bang on mate, and like you said thats only a start.

[DaveWHU1964]

Fair play to Gold & Sullivan for confirming Issa Diop & Fabianski.

It's not fixed the past 10 years...but it's a start.

No it's not. There is absolutely nothing they can do to fix these last few years.

If a shiny signing or two is enough to make anyone believe that those c**** have made "a start" then it's an indication of how this fractured fanbase is not coming back together again any time soon.

And if you want to say "fair play" to anyone then say it to the hundreds who gathered in front of the directors' box v Burnley and the likes of Bubbles the flag man. If there's been a transfer policy change it's them that's brought it about. I'll say "fair play" to proper West Ham like them all day long but never to the ****ing parasites who pretend to be West Ham.

[Kialos]

Dave

It just shows what shysters they are that something as routine as signing football players, something every flipping club in the land does, is presented as some kind of indicator that Gold & Sullivan are fit and proper owners.

They are nothing of the sort. They got called out and found out last season and they are the same same filth today as they were then.

[GaryP]

No it's not. There is absolutely nothing they can do to fix these last few years.

If a shiny signing or two is enough to make anyone believe that those ***** have made "a start" then it's an indication of how this fractured fanbase is not coming back together again any time soon.

And if you want to say "fair play" to anyone then say it to the hundreds who gathered in front of the directors' box v Burnley and the likes of Bubbles the flag man. If there's been a transfer policy change it's them that's brought it about. I'll say "fair play" to proper West Ham like them all day long but never to the ****ing parasites who pretend to be West Ham.

Spot on fella.

A start would be ending bubbles ban for one. It was a peaceful protest.

[D C]

The sad thing is one good window will be enough for too many fans. Everythings reactionary and short term on and off the pitch now.

I wouldn’t forgive them even if they put together a league winning squad

[goa127]

I think the point is they have rightly been condemned for promising the 'next level' and not delivering. If this summer's window continues as it's started, then some attempt has been made to head in that direction. It may be late (too late for many) and it may not be successful, but at least it's some sort of positive step. Whether anything really improves we'll have to wait and see. For those who hate the stadium it'll never be enough and that's fair enough. Me? I've no real problem with OS so I've got a different angle on it.

[Kialos]

It's certainly better than not signing anyone, for sure. We wont know who they cash in on, if anyone , until the end of the window. If they sell any of the important players like Arnie then they need to sign a few more Diops to show real intent rather than just trying to carry on churning existing money.

When the next accounts are published more and more people will start to see what is really going on and it wont be pretty reading if you are of the opinion that the core purpose of a football club is the football team.

[goa127]

I'm pretty sure most owners buy football clubs for two main reasons. a) to make money b) to boost their ego
Everything else is secondary. As fans we have to hope that the best way to do a&b is to have a successful team, cos the owners will never care about us, whoever they are

[Kialos]

There are few PL owners who view their fan base with the contempt that Gold Sullivan and their mouthpeice Brady does.

Look at the way other clubs treat their away fans for a start.

How many owners sold their ground to rent an athletics stadium and signed away decision making in so many important operating areas including the health and safety of their own fans and the inability to help their own players out on the pitch by being allowed to change the colour of the astro turn around the pitch

How many owners had a telephony company that was basically scamming people using the ticket office telephone number. If there are any fans of other clubs who were running up bills of £50 then it will be easy enough to find out with the magic of social media.

How many owners have repeatedly acted contrary to consumer legislation connected to Champions Place stones or their equivalent.

How many clubs attempted to scam their own fans out of club cash by inserting unannounced significant changes to the terms and conditions half way through the season.

How many clubs charge their fans £12 to join a dubious waiting list for s ST

How many clubs tried to con their STH out of the loyalty discount.

How many owners took out a large payday loan and then paid themselves millions of pounds a few days later.

How many owners charge between 6-4% interest on loans

Sullivan and Gold just like any other club owners? That's a big fat no from me my friend.

[goa127]

I have never suggested that they were just like any other owners, I was generally commenting on the ethos of owners. My experience of west ham as a club over the past 50 years is that they are generally, cheapskate, incompetent, uncaring, mercenary and two-faced. I sometimes think we were destined to get Gold and Sullivan as owners. They have very few redeeming features in my eyes(well none) and I'm sure they wouldn't be far from the bottom of anyone's xmas card list. I'm trying to just put my fingers in my ears sometimes and watch the football

[Johnny_C WHU]

I am not thankful or appreciative of G&S this summer.

Firstly it is early days and although the three signings have been positive and their is talk of decent players being approached, we haven't actually signed any more players with talk of walking away on some.

Additionally, this is something that should have happened the day we moved to the bowl; they promised us next level and tried to palm us off on the cheap.

The whole thing reeks of necessity, rather than intent.
The natives were restless and the press caught wind. If they were that serious about loving the club, crossed arms etc. then they would have invested in that winter window when we had a decent chance of cracking top 4. Instead if felt like bare minimum, plod along and hopefully the razzle dazzle will see them through to the pot of gold at the end.

So, in my opinion I am not giving them a clap and first steps etc. because this is what they promised. You don't thank a mugger for returning your wallet.....

[Lil Joe 17]

Jeez guys I just said a start....

[OohAahButler]

I'm trying to just put my fingers in my ears sometimes and watch the football

Well put. If the fanbase is fractured, I don't think it's between those who hate and those who support the board. I think hatred of the board is pretty unanimous at this point. The difference is that some of us want to continue to support the team despite the board (and the stadium) and make the best of it, whereas for others the whole experience has become so poisoned that they prefer to walk away. Personally, I fall into the former camp - although I totally understand those who feel differently. This doesn't mean I've forgiven the board, or want them to have an easy ride; just that I want to enjoy my football.

[Barnet Steve]

I will never forgive them for what they have done: the lies, the contempt and the Thunderdome. They have, however, kept a lower profile and our club is not being represented by a fat-faced teen or a blundering old knicker salesman online these days.

The signings so far have been good, and the appointment of Pellegrini and the DoF welcome - and do away with the spivvy approach of Sully in the transfer market. But these are things we should have been doing, and the spectre of GSB sticking an oar in when they can no longer bear to be out of the limelight is ever-present.

It is because of their incompetence that so many of us are so wary of everything. That's their true legacy: the utter distrust of the fanbase. They still need to go and, maybe, success under Pellegrini will give them something viable to sell up so they can sod off.

[Johnny_C WHU]

Jeez guys I just said a start....

Apologies Lil Joe if you think my rant was aimed at you, it really wasn't. I do fully appreciate your post about first steps and in my opinion to an extent you are right.

The crux of my post and my opinion is that they are making the right noises about appointments etc. however, it doesn't feel genuine; they had their chance to prove that they had honest intentions about taking West Ham to a new level and did diddly squat.
This time they are making small steps however, this is after demonstrations and the press picking up on their poor investment.
If they appointed a middle of the road manager and kept to form with their transfer activities then they would have almost an unmanageable situation on their hands at the bowl, from the fans, press, everywhere.

[goa127]

Of course it's not genuine, it's just expediency. That's good if it works in our favour. I don't read Brady's column and I'm not interested in Jack Sullis wallpaper. I just want to watch a west ham team that's not an embarrassment. GSB are always an embarrassment.

[Northern_Light]

they had their chance to prove that they had honest intentions about taking West Ham to a new level and did diddly squat.

Do you think some of it is down to who is available, by way of managers and players?

Seems to me that we haven't had the calibre of manager available that would attract better players or we haven't been able to persuade them to come here.

When Allardyce was appointed, we were in an uncertain situation regarding the new stadium and our economic future in the Championship. When Bilic was appointed, he was the favourite among the fans. Others on the list, even in hindsight, would either not have been realistic or not an improvement on Bilic. Emery wanted the Arsenal job. Ancelotti went to Bayern Munich, and Moyes, Di Matteo, Di Canio, and McClaren would not have been a good fit, for different reasons. Our board probably stayed loyal to Bilic for too long. I don't agree that we didn't support him enough - he had a great first season, so cannot have been too much wrong with the set up.

It seems that some things have just fallen more kindly for us this time, in that Pellegrini was available and he found us a good proposition. We now have the stadium, which in spite of the problems, is still a huge draw for a manager and players, we have been back in the Prem for six seasons now, we have a better recruiting structure, and now we are seeing a better quality of player coming in.

Either way, it seems that this isn't just about throwing money at the problem or simply deciding you are going to chase this or that manager/player/staff. The person we are trying to get has to be available and they have to say yes.

[Mean Ashton]

their spend this summer has only been enabled by the lack of spend last summer - they are basically spending two summers worth of £35-40m.

they will never spend vast sums to move the team on. we stay as we are for as long as they can get away with a £40m net spend every year and stay in the league.

[goa127]

I think northen light has a bit of truth in what he says.Sully's ego means he doesn't trust managers to have better judgement than him. Now he's got a notable manager he's reluctantly deferring to him It'll soon change if it goes wrong though!

[GaryP]

Jeez guys I just said a start....

Not even a start.