OLAS 457 March 16th 2009
Geezers from the East End don’t get a chance to feature on telly too often. Wrong accent no doubt, but one who gets a bit more airtime than others is Bob Crow – General Secretary of the RMT trade union. Brought up in Shadwell, these days he lives in Woodford but his accent is unmistakably East End. A lot of people aren’t that keen on him; they see him as something akin to the hard-nosed, totally intransigent, stereotyped trade unionist in Peter Sellers’ “I’m All Right Jack”, but I had the chance to spend a few hours in his company last week – and reckon he’s actually a top guy. He’s sharp and witty, interesting and very well read.
When I’m not writing for OLAS, one of the things I do to earn a crust is lead historical walks of the East End. Last year I wrote to some trade unions to see if they were interested. After all, trade unions played a crucial role in raising the standard of living for many East Enders. Anyway, the RMT were the first ones to make a booking. So Bob C and around 20 crew from their office turned up. He’s very personable – and I assumed from where he grew up and his general manner, that he must be West Ham. I was wrong. Over a curry after the walk I asked him if he follows the footie. He said he was Millwall! He then tested me on which team I supported. When I told him West Ham, he came back quick as a flash: “I liked you up to that point, Dave!” Some of his crew though were definitely West Ham – with a perfectly acceptable soft spot for Dagenham and Redbridge too – a bit like my soft spot for Leyton Orient that goes back to the ‘60s.
Now I’ve only ever met two other decent Millwall fans. One is a really dedicated teacher at the comprehensive my kids went to, who is not impressed with the obsession with academic qualifications and goes the extra mile to ensure that non-academic kids get proper life opportunities and develop self-respect too. The other is a rat catcher called Paul who misspent his youth in the Young National Front before giving even more years of graft to the cause of anti-fascism. And here’s a connection. Because if there is one respect in which Bob Crow is certainly not like a lot of other Millwall tossers past and present, it is that he is a deadly serious anti-fascist. And he knows that the next couple of months are crucial for campaigns to keep the BNP from winning European seats – which unfortunately is looking on the cards. And a couple (or more) Euro seats will bring in much more money and prestige for these political numskulls.
Given the support they have had in Barking in recent years, it is surely the case that the other loyalty some BNP voters hold to is the same one as us –West Ham Football Club. Although you have to wonder what their West Ham support consists of, because they could hardly cheer for the players who are immigrants or children of immigrants such as our newest great prospect Savio, or Carlton Cole or Herita Ilunga, not to mention Keiron Dyer or some of our youth prospects coming through like Zavon Hines and Bondz N’Gala. And some of the white immigrants such as Lucas Neill, Valon Behrami, Jan Latuvska probably tax their analytical skills too. If you hate immigrants, what happens if their skin is not too dark? They are still bloody foreigners… Though you wonder where some of these BNP characters originally came from too. I don’t suppose their ancestors lived thousands of yeas ago in caves in Hornchurch or Romford. And I’m willing to bet a bob or two that some of them are no more solidly British than St George was. He is generally believed to be Turkish or Persian. So maybe if they ever do get to power they’ll chuck themselves out. We can’t afford to test that one though.
Our club is bang in the middle of Newham and Newham today is a really multicultural area. Living cheek by jowl with the older English and Irish communities you have families from Angola, Eritrea and Tanzania, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Poland, Italy, Turkey, Albania the Caribbean, Pakistan and Bangladesh – and gradually our fan base will start to reflect that more and more. and maybe the players too. We certainly have a more internationally mixed squad than in previous decades so, in that sense, the BNP are already yesterday’s grumpy old bastards fighting for an imaginary purer past, rather than the party of the future. But it is the damage they can do in the present that worries me.
Back on the pitch we’ve had two great results and lots of drama. The victory over Bellend’s Citeh was richly deserved and incredibly hard-worked for. It was a performance of patience and determination crowned with a beautifully taken goal by Jack Collison. Bellend hardly got a look in and not surprisingly was substituted in the second half. If he thought he was moving up in the world, instead of just moving north, he got a serious reality check.
Behrami’s injury was a terrible blow but it meant that Savio entered the fray earlier than anticipated and he gave us that extra dimension going forward that we were lacking. He deserves to be in the starting line-up. If the quick and clever passing movement that led to Savio’s shot being parried and Collison’s cool chip typified the West Ham way, then what can you say about Carlton’s goal at Wigan? This was made in Chadwell Heath, 68 vintage. Mesmerising one touch passing, with the ball never leaving the ground, and a curling 20-yard shot. Quintessential West Ham. When I heard that Carlton had been sent off three minutes later I feared the worst, but once the boy in black sent off one of their’s too I was confident we would hold on.
If the referee of the Citeh game was atrocious to both teams, hardly getting one decision right, the refereeing at Wigan was completely farcical. Carlton’s first yellow was a legitimate tackle in which he made fair contact with the ball. You shouldn’t get booked just for having long legs. His second challenge was clumsy but without any malice. Mind you even if Carlton should have stayed on, Scotty Parker and Lucas Neill were rather lucky not to be sent for an early bath. Scotty seems to have lost al composure in theses situations, and as for Lucas, who strangely is playing some good football these days, those old fouling habits seem hard to shed.
So after the last league game we find ourselves in 7th place, a few points ahead of our rivals. And given which clubs are fighting out the F A Cup, a European place is beckoning. Not everyone wants it. For a club with a thin squad, a place in European football can be poisoned chalice. We have a thin squad (though less than thin fans – still who am I to talk?) but a European place might just be the bait that can lure quality players keen to play for Franco Zola. I hope that, despite the injury/suspensions list increasing, we really go for it. And most importantly, I hope we maintain a healthy lead over Spurs points tally.
Harry is targeting Europe too. He doesn’t realise, or at least publicly acknowledge, that half his players are talented and half of them are crap. He might think they are out the relegation dogfight. I don’t think they are yet. A European place would be a bonus given that we started this season under Turdishley and his same-old, same old, boring style. Last year Turdishley took us to mid table and his ambition seemed to be limited to keeping us there. Franco wants to push on, to compete with and learn from the best. We’ve got nearly 40 points and there are 10 games to go starting with tonight.
Franco’s been a bit reluctant to upset a settled team with too many changes but tonight he has no choice – no Cole, Behrami or Collison. Freddie Sears has been getting a lot of stick in these columns and on the fans websites but he just needs a goal to regain his self-confidence. A defence as generous as West Brom’s might afford him that opportunity. I’d rather have his energy and drive up front than Diego Tristan who reminds me of a waxwork statue, though with less mobility.
I feel a bit sorry for West Brom, who generally try to play attacking football, but with few players of premiership quality. The teams above them are enjoying a mini-revival and they are dropping off from the pack. They are going to have to try to win tonight and that will give us the opportunities we need. So, 3-1 tonight with Savio on the score-sheet landing one in the eye for those in Barking who are barking seriously up the wrong tree.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Love and hate
OLAS 456 March 1st 2009
From the moment that Craig Bellamy was out the exit door and scraping his knuckles along Green Street looking for the way north, no one has been waiting for his return to Upton Park in opposing colours more than the Upton Park faithful. We never ignore an ex-Hammer.
For those who gave their all for the club and chose to move on, but did so without acrimony, we are extraordinarily generous in our welcome and greetings. Just recently Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand seemed quite overwhelmed by the warmth and degree of applause they received. When Bobby Zee returned with Fulham we applauded him as he stepped out, laughed as he blasted the ball into the Centenary stand (and remembered why we didn’t need him) but chanted his name with love as he eventually got substituted. Even when they have been gone ages – like Jimmy Bullard who recently stepped out for Hull - they have been remembered with total respect.
That doesn’t come from nowhere. It is part of the tradition of a club that, much later than most around it, could still boast some Stevie Potts, some Trevor Brookings - one-club players - and others who gave many, many years of service before ending their careers in lower divisions.
The revival of such club loyalty among 21st century premier league players would buck such an enormous trend in the game in general, and even at West Ham we have had to acknowledge that the present day reality is that players don’t stay with us very long. Young Mark Noble is our longest serving regular first teamer – which is bizarre. He’s still only about 11 years old. Nevertheless, you get the feeling now that many of the players who are currently to Upton Park want to commit their long-term future to the club, and in most cases not for the money.
In the good old days when we would score 80 goals a season but let in 84, beat top clubs and lose to all the crappy ones, and get dumped out of the F. A.Cup by nomarks from Division3, we had players who got all the pleasure they wanted just stepping out week on week in the claret and blue.
And for several of our players now you can feel that spirit returning. They can see the possibility of enjoying their football, relishing being part of a true team set-up and fulfilling their football ambitions by staying here. How many will actually be here in two years time is anybody’s guess but Zola and Clarke are reviving all the best traditions at Upton Park in the way we play, in the bond with the fans and the general feel about the place. Truly re-establishing that sense of absolute belonging among the players would be an enormous achievement for Little and Large.
But then, in the Beautiful Game, you have those who are steeped in the growing mercenary traditions pervading football outside of Upton Park – those who can only think of glory through their pay packet, who have been prepared to cynically turn their back on us, who claim they love the club one minute but show they only love themselves. Paul Ince did it years ago, then there was Jermaine Defoe and now we have today’s returnee – Craig Bellamy. Let’s make him know how we feel. (as if I needed to say that – people are already straining at the leash.)
Today will be a big test of character. We seemed to have been unduly knocked off balance and deflated by the barely deserved defeat against Man U and some pretty careless displays have followed. Giving away unnecessary free kicks just outside the box is criminally stupid and we were deservedly punished both at Bolton and at Middlesbrough. At least against Bolton we made several chances and goal attempts. Against Borough we were absolute pants. And I pity the thousands who made it up there instead of sitting in their living rooms at home shouting ‘fuckbolloxfuckbollox” and throwing their cat/supper/youngest child at the telly.
If we registered any worthwhile attempts on target, I must have been blinking at the time. Our approach play was far too obvious and slow and, whereas a few weeks ago we were looking sharp and clever, on Wednesday night we just looked tired and uninspired. Just like our dreams…
But there is still a lot to play for in the league. This time last year the season was already over – safe from relegation and also safely out of the race for Europe we were seeing out the games knowing that we were unlikely to finish higher than 9th or lower than 12th. This year the battle for 7th or even 6th might still be on for several teams including us. Though, conversely, if our poor run continues we could soon find ourselves back among the teams fighting the drop, so today we’ve not only got to put in a good performance but get a result. Three points are needed but even one might steady things a bit and help us look forward with hope to the following four fixtures, mainly against lowly teams, where there are points for the taking.
The desire by fans to put one over that under-evolved creature - Craig Bellamy – will certainly be a huge motivating factor but we‘ve got to do the business on the pitch and Zola has to think hard about his team selection. Di Michele has gone off the boil and Freddie Sears deserves another start. Midfield is harder to call. With the exception of Scotty Parker, whose performances have picked up again, Behrami, Noble and Collison have all disappointed lately. Kovac looked solid but lacking match practice against Borough. Savio can play a midfield role and might give us the spark we need to recapture. I’d like to see him in the starting eleven.
Bellamy aside, I find it hard to hate Man City. Most of my hate in that part of the world is almost completely used up by Manure and Bolton. Poor Citeh have always had to live in the shadow of their big cousins, thereby prompting my natural support for the underdog. Nevertheless I’m old enough to remember them winning the league back in ’68 with players like Mike Summerbee, Tony Book and Colin Bell. I’m sad enough, too, in my infinite recall of events 40 years ago (while I can’t remember what I was doing last week), to remember Hurst and Peters setting up goals for each other and scoring against them as we stuffed them 2-1 at Upton Park the following season, while the Citeh fans plaintively sang their own version of “Those Were the Days My Friend” (Remember Mary Hopkin? No, of course you don’t).
So, love football, hate Bellamy. Enjoy the game! COYI!!!!
From the moment that Craig Bellamy was out the exit door and scraping his knuckles along Green Street looking for the way north, no one has been waiting for his return to Upton Park in opposing colours more than the Upton Park faithful. We never ignore an ex-Hammer.
For those who gave their all for the club and chose to move on, but did so without acrimony, we are extraordinarily generous in our welcome and greetings. Just recently Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand seemed quite overwhelmed by the warmth and degree of applause they received. When Bobby Zee returned with Fulham we applauded him as he stepped out, laughed as he blasted the ball into the Centenary stand (and remembered why we didn’t need him) but chanted his name with love as he eventually got substituted. Even when they have been gone ages – like Jimmy Bullard who recently stepped out for Hull - they have been remembered with total respect.
That doesn’t come from nowhere. It is part of the tradition of a club that, much later than most around it, could still boast some Stevie Potts, some Trevor Brookings - one-club players - and others who gave many, many years of service before ending their careers in lower divisions.
The revival of such club loyalty among 21st century premier league players would buck such an enormous trend in the game in general, and even at West Ham we have had to acknowledge that the present day reality is that players don’t stay with us very long. Young Mark Noble is our longest serving regular first teamer – which is bizarre. He’s still only about 11 years old. Nevertheless, you get the feeling now that many of the players who are currently to Upton Park want to commit their long-term future to the club, and in most cases not for the money.
In the good old days when we would score 80 goals a season but let in 84, beat top clubs and lose to all the crappy ones, and get dumped out of the F. A.Cup by nomarks from Division3, we had players who got all the pleasure they wanted just stepping out week on week in the claret and blue.
And for several of our players now you can feel that spirit returning. They can see the possibility of enjoying their football, relishing being part of a true team set-up and fulfilling their football ambitions by staying here. How many will actually be here in two years time is anybody’s guess but Zola and Clarke are reviving all the best traditions at Upton Park in the way we play, in the bond with the fans and the general feel about the place. Truly re-establishing that sense of absolute belonging among the players would be an enormous achievement for Little and Large.
But then, in the Beautiful Game, you have those who are steeped in the growing mercenary traditions pervading football outside of Upton Park – those who can only think of glory through their pay packet, who have been prepared to cynically turn their back on us, who claim they love the club one minute but show they only love themselves. Paul Ince did it years ago, then there was Jermaine Defoe and now we have today’s returnee – Craig Bellamy. Let’s make him know how we feel. (as if I needed to say that – people are already straining at the leash.)
Today will be a big test of character. We seemed to have been unduly knocked off balance and deflated by the barely deserved defeat against Man U and some pretty careless displays have followed. Giving away unnecessary free kicks just outside the box is criminally stupid and we were deservedly punished both at Bolton and at Middlesbrough. At least against Bolton we made several chances and goal attempts. Against Borough we were absolute pants. And I pity the thousands who made it up there instead of sitting in their living rooms at home shouting ‘fuckbolloxfuckbollox” and throwing their cat/supper/youngest child at the telly.
If we registered any worthwhile attempts on target, I must have been blinking at the time. Our approach play was far too obvious and slow and, whereas a few weeks ago we were looking sharp and clever, on Wednesday night we just looked tired and uninspired. Just like our dreams…
But there is still a lot to play for in the league. This time last year the season was already over – safe from relegation and also safely out of the race for Europe we were seeing out the games knowing that we were unlikely to finish higher than 9th or lower than 12th. This year the battle for 7th or even 6th might still be on for several teams including us. Though, conversely, if our poor run continues we could soon find ourselves back among the teams fighting the drop, so today we’ve not only got to put in a good performance but get a result. Three points are needed but even one might steady things a bit and help us look forward with hope to the following four fixtures, mainly against lowly teams, where there are points for the taking.
The desire by fans to put one over that under-evolved creature - Craig Bellamy – will certainly be a huge motivating factor but we‘ve got to do the business on the pitch and Zola has to think hard about his team selection. Di Michele has gone off the boil and Freddie Sears deserves another start. Midfield is harder to call. With the exception of Scotty Parker, whose performances have picked up again, Behrami, Noble and Collison have all disappointed lately. Kovac looked solid but lacking match practice against Borough. Savio can play a midfield role and might give us the spark we need to recapture. I’d like to see him in the starting eleven.
Bellamy aside, I find it hard to hate Man City. Most of my hate in that part of the world is almost completely used up by Manure and Bolton. Poor Citeh have always had to live in the shadow of their big cousins, thereby prompting my natural support for the underdog. Nevertheless I’m old enough to remember them winning the league back in ’68 with players like Mike Summerbee, Tony Book and Colin Bell. I’m sad enough, too, in my infinite recall of events 40 years ago (while I can’t remember what I was doing last week), to remember Hurst and Peters setting up goals for each other and scoring against them as we stuffed them 2-1 at Upton Park the following season, while the Citeh fans plaintively sang their own version of “Those Were the Days My Friend” (Remember Mary Hopkin? No, of course you don’t).
So, love football, hate Bellamy. Enjoy the game! COYI!!!!
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