By Hugh Southon
Why do I love our wonderful old football club?
Can’t answer for you but last night summed up exactly why I have had a lifelong affair with WHUFC – all perfectly demonstrated in 90 of the most incredible minutes we’ll probably ever see.
For 45 this was the Irons which so often makes our life a living hell before they turned into supermen giving us not only a monumental result but one against the one team we would have chosen to receive such a spanking.
It’s happened time and again down the years to those of us who have lived on the ‘dark side’ for so long but it has been there that we receive heart wrenching, emotionally draining and totally wonderful football life experience unparalleled at any other club
Just as you genuinely believe it’s all fading and dying , the bubbles fly again. Nothing can ever beat being a Hammer and whilst we all want long and sustained success it was never the reason I personally became a fan.
Football has become far too self absorbed, corporate, secretive and intensely serious …it should be about fun, excitement, drama off the field and on it.
We are never short of any of that at our club.
The League Cup competition is one of the most unpredictable competitions around because clubs play weakened teams and don’t necessarily take it too seriously but that accusation couldn’t be thrown at Mauricio Pochettino last night.
This is not the place to discuss AGAIN the manager’s position but what must be said is that the squad rammed any suggestions they aren’t playing for him firmly down a few throats in the second half.
We wait to see what comes next but whatever it is or maybe I for one am delighted that our boys showed that the tradition for bouncing back when all looks lost is alive and well and making one or two of us – certainly including me – look total berks (for now).
Don’t look for clever explanations. It happens because that’s our WAY.
It’s what makes us what we are.
We all have lived through it Hugh, the roller coaster that is West Ham, the players at half time certainly weren’t showing enough despite Bilic’s assessment afterwards, despite this result or more to the point great second half, it is a pattern under Bilic that we have these stellar spells where we press the ball in numbers, we win every second ball, we blitz our opponents but they happen once every 15 games or so. Bilic said after the match if we take that performance into our training and our matches we will change things around. It is what frustrates me about him, he knows what they need to do but seemingly accepts it when they don’t do it and his comments alone suggest they haven’t been doing it in training, that is down to him to make happen, bring the ferocity to training, I hope as we all do that we see that level against Palace but I certainly have no idea whether or not we will, look at how we played against Chelsea last season in the cup and didn’t follow that up…
😀
Not long to wait 32 ?
As much as I want to pick holes I can’t this morning , I’ve got the biggest grin you’ll ever see!
The old girl thinks I’m on drugs lol!! I luv doing the spuds !! It don’t get any better 😁
I have that too Laz so sweet I want us to have more seasons like the last one at the Boleyn and the team of 86, we have a team that could deliver us that as they showed last night, looking forward to Palace just wish I could be there COYI !!!
Absolutely Hugh! Although I have not got a scooby where that second half performance came from. And I could not believe what I was watching, frankly I was in joyous shock! For me the highlight, other than the result (and who it was achieved against of course), was the sight of our keeper sprinting 80 yards to join in the celebrations when the third goal went in. Still half an hour to go but there was Adrian in the thick of it. Brought back memories of the penalty shoot out win against Everton. He must start on Saturday Slav!
Good post Hugh, I have to say I watched the live game in some sort of shock, not really understanding what I was seeing in the 2nd half, for me it was the attitude, application and sheer determination, the players celebrating with each other, the subs on the pitch celebrating, the look of determination on Ayew’s face, Noble’s words afterwards….everything that was lacking against Brighton. I have to admit to watching the highlights on channel 5 a little later, the Mr’s was in the bath, I watched the 2nd half over and over again, I have been starved of such luxuries for too long, I even started to get a bit emotional…and I realised that I really do love this club more than I should do but god how I love loving it. Now go do it again on Saturday boys!