This has been the season of key moments all adding up to demonstrate why so many of us love following this great club of ours.
Quite frankly, there’s never ever a dull moment with a mix of good and bad demonstrating what we have always been about although we dare to dream things are changing.
Just look at what’s happened so far in the half a season and just before:
O Wild celebrations as top boss Manuel Pellegrini is appointed;
O Agonies as we lose the first four games of the season;
O Owners of the London Stadium becoming as difficult as it gets;
O Owners of the London Stadium pull out of court hearing to sort difference and the Irons get more than they could have ever hoped for;
O Declan Rice saga drags on and on with huge fears he’s on his way;
O Declan Rice signs a six year contract;
O Marko Arnautovic and his eerie brother in China stuff;
O Mark Arnautovic signs a new deal at West Ham;
O Hammers beat Arsenal before slumping to three awful defeats amid new fears the wheels are finally falling off completely;
O Hammers gain a winning draw (if you get me) against Klopp’s mob after being victims of an offside goal and some dreadful decisions.
There’s probably more but keeping up and remembering can be a tough call because after all “this is West Ham” and there’s forever something on the go!
It’s always been the same at our place going way back to the sixties but the bubbles keep flying despite that line – “fortune always hiding.”
So, which of all the above have been the key moment in a season which has brought such joy and agony at different times.
For me it was Declan’s decision to stay at the club because this is perhaps the greatest young footballer I have seen since Mooro and ok I’m gonna go a bit further.
He may, just may, giving his astonishing progress since being hauled off at Anfield in the first game of the season, become even better!
Sacrilege? If you want but having seen them both at much the same age I don’t think so and I’m pretty sure Bob would be saying the same when judging him in a level of football which has speeded up by 100 per cent or more.
Phil Parkes once mentioned when we were discussing him way back that he could be the new Duncan Edwards – a player who was hailed as the best ever before his sad death in the Munich Air disaster at the age of 21.
There seems little doubt Dec will become Hammer of the Year and no doubt there will be many who believe I have put too much pressure on him but I don’t believe Declan takes pressure too seriously given his performances.
I still believe every word of what is written here despite that – the young man is a phenomenon! End of.
How great it would be were he to declare his international future to England and then become the man who followed Mooro as another claret and blue Three Lions skipper.
More than possible.
I know its early days and I know I will more than likely get it in the ear, but he is showing signs of being good enough to pull on the No6. Having re watched The Boys of 66 last night and gone though the inevitable swelling of pride that goes with watching it, I cant help but feel even Morro would be impressed with this wonderkid. I know that bringing the No6 out of retirement will seem like a drastic measure that should probably never happen and as I said its very early days, what an incredible honour it would be for the boy, who has all the attributes to not only be the future captain of WH but also of England. You never know it might even keep him at the club rather than taking the Rio, Cole, Carrick, Defoe, Lampard route out of the club. He does seem to love it at WH, despite having no real allegiance to us and Nobes is doing a great job of mentoring him, but will the allure of Champions League football every year get too great for him to turn down. I hope and pray that we build a team around him, make him captain one day and then maybe we can change the words a bit to; Fortune is sometimes hiding. Now we all know it takes three West Ham players to win a world cup, I think we may have just found No1. Apologies in advance to anyone who takes offence at bringing the 6 out of retirement, its only my opinion and a very humble one at that. COYI
I have never been a fan of retiring the numbers, numbers like that should be kept to honour great players and should be earned. I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it coming out of retirement for Rice or any other player that deserved it, Noble would be as good as anyone to wear the number also.
Good article. I was impressed but not totally convinced last season. This season he has imo been the reason we are not struggling. Forget Anderson & Arnie. Both good at times, but I have just been amazed at some of Rice’ s performances. And he has been consistently good when not being outstanding!
My worry is that Guardiola & maybe Klopp will be after him., along with the other usual suspects from abroad. Guardiola is obsessed with having a full team of world class reserves. Next he will want three teams, just be on the safe side! Especially if they slip up this season. I am afraid Spider that the days of Bonzo or Sir Trev are long gone. Noble is an exception, but of course never attracted as much attention as Rice. I will be amazed if he is not on his way-for a record fee for us- before long if he tats fit & develops further. Just the way it is. Enjoy while you can.
Hammer64, I am in total agreement with you about Man C and Guardiola and they are probably the most likely to start trying to pinch him given their need in that position and if he goes, he goes. I wont be happy about it, but that’s life in the modern game I guess. My only frustration is rather than stick a 50m price tag on his head, why not put a 150m price tag on him, or sod it a 200m. That should keep most suitors away, but if someone is prepared to pay that, then I will feel, ok at least we got a good price. Now I remember when we got 18mln for Rio and at the time it seemed like an amazing sum, now that wouldn’t buy you an ice cream. OK slight exaggeration but you know what I mean. No doubt my grandson will see the first billion pound player……crazy times. COYI
Well Spider, I for one am not going to give you an ear bashing. 64 years going to West Ham and this kid is very very special. I agree that if, in the future, making him club captain and giving him the hallowed No 6 will keep him with the club, then Bobby would understand and give his blessing. No brainer for me.
By the way Hugh, what has happened about the claret pitch surround??? Any news?