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Lifelong Iron: “This is the best squad ever”

Rob Robinson is one of the longest serving fans of our fabulous club. His father played for the mighty Irons during the 40 and 50s before becoming a coach. Here Rob gives his view of the present squad.
By Rob Robinson
I genuinely believe that the current squad assembled by Mr Moyes  is the best I have ever witnessed during nearly seven decades of supporting my great football club.
There have been some very good sides over the years and of course so many superb and loyal players who our supporters will all know and afd among whom will be their particular favourites.
I was lucky enough to be there on that famous night of Bobby Moore’s debut in 1958 in a famous 3-2 win against Manchester United.
It was early in the season following our promotion from the old Division 2 under manager Ted Fenton  and I am so proud to say, my father Bill Robinson was his assistant. We eventually finished around 6th or 7th that season.
Since then there have been many wonderful memories; three FA Cup wins 1964, 1975 and 1980, plus a win in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1965. There was also the superb 3rd placed finish under John Lyall in 1985/86.
However,this current squad has skill, consistency, grit and a never say die attitude which makes it the best I have witnessed particularly as this is the most competitive league in the world where there are no easy games and you have to fight and scrap for every single point gained.
I have to give great credit to Mr Moyes, who along with his superb backroom staff, has transformed our beloved club into a slick professional outfit – something I have never seen before.
Mr Moyes has also got our squad fitter than any previous squad I have ever known. Quite simply they are a joy to watch. So hopefully sometime soon some of our younger supporters may be as lucky as myself and the other older supporters to get to Wembley to see the claret and blue lift the famous trophy.
Yes West Ham United fans let’s enjoy the ride and keep supporting the boys like all generations of West Ham fans.
 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

2 comments on “Lifelong Iron: “This is the best squad ever”

  1. Take a bow Rob, I have wanted to verbalise this for some time… We have had Real Legends at this club, but as far as squads and team mentality go, I cannot remember a better squad and team that played with such high energy. We are all over opposition teams like a rash to a man.
    This team has been built in the manager’s image, 110% commitment and a “never say die” desire to perform amongst the players.
    Initially, I didn’t think Moyes was a glamorous enough name to manage West Ham, as I admit that I had gotten caught up in the Citeh/Chelski “money no object” game.
    In truth, it was ridiculous on reflection, and I still remembered many of Moyes’s earlier interviews and the common sense that he spoke regarding the roadmap for this club and how we should progress. So when Chequebook Pelle was ejected and shockingly Moyes was reappointed as our manager, we all had to get behind him and cross our fingers and toes as our situation was DESPERATE. We didn’t have a team and I felt that many of our players were beyond playing at Premier League level. So the turnaround which took place was nothing short of amazing and the Biggest turnaround that I had ever seen at our club. As it was, many of our supporters were reluctant to give any credit to David Moyes, many of those were West Ham influencers with a social media presence. I would like to think that those influencers are now up to speed. I had brought into Moyes’s vision very early on and I gave him full credit for grabbing this dysfunctional unruly club by the scruff of the neck and giving us direction and a plan.
    I have said this before, but I believe that Moyes will end up leaving a legacy and give us a new West Ham Way!

  2. Moyes has performed some kind of miracle so far given the team he inherited. I would argue it’s harder these days to compete with the top four teams though given the financial disparity between us and the super rich top four, five or six even. If our team goes on to actually win anything it will actually be an even bigger miracle. Something about the spirit and resilience of the current crop though tells me it’s not just a pipe dream. It’s a possibility. This is the best team we’ve had since The boys of 86 without a doubt. The boys of 86 was a one off season though and they never won anything. Let’s hope this current crop go on to win something. It will be hard though, as I say, these days, sooner or later your going to have to beat a Manchester City if you’re going to win anything.

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