Oliver Holt seems a bit obsessed with pornography in his latest Mail sermon, which suitably arrived on a Sunday and was perhaps intended for those who choose not to go to the local church such was its puritanical tone.
Our Ollie loves to spin a word or two but going into his piece – dripping, as is his way, with sarcasm on the basis of Sullivan and Gold’s porn industry past – seemed a little odd given that’s well known, hardly news and of little or no relevance to the current problems.
Maybe my understanding of news is not what it was! Moralising ‘journalists’ I can do without!
Mind you it’s a handy little stick to beat them with, which appeared to be the purpose, despite the fact that some of those he was preaching to may have been tempted to indulge in such a pastime! I am not suggesting that was the case with the author.
I don’t expect to see a similar piece about Manchester City – owned by UAE people – a country with not a great record on human rights! Mind you that’s not quite so titillating is it?
The Mail seems a tad obsessed with West Ham at the moment on the basis that revenge is required, presumably for the legal letters which were sent out to Sky and various journos, a counter productive move and the reaction is as predictable as night following day!
It probably comes as a result of the days in which such as old Ollie grew up in the job and the absence of players being available to the media as was once the case.
As a result we saw the rise of celebrity journalists who were used to opine on everything that happened in the game and hopefully saying the sort of things the players might have said.
Some are very good at the job with the Mail’s Martin Samuel way out in front. He wrote a devastating piece on the Hammers last week as did Jacob Steinberg on Sunday
Neither tend to use their position to spread unnecessary and widely known information about people’s backgrounds but instead point to cause and effect.
And that’s all we should ask of such people be they right or wrong. These are guys who don’t want the story to be about themselves which is all we should ask! Maybe I’ll be receiving a legal letter!
The Sunday Times ran a piece by their main football journalist yesterday and it was fairly rational. He visited training ground and despite expecting the meltdown portrayed in the press he found a vibrant positive atmosphere mentioning Nolan in particular as a good influence. Even praised the facilities!
I was so appalled when I read it it was posted on Twitter by a WestHam Forum.
What has this got to do with football it’s evil it’s sick it’s harassment, would anyone of us like our private lives being aired or written in a national newspaper because we own a Football Club. I just don’t get this Country is so full of hate racism led by the media. If you challenge them then they will dig around like dogs looking for crap that they can write about you.if your not in there club.
Totally agree!
You do not see any investigative journalism into Russian, Chinese, Thai and Arab nations owned clubs. Should be fertile ground, where do they get their money, human rights issues and what they can do to people who disagree with them!
One thing they do well though is not comment or use social media. How many people do we know that are on the boards/own the other clubs in the premier league?
GSB should have been banned from social medial long ago and from any newspaper columns! Too late now!
This board is so inept when it comes to PR and have a predilection for creating negativity.
Even the most ignorant amongst us would realise that prodding the mainstream media was never going to result in a positive experience!
If you have a thin skin, best not to incur actions that are going to hurt you. Perhaps it would be better to employ professionals to create your PR and avoid the humiliation that you keep bringing upon the club.
yES WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT . iT’S THE NATURE OF THE PIECE WE ARE DISCUSSING
I Totally agree with you on this one Hugh. We are fully aware of our Board GSB and their inadequacies. On attempting to read Oliver Holts rant, he came across as childish and he seemed to be foaming at the mouth whilst patting himself on the back.
He’s a little late to the party and is more at home talking about the so-called BIG teams, than focusing on our club and clubs like ours and our plight as supporters under this board. I look at what he’s doing as a little lazy.
The laziness of journalistic pieces I read yesterday was shameful, even Steinberg, who I generally like. I don’t think any of them have seen a decent live game at the new stadium; the constant slaying of it and the atmosphere is so boring but seems to be a new, unvisited topic to them. I’ve been there during some cracking atmospheres so there point is redundant in my eyes. And regarding the fan with the flag and the ‘board-slating’ t-shirt? If an employee of mine or a visitor to my business wore something similar telling me to get out of my own company, I wouldn’t be too happy either.
Lazy journalism from some this weekend. Seems to be more prevalent today than ever before. It used to be a respectable trade…
I read it today too and what a pile of rubbish it was. It was a childish, sarcastic rant that lacked any fact or real detail and was full of him taking potshots based on his opinion. Clearly a little upset that someone dared to question some of he dross that comes out of these journo’s mouths.
Who wins the argument between the board and the journo’s? I don’t know to be honest but I do know having read that piece that Oliver Holt is a clown 🤡. He will have been laughing like a schoolboy with his journo mates lapping up the compliments from like minded morons to satisfy his ego.
Total clown. The best use for that piece is likely to be in the loo’s and I don’t mean reading it!!
I have in the past enjoyed reading Oliver Holt’s articles . I have to, say however, this one was a ‘total drivel ‘ and to be honest a bit embarrassing. I wont be so keen to read him in future.I (If iti wasn’t for the fact my wife likes the crossword I would consider looking for another Sunday paper.!)
With regard to he Club asking for apology, as I posted before, at some time you have to stand up for yourself. I’m sure many will consider it foolhardy. I hope some West Ham supporters will consider it brave
It’s the Hate Mail – I’m amazed anyone is shocked by this. Ask any single mother, migrant, person on benefits, black youths etc about the appalling factless inaccurate so called writing this rag puts out on a daily basis.
I’m not shocked and agree with all you have said. Even wikipedia won’t deal with it cos it tels lies. However, I was merely drawing attention to a piece of conceited nonsense from a bloke who appears to simply want the story to be him!
What does it say about the editor who let that childish dross be published?
Totally agree with you-it’s bash the minority easy victim. This journalistic drivel feeds the mouths of mostly moronic subscribers.
Well I read Oliver Holt’s article & thought a) it was very funny and b) it said a lot about why WHU are in the mess that we are currently in. But maybe that’s my failing – stupid me !!