Sometimes words are not enough – this is one of those times!
Instead you have to trust your emotions…your heart rather than your head and it’s a real joy to be able to do that as we watch West Ham fly and fly.
I had a call from a very good Manchester City pal this morning whom I’ve known for many years. Like us, City have been there and suffered down the years and he knows precisely how us Hammers are feeling.
His first words were: “What a team you’ve got…how good is that Payet? I’m really chuffed for you lot. You truly deserve this season and this doesn’t look like a flash in the pan.”
It’s not…we know it’s not don’t we? Has there ever been an Irons team as good as this one? Ok too early to say but my God it is a very very special side, elevated by Payet who, as Slav so rightly says, makes everybody in the team play better.
I can remember Alan Devonshire at his best. I’m struggling to believe that the great man was any better than Dimi on what we have seen from him so far but we’ll need to give it more time.
Last night was extraordinary with most agreeing that we struggled when AC came off – yes this is the same AC that many – including me – said couldn’t fit into a Slaven Bilic team!!!!
Yet the difference is that his injury almost coincides with a Diafra Sakho return to action and the best form we’ve seen from Enner Valencia. Payet of course is simply different level.
We also have Winston Reid and Manu Lanzini to return. Can life get any better? I honestly think this is beyond anything I can recall in my long Hammers-supporting career.
Slaven has to take the plaudits. It’s clear that he has the dressing room in the palm of his hand and to have brought us to this point in just five and a half months is a phenomenal achievement.
Had it happened by this time next year there would have been nothing but celebrations but in five and half months with a new set of players?
I’ve never known anything like it in the many, many years I’ve been involved in this game and I want to say right here a very, very personal: “Thank you Slav…you are proving yourself a giant to us as a man and a manager.”
The football is fantastic and the press conferences, where he has shown total honesty, has been more refreshing than anything I can recall. Great man.
I believe he could become our greatest ever manager. At the very least I hope and pray he is here for a long long time.
There’s a temptation to make a comparison with his predecessor but I won’t do it or say anything other than: This is what West Ham United is all about. I thought we had lost it forever and we all owe everything to the new boss.
And I will say this too – thank you David Sullivan and David Gold for taking this club from a near knackers yard case to where we are today.
Last summer has set us up for a long time to come – it’s going to be a fantastic farewell year to our ‘old lady.’ I for one feel as happy today as I have been at any stage of my relationship with this great club.
Brilliant read & I agree with every word COYI
Me too!
My word. 🙂
This is better, Hugh. 😀
You have crafted what many of us are feeling – and what I have already tried to express – into a wonderful essay.
Thank you.
And thanks too, to David Gold and David Sullivan, who I once branded “Gilbert and Sullivan” – no more – and yes, even Karren Brady, who is not my favourite lady.
But, a special hug to Slaven Bilic, who has proved himself a True Hammer. 😀
Totally agree with the rest of you BIG thanx to the dave’s… ‘m retired and living in Cornwall so do get up as often as I would like.. But get down the pub theres still lots of Yxs oops spurs and gooners to give it large too They still try to rub our nose in it… 53 years since my 1st match and an Iron ever since..
Living the dream long may it last. COYIs
As always Hugh another great post!
Well said Hugh.
true to say time will tell, but surely this team is at least the equal, of what we’ve had before, and we are just taking off.
Our squad is fantastic. Arguably 22 players of real quality. If the 1st team is still proving itself to be the best, the squad is easily the best we’ve had.
I agree totally that this is the best squad we have had, possibly ever. I go back to the late 50s, I have seen great players, but never a better squad of players. Alan Devonshire and Paulo Di Canio were great player for getting you out of your seat, Trevor brooking for class, and Frank McAvenie, Tony Cottee, and Bryan (pop) Robson, for hitting the back of the net. But I believe that Dimitri Payet is all of those rolled into one. Onwards and upwards. And who knows. One day the BBC and Talksport experts may give us some credt. But don’t hold your breath.
Excellent post Hugh. You put what we are all feeling in a nutshell. After a lifetime of ups and downs it feels so good to know we have someone at the helm who knows what we want and can deliver it. Long live King Slav.
Superb post; said it all.
I grew up with Greenwood and Lyall, but I think Bilic is the best manager I have ever known, and that really IS saying something! I believe a) he can sustain it b) will stay with us. One day he might/will make Mourinho look like an amateur, if he doesn’t already!
I just hope we CAN keep him: who would YOU prefer: Bilic or Guardiola? For me, it is Bilic without hesitation!
This is the best I have ever know it at WHU. I missed out for a few years inc the boys of 86… but that is the point; it was just 1 year, then back to hope/clamity/hope/calamity etc … I cannot see this happening now; this is not a 1 year wonder. This is something new…I thought we had squared the circle with Pardew before the old ‘Just like my dreams’ inevitably HAD to kick in and everything collapsed as usual….
But not this time; under the ownership/stewardship of the brilliant 2 Davids and leadership of DAME Karren Brady, we have a winning formula way, way into the future. It will take the most almighty ‘Just like my dreams etc’ to de-rail this one.
Incidentally, how people cannot like Karren Brady is beyond me: by default they must be MCPs (Middle letter = Chauvanist – Last goes ‘oink’!), unless they can give extremely good reasons against her. She is an ambassador for ALL THINGS GOOD, and my hero!
And Payet already has to be one of our greatest ever players…providing refs protect him properly (= just do their job), and we can keep him. He is the most perfect footballer… unbelievable!
This is the dawn of a new age at WHU. It IS happening. Believe it. Enjoy it! COYI!
Agree with all of you
I have been feeling like this for most of the season even when we could only draw games,
One year ago we did not have a player that was worth anything in the market and could not off load players
What price now would this squad of players bring,we also gave Mr Westley a lot of stick when the lads could not buy a win now we have so many great youngsters coming through and again all the other top clubs want those players,
The future looks great and 2016 will be the year of the Hammer
Love the article Hugh and great times at the mo. I do have to smile though as it was not long ago that everyone was moaning and groaning about the succession of draws even though we had all of those injuries and were picking up away points at Old Trafford etc.
Very early doors to be comparing Payet to Dev in my opinion but what a player we have on our hands! We have a few weeks now to get through without a proper front line but we team spirit looks incredible and players really want to play for Slav that is very clear.
Collins has been immense in recent weeks and love the shape of the side . Lets enjoy it at the mo but be realistic about the rest of the season and a top 6-8 finish would be amazing.
COYI.!!
I have been watching us since the early 70’s and I would say it is up there with the best teams we have had, we are still missing a top class striker and a genuine right back but we are a team full of flair and substance, capable of winning lots of different ways and I can see us improving a lot over the next months, if we stay injury free or at least relatively so who knows where we may finish !!!
Well said Hugh!
Thank you to the two Daves for rescuing our great club from near receivership. You are both doing a great job along with Karen Brady. We salute you.
Slav what is there to say but….Brilliant!!
Happy times for all us long suffering Hammers!
In Slav we trust.
COYI