Monday, January 15, 2007
The Alternate View
I was actually thinking about this post on my way to work this morning before Dave did his glass half full post...but as it happens we have a balanced editorial view here at whu-au. 50% up beat & 50% sad sack.
Let's take stock.
We have one keeper not long out of rehab who requires confidence to function and he's just conceded 3 goals.
We have as of last Saturday 3 injured centre backs and no cover at all. Zero.
We have a left back (PK) who the gaffer doesn't rate and many would agree with him. His replacement last saturday (GMc) didn't set the world on fire.
At right back we have two (2) guys who can't get a sniff and AC prefers Dailly to them even after Dailly features in a back 4 that concedes 6 goals.
We have a left winger who should be in rehab but the manager won't play him anyway so thats sort of ok.
We have a supposedly world class central midfielder who can't get a look in either through injury or being ignored.
We have a reliable central midfielder in Mullins who has done a job for us but now seems to be out of favour. Need proof? Well if being on the bench against Fulham isn't enough, try the fact that AC bought on Newton rather than Mullins.
We have a talented but young central midfielder (MN) who AC thinks is too young for the fight.
We have a bling bling central midfielder whose form in the 1st half of the season was a major contributing factor to our current plight. He seems to have rediscovered a bit of his fight but the chances of that continuing past the end of this month are 0%. He'll either be off or sulking cause he thinks he should have been off. His heart won't be in a relegation fight. Oh yeah and he's our captain.
Our headline striker is injured and is not the type to come back and have an immediate impact. I know he bounced back in the cup final after injury but that was one game. Trust me, Ashton needs time to get match fit. Serious time. When he's fit, he needs to stretch and warm up longer than any other player at the club. After the serious injury he's had, imho he will play no significant part in the campaign for survival.
Tevez is injured and out for 6 weeks.
Marlene is out of favour and looks to be off before the window closes.
We are 4 points adrift and we're off to Newcastle where Martins will show us exactly how to score. Follow that up with Liverpool. Nothing there. And then away to Villa who will be scrapping for their lives. I can see us getting nothing at Villa Park and that will be it.
We will need binoculars to see safety. Mentally the players will have a "we're fucked" mindset.
I don't see any way out - we're going down.
Let's take stock.
We have one keeper not long out of rehab who requires confidence to function and he's just conceded 3 goals.
We have as of last Saturday 3 injured centre backs and no cover at all. Zero.
We have a left back (PK) who the gaffer doesn't rate and many would agree with him. His replacement last saturday (GMc) didn't set the world on fire.
At right back we have two (2) guys who can't get a sniff and AC prefers Dailly to them even after Dailly features in a back 4 that concedes 6 goals.
We have a left winger who should be in rehab but the manager won't play him anyway so thats sort of ok.
We have a supposedly world class central midfielder who can't get a look in either through injury or being ignored.
We have a reliable central midfielder in Mullins who has done a job for us but now seems to be out of favour. Need proof? Well if being on the bench against Fulham isn't enough, try the fact that AC bought on Newton rather than Mullins.
We have a talented but young central midfielder (MN) who AC thinks is too young for the fight.
We have a bling bling central midfielder whose form in the 1st half of the season was a major contributing factor to our current plight. He seems to have rediscovered a bit of his fight but the chances of that continuing past the end of this month are 0%. He'll either be off or sulking cause he thinks he should have been off. His heart won't be in a relegation fight. Oh yeah and he's our captain.
Our headline striker is injured and is not the type to come back and have an immediate impact. I know he bounced back in the cup final after injury but that was one game. Trust me, Ashton needs time to get match fit. Serious time. When he's fit, he needs to stretch and warm up longer than any other player at the club. After the serious injury he's had, imho he will play no significant part in the campaign for survival.
Tevez is injured and out for 6 weeks.
Marlene is out of favour and looks to be off before the window closes.
We are 4 points adrift and we're off to Newcastle where Martins will show us exactly how to score. Follow that up with Liverpool. Nothing there. And then away to Villa who will be scrapping for their lives. I can see us getting nothing at Villa Park and that will be it.
We will need binoculars to see safety. Mentally the players will have a "we're fucked" mindset.
I don't see any way out - we're going down.
Posted by norven munky at 10:03 pm
said...
Well, seems a bit grim.
I don't care about the nay sayers, I live in hope and can see us staying up . I've got to have some optimism. How crap would life be without it.
True, as a Hammers fans we all live on a roller-coasters of emotions. But I'd rather the disappointment of relegation when it comes than be depressed for the rest of the season thinking we're going down.
Even if we do go down, Eggie is not going to let WHU stay down. Silver cloud in every lining stuff.
Hammers unite!!
said...
I think you mean A Silver linign in every cloud :P
I must say i too live in hope of staying up this season, and we still have a chance. Wigan do have a game in hand however (anyone know who its against).
And SHeffield UTd or Boro could always collapse, you never know.
I Must say though im very cut about Mark Noble not being allowed to play. If curbs wants players with experience well then this is exactly the way for MN to get some.
said...
According to BBC
Young knocks back West Ham offer
Watford striker Ashley Young is thought to have turned down a move to West Ham after a bid of £9.65m had been agreed.
The Hammers had a £7m offer rejected last week but at the time manager Aidy Boothroyd said he expected the Upton Park club to make another offer.
They returned with an initial offer of £8m plus £1.65m based on clauses but Young, 21, turned them down.
West Ham are now out of the chase but Aston Villa have been linked with Young and Tottenham may renew their interest.
Spurs had been prepared to offer Wayne Routldge and Calum Davenport as part of a deal to lure Young to White Hart Lane.
But the Tottenham players did not want to go to Watford, so the move was abandoned.
Young, 21, has scored four goals in 23 appearances this season.
But with Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool leaving Watford 10 points adrift of safety, it seems that Boothroyd may have decided the time is right to cash in on his best player.
Speaking last week, he indicated Young could leave - but only at a price which he deemed appropriate for a player of Young's ability.
"There are players out there who have gone for £8m-plus who do not have what he has," he said.
"Ashley is the trump card in the Premiership. There are not many players outside the top four clubs who are better than him."
said...
And from KUMB
Press reports are claiming that both Lauren and Ashley Young have rejected moves to West Ham United.
The Arsenal defender - who turns 30 this week - has, according to The Sun, decided to return to Spain after six years in the capital.
Lauren met with Hammers officials last week and, according to Eggert Magnusson, the chances of capturing the Cameroon defender were good.
said...
That late goal at Fulham is worth a lot more than 2 competition points...top shelf players just won't risk us now.
Players that come will either be 2nd classers who won't be devastated if we get relegated (Quashie)or money hungry twats with a clause to leave if we go down.
A backers no good if no-one will accept his cash.
said...
The other teams around us are looking poor. In fact there are teams above us whose recent form is far worse than ours. Even Villa are doing their best to rush down the table as well.
We’re still in it.
said...
I think great players don't want to play for Curbs.
Look how he handles Tevez and Monster Masch.
said...
Where The Licence Fee Goes
According to the Sunday Express, BBC staff claimed over £1.5m in expenses for their World Cup jolly. 'One reporter was sent around the world, covering the reaction of fans in the countries of each of England's opponents. His jet-setting trip contributed to the £1.5million travel bill submitted by sports staff between April and the end of the tournament in July,' the newspaper reported.
whubris said...
Have to say I'm more with sad sack than Mr rosy glasses at the moment. Dave reckons 23 points from the rest of the season (15 games), and that leaves us on the famous and previously fatal 42 points (I do think that 42 points would be enough this season). However I think that's optimistic, we are not going to get 3 points from all of those games, no way. Even now we've only got 19 points from 23 games. If we, say, draw two or three of those instead of winning, we're gone. End of.
We are in deep, deep shite, no question in my mind.
Although it is a worry if Young and Lauren rejected us, the fact that Boa Morte came to us is a really good sign. I just don't think we're gonna get out of this. The injuries to our back line are going to cripple us, and as sad sack says, Ashton is not going to come into form until the last few games. He's not a naturally fit person so it will take him a while to get fit again.
To top it all off a workmate brought in the FA Cup final DVD and we watched a bit of it. Fuck me we came close at the end there with the header that Reina saved - one of the best saves you'll ever see - and it falling to poor injured Marlon.
Now I'm all depressed.
whubris said...
OK, just looked at the list again. We'll be lucky to get 3 points from Totspank, I saw some of their game against Newcastle and even though they lost they looked shit hot and were just unlucky with some shots hitting posts, people, etc. They're going to run rings around our defence. Hope not, but they might. I think we could drop points against Boro and Wigan too, and maybe lose to Blackburn. Let's face it, you can't win everything that you should win, so we'll have to expect to drop a few points from Dave's list. Y'know what though, I feel as though we're going to beat somebody big again - Arse, Chelsea or Man U. That would be bloody helpful! It's more important to take points away from our immediate rivals though.
said...
theredrisky: Yes I stuffed up on the silver lining thang, just did a 16 hour stint for a looming deadline. Brain not functioning, and of course WHU aren't helping my mental state either!!
Anyway, this guy seems to have some cred on the kumb forums and he has said this...
Tross wrote:
If Lauren has said no....then why is he in a meeting with our Top Brass as I type I wonder......????????
As for Young, strong possibility that he has been going to Sp*rs in the Summer from day one, and although potential, not proven enough for the price tag IMHO. Its not dead yet though.
Another signing, and IMO a bloody good one, SHOULD go through before the week is out (don't even ask) and at least one, wimp arsed inconsistent dog racing debt ridden half pint chump who can't be named Laughing , + possibly two more going the other way, one to rekindle a recently broken relationship.
Keep the faith ladies.....all will become clear when the smoke clears.
Tross
Lets just settle down, take a deep breath and let the chips fall where they may.
The end of the transfer window is when we can make some educated judgements about our ability to stay up.
I think we are in for some nice surprises.
beggers said...
My head agrees with Norvens post but my hearts with Daves post.
I can see this going down to the last game of the season.
I'm hopeless at predicting results so I don't even try. As I've said before every team can be beaten so every week I live in hope. And as long as those around us keep losing there is still hope.
Pompey did it last year and they were able to get some players in to turn it around so why not us?
The fat ladies not sing'n yet lads but she is warming up.
said...
Watford's Young still open to West Ham move
tribalfooball.com - January 15, 2007
Watford striker Ashley Young has NOT rejected a move to West Ham.
It was suggested yesterday that Young had rejected West Ham after their £8m offer plus another £1.65m based on clauses was accepted. However, the Guardian says the 21-year-old's advisors have indicated that those reports are incorrect and a deal could still be agreed, with Young believed to favour remaining in London.
Tottenham and Aston Villa both remain in the hunt but both clubs will need to significantly increase their current bids to gazump West Ham.
Melbournehammer said...
Young is the prize for the winner of the poker game.
We have raised the bid to 9.5 mil and Watford are waiting to see if Spurs or Villa will see us or raise the bid even further.Spurs have reportedly offered Davenport and Routledge + 3mil for Young.If Watford accept a Spurs offer,I'm sure he will be off there.
Surely we could offer 2-3 mil for Davenport.I know he is nothing special but where else are we going to find a CB ASAP.Thought he did OK for us when on loan 2 seasons ago.
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said...Well, seems a bit grim.
I don't care about the nay sayers, I live in hope and can see us staying up . I've got to have some optimism. How crap would life be without it.
True, as a Hammers fans we all live on a roller-coasters of emotions. But I'd rather the disappointment of relegation when it comes than be depressed for the rest of the season thinking we're going down.
Even if we do go down, Eggie is not going to let WHU stay down. Silver cloud in every lining stuff.
Hammers unite!!
said...I think you mean A Silver linign in every cloud :P
I must say i too live in hope of staying up this season, and we still have a chance. Wigan do have a game in hand however (anyone know who its against).
And SHeffield UTd or Boro could always collapse, you never know.
I Must say though im very cut about Mark Noble not being allowed to play. If curbs wants players with experience well then this is exactly the way for MN to get some.
said...According to BBC
Young knocks back West Ham offer
Watford striker Ashley Young is thought to have turned down a move to West Ham after a bid of £9.65m had been agreed.
The Hammers had a £7m offer rejected last week but at the time manager Aidy Boothroyd said he expected the Upton Park club to make another offer.
They returned with an initial offer of £8m plus £1.65m based on clauses but Young, 21, turned them down.
West Ham are now out of the chase but Aston Villa have been linked with Young and Tottenham may renew their interest.
Spurs had been prepared to offer Wayne Routldge and Calum Davenport as part of a deal to lure Young to White Hart Lane.
But the Tottenham players did not want to go to Watford, so the move was abandoned.
Young, 21, has scored four goals in 23 appearances this season.
But with Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool leaving Watford 10 points adrift of safety, it seems that Boothroyd may have decided the time is right to cash in on his best player.
Speaking last week, he indicated Young could leave - but only at a price which he deemed appropriate for a player of Young's ability.
"There are players out there who have gone for £8m-plus who do not have what he has," he said.
"Ashley is the trump card in the Premiership. There are not many players outside the top four clubs who are better than him."
said...And from KUMB
Press reports are claiming that both Lauren and Ashley Young have rejected moves to West Ham United.
The Arsenal defender - who turns 30 this week - has, according to The Sun, decided to return to Spain after six years in the capital.
Lauren met with Hammers officials last week and, according to Eggert Magnusson, the chances of capturing the Cameroon defender were good.
said...That late goal at Fulham is worth a lot more than 2 competition points...top shelf players just won't risk us now.
Players that come will either be 2nd classers who won't be devastated if we get relegated (Quashie)or money hungry twats with a clause to leave if we go down.
A backers no good if no-one will accept his cash.
said...The other teams around us are looking poor. In fact there are teams above us whose recent form is far worse than ours. Even Villa are doing their best to rush down the table as well.
We’re still in it.
said...I think great players don't want to play for Curbs.
Look how he handles Tevez and Monster Masch.
said...Where The Licence Fee Goes
According to the Sunday Express, BBC staff claimed over £1.5m in expenses for their World Cup jolly. 'One reporter was sent around the world, covering the reaction of fans in the countries of each of England's opponents. His jet-setting trip contributed to the £1.5million travel bill submitted by sports staff between April and the end of the tournament in July,' the newspaper reported.
whubris said...Have to say I'm more with sad sack than Mr rosy glasses at the moment. Dave reckons 23 points from the rest of the season (15 games), and that leaves us on the famous and previously fatal 42 points (I do think that 42 points would be enough this season). However I think that's optimistic, we are not going to get 3 points from all of those games, no way. Even now we've only got 19 points from 23 games. If we, say, draw two or three of those instead of winning, we're gone. End of.
We are in deep, deep shite, no question in my mind.
Although it is a worry if Young and Lauren rejected us, the fact that Boa Morte came to us is a really good sign. I just don't think we're gonna get out of this. The injuries to our back line are going to cripple us, and as sad sack says, Ashton is not going to come into form until the last few games. He's not a naturally fit person so it will take him a while to get fit again.
To top it all off a workmate brought in the FA Cup final DVD and we watched a bit of it. Fuck me we came close at the end there with the header that Reina saved - one of the best saves you'll ever see - and it falling to poor injured Marlon.
Now I'm all depressed.
whubris said...OK, just looked at the list again. We'll be lucky to get 3 points from Totspank, I saw some of their game against Newcastle and even though they lost they looked shit hot and were just unlucky with some shots hitting posts, people, etc. They're going to run rings around our defence. Hope not, but they might. I think we could drop points against Boro and Wigan too, and maybe lose to Blackburn. Let's face it, you can't win everything that you should win, so we'll have to expect to drop a few points from Dave's list. Y'know what though, I feel as though we're going to beat somebody big again - Arse, Chelsea or Man U. That would be bloody helpful! It's more important to take points away from our immediate rivals though.
said...theredrisky: Yes I stuffed up on the silver lining thang, just did a 16 hour stint for a looming deadline. Brain not functioning, and of course WHU aren't helping my mental state either!!
Anyway, this guy seems to have some cred on the kumb forums and he has said this...
Tross wrote:
If Lauren has said no....then why is he in a meeting with our Top Brass as I type I wonder......????????
As for Young, strong possibility that he has been going to Sp*rs in the Summer from day one, and although potential, not proven enough for the price tag IMHO. Its not dead yet though.
Another signing, and IMO a bloody good one, SHOULD go through before the week is out (don't even ask) and at least one, wimp arsed inconsistent dog racing debt ridden half pint chump who can't be named Laughing , + possibly two more going the other way, one to rekindle a recently broken relationship.
Keep the faith ladies.....all will become clear when the smoke clears.
Tross
Lets just settle down, take a deep breath and let the chips fall where they may.
The end of the transfer window is when we can make some educated judgements about our ability to stay up.
I think we are in for some nice surprises.
beggers said...My head agrees with Norvens post but my hearts with Daves post.
I can see this going down to the last game of the season.
I'm hopeless at predicting results so I don't even try. As I've said before every team can be beaten so every week I live in hope. And as long as those around us keep losing there is still hope.
Pompey did it last year and they were able to get some players in to turn it around so why not us?
The fat ladies not sing'n yet lads but she is warming up.
said...Watford's Young still open to West Ham move
tribalfooball.com - January 15, 2007
Watford striker Ashley Young has NOT rejected a move to West Ham.
It was suggested yesterday that Young had rejected West Ham after their £8m offer plus another £1.65m based on clauses was accepted. However, the Guardian says the 21-year-old's advisors have indicated that those reports are incorrect and a deal could still be agreed, with Young believed to favour remaining in London.
Tottenham and Aston Villa both remain in the hunt but both clubs will need to significantly increase their current bids to gazump West Ham.
Melbournehammer said...Young is the prize for the winner of the poker game.
We have raised the bid to 9.5 mil and Watford are waiting to see if Spurs or Villa will see us or raise the bid even further.Spurs have reportedly offered Davenport and Routledge + 3mil for Young.If Watford accept a Spurs offer,I'm sure he will be off there.
Surely we could offer 2-3 mil for Davenport.I know he is nothing special but where else are we going to find a CB ASAP.Thought he did OK for us when on loan 2 seasons ago.
