Firstly fans need to listen to the players and restrict the protests to after the game or after the final game of the season. Both Mark Noble and James Collins have said it affects the team, and clearly the delay on Saturday contributed to the loss of concentration for Burnley's second goal.
The away fans need to sing their anti-board chants and display banners at the end of the game, not when West Ham go a goal down. The players are human beings. They need to play in a positive atmosphere.
I've read people saying that West Ham have survived relegation before, but it's historically very unlikely for relegated teams to make a quick return. We could be down for five or ten years. Look where Sunderland are now. And is that really a price worth paying for the prospect of new Chinese, Russian or American owners?
The pitch invasions need to stop and paying for extra police is a sound move. If everyone who had a grievance ran on the pitch we'd never see a game completed. Like many fans I paid £800 for my season ticket and I want to see games of football without the threat of ground closure.
TRIO NEED TO ADMIT MISTAKES
What will it take for Sullivan, Gold and Brady to win back some sort of peace? They are unlikely to sell in the short-term. Appointing a Director of Football for next season, as was announced in yesterday's Evening Standard, is a good start. As Ken Dyer wrote, Sullivan and Gold are elderly men. Sullivan can enjoy his role without having to deal with agents every day.
It would also go a long way if they admitted they have been wrong on some counts and botched the last transfer window. They could explain how stadium revenue might increase. A commitment to spend money next season would help, with Ken Dyer in the Standard suggesting a figure of £100 million if the club stay up. Though as Everton have proved, spending alone does not guarantee success.
The trio need to stop hiding behind the fact West Ham have little influence with the landlords. They should pledge to do everything in their power to influence the landlords to square off the stands, get some seats closer to the pitch and get a claret carpet around the pitch instead of a green one. They could offer to contribute if the retractable stands were re-developed. They might not succeed, but as anchor tenants West Ham should be in a good bargaining position with the loss-making LLDC.
Does anyone really want to see the club go down to prove a point? West Ham fans have proved they do not like being misled. But the club is in crisis and the owners, like all owners, are imperfect. The best way to help the team at the moment is to stay united behind them.
No comments:
Post a Comment