Chim Chimineeee

Big girl oral explosion - bottom line is, when there's a story with two sides to it when it comes to football, I'll always go with what I've witnessed with my own eyes over the media. If I haven't actually been there, and I wanted to guage what went on, then I'd take the general feel from fans, or fan sites such as this one, rather than the BBC or the newspapers. After watching the Hammers for three decades, I've seen time and time again how our fans, players and managers have been misenterpreted, lied about, set up, exaggerated about for the good or bad, mis-quoted etcetc. If I believed what I read in the papers, I'd think Bolton were long ball merchants, who play a very physical game, and grind out results. But I'd rather go with what I've actually seen, which is a long way off from the cliched match reports in the press. Lazy boring journalism. Likewise, if they can get a description of 90 minutes action that I've seen completely removed from reality, than they can and do do the same for events that have gone on for years - just depends on whatever slant they want to put on things. There's things that go on at your club with history that's gone on for years, that only Bolton fans appreciate all sides of, that will get completely stitched up in the press - reactions to results, receptions for past players, and exactly why they get their reception. Likewise us -recent times I've read in the press for three years plus about what a great guy Lampard is, and what nasty, jealous, bitter people 30,000 other people are. I know the other side of the tale, and see a liar, whose lies and hypocrisy get a ready audience in the press. With Allardyce, I think you've got a manager with a genuine passion for the game - from the radio interviews of his over the years, he comes across to me as almost obsessive in his preparations for games, with files on every teams opposition, even their fringe players, who are unlikely to get a game. I like that, shows someone who takes his job extremely seriously, and wants to get the absolute maximum for the club he's with. The bung stuff - if I know how our own club gets stiched up, then I'll extend the courtesy of realising how it can happen to every other club. I'll believe it if it's proved. What I won't believe in the meantime is the media, and if it's the usual shit they've exagerated and got completely wrong, then I hope Allardyce takes them all to the cleaners.

Was at the game - Roeder got as much applause than boos, if not more when his name was announced. When the Geordies sang for him to give them a wave at 2-0 up, he did and fair enough - he was recognising the support they'd brought down and rightly so - any decent manager would do the same. It caused a reaction, nothing major, and that's when it should have ended. But it didn't, Roeder noticed the reaction, and despite the advice of stewards, match officials, and the fact that people were getting arrested yards away, decided to continue waving at intervals again and again and again. He was taking the piss, and having managed the club, must of known what he was doing and what the reaction would be. Despite attempts to sanitise the game into a nation of happy clappy stadiums, where no-one says boo to a goose, or ex-player, Upton Park thankfully still has it's moments, and if ex-players or managers feel the need to take the piss when they return, then they know not to expect apathy and polite applause next time. Booing our team at the Newcastle game at half and full time - no, didn't happen. Palermo - we're going out against a decent team, so what, shit happens. Booing Pardew - Yes, a minority of fans did. A sizeable amount wanted him to remain in his position, and felt that more time should be given to him. Allardyce - media crap most likely. See above. Zico - noble comments. But wasted on the majority of our fans, who did not boo Pardew, and still turned up in healthy attendance during our two years in the Championship.

It's not official club shop stuff. They specialise more in your expensive and tacky.

True enough. Guess if I do get batoned round the head by an over zealous politzi, or stabbed in the legs by a passing scooterist, it will put a downer on the general dolcha vita feel. From Italians on our forums, Palermo is a relatively ok place to visit compared with some of the Italian grounds. Then again some of our stalls selling Mafiosa tickets seem to have stirred their spaghetti a bit, so who knows. Mafiosa t-shirts even.

Has he? I must of missed those interviews. Only seen the ones where he's stated he wants to eventualy get us moving up a level. Spurs giving it a go? So all the teams in the UEFA Cup are of exactly the same standard, and they're going through because they showed more hunger? Or could it be that they drew relatively easier opposition and got a decent away win. We're (in all likelihood) going out against decent opposition. And will have a great time over in Sicily regardless. No biggie.

Hang on, you've got that Victoria Derbyshire? Exiled, you're right - nothing they'd love more now, than for it to go completely tits up - it would prove their 'points'. Siege mentality - nothing better for team morale. and I agree with your point about Charlton. mid-table mediocrity.

To be honest, there's loads of bias in the media, and you as Bolton fans are going to see a Southern bias. (I thought there were Midlands and Northern editions of papers though?) FWIW, I didn't buy all the Bolton long ball merchant stuff that invaribly popped up in every match review featuring yourselves - say it as I see it, and most times we've played you, I see neat passing movement, not an over reliance on speculative long ball stuff. Reckon the vast majority of it's down to lazy journalism - easier to run with cliches, than to go out and write a fair reflective review of the game. You think there's a Southern bias - I think there's a massive Spur's bias. Even when we're written about favourably, it's usually patronising crap, that misses the mark. Yep, that Samuel's interview is one sided, and misses a lot of points. But I'll give you dozens of wholly exagerated 'Pardew Out' themed 'match reviews', and the 95% negative speculation and rehashed rubbish that's been aimed at us in the last week. Decent football journalism offering independent thoughts instead of cliched crap has always been a bit thin on the ground.

Wiggy, you're absolutly right. After yesterday's hype, the same questions and reservations are cropping up, all over our sites. Despite what the media might like to portray. As for MSI, they're so guarded in how they operate, that any fans or even newspaper's idea of what's happening is pure speculation. Commonly held belief that Abramovic is behind them, which in my opinion is disasterous for the game, on top of what Chelsea have already done. But there's also been as many newspaper reports in the past that have traced MSI back to another Russian, who can't stand Abramovic, and speculate that MSI are a front for him to earn the same 'resectability' with all his money in the same way as Abramovic. Either way, it ain't good for the game.

Satangreavsie - that's put it better than I did and understand what you're saying about the memories. I want to go to Upton Park, and watch them whether they're playing one of the top four, or Walsall, MK Dons, Gillingham. I go to watch the team I support and want to sit (stand) next to people who're there for the same reasons. Not watch the ground fill up with Japanese tourists, and 'fans' who're there to watch individual players, or go because of the name of the opposition. And be run by an organisation with no real interest in the heart and soul of the club.

Definetly, and hats off for doing it. But you won't top top 6 finish on a shoestring, DESPITE having Glenn Roeder in charge. That was achieving the impossible.

Casino & Topboy.. That's the thing - you look at Chelsea's crowd now, and it's completely different to what it was like say 10 years back, let alone 20 or 30. Coachloads of Japanese tourists, who may wear the shirt, but know nothing about the fabric of the club, it's history and traditions. Chelsea have completely changed their identity in the space of 5 years. I don't recognise them, and nor do a lot of their old school fans. Sure there'll be loads at West Ham, who'll be lapping it all up, but there'll also be a sizeable crowd who have a lot of concern about where it could lead - which is probably the same as it would be at any club. Loads of crooked money leaking into the game, and clubs run by organisations that don't give a monkeys about the soul of the game. After we went down, almost went bust (according to our Chairman) & then kept our crowds, whilst the likes of nouveau Chelsea fans were taking the piss, then slowly rebuilt and got to the Final - that made me more proud than a top 5 finish backed by a load of iffy money could ever come close to. What can you do though, coming to a club near you...

Topboy - it's because money talks, and MSI want to take over our club. They tried before, and obviously this time, they've come back with an offer that couldn't be refused. It's the way the Premiership's going - look at Chelsea, Man United, Villa and Pompey. Anyone that thinks their club is immune from it all is kidding themselves. Doesn't mean I agree with it, but it's the way it is.

It's the way the Premiership's going. MSI tried to take over us over a year ago. Our Chairman turned the offer down. Looks like they came again with an offer Brown couldn't refuse. Don't believe the Sky hype that no Hammers could care about how it came about - I for one do not want to be a Chelsea 2, and lose our identity, and I know I'm not alone in that. Dodgy, and backed by Abramovic. Corinthians=MSI=Abramovic, behind a load of frontmen and mouthpieces. Could be that their at our club, biding their time before moving to the filth in West London, could be that MSI are taking over, and this is just the start.

I was hoping it might be Lampard. Whilst playing. Long term.

Stinky, you're on the money with the motives of it all. I'm not itk with deals, but know who to trust and who not to when it comes to posters on West Ham sites, when it comes to speculation like this. Even the ones I trust, and are usually spot on are conflicting - Reo Coker supposedly going to Man United or Arsenal, or not, and a press conference definetly set for this afternoon, or not... The lack of a press conference so far, I think is not because the loan deals are in doubt, but because they represent wider implications (takeover) in the long run, and there's no doubt a lot going on in the background.

Carlos, you're right. all leads back to Abramovic, via MSI, who he's behind, via Corinthians, who MSI own. Expect to see a whole lot more of it in the Premiership, as long as Abramovic and their like are involved in football. Days of straight transfers are over - beyond ridiculous money, he's introduced a whole new element to it now. I don't want West Ham anywhere near that filthy 'club' from West London, and am seriously happier that we've picked up the Czech Under 17 keeper today, than I am that we're being involved in Abramovich's shady business. One minute we're buying Carlton Cole for ??2m, then we're getting in a 6th striker that several top European clubs have been after? Doesn't take a lot of working out...

John, me too with the Reo Coker Arsenal move - usually a good source, but not 100% - as for the MSI stuff, think there's definately something in the pipeline - The bloke who tried taking us over before was Iranian, and the mouthpice/frontman for MSI - they were heavily involved with Corinthians, and MSI are also rumoured to be a front for Abramovic or another Russian. Hoping that the Reo Coker stuff is a false story, but as much as I don't rate Brown, not so sure I want dodgy money at UP, Chelsea like... To the site-owners, apologies, trying to keep on topic, and think that this sort of stuff is the way the whole Premiership's going...

Jon - Nigel Reo Coker is in all likelihood making way for this loan stuff - Arsenal today - medical right now, from very good sources. And we are (again, in all likelihood) being bought as a club by MSI. Call me old fashioned but I'd rather we were keeping our captain, Mark Noble came up trumps after his loan deal, and we weren't being bought out by money launderers.

As - Pardew getting booed... Been to most games since Pardew took over - Pardew was booed by a minority of the home support, but boos are loud, and it makes an easy story for newspaper hacks, a lot easier than actually finding out about the real feeling amongst supporters, or say writing about the football. I think Pardew's the best manager we've had since Greenwood, and have never once wanted him out - I'm not alone amongst our fans in thinking that. But yeah there was a minority who did, and the press banged on about it - no problem with away fans shouting their ironic 'Pardew Out' stuff, that's football.. Jules - No, not if it means going down the Chelsea route. Top five or six with a couple of players who're moving for dubious reasons, or a Cup Final appearance with a young team with a great work ethic and rapport with the supporters? The latter everytime.

Not so sure Mick. Maybe young supporters wouldn't give a shit, but the older ones amongst us would definetely have reservations. Most despise the way Chelsea have gone about things, in a genuine way, not just something born out of jealousy - Corinthians are linked with dodgy money from one of Abramovich's rivals, who had a go at taking us over last year. Big money involved potentialy, but a lot of Hammers fans didn't want to see it happen as indicated by the polls on the independent web-sites. Wpuldn't have been in the same league as Abramovich, but going down the same road. Chelsea have lost their identity, and a lot of their old school fans realise it. Getting players in from Corinthians, is a step back to that, and maybe linked to previous takeover bid. Coach loads of Japanese tourists at Upton Park, to see individual players, without any knowledge of what West Ham are all about? No Thanks.

Was wrong about Malbranque, Spurs gazumped us. Hands up. Not "giving it large' with this loan deal either. Suspect it may be linked to a potential takeover in the future, as hinted at in this thread. and anyway, I don't think these signings fit in with the way we've gone about things in the last couple of seasons. Team, not individuals. Is honest answer.

Alphabetti Spaghetti Mafiosa Mummy's Boys.. and they play in pink. Is there a Premiership club that Malbranque isn't linked with? In all seriousness, by his actions and inflated wage demands, I don't think he'd do either of our clubs any good in the long run - upset the wage structure of a club who base a lot on team, rather than individuals. no ta.

I'm feeling the love in the room. High fives all round. White's Man, going to have to skip that offer, and btw, 'London Booted' doesn't scan. Citeh, no way are we as 'massive' as them, we don't beat their average home attendance. although...

He's West Ham bound. And we're Palermo bound. Good night and God Bless.

Zozzy, it's the banter, for sure. for all wishing us well in Europe, been there, done it, and more than capable of holding our own. but thanks for your good wishes. God bless.