View From The Opposition - Stoke City
Vinny 1:02 Thu Oct 30
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View From The Opposition - Stoke City
You always go into games hoping the side you support can perform well and put in a five-star performance but even the most optimistic Hammers fans could not have hoped for such a display as we put in against Manchester City
The performance was as good as any I have seen from a West Ham side in recent years and the applause the team were given just at the half-time break made me realise I was not alone in this opinion.
West Ham had everything. Strength, determination, and quality in front of goal. The two goals scored were not that of luck, but of accurate passing and great positioning.
Next for West Ham a visit to Stoke City, which is never an easy trip. The away form this season has been very encouraging but this will be no walk in the park. There are no easy games in the Premiership and the levels of intensity will need to be just as high as they were against Manchester City.
What West Ham have this season is goals. We can talk about football and tactics until we are blue in the face but ultimately the teams who do well score goals and the teams who do badly do not.
Those negative emotions that clouded West Ham during last season have all but disappeared and everyone from the manager, the owners and the fans are moving forward to ensure the club reach the heights we are so desperate for.
For the first time this season I have found it extremely difficult to find a supporter who would take part in "View from the opposition" and this week we have just the one fan for Stoke.
Many thanks to Peter Morris for agreeing to help out.
Do you think the club outgrew Tony Pulis after he'd achieved so much for you, and were the club/fans a little ungrateful to him when he left? Was he a victim of his own success, and would you ever have him back?
Peter: I think the club grew with Tony Pulis initially with promotion to the Premier League, before becoming an established Premier League club and reaching the last 32 of the Europa Cup after an FA Cup Final appearance. All Stoke fans will be eternally grateful to Pulis for getting us to the Premier League something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. He left after a very poor end to a season both results wise and also some very poor performances which were difficult to watch. He has since admitted that he took his eye off the ball for personal reasons, There are a minority of Stoke fans who would have him back tomorrow but I think two spells with the club are enough.
Most people think of Stoke as a boring mid table team - what would you say is needed to push on to the next level?
Peter: I don't think there is a boring mid table in the Premier League. Having witnessed League One and Championship football I think a reality check is sometimes required. Top Ten is as good as it gets for some clubs. In this day and age it takes luck with signings and a great deal of cash to move on to the next level.
Watching Stoke under Pulis and Hughes, what do you think Sir Stanley Matthews would make of it?
Peter: Stanley Matthews would have enjoyed playing under both Pulis and Hughes as both like to play with wingers. Hughes it has to be said with more attacking wingers.
What do you miss about the Victoria Ground, 17 years on and has it proved to be a good decision to move?
Peter: The Victoria Ground was a great ground with a wonderful atmosphere and I was sad to leave. The Britannia Stadium is also a superb Stadium, obviously more modern but still has a superb atmosphere and to be honest I would not wish to go back to the Victoria Ground.
Why do your fans boo Aaron Ramsay for being the victim of a violent assault?
Peter: Stoke fans continue to boo Aaron Ramsey for his failure to accept an apology from Ryan Shawcross over the tackle which broke his leg but was not intentional. Myself and many Stoke fans would also argue that it was not a violent assault but a 50/50 challenge.
How would Messi cope on a wet Wednesday night at your place?
Peter: I`m sure Messi would cope very well on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke. After all he is a class act.
What player, in recent memory has exceeded all expectations at Stoke.
Peter: I think Abdoulaye Faye exceeded expectations at Stoke and played a large part in our Premier League survival in our first season after promotion, He was phenomenal.
4th place finish or win the FA Cup?
Peter: It would have to be a 4th place finish, Champions League football at the Britannia really would be a dream come true.
Which West Ham player would you have in the Stoke side?
Peter: Sakho a goalscorer, enough said.
Your favourite crisp
Peter: Smokey Bacon
Prediction
Peter: 2-1 to Stoke
Thanks again to Peter for his answers.
Next up is Aston Villa. If you know a Villa fan you'd like to put forward then get in contact.
Email: vinnywhufc@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vinnywhufc
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
Mr. Burns
1:03 Thu Oct 30
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Dull.......just like Stoke really.
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NewtonsPartyBag
1:04 Thu Oct 30
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What a boring bastard.
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Gavros
1:05 Thu Oct 30
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Well done Vinny for finding a stoke fan that can write.
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Vinny
1:08 Thu Oct 30
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This season ive had to turn away fans as we already had too many.
This week it's been a struggle to get one to do it.
When just one does it, unless they are extremely charismatic it looks a little bare and unfortunately this may have happened this week which is not the fault of the contributor because at least he agreed to do it!
This piece is always going to be hit and miss. Thankfully so far this season we have had more of the former.
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Lily Hammer
1:09 Thu Oct 30
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Faye! Forgot all about him. He was a good monster, as far as they go. Didn't really let us down did he, or am I forgetting something bad?
Agree that this bloke was a bit grey. I thought John Major was chelsea.
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logo
1:09 Thu Oct 30
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Cheers Vinny - But a what a boring c**t, the football obviously rubs off onto their personality.
I think we'll scrape a 1-0 win.
Anyway, back to watching paint day!
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flyingV
1:10 Thu Oct 30
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Hold me in your arms
Dont let me go
I want to stay forever
Closer each day
Abdoulaye Faye
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Vinny
1:12 Thu Oct 30
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Away Days with Abdoulaye Faye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htsa9ZzSOp0
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Monk~koknee
1:21 Thu Oct 30
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Dull questions get dull answers.
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Grumpster
1:23 Thu Oct 30
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That is one bloke who I wouldn't want a beer with.
Nice fella I'm sure, but what a boring sod.
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Sven Roeder
1:23 Thu Oct 30
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Good work Vinny ...... in trying to get a spark of personality out of a Stoke fan
Not possible but thanks for trying
I am guessing Neil Baldwin wasn't available?
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Vinny
1:23 Thu Oct 30
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Monk~koknee
Did you submit a question?
Can't seem to find it.
I look forward to your one for Villa though.
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Snatch Pasty
1:36 Thu Oct 30
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Cor, Peter sounds like a complete wet weekend.. The Britannia is not a great stadium, stuck out in middle earth with very few options for away support in terms of refreshments.. Away days in Stoke are just a little bit shit to be honest, lets hope the three points lighten the day for the travelling Hammers..
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Academy321
1:42 Thu Oct 30
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Well done Vin
Look forward to those exciting Villa fans next week
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Monk~koknee
1:46 Thu Oct 30
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Vinny
Not this time I didn't but have previously. Maybe my questions have been shit but the ones used are usually from the same people. So I don't bother any more.
Anyway the questions are usually amusingly provocative. This time they are bland.
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PDC ON THE VOLLEY
1:48 Thu Oct 30
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I have an idea - when these threads get posted up why don't Site Admin let the person/s that answered the questions have a few hours to argue their case on here and defend themselves - that would be fuckin brilliant?!
Maybe even let them post on here after the game so we can discuss the result - then they can kill their username.
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Vinny
1:51 Thu Oct 30
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http://www.westhamonline.net/forum_flat.php?7601800|a0_c4
Perhaps I could have asked:
Do you still all wear Donkey jackets?
Are there any of your own players you don't want to punch in the face?
What ever happened to Mike Pejic, remember collecting the old panini stickers, back in the days, he had the face of a man who had just been beaten by a wet fish, couldn't even shift him with swaps.
Are all women from Stoke selfish little cunts like my ex?
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Vinny
1:53 Thu Oct 30
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"My questions don't get asked so this thread is shit wahhh"
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Gavros
1:53 Thu Oct 30
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is there anywhere left to go out in Stoke Upon Trent now that wetherspoons has shut down?
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Coffee
1:57 Thu Oct 30
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Vinny 1:51 Thu Oct 30
Re Mike Pejic - ha ha ha, so true!
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