Relegation anxiety

[F 129 Row66]

Is it better to know that your team is going to be relegated like we are. or to spend the rest of the season in an anxiety state worrying about it while hovering about in 16th or 17th. In my case I seem not to give a fuck about the outcomes of games this year, and even forget the games are on the telly (four times now).

[62Hammer]

FWIW, to get out of this mess we need to put together a run of results we haven't been capable of for a good few years so can see why so many are pessimistic.

Personally if we go down its very different this time, long gone are the days of West Ham having the reputation of playing attractive attacking football and rival fans always looked forward to playing us and even though we didn't win many trophies and got relegated every so often, we were well respected and UP was a favourite for away fans even with that intimidating atmosphere they faced, these days that reputation is well and truly history and its maybe only older fans who remember it.

We are now on par with clubs like Wigan or Bolton when they "graced" the PL  and who had a few years in the top flight courtesy of some mercenaries, older plyers in their twilight, managers who played shit football but could grind out a result and a huge slice of luck, that's the current state of our club, we even came up with one of their ex managers, hoof ball, parking the bus and respecting the point.

These days when meeting people from the UK or into football i usually don't volunteer im a West Ham fan unless pushed because you just know they will start going on about fucking Moyes and "bet you regret letting him go" and no way will they believe you wouldn't have him back and how shit the football was, yes we had that Cup win but let's be honest, not winning it would have been inexcusable given the quality of team we faced for the most part.

That cup win though felt like a new dawn (another one!) but our owners completing missed the opportunity and have now royally fucked it up which makes this current situation feel even more miserable and from seeing others comment im not the only one who just doesn't give a shit now, then we had Lady Brady on TS earlier this season when we were obviously bang in trouble but she made big thing about how happy shareholders are, FFS, never mind the fans, those comments alone sums up the management of the club.

I hope we somehow get out of this mess but gone are the days of sweating about it, checking other results, looking at upcoming fixtures, crossing fingers etc. West Ham is a name only really, long gone is that club so respected for its football even from our fiercest rivels, we reside in a rented athletics stadium ranked 20 in the PL, are run to try and finish 17th or better, have no real ambition and play frustrating shit football so no surprise many older fans feel so apathetic about the club these days, our owners deserve relegation.

And NO, i have zero anxiety about going down, if anything i can watch PL football without that cloud over my head thinking how some games will it affect our survival chances.




 

 

The problem with the cup win was it was achieved playing the anti football that is totally opposite to what we understood West Ham to be. In a lot of ways I wonder whether the Moyes era was worth losing our soul for? Moyes himself mocked us for it. Seems like the whole world never understood our obsession with at least trying to play nice football. 
I think our fans also started to worry more about being in the top 6 somehow than whether the style of football was attractive or sustainable.

And now we have crashed out completely trying to be both things it seems.

Agree with pretty much all of this. Exactly how I feel.

[threesixty]

FWIW, to get out of this mess we need to put together a run of results we haven't been capable of for a good few years so can see why so many are pessimistic.

Personally if we go down its very different this time, long gone are the days of West Ham having the reputation of playing attractive attacking football and rival fans always looked forward to playing us and even though we didn't win many trophies and got relegated every so often, we were well respected and UP was a favourite for away fans even with that intimidating atmosphere they faced, these days that reputation is well and truly history and its maybe only older fans who remember it.

We are now on par with clubs like Wigan or Bolton when they "graced" the PL  and who had a few years in the top flight courtesy of some mercenaries, older plyers in their twilight, managers who played shit football but could grind out a result and a huge slice of luck, that's the current state of our club, we even came up with one of their ex managers, hoof ball, parking the bus and respecting the point.

These days when meeting people from the UK or into football i usually don't volunteer im a West Ham fan unless pushed because you just know they will start going on about fucking Moyes and "bet you regret letting him go" and no way will they believe you wouldn't have him back and how shit the football was, yes we had that Cup win but let's be honest, not winning it would have been inexcusable given the quality of team we faced for the most part.

That cup win though felt like a new dawn (another one!) but our owners completing missed the opportunity and have now royally fucked it up which makes this current situation feel even more miserable and from seeing others comment im not the only one who just doesn't give a shit now, then we had Lady Brady on TS earlier this season when we were obviously bang in trouble but she made big thing about how happy shareholders are, FFS, never mind the fans, those comments alone sums up the management of the club.

I hope we somehow get out of this mess but gone are the days of sweating about it, checking other results, looking at upcoming fixtures, crossing fingers etc. West Ham is a name only really, long gone is that club so respected for its football even from our fiercest rivels, we reside in a rented athletics stadium ranked 20 in the PL, are run to try and finish 17th or better, have no real ambition and play frustrating shit football so no surprise many older fans feel so apathetic about the club these days, our owners deserve relegation.

And NO, i have zero anxiety about going down, if anything i can watch PL football without that cloud over my head thinking how some games will it affect our survival chances.



 

 

 

The problem with the cup win was it was achieved playing the anti football that is totally opposite to what we understood West Ham to be. In a lot of ways I wonder whether the Moyes era was worth losing our soul for? Moyes himself mocked us for it. Seems like the whole world never understood our obsession with at least trying to play nice football. 
I think our fans also started to worry more about being in the top 6 somehow than whether the style of football was attractive or sustainable.

And now we have crashed out completely trying to be both things it seems.

[nychammer]

Under brooking when we beat Chelsea in the last home game there was a real sense of hope. We were close but even had we beat Birmingham away we'd still have been relegated. Would rather we settle things sooner than that one way or the other. 

[zico]

We do have a great escape in us and a couple of near misses so you never know. Apart from the Tevez season we nearly did it under Brooking and even in the late 80's went on a hell of a run and may well have stayed up if the last game hadn't been at Anfield. Yes I know I'm clutching!

[Sydney_Iron]

Sydney,

I like you fella, but I stopped reading when you claimed we’re on a par with Bolton and Wigan.

We’re more like Villa and Newcastle when they dropped down.

I'm referring to style of play Ferret son, not size of club, but if anything from what i recall, both played better football than we have in the seasons they went down? Mind you as im not watching games and only going on reports and fan interviews on WHFTV, We may have been playing the same kind of abject shit dished up?

Both those other sides played some pretty turgid stuff for a few years before the luck ran out and/or the mercenary's got better offers and they finally went down and have not returned since! and that's what we are doing, this relegation if it happens isn't just out of the blue its been on the cards for a while!

[Mad Ferret]

Sydney,

I like you fella, but I stopped reading when you claimed we’re on a par with Bolton and Wigan.

We’re more like Villa and Newcastle when they dropped down.

[Sydney_Iron]

FWIW, to get out of this mess we need to put together a run of results we haven't been capable of for a good few years so can see why so many are pessimistic.

Personally if we go down its very different this time, long gone are the days of West Ham having the reputation of playing attractive attacking football and rival fans always looked forward to playing us and even though we didn't win many trophies and got relegated every so often, we were well respected and UP was a favourite for away fans even with that intimidating atmosphere they faced, these days that reputation is well and truly history and its maybe only older fans who remember it.

We are now on par with clubs like Wigan or Bolton when they "graced" the PL  and who had a few years in the top flight courtesy of some mercenaries, older plyers in their twilight, managers who played shit football but could grind out a result and a huge slice of luck, that's the current state of our club, we even came up with one of their ex managers, hoof ball, parking the bus and respecting the point.

These days when meeting people from the UK or into football i usually don't volunteer im a West Ham fan unless pushed because you just know they will start going on about fucking Moyes and "bet you regret letting him go" and no way will they believe you wouldn't have him back and how shit the football was, yes we had that Cup win but let's be honest, not winning it would have been inexcusable given the quality of team we faced for the most part.

That cup win though felt like a new dawn (another one!) but our owners completing missed the opportunity and have now royally fucked it up which makes this current situation feel even more miserable and from seeing others comment im not the only one who just doesn't give a shit now, then we had Lady Brady on TS earlier this season when we were obviously bang in trouble but she made big thing about how happy shareholders are, FFS, never mind the fans, those comments alone sums up the management of the club.

I hope we somehow get out of this mess but gone are the days of sweating about it, checking other results, looking at upcoming fixtures, crossing fingers etc. West Ham is a name only really, long gone is that club so respected for its football even from our fiercest rivels, we reside in a rented athletics stadium ranked 20 in the PL, are run to try and finish 17th or better, have no real ambition and play frustrating shit football so no surprise many older fans feel so apathetic about the club these days, our owners deserve relegation.

And NO, i have zero anxiety about going down, if anything i can watch PL football without that cloud over my head thinking how some games will it affect our survival chances.

 

[Mex Martillo]

Green, I do not think it needs a miracle. There is a lot of football to be played still. Forest have Arsenal next week and we have a dodgy Spurs. I will not give up on us until it's mathematically impossible that we stay up.

[GreenStreetPlayer]

Relegation acceptance, but still hoping for a miracle, and it will be a miracle.

[Manuel]

Well that's a worry.

Let's just have a bit of pride, Mex. Trust me, going down into that league would be a disaster for many reasons, particularly in that stadium. You will scratching around for shit streams too when we go to Lincoln and Hull City

Every game in the Championship is on Sky mate.

Maybe so, but Mex is an expat. Always easier getting PL games in terms of quality overseas (if you pay a bit). 

[Mad Ferret]

Well that's a worry.

Let's just have a bit of pride, Mex. Trust me, going down into that league would be a disaster for many reasons, particularly in that stadium. You will scratching around for shit streams too when we go to Lincoln and Hull City

Every game in the Championship is on Sky mate.

[Manuel]

Well that's a worry.

Let's just have a bit of pride, Mex. Trust me, going down into that league would be a disaster for many reasons, particularly in that stadium. You will scratching around for shit streams too when we go to Lincoln and Hull City

[Sydney_Iron]

I’m not sure there is anything to look forward to if we go down, yes I enjoy championship football but that doesn’t mean I will be pleased about it if we are in it

im more apathetic and resigned to the fact it looks like happening, just pissed off at the owners and board who I think shoulder the brunt of it, not watching games anymore as it’s just so frustrating, even highlights I skip, not looked at the table for months now, keep abreast of things but a lot of the passion has gone, in bad times in the past you hang on every result, but these days I just don’t give the same kind of fuck!

Will probably perk up if we do well, avoid the drop or bounce straight back up if we do go down, maybe just a symptom of how fickle the game is these days, or maybe always has been??

 

[Mex Martillo]

Well that's a worry.

[Manuel]

 I certainly am not bothered if we go down. I think the championship could be entertaining.

 

So you don't have any pride?? That is the same as saying you don't care if we win or not, as it goes hand in hand. Going down is fucking embarrassing for us as a club and a fanbase, but since you live in the arse end of nowhere in Spain somewhere assume you won't be coming into contact with many Spuds, Chels scum, Gooners etc taking the piss. 

The Championship isn't 'entertaining', it's fucking shit. What is wrong with you.

[Mex Martillo]

I think most of us old cunts on here are not going to get anxious about West Ham results and relegation. I cannot wait for the games and always want us to win, but really am not too bothered if we don't. I certainly am not bothered if we go down. I think the championship could be entertaining.
What is it with anxiety? Seems like the new disease that all the young people have.

[Manuel]

The Yankification of it all has also played a big part in pushing me away from the game. From Touchdown Refs now being micc'd up to tell everyone who's losing the will to live for the umpteenth break in play to announce a shit VAR decision that no one can agree with, to KO times being royally cunted up at the last minute, Wembley used in Sem-I Finals or fucking off Replays which were a staple of the British game. Just sick of the constant shit changes for the worse and the enjoyment of it all has evaporated. Chuck in the shambolic way we are managed as a Club just gives you even more reason to long it off.

What a load of old twaddle that is. Why not just admit you don't want to go anymore instead of coming out with a load of daft, lame excuses? Football has always been about the day out, maybe you don't have any mates?

[Massive Attack]

The Yankification of it all has also played a big part in pushing me away from the game. From Touchdown Refs now being micc'd up to tell everyone who's losing the will to live for the umpteenth break in play to announce a shit VAR decision that no one can agree with, to KO times being royally cunted up at the last minute, Wembley used in Sem-I Finals or fucking off Replays which were a staple of the British game. Just sick of the constant shit changes for the worse and the enjoyment of it all has evaporated. Chuck in the shambolic way we are managed as a Club just gives you even more reason to long it off.

[honky cat]

I haven't enjoyed the premier league for years. The recent good times have all been in Europe. Aside from being pretty dire ourselves, the spark's gone from the premier league. I often used to put a game on that wasn't west ham, now I'm more inclined to stick a film or some music on if I'm bored. So yes we've got our problems with atmosphere etc but it doesn't seem like a barrel of fun elsewhere. 

[stubbo-admin]

It feels a bit like this David Sullivan thing has been a bit of a cycle since they took over....and maybe relegation will bring us closer to the end of that and whatever the next West Ham cycle is.

We only have to remember that teams like Man City have been two divisions down. That Birmingham and their new stadium design are on their uppers, and Sunderland too have been down a couple and come back....it happens, and will no doubt feel pretty rubbish, but even a double relegation isn't death of everything. 

We have a fantastic academy producing a great crop of talented kids. Those kids are ready en masse to step in at Championship level....they've played together a long time, and it might take a couple of seasons and the odd senior pro alongside, but it will be great to follow a team with a real home grown contingent and less 'passing through mercenaries'...because let's face it, it you're not at the top table, you feeding on foreign scraps or players that are just en route to where they want to be.

We could do with a young, vibrant side that gives a fuck, whose career is on and upward trajectory, and to give them a collective platform tomgo.ahow what they can do.

The worst thing about going down is the risk and the potential for Sullivan to have done such a bad job that we end up in real financial shit. But we've got some good saleable assets, and are underpinned by the your talent, so it might be a slog but I reckon we'll be fine long term (and maybe better off).

 

[Massive Attack]

Doubt he’d take a Championship valuation.

He won't have much of a choice once the true stark reality sets in.

[southbankbornnbred]

Genuinely, I don’t think Sullivan and Brady have a “plan” as such. They’ve been winging everything since the day they realised there was no big queue of buyers lining up bids once they could sell the club without incurring government penalties. Gold was part of that, too.

I think Sullivan would take an offer that’s anywhere near his valuation - which is preposterously high for a club that doesn’t own a ground.

They have no idea of whether somebody/a consortium will now come in and try to buy the club. But that looks unlikely if we drop out of the Premier League - because Sullivan (and the rest of the board) will preferably want to sell for more “when” we get back into the PL. Doubt he’d take a Championship valuation.

[smartypants]

I remember being at brum away when we got relegated, it was a brilliant day out and I was looking forward to following west ham in the championship, so not in the slightest bit sad. Very different feeling now though, just a disconnect from it all and have no real desire to revist the likes of Rotherham and Bolton. The sole positive in this sorry mess is the embarrassment and financial loss to the egomaniacs in charge, they’ll be fucking hating this, although I suspect they won’t have any intention of selling for a few more years.

[Massive Attack]

The one potential huge positive (I hope!) this time from relegation is the end of the BS reign of terror once and for all. I see that pox of a Stadium being desolate for the most part and so it fucking should be. Reap what they sow and suffer the inevitable low attendances and permanent embarrassment of plonking it in the 2nd Division hosting the likes of Lincoln City and Stevenage. World Class Team in a World Class Stadium remember...Utter thick as fuck cunts.

 

They will reap everything they deserve. They will be all but wiped out, and they may even be forced to put their own money into the club. But they will not be gone, good luck with that happening. They will hang on and try to 'fix' the problem they created, probably just making it worse. 

Then good luck BS filling the cunthole out. Not a fucking chance do fans come running back in to that disaster zone. They are seriously fucked if we do go down. Very bittersweet feeling if it did happen but I'll cling to the satisfaction of seeing their world crumble inside it. Fans will not want to go there after this.

[nychammer]

The one potential huge positive (I hope!) this time from relegation is the end of the BS reign of terror once and for all. I see that pox of a Stadium being desolate for the most part and so it fucking should be. Reap what they sow and suffer the inevitable low attendances and permanent embarrassment of plonking it in the 2nd Division hosting the likes of Lincoln City and Stevenage. World Class Team in a World Class Stadium remember...Utter thick as fuck cunts.

 

They will reap everything they deserve. They will be all but wiped out, and they may even be forced to put their own money into the club. But they will not be gone, good luck with that happening. They will hang on and try to 'fix' the problem they created, probably just making it worse.