Football season 2015/16

Kevin-W posted:

What a deflating day yesterday was. The Boleyn (pub) was rammed when we got there at 11.30, there was a big impromptu party in the sunshine by the Bobby Moore et al statue on the Barking Road. The atmosphere inside the Boleyn (ground) was electric, especially at half time.

Visits to the West Ham Social Club, the Black Lion and the Victoria after the game were similarly electric. I have a very sore head today.

Yet inbetween all this was the poorest performance we've put in at home all season. So West Ham. Fade and die and all that...

Wouldn't have expected the Swans to spoil the party, given the form they've been in. But, Kevin, the Hammers have still got the opportunity to say farewell to Upton Park in style against Man U on Tuesday evening.  

......but hopefully not 

Not wishing to take anything away from Leicester's fabulous success but let's not forgot what some other Premier League teams have achieved.

To quote the BBC website:

"Southampton, however, have every right to be considered one of the season's big success stories. Their 36 points in 2016 is only bettered by the tally of 41 from Claudio Ranieri's side, while they have already equalled their best ever Premier League total of 60, achieved under boss Ronald Koeman last term".

A club that was being written off, by many media commentators, two seasons ago!

Come On You Saints.

Dave

I agree Southampton have done well. They have looked a very strong side since the turn of the year. The achievements of Watford and tiny Bournemouth are especially notable, the bookies expecting both to go straight back down. I'm particularly pleased for Eddie Howe and his team who secured survival fairly comfortably and did so despite some of their big signings suffering long injuries: well done you Cherries!

Sunny Saints resilient yesterday at the Lane.

It's going to be interesting to see how it all finishes at the top, given the Mancs rivalry and Arse-Spuds rivalry (um, hatred). Plus West Ham. Plus Liverpool.

Chris

Sigh

What posesses these morons?

This doesn't happen with Rugby supporters. Or cricket. Athletics? Nah. Watersports? Nope. But for some reason these West Ham football 'supporters' think this is OK. Clearly the LCDs of the world still feel they have a place and a right to be complete W*nkers.

I agree, Jamie. The Hammers' big night, too.  Why spoil it?

As to the game, I enjoyed watching it on TV. Man played their part and looked to be nicking the points but credit Bilic's team, they showed guts and talent to come back and win it.  I'm sure KevinW will have enjoyed himself, and maybe shed a tear or two as well. 

JamieWednesday posted:

Sigh

 

What posesses these morons?

This doesn't happen with Rugby supporters. Or cricket. Athletics? Nah. Watersports? Nope. But for some reason these West Ham football 'supporters' think this is OK. Clearly the LCDs of the world still feel they have a place and a right to be complete W*nkers.

Agreed, disgusting and unnecessary 

It was a celebration of West Ham United through the years.

As for Manchester United, too many gutless players.

Cheers,

OW

The Black Cats comfortably deserved their victory this evening against an insipid looking Everton, thus ensuring their safety.  Given this now means that Newcastle take the drop, I bet there will be a fair bit of banter in lots of offices and other workplaces in the North East during tomorrow.  

Oh yes

It had already started after the first goal went in.  Keeping a low profile.

MDS posted:

The Black Cats comfortably deserved their victory this evening against an insipid looking Everton, thus ensuring their safety.  Given this now means that Newcastle take the drop, I bet there will be a fair bit of banter in lots of offices and other workplaces in the North East during tomorrow.  

I was never a fan of BFS/Big Sam/Hippo Head when he was at our club, but I have to tak,e my hat off to him, he has pulled off a remarkable feat - achieving another season of PL football AND relegating the Black Cats' deadly rivals.

Talking of the insipid Toffees, I see that Martinez was sacked earlier.

JamieWednesday posted:

This doesn't happen with Rugby supporters. Or cricket. Athletics? Nah. Watersports? Nope.

It does not happen because the sports you mention are not tribal. Football is. It's as simple as that - just go to a game in places like Poland, Romania or Argentina to see the tribal game in the raw.

Add in the drinking culture that has long been part of UK football culture for at least a century, and you have a recipe for all kinds of trouble.

So Spurs blew it at the end. Best chance in many years of finishing ahead of the Gunners and they collapse at the hapless Magpies, who were also down to 10 men.  A familiar feeling for Spurs fans I guess: the team promising much but ultimately failing to deliver the killer punch. Finishing in the Champions League positions should be regarded as a successful season of course but I suspect many fans will remember the weakness shown in the last few games and feel a bit deflated.

As someone said on the forum earlier in the year, 'Spurs will be Spursy'.

Gutted for you about events in the West Country, Mike. Quite a few voices on Solent just now saying Cook must go considering the budget he's had and how the performances haven't reflected that. But a fifth manager in less than three years? Surely not.

C.

Mmm, another year in League 2 for poor old Pompey. They fell foul (again) of a last minute goal which seems to have been such a feature of this season, along with a generally inconsistent performance. Still, they are still here and are debt free, and are still at Fratton Park, when it could so easily have been Westleigh Park. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Mmm, another year in League 2 for poor old Pompey. They fell foul (again) of a last minute goal which seems to have been such a feature of this season, along with a generally inconsistent performance. Still, they are still here and are debt free, and are still at Fratton Park, when it could so easily have been Westleigh Park. 

All so depressingly predictable.

Christopher_M posted:

As someone said on the forum earlier in the year, 'Spurs will be Spursy'.

Gutted for you about events in the West Country, Mike. Quite a few voices on Solent just now saying Cook must go considering the budget he's had and how the performances haven't reflected that. But a fifth manager in less than three years? Surely not.

C.

Well, Chris, I'm tempted to use the footie term of 'gutted' to describe feelings but in truth in the last third of the season our inconsistency persuaded me we weren't going to make it this season, and although we dominated the first hour of tonight's second leg, Plymouth looked stronger and were creating the better chances so deserved to win. I share some frustration about Cook but, disappointing though the end has been, this has been our most successful season for quite a few years.  I'd stick with Cook and push for automatic promotion next season. We've got quite a few promising youngsters coming through like Chaplin, and I'd like to see more of them forming a core of out first team during 16/17.

Mike    

Christopher_M posted:

As someone said on the forum earlier in the year, 'Spurs will be Spursy'.

That was me I think. Spurs were about as Spursy as it is possible to be, coming third in a two-horse race (not to mention losing 5 - 1 to a 10-man side that had already been relegated). 

As a Hammer, I couldn't be more amused...

Kevin-W posted:

Christopher_M posted:

As someone said on the forum earlier in the year, 'Spurs will be Spursy'.

That was me I think. 

I know that I said it - so perhaps we both did  I also said that the Foxes would implode though - in a rare moment of error 

MDS posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Mmm, another year in League 2 for poor old Pompey. They fell foul (again) of a last minute goal which seems to have been such a feature of this season, along with a generally inconsistent performance. Still, they are still here and are debt free, and are still at Fratton Park, when it could so easily have been Westleigh Park. 

All so depressingly predictable.

And so it was, a fellow Pompey sufferer text at half time to me,' last gasp goal at 92mins', and guess what. Damn. 

If the Spurs players had any self respect they would be donating their match fees to a worthy cause.  What a shambolic end to the season.

Kevin-W posted:

Chris, I would like to thank your team for choking again and gifting us fifth place.

Just noticed this

As a West Ham fan you would think he'd know better⚒��