Generally the fact that a number of West Ham fan groups have got together as the Real West Ham Fans Action Group to organise a demonstration against the board on March 10 has been a good thing. It's prodded the board into meeting fans' representatives and Karren Brady has had to send a 5000 word letter to supporters addressing some of the issues (not all of them satisfactorily). While David Sullivan is claiming to be reorganising the transfer system, which is some progress.
However, there's also been some people who have gone over the top, and like a lot of fans I couldn't agree with the banner at Liverpool claiming that, Brady, Sullivan and Gold had "done more damage to the East End than Hitler." Never mind the fact that David Gold is Jewish, comparing a mismanaged football club that missed out on a deadline day signing to bombs destroying actual houses and people isn't really showing a great amount of perspective. Similarly there's been a few Herberts on some sites wishing people dead or attacking Karren Brady because she's a woman rather than for club policy, which is never justified. Plus a lot of sensible grievances too, of course.
IF THE FANS ARE UNITED
The key thing to remember is that we're all West Ham fans. It's a little counterproductive to name any group "Real West Ham Fans", as that implies some are not real fans. The fans at away games are those with 21-plus priority points, and they might have different views to the 22,000 extra fans at the London Stadium. Not getting to every game doesn't make you a plastic fan.
There are many different people with many different issues. I'm not that agitated by popcorn or having the word 'London' on the badge, whereas the arguments about improving the stadium and fans feeling let down by the retractable seating are much more important. Many fans will never accept leaving Upton Park, but there are also some fans who like the new stadium.
Many supporters just want Sullivan and Gold out, but we must also remember that any new owner might not be better (unless the club plummets down the league and it ends up getting saved by a Supporters Trust in the style of Portsmouth or Wimbledon). New investors might be from, say, the United States (Man United and Liverpool), Russia (Chelsea), Thailand (Leicester), China (West Brom), Abu Dhabi (Man City) or England (Mike Ashley at Newcastle). Some foreign investors might get West Ham, but most will see it as a business, and there's no guarantee fans will be listened to or legacy appreciated. Though if they throw more money at the team than the current board it might be fun.
The board should have had a fans' vote on the move to the London Stadium and the retractable seating promises lead fans to believe they would be closer to the pitch than at present. Though Stratford makes some sense as a home when most fans now live in Essex. New owners would certainly benefit from not having been involved in the move. But it's also possible that the stadium will work within the next ten years (as it has done in some games like Leicester and Chelsea this season) and we do now have 22,000 extra fans at home games.
Whatever happens, West Ham are not unique, being part of a group of teams in the mini-league below the current top six. There are a lot of other underachieving clubs too. We'll probably always be a bit crap at times and occasionally achieve stunning victories. The club should have won more trophies than it has. We all want to reach 'the next level' and we all want the board to respect us as consumers and listen to us. Let's hope the march has a positive result. But let's also respect each other's views and remember we're not in League One either and things could be worse. And we are all united by a love of claret and blue.
3 comments:
Good article Pete. The Board have made the Burnley game a celebration of Bobby Moore, with members of his family present, and also the 64 and 65 cup winning teams. Not sure when those decisions were made - is it an attempt to defuse the protests? You say we're in a mini league below the top 6, but we're not, we're in a proper relegation battle. And if we lose to Swansea, who have won their last 6 at home, we'll be truly in the mire. And if Ayew scores the winner for them, after being flogged in the Board's fire sale, those who celebrated getting a fee for him that wasn't re-invested may have to rethink. I believe the Board put all their efforts and vision into leaving the Boleyn, and don't have what it takes to move us to the next level as they promised. Questions about potential new owners are valid but as John Lydon once said, ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
Could well be an attempt to diffuse the protests. We're in a situation where we could either get sucked into the bottom three again or win a couple and get into the top ten - like a lot of clubs is my point really. I'd agree the board seemed to put so much into the move they have no vision now - if we could get enlightened new owners who would run it professionally then all well and good but also a lot of shady characters out there too. I'd assume Moyes was happy to let Ayew go as he didn't put his foot down about him leaving. Andre might come back to haunt us, but will he keep Swansea up? His brother looks more effective at the moment. Imagine John Lydon is quite pissed off after crisis club Arsenal lost again tonight...
The march has now been postponed - resulting in a lot of very angry people on Facebook!
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