the board that is. i know there is a lot of respect for the owners etc and I'm not trying to be disrespectful but i look at us as a prem league club and every time the transfer window opens we act like a bunch of amateurs. I'm not just moaning about the lack of good signings, I'm talking about the manner in which we do business. why is it this way with us? everton get linked with a young 19 yo striker, Lookman. next thing you hear is they have signed him for 10 mill. no fuss, no nonsense, deal done. we on the other hand issue a paltry 5 mill for defoe, it hits the news and it of course gets dismissed. there is talk of another bid, 12 mill or something but actually this apparently was more like 7 mill. it gets dismissed and sunderland say he's not for sale, go away. we go to hull and offer a ridiculous 3 mill for snodgrass. it hits the breaking news….it of course gets dismissed. then we're linked with hogan, and we duly put in a 10 mill bid. did we ask brentford how much they valued him? they then say he's valued at 15 mill, so we of course go and bid 12 mill. I'm sorry but its just laughable. who exactly is running the clubs transfers? did they sit down with Bilic a few weeks ago and identify exactly who he wants and needs? did they then go and 'sound out' these players? this is what other clubs do. we look like we had a quick chat with Bilic down the pub the day before the window opened, he says he needs a striker so we phone up sunderland and say 5 mill for defoe, then 3 mill for snodgrass at hull as Bilic didnt ask for him but we saw him score a great free kick the other day….i mean come on.

Who do you think will be the first to demand a transfer. Looking at our players I think we might have a battle to keep a few if not this transfer market but in the summer.The big mouth board said we where going for big names last summer and we end up with shit so if I was a player I would be worried about the true ambitions of G and S. We have already seen the vultures from the media saying that Antonio is wanted by Chelsea, Payet wanted by everyone, Cresswell wanted by Pool and I can see Reid, Kayoute and Obiang on a few radars after their performances this season.

Does anyone know of any good traditional style pubs that do good ales and a bit of good grub? Ive yet to journey out to find anywhere near the OS to visit before a match thats not got that chain/westfield vibe

i posted about spending on quality before. i wasn't implying we necessarily had to spend huge amounts although i do think its time we started to do so if required with the guaranteed new income of the new stadium etc. however defoe and johnson are being mentioned. to me, these two would be good signings. both are proven premier league players, both will not need anytime to settle either into the football or the country. defoe will slot in upfront and would be great to see feeding off the service from payet and lanzini. johnson is a no brainer, no nonsense solid right back who provides good attacking service too. we also linked with hogan. tbh i personally know nothing about him or how brentford are playing. however i do like the sound of a lower league english striker as opposed to someone from overseas. i think dembele is a non starter. if I'm not mistaken he's only recently signed at celtic and is in their first team? i simply don't think the owners would offer nearly enough. so in my view if you tell me that we will sign three players: defoe, johnson and hogan id be well pleased with those who i think would add to the first team and hogan being the wild card.

so we all were told to get down on our knees and welcome the messiah of footballing management Mr Pep Gourdiola. the question I'm asking now is is he really what he's been billed up to be? granted he's good but i do feel he's been vastly overrated and its gone to his head. lets look at his c.v. he's won buckets of stuff…but at two clubs that allardyce would win buckets with. yes barcelona played such wonderful tippy tappy stuff…but is that it? is pep a man who could take over at hull city and get them playing and winning? for me the jury is now out on him. he came with a big reputation and no doubt earns multi millions a day. but man city on the field look no better than under the rubbish and weak pelligrini. he tries his 'system' of passing it around from the goalkeeper, the defence etc but this causes him more problems than it solves. he sacks hart and brings in a 'footballing goalkeeper'…in all seriousness who needs a footballing goalkeeper? for me its all gimmicks and silly tricks…a lot of hot air and needless fluff when in fact he is overlooking the basics of motivating the players, tightening the team defensively and using the 'better' players to outplay the opposition. his press conferences are bordering on disgraceful. are they supposed to be a joke? if Bilic came out and started the petulant little girl talk id be embarrassed that this was the face of our club. whats this all about? he's a grown man, highly paid pro is what we were told…yet his cry baby antics with the press is disgraceful imo. the man was asking him direct footballing questions and pep went completely defensive like how dare he be asked questions about his genius…well i had a lot of time for him before he arrived but not anymore…i hope he fails. he can take his 'we won't tackle' to wenger and the two of them can have a love fest of failure.

Just got up to watch the game and what a start for the Hammers, Carroll and Noble on the bench. West Hams team is Randolph, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Nordvielt, Obiang, Kouyate, Lanzini, Payet, Feghouli and Antonio. The team look lively at the start but the ref Mike Dean has made a very controversial decision against Feghouli's tackle on Jones and given a straight red.
By the way Manchester United team is who cares.

Will we be mentioned with 20 or more players this window, it seems like we want two sets of players with the amount we get linked with but I would settle for a decent striker, a decent right back and a good midfielder. Feel free to put any players we get mentioned with on here and we will see how we go starting from today.

ok we are in the bottom 3 for now but who cares we have been there before its nothing new so to lighten the air of despondency lets have some fun.....so I have been thinking apart from bubbles what else could our team run out to? I have an idea and I think the opening verse says it all lol enjoy and contribute your own idea:-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFgayzZ5KTM

https://www.channel4.com/news/home-under-the-hammers-whats-changed
Dont know if this will work or not ,if not easily found on channel 4 news podcast .
Very good bit on ch 4 about our beloved Boyeln ground ,looks like there could be a stand?off over the statue

Not sure if anyone has been following the threads on KUMB and WHO? I've been working hard on the idea of a massive east stand flag (Gonzo mentioned it in this weeks Cup of tea video), and been getting the designs finalised. I have put together a selection of the best 5 that have taken into consideration all of the suggestions put forward.

Unfortunately the stadium operators, because of connotations with the standing issue rejected my favourite ‘United We Stand’. The club however backed it and tried to help push it through, to no avail – but that’s what you get when your Landlord is a div and you don't own your own home.

Each design uses the original font that was used on the club badge (before it was changed) to retain the heritage, and logo wise I have stuck to the distinctive crossed hammers. They are all pretty clean and simple – claret and blue with a white logo and each flag in its own way draws on the history and culture of West Ham as we know it, and that none of us want to lose or see disappear.

The dimensions are yet to be confirmed but the plans are for this to be an absolute monster, rolling down from the back of the stand, and being carried towards pitch side at the bottom. Ideally we want it to cover the length of the stand and this will ensure that the flag makes a massive impact.

So, the online poll I have set up can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7JN5PCF

The poll is being hosted by all of the major independent West Ham sites, vlogs etc so everyone will get a chance to vote. Since my last post a senior member at the club has contacted me and they will be hosting a poll directly on the official club site in conjunction with the independent one, which will allow other fans that don't necessarily use the independent sites to vote as well.

The results in the New Year will then be added up and the design with the most votes will be added to a crowdfunding site where fans can chip in and make donations to get it made. Flags of this size can be extremely expensive but if everyone chips in a couple of quid then it’s job done. A link to the crowd funding site will be posted in due course.

Incidentally, when the club approached me they also offered to pay for the flag in full as well as a smaller one for the Bobby Moore lower. To be fair to them, they made it clear that they didn’t wanna get involved in the design or retract from it being a fan led thing, they just thought it was a good idea and wanted to support it.

The way I have played it with them is that we should try and fund it ourselves and if we fall short at all they can make up the rest, which I think they are happy to do.

So yeah, here is the link again, go and vote for the one you like the best. IRONS

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7JN5PCF