All posts tagged West Ham

Eight Out of Work Managers Revisited

By on December 17, 2012 in the Category Uncategorized with 1 Comment
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The serious lack of imagination shown by Football League chairmen continues to fuel the managerial carousel. Almost three years ago, we were bemused by Paul Hart’s arrival at Crystal Palace while the likes of Alan Irvine, Brian Laws and Darren Ferguson played musical chairs. Two and a half years on and it’s Dougie Freedman, Mick McCarthy and Dave Jones making sideways moves, as well as Laws again. The message is – don’t be out of a job for too long or you’ll be viewed as yesterday’s man. No matter how disappointing one’s spell at the helm of a football team,…

Ups and downs

By on October 2, 2012 in the Category Uncategorized with 2 Comments
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Two months into the new campaign, and we’re in a position to assess how things are starting to shape up for the six teams either promoted from or relegated to the Championship. Let’s begin with last season’s champions Reading. Lanterne Rouge’s side have recently been the primary subject of an excellent discussion post examining Premier League survival prospects on this very site. For that reason, I’ll focus my attention on specific observations in the light of having seen them in the flesh at the Madejski on Saturday, when they were unfortunate not to claim all three points from the encounter…

The Ethics of Soccer Sponsorship

By on September 27, 2012 in the Category Uncategorized with 12 Comments
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Feeling queasy at the increased commercialisation of football is an experience common to us all, but a definite ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ mood has prevailed in recent years. Indeed, sponsorship has become yet another facet of the game to get nostalgic about – a marvellous post at the Football Attic recently confirmed the fact that certain advertisers seem to ‘suit’ certain clubs. Hence, JVC will always be associated with Arsenal and a Liverpool shirt minus the legend ‘Crown Paints’ simply isn’t kosher. So we’re comfortable with an arrangement that started when Derek Dougan emblazoned Kettering Town’s shirts…

TTU Awards 2011-12: Player of the Season

By on June 7, 2012 in the Category TTU Awards with 3 Comments
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Of all the categories in this year’s awards, the most clear cut winner was Rickie Lambert. The barrel chested scouser swept all before him in 2011-12 and how heartening it was to see this 30 year old veteran of Edgeley Park and Spotland so dominate the division. The parallels with Grant Holt have oft been drawn and no wonder – Lambert has every chance of matching the Norwich man’s achievements. 31 goals and four hat tricks have underlined his abilities and he has the knack of rousing the most disillusioned fans from their torpor – Lambert is not so much…

TTU Awards 2011-12: Best Away Trip

By on June 5, 2012 in the Category TTU Awards with 1 Comment
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There are compensations that come with a tumble down the divisions. While Championship fans must largely contend with a sequence of out of town meccano sheds, visits to Frankie and Benny’s and repeated attempts to negotiate those ubiquitous metal railings that align our national dual carriageways, League 2 in particular can throw up some pleasingly traditional sensations. It’s sad then to recount that Football League fans will be deprived of the chance to re-enact our 2011-12 Best Away Trip next season for a TTU jaunt to Hereford United wins the accolade. Edgar Street is marvellously quirky and old-fashioned of course but its…

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