West Ham 2016/17

[trotsky]

They're hideously short at the back but continue to spend big bucks on forward players.

Hope it doesn't come back to bite them. Like it might us.

Edited for perspective

 

[BlueHammer85]

They're hideously short at the back but continue to spend big bucks on forward players.

Hope it doesn't come back to bite them, I like the Hammers.

Are we ?

LB - Cresswell / Masuaku

CB - Winston Reid / Ogbonna / Collins / Reece Oxford

RB - Sam Byram / Antonio

 

[Viridian]

Are we ?

LB - Cresswell / Masuaku

CB - Winston Reid / Ogbonna / Collins / Reece Oxford

RB - Sam Byram / Antonio

Creswell well out until November, Antonio's not a RB, Masuaku is cup tied in the Europa League.

You're alright at CB, though.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Creswell well out until November, Antonio's not a RB, Masuaku is cup tied in the Europa League.

You're alright at CB, though.

Fair points. Although he will make the odd mistake, Antonio is still a beast at right back and means we can fit more players in behind the striker.

 

[FanchesterCity]

They looked a good side last season and Bilic seems to have them full of confidence. There's a lot of competition in the PL these days, so it will be hard for them to make the top 6, but I think if they can establish themselves as top 10 for a couple of seasons, then they can step up another gear with increased revenues and better players.
The key for them is to make sure they remain a top 10 club who look 'on the up' - they'll attract better players.

It's a bit hard to judge Bilic after just one season. We saw what happened to Mourinho the second time around, and Rodgers plummeted after that 'almost' season. We'll get a better impression if he can keep the consistency going, but I think they'll be buoyed by the new stadium.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

They need some time to get the stadium in shape, and let's not forget, this isn't a 2 or 3 year thing, it'll be their home for decades, and who knows how long the running track will remain?

If I recall correctly, we dug deeper into the ground to add more seats after the Commonwealth Games, and perhaps West Ham might be able to do something similar.
They new the stadium wasn't perfect when they took it over, but neither was the Boleyn Ground. They'll manage to make it their home in time, like we have with our stadium.

Of course we can have a bit of a laugh and joke about the shallow slope of the lower seating and the distance from the pitch, but still, they're getting a hell of a bargain. Overall I think it moves West Ham forward.

They're renting the stadium so there's a limited amount they can do to change it and it certainly wouldn't include removing the track.

They wouldn't be allowed to excavate down to add more seats and they wouldn't need to either. The stadium already has 67,000 seats and there's plenty of room to add more.

I'm not sure why you think the lower tier is 'shallow' in football mode, it's actually a lot steeper than it is in athletics mode and that wasn't particularly shallow either.

 

[FanchesterCity]

They're renting the stadium so there's a limited amount they can do to change it and it certainly wouldn't include removing the track.

They wouldn't be allowed to excavate down to add more seats and they wouldn't need to either. The stadium already has 67,000 seats and there's plenty of room to add more.

I'm not sure why you think the lower tier is 'shallow' in football mode, it's actually a lot steeper than it is in athletics mode and that wasn't particularly shallow either.

We were renting our stadium too, but we've made modifications. There's no telling what might be possible in years to come. In the next few years, there's an obligation to keep the track, but in 10 years time that could change, especially if the stadium operators believe it's in their interests (usually financial), and if it becomes a clear white elephant for athletics events.

Digging down would necessarily be to increase capacity, but to steepen the viewing angle of the lower tier. Again, not saying it will happen, but the point is that the restrictions that apply today may not apply in 10 years time. I think they've made the right move, just like we made the right move. The only difference is that the stadium's not owned by Newham council so West Ham might have more difficult landlords than we do.

 

[yeah whatever !!]

Council houses are taking over the Prem it seems ;)

 

[aguero93:20]

Going down, going down, going down...

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

We were renting our stadium too, but we've made modifications. There's no telling what might be possible in years to come. In the next few years, there's an obligation to keep the track, but in 10 years time that could change, especially if the stadium operators believe it's in their interests (usually financial), and if it becomes a clear white elephant for athletics events.

Digging down would necessarily be to increase capacity, but to steepen the viewing angle of the lower tier. Again, not saying it will happen, but the point is that the restrictions that apply today may not apply in 10 years time. I think they've made the right move, just like we made the right move. The only difference is that the stadium's not owned by Newham council so West Ham might have more difficult landlords than we do.

The GLA own it, Newham Council are just partners with West Ham who have a 99 year lease with very favourable terms. It's not being renegotiated anytime soon and certainly not by them. Any structural changes to the stadium would have to be funded by the taxpayer and that's never going to happen either.