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West Ham is playing above anyone's reasonable expectations. They are in 8th place in the Premier. However, the results have been inconsistant. There were blow-out losses to Everton and Southhampton. There have also been epectacular victories against Manchester United and Arsenal (a wild 4-3 win at Highbury). The team is slowing gelling and could become very competitive in the middle and late stages of the season. So far, in other competions, West Ham easily beat Torquay on the road to advance to the third round of the League Cup. They will face Kidderminster on the road. The League Cup and the FA Cup should provide ample oppertunities for the backup first-team players to get playing time. This will be vital late in the season when fixtures start to mount.
West Ham has been sparked by the acquistion of young Hearts defender Andy Webster. Webster, a 22 year old who has been capped for Scotland's B Team, has stabilized the defense since his arrival, averaging five tackles a game. We are also in talks with Hibs to land 19 yr old forward Gary O'Conner. The latest offer is 10 million pounds to be paid out over 6 months. O'Conner is a talented forward who willl have an immediate impact for us, if we can accquire him.
"Very well. I discovered the door was unlocked at about 10 am."
"Ah so about a couple of hours after I had unlocked it. I see you're doing well."
"Yes, I'm slowly rebuilding my bussinesses."
"Plus, you still have your stock that the Alliance didn't buy up."
"Yes, and I must say that investment is doing poorly."
"Well, we are spending a bit of momey on players. We just acquired Jamie Smith from Celtic for 3.2M pounds."
"And why him? It's rumored that he has "personal problems." Seems a bit of a risk."
"Well, he's young and motivated. Besides, forwards tend to be overvalued. It's impossible to find good forwars for cheap."
"True, I must also ask how the team is doing in the Premier?"
"We've slipped a bit. West Ham is sitting in 10th place and we've lost a couple in a row."
"Why?"
"Well sir, the roster is not particularly good. It's mostly fat old duffers earning a paycheck. We have virtually no offense, which is why we're trying to purchuse forwards."
"I see, so West Ham may be relegated, I'll keep hoping that you and your Alliance pals will be sacked."
"Well, sir, you're entitled to your opinion, but we're not in danager of that just yet."
"We shall see."
"Yes we will. I'll pay your tab and then see you next month."
"Well, 14th place and five points above relegation isn't too bad."
"Ha"
"We are taking prventative measures at the moment. We slashed the payroll from 16 million pounds to 10 million pounds in one month. We released all the duffers who were there for the fat paychecks. We called up a few players from the reserves who will get first team action threough the second half."
"Ah, and the state of the finances?"
"Not good, our Stalinist purge put us five million in the red."
"Heh, you couldn't run a meat pie stand."
"I deserve the insult Mr. Chairman, but I have my reasons for putting the club into debt."
"Such as?"
"For starters, once season ticket revenue and TV money arrive in the off-season, the finances will be in good shape. Secondly, this good young core will play together for a couple of seasons, meaning that West Ham will have an experienced team in two to three seasons that is ready to challeng the big five clubs. Thirdly, holding the line on slary adds to the bank balance and allows for flexibility when signing new pieces of the puzzle or resigning our own players."
"I see. But, the board is not happy you've put them in debt."
"No they aren't. However, they are willing to work with the debt load."
"I see. So this half-season report you're giving me is out of date?"
'Yes, it's accurate through the halfway mark of the year, but the housecleaning began shortly thereafter. It acually began with the sale of Dailly for 2.8 million and the signing of Scots wonderkind Jim Paterson for 7.2 million.
"That's alot of money to spend on one player."
"Yes sir, but it will be worth it."
"So you say. Well, we will see how February, March and April go won't we?"
"Well the good news is that we surivived the season. We finished in 14th place."
"And the bad news?"
"West Ham is in recievership. We are currently 21 million pounds in debt, not to mention the fact that the Safety Commision closed off a section of stands."
"HeHe, not doing so well are we?"
"Well sir, we surivived the year, which is all the Alliance really wanted. Furthermore, we have a good young core of players in place for coming seasons. And, if we're lucky, someone will bail us out of debt."
"Not bloody likely."
"Well, Mr. Chairman, you best hope that someone ddoes, or your shares will remain worthless."
"That's true. So what are your plans for the off-season?"
"We are going to try to add a few Frenchman with playing experience to the first team, which will add a bit of balance. We need anoother French defender, two midfielders and a forward in order to have the desired 50/50 mix."
"Sounds like a cocktail"
"In a way it is, but unfortunately, wine drinkers have prevailed in the dressing-room."
"Heh."
"I'm certainly glad I made the decison to release all the old farts at once. It put the club in debt, but the young players were able to win a few more ballgames than their elders."
"I see, so why not write up the tale for that FM Stories challenge?"
"Well sir, that challenge is out of date, and besides, no one would belive me..truth is stranger than fiction."
"Well sir, we finally go the receivers out the door."
"And how do that happen?"
"The TV money and season ticket sales rolled the debt back up to "only" 10 million pounds."
"That's still a heavy debt load. How do you propose to ease it in he 03/04 season?"
"Well Mr. Chairman, we hope to finish between 10-15 place in the Premier. That, combined with a couple of good Cup runs should help. We also cut payroll down to around 10 million pounds."
"I see, and did you have to gut the roster to achive this?"
"No sir, not really. We signed a few cheap vetereans who will see some playing time on the first team. Mostly, however, we're going to be relying on youth prospects. Generally speaking, we don't have a true superstar on the roster. Smith and Presley would be rocognizable to Scottish fans, but I doubt they're known in England. As for French players, I doubt most of them are known in France."
"Ah, the debt must make it difficult to buy impact players."
"It does, but the board has authorized 3/4 of a million for transers, so we can buy youth prospects. That's the key, buying 19 and 20 year old players who only need a season or two of time in the reserves before breaking into the first team."
"Hmm, I also noctice that you've overhauled the coaching staff."
"Yes sir, we have. I hired six new coaches, three French and three Scots to rejuvinate the team. All the coavhes are able to work well with youth. It should be a fun year. Hopeully, by 04/05 West Ham should be able to start spending money on impact players. Of course, we'll take all the Bosmans we can get as well. Here is a list of the players. If they have a squad number, that means thay are on the first team squad."
"I see"
"So, Mr. Chairman, I will see you in late September."
"mmm"
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * West Ham United - Saturday 16th August 2003********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== Squad============================================= ================================================== =No Name Position(s) Nat Born Age Caps Gls Wages Expires Value------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Allemany, Yohann SW/D C FRA 17.3.83 20 - - £40K 2.6.08 £600K - Bald, William GK SCO 22.8.83 19 - - £50K 24.6.08 £300K - Baldé, Boubacar S C FRA 11.2.86 17 - - £35K 28.6.06 £1M 19 Bannerman, Scott F LC SCO 21.3.79 24 - - £50K 3.6.08 £2.4M 3 Barré, Mickaël D LC FRA 31.8.74 28 - - £400K 7.6.06 £900K 1 Baxter, Lee GK SCO 17.6.76 27 - - £350K 17.6.06 £1.7M - Bono, Grégory D C FRA 19.3.81 22 - - £130K 17.6.07 £1.1M - Campbell, Gordon D/DM RC SCO 26.11.85 17 - - £40K 23.6.07 £575K - Carmignani, Simon D R FRA 27.1.82 21 - - £275K 28.6.06 £1.2M - Clarke, David DM LC SCO 22.6.83 20 - - £70K 27.6.08 £1.2M 22 Coridon, Charles-Edouard F RC FRA 9.4.73 30 - - £500K 1.6.06 £2.7M - Courts, Thomas D LC SCO 10.8.81 22 - - £65K 17.6.07 £1.1M - Creaney, Philip AM C SCO 12.2.83 20 - - £35K 13.6.05 £1M - Curren, Lee M C SCO 22.10.82 20 - - £55K 28.6.08 £1.2M 24 Devaux, Jean-Christophe SW/D C FRA 16.5.75 28 - - £400K 1.6.08 £1.3M - Dureuil, Rémy AM C FRA 16.5.81 22 - - £90K 28.6.06 £1.7M - Faubert, Julien D R FRA 1.8.83 20 - - £90K 21.6.05 £575K 17 Ferguson, Steven AM C SCO 18.5.77 26 - - £400K 28.6.06 £1.7M - Fisher, John D C SCO 19.1.84 19 - - £30K 28.6.05 £600K 12 Friio, David M C FRA 17.2.73 30 - - £500K 3.6.06 £1.1M - Grégori, Sébastien AM RC FRA 6.4.81 22 - - £160K 24.6.08 £1.4M - Howie, Willie AM C SCO 9.7.82 21 - - £40K 19.6.07 £1.8M 16 Keogh, Liam S C SCO 6.9.81 21 - - £500K 19.6.08 £1.5M - Le Bris, Ludovic S C FRA 21.11.84 18 - - £300K 5.6.07 £1.3M - MacDonald, Jordan D L SCO 7.9.82 20 - - £50K 19.6.08 £325K - McDermott, Alan D C IRL 22.1.82 21 - - £50K 9.6.07 £450K 20 Mémin, Frédéric AM LC FRA 13.12.79 23 - - £16K 3.6.05 £850K - Middleton, Gary F C SCO 1.10.82 20 - - £275K 25.6.05 £1.6M - Migliore, Stephen M C FRA 26.8.83 19 - - £130K 28.6.06 £1M 25 Mondafu, Gabriel S C FRA 18.5.77 26 - - £375K 26.6.07 £3.2M - Monin, Sammy GK FRA 3.11.79 23 - - £50K 10.6.08 £550K 4 Murray, Hugh M RC SCO 8.1.79 24 - - £130K 9.6.07 £1.9M 21 Murray, Neil DM RC SCO 21.2.73 30 - - £70K 16.6.06 £425K - O'Donoghue, Ross M C SCO 9.2.83 20 - - £275K 20.6.05 £1.2M 26 Paoli, Basile M C FRA 16.1.78 25 - - £400K 7.6.08 £1M 11 Paterson, Jim D/AM LC SCO 25.9.79 23 - - £575K 17.6.08 £5M - Planus, Marc D RC FRA 7.3.82 21 - - £160K 23.6.08 £1.1M - Plessis, Guillaume DM C FRA 16.1.85 18 - - £35K 28.6.06 £1.4M - Potter, Craig D/DM R SCO 12.1.80 23 - - £45K 2.6.07 £1.5M 6 Pressley, Steven D RC SCO 11.10.73 29 13 - £575K 18.6.06 £2.9M 23 Rott, Yannick D/DM L FRA 27.9.74 28 - - £475K 20.6.06 £1.4M 33 Sahnoun, Nicolas D/DM RC FRA 3.9.80 22 - - £85K 21.6.07 £1.8M - Sarrea, Vincent José SW/D C FRA 5.3.83 20 - - £30K 4.6.05 £475K 13 Schille, Cédric GK FRA 8.11.75 27 - - £350K 9.6.06 £875K - Shields, Dean S C SCO 16.9.82 20 - - £250K 5.6.08 £1.9M 27 Smith, Jamie AM/F RC SCO 20.11.78 24 2 - £400K 6.6.08 £3.2M 45 Smyth, Mark D R SCO 21.8.83 19 - - £95K 21.6.06 £1.1M - Tordo, Sébastien F RC FRA 10.1.84 19 - - £40K 5.6.07 £1.6M 28 Vieira, Roland S C FRA 16.8.79 24 - - £50K 12.6.07 £2.2M 32 Webster, Andy D C SCO 16.3.80 23 - - £425K 1.6.07 £1.2M </pre>
"There's no need to be nassty sir. Our record is 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses- good for 10th place."
"Ah, but you were in the relegation zone were you not?"
"Yeah well, we had a ton of injuries to start off the season. The Thurdays practice before Opening Day saw four starters get injured. We're just now beginning to round into form."
"I see, but the finances are not good."
"No Mr. Chairman, they are not. West Ham is still nearly 9 million pounds in debt, but your board brethren have kindly put in 1.2 million into the coffers."
"Have they, I must have a talk with them. They are clearly being irresponsible."
"We are trying to prove that the Alliance can field a competitive team in the Prem. The debt has cause us more than you may realize. We lost a chance to get both Mark Kerr and Gary O'Conner because we couldn't afford the bids."
"Heh"
"So, yes, sir, we are not the brest right now. I am confident we can turn things around."
I'll be hoping that you Alliance bastards are relegated."
"Well, you're entitled to your opinion, but any more lip and you'll be elected an FMS mod."
"Huh, what?"
"You heard me right sir, a FMS mod. It's a thankless job, dealing with complaints and idiots. It's worse than house arrest."
"Really"
"Yeah, if you were a mod, you'd gain an appreciation of your freedom if you had to do that job."
"Well, it's been rather up and down for us lately."
"How so?"
"The mid-season report will show that we were stuck in the relegation zone at that point."
"You're not still there?"
"Was that a note of glee in your voice sir?"
"So what if it was?"
"Remember, I can always stick you back under house arrest..."
"I see"
But, the answer to your question is no, we are no longer in the relegation zone. We are in 14th place with an 8 win 4 draw and 12 loss record."
"Medicore"
"Yes Mr. Chairman, it is. However, it is better than being in danger of dropping from the Prem."
"Why would that be?"
"Because most of our stars have a cluase in thier contracts that will make them free agents if West Ham is relegated."
"And why would you allow such a thing?"
"Simple, one: I figure we won't be relegated. Two, if we are, then it automatically cuts the payroll and three, it keeps the superstars from wrecking the clubhouse."
"I see."
"Its worth the risk and it''s a powerful incentive to join the club. In fact, we have seven Bosman signings lined up for the summer already."
"Seven?"
"Yeah. Three French youth prospects, one French first-teamer and three Scots first-teamers."
"Anyone famous in the group?"
"No, not really. Probably the most well-known are Gavin Rae of Rangers and Dundee icon Barry Smith."
"Ah"
"But the most important signing is likely to be prospect Sebastian Grax- a 19 yr old with a golden scoring touch. Lord knows, we need to upgrade the offense. Towards that end, we are trying to land Cisse from Auxterre- the 22 yr old has been capped five times for France and is a world-class taltent. Unfortunately, a couple of big Bundsliga cubs are intrested as well, so there's probably no chance of landing him."
"Never hurts to try."
"No sir, it doesn't. I wish that we could clear up this 12 million dollar debt, but that doesn't seem likely."
"Well, that's your own faualt."
"Yes it is, and I should have anticipated the debt getting worse, not better. But I didn't and now I hope a new chairman comes in soon."
"Well, I hope you rot in hell with your Alliance partners."
"Thank you for your honesty Mr. Chairman. Upton Park is clearly head that way, greased as it was by good intentions. See you in March."
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