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"Well Mr. Chairman, West Ham are now in ninth place with an 11 win, 10 draw and 11 loss record so far."
"That's an improvemen. What brought it about?"
"After O'conner was put on the trainsfer-list, he went on a goal-scoring binge."
"I'm glad to see that he became motivated."
"That he did. I'm worried now that it won't work again. He seems to be a player who has to be prodded to bring out his best."
"I'm sure you can continue to motivate O'Conner."
"I'm not so sure sir. O'Conner is extremely talented, but he tends to choke against the big teams."
"So he fails to perform in big games?"
"Not necessarly big games. If we have a must-win game asgainst a smaller Prem side like say Bolton, then he will perform well. It's games against the Arsenals and Liverpools, regardless od the type of game, where he seemingly disappears."
"Don't start him then against those teams."
"If I do that, then I'm conceding to the world that our highest-paid and franchise player, is in fact, a fraud."
"I see your point."
"Besides sir, the backups wouldn't be much better."
"I see, still the team has improved."
"Yes sir, at least in terms of this season. I'll report back in May, where I'll give you the seson wrap-up."
"Finished the year with 13 wins, 12 draws and 13 losses."
"And where in the Prem did you finish?"
"We did crack the top ten, finishing in tenth place."
"That seems to be a bit of a setback."
"Yes sir, it was, but at least we are emerging as a consistant middle table finisher."
"That may be true, but I expected West Ham to improve, not regtress. Mid-table success is all well and good, but the Alliance is expecting a Prem title."
"Yes sir, I realize that, but it is not easy to get top flight Scot and French players to come to a Prem team."
"Why is that?"
"Because they can play in Europe with thier top domestic clubs."
"So, make it into Europe."
"Again, with all due respect sir, it's easier said than done."
"MMM"
"You don't belive me, but check out the Euro qualifiers. They're all big-budget clubs who are under no player rescrictions."
"Well, you and your Alliance partners are to blame for that."
"Yes, I know and we have the moral high ground, but it does make things difficult."
"Deal with it in the offseason."
"Yes Mr.Chairman, that's what I intend to do. See you in July."
"I don't understand. After all, you now have 36 million pounds to spend on players."
"Ah, but sir, for the second year in a row, you've refused my request to repair the training facilities."
"I simply don't see the need for improved facilities."
"But sir, better facilities means that young players will have a better chance of becoming elite players."
"You can just buy your players."
"Yes I could, but I hate wasting momey."
"So I've noticed. Well, you'll just have to continue using aging infrastructure. You can buy your players."
"Ok sir, just registering my protest. As it is, we just spent 7 million to acquire AMC Moriera."
"Who's he?"
"A player for Lens the last few years. He's been capped at the French B level. He seems to be a great player."
"I'm glad to see you're spending money. Have you increased the wage bill?"
"Yes sir, Moreira is now the highest paid player of my tenure. He gets paid 1.6 million pounds per year. However, the payroll for 50 players is still only 13 million."
"That's one of the lowest wage bills in the Prem. Why don't you spend more on salaries?"
"Because sir, I'm a frugal Scot."
"Ah, use some of that 36 million."
"As I've said earlier, without good facilities, it's impossible to lure top-flight French or Scot players."
"We will continue to disagree on that point. Good luck with the beginning of the season."
"Because sir, West Ham continues to be throughly medicore."
"I see. So what's the record now?"
"Through 13 games, West Ham sits in 9th place with 4 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses."
"So there's been no general improvement."
"No sir, the team seems to have stagnated."
"What's gone wrong this year?"
"Moriera is struggling and O'Conner is inconsistant."
"How about the rest of the team?"
"Inconsistant. The new signings like Milne just aren't working out."
"Wasn't Milne your other big signing of the offseason?"
"Yes sir he was. He cost 5 million pounds from Dundee. The hope was that he would emerge as a good complement to O'Conner."
"That's not working out?"
"No sir, it's not. Milne has yet to score a goal or notch an asist."
"That's pretty paltry."
"Yes, but what's worse is that West Ham lack a killer instinct. About four of those draws came in the second half because we were unable to lockdown the opposition for a half-hour or so. Needless to say, we have yet to achieve a comeback victory this year either."
"So, as usual, West Ham seems to be unable to advance above middling status. Are you worried about your job yet?"
"No sir, but my Alliance partners grow ever more cool about my performance with each passing month."
"Yes sir, it has been that over the last couple of years."
"Why is that?"
"Because it's the month that sees Prem teams wraping up Cup competitions."
"Ah"
"Yeah, we're usually eliminated from the silverware hunt by this time. As a result, we only play about three games this month."
"How is West Ham doing?"
"We're holding steady in 9th place still with an 11 win, 11 draw and 9 loss season so far."
"So you haven't managed to improve the team any?"
"No sir, not really."
"Why is that?"
"Inconsistant play. I've finally conceded that O'Conner chokes against 'big' opponants."
"Why does he do that?"
"Damned if I know sir, but he does. The guy simply can't handle playing the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and the like."
"That's a shame."
"It is sir, O'Conner is a talented player, who should be able play big-time competition, but he can't."
"How are you handling it?"
"I bench him for big games. I've tried subbing him in late against the big boys, but he doesn't do much better. In fact, in two seasons with West Ham. I can recall one gamne out of about 17 against the big five teams."
"That's pretty convincing."
"Yes it is sir."
"How is the rest of the team?"
"Well sir, Milne is proving a bust and we will probably unload him after the year. Jim Lauchan is proving a nice acquistion. Moriera shook off his opening season funk and is playing well. Several reseervists left for other teams before the deadline and Plessis, who can't seem to translate his talent into success will be leaving for Rennes in the summer."
"Ah, good luck in the last 7 games of the seasson. Remember, we probably won't tokerate the mid-table stagnation much longer."
"Thanks for the warning sir, see you at the end of the season."
"Well sir, West Ham finished the season in 10th place with a record of 12 wins, 14 draws, and 12 losses."
"So you dropped a place in the last few games, why?"
"It was a resurgent Arsenal sir. They started the year really bad. dropping into relegation for a bit. Then in the second half they got red-hot and clumbed into the top ten druring the last couple weeks."
"I see, but the fact remains that West Ham remain very medicore."
"I suppose so."
"This has got to change. Use your off-season well or you'll be asked to resign."
"Really sir? The Alliance directors agree?"
"Yes they do. They, like me, want to see the team successful. The difference is that I want to be the sole chairman."
"So, you're still outvoted by two others?"
"No, they've agreed to sell thier shares back to me if you are fired."
"Nice move Mr. Chirman."
"So, be warned and make West Ham a better team in the off-season."
"Yes, it is. First, you once again refuse to upgrade the facilities, meaning West Ham continues to use dilapidated equipment and facilities, but now you've ordered me to achieve European qualification."
"Yes, we have. The directors have no wish to pay for an expensive upgrade when the team's performance doesn't warrant it. Additionally, we feel that West Ham is capable of reaching Europe next season. So, we are enjoining you to be, for once, successful."
"That's not my only complaint sir, you paid the stockholders 7 million pounds."
"Well, they aren't seeing succes on the field, so a little pocket money will keep them happy."
"That's seven million less in the transfer budget."
"Why should it matter? You never spend money on players."
"This year sir, I have no choice."
"Oh really?"
"Yes sir, I've opened the checkbook this summer. West Ham accquired Scotland left back Stephen Crainey for 8.5 million pounds from Newcastle. We've purchased veteran sytriker Gabe Mamadou from Rennes for 3 million. He actually begins his second tour of duty with West Ham. We signed goalkeeper Jamie Langfield from Norwich for 6 million pounds and derfender Syvain Discan for 900K. All these players will be first team regulars next season. In addition, we spent 2.5 million pounds on youth prospects."
"I see, you really did open the chequebook. Did you see the article in the Yelegraph this morning?"
"No sir, I aviod the London papers."
"They had a sports article about how West Ham supporters are expecting their team to have a good year after spending 23 million pounds on players in the offseason."
"Ah, I'd heard about the article, but declined to comment."
"There are high expectations among even the fans. You had best succeed."
"Well sir, we just wrapped up a six game preaeason schedule. We went 5 and 1, losing only to Everton at Goodison. The wins were against a mixture of League teams not in the Prem."
"That's good to hear. I only hope the winning carries over to the regular season."
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