From Bad To Worse
‘WEST Ham manager Glenn Roeder yesterday hinted that he would quit the crisis-hit club if striker Jermain Defoe is sold to Manchester United.
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| Didn’t he used to work with Graham Taylor? |
”I will do everything I possibly can to keep him,” he told the Sun.
Given that Roeder did everything he possibly could to keep the Hammers in the Premiership, those words will come as little comfort to West Ham fans.
In fact, many might consider losing Defoe a small price to pay for getting rid of Roeder, the man who led the club into the dire situation in which they now find themselves.
Les Ferdinand, who played in 14 of West Ham’s last 15 games last season, said: ”Watching the heart being torn out of the team over the last few weeks has been terrible to witness for anyone with a soft spot for the club.
”It must be heartbreaking for the fans because it just seems to be getting worse by the day.”
Heartbreaking indeed, as journalist and West Ham fan David Thomas explains in the Mail.
What really hurts, he says, is that the fans’ loyalty, trust and intelligence have been abused by those in charge of the club.
”West Ham may have 35,000 passionate fans who sell out every home game,” he says. ”Their youth system still churns out stars of the future.
”But they are run by men with small-time ambitions and ability to match.”
If anyone bumps into chairman Terry Brown as he parties at Cowes Week, give him a kick from us.
Meanwhile, Juan Sebastian Veron rubs salt into West Ham fans’ wounds.
”Joe Cole is the best player in England,” he tells the Sun, ”and I’m not saying that just because he is sitting next to me. It’s a pleasure to share the practice ground with him.”
As the papers try to work out how Chelsea are going to accommodate all their new signings (with the Mirror suggesting a 4-4-4-2 system), the Mail watches Alex Ferguson dust off his chequebook.
It claims that Manchester United are ready to make ”significant” moves in the transfer market with Barcelona defender Carles Puyol and Portuguese teenager Cristiano Ronaldo both targets as well as the aforementioned Defoe.
As for Arsenal, they have kept out of the transfer market (apart from the signing of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann) – a move that the Star reckons could make them stronger.
”If Gunners fans think they have no chance this season,” it says, ”they should have more faith.”
That is something West Ham fans know a lot about…
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Posted: 8th, August 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
