Comments on: Poll Result: Who We Should Sell

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:20:45 +0000

Please explain the difference between question 1, 3 and 4? It’s the same question just reworded several times!

By: richo

richo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:17:16 +0000

Interesting, I certainly dont want to see any of our ”star players” go, especially Ashton, frustrating i know the amount he’s in sick bay but gee he’s good value when he plays. Agree with Biffo on C. Cole he can be frustrating at times missing simple chances but he never gives up or stops running and what about that shot on the turn against Stoke, simply brilliant

By: Biffo the bear

Biffo the bear — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:02:38 +0000

Did someone say that Ashton said his nan was ill and went to the US?

I think you’ll find that particular player now plays centre half for Sunderland.

As for LBM I agree he has improved, and it was good to hear the crowd getting behind him (there’s one bloke who stands near me who does nothing but have a pop at our players…really winds me up but that’s another story) but he still keeps giving the ball away and commiting silly fouls, I hope he’s being out in the shop window and we’ll see the back of him soon. I get a lot of stick for supporting Carlton Cole but I don’t care I think we should keep hold of him, he misses chances but he also scores goals and plays his heart out every week. He’s been one of our most consistant players this season.

Not really a fan of buying in January but I’m looking forward to the summer window to see exactly what kind of player Zola wants to bring in and who he wants to get rid of. I heard that Davenport threw a wobbler after being dropped and Zola was not impressed with his lack of respect….reckon he might find a horses head in his bed

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:05:32 +0000

Good Poll
Not sure about the 58% of people who think selling ashton is a good idea.
Yes I understand most were influenced by his injuries and really who could ignore them but i am sure he will get over them and he will become top quality!! 10 goal in 13 games last season dont sound bad to me!

By: truehammer

truehammer — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:52:21 +0000

Cole’s a decent player shame people cant see what he does for the side, brilliant strength and aerial ability, rarely injured, links up well with strike partners and scores important goals. He’ll bag a few more and everyone will be saying how brilliant he is and how good they’ve always thought he was, shame about the fickle fans we have.

By: SJ Chandos

SJ Chandos — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:29:04 +0000

Putting aside the debate about selling key players for a moment, it would appear Zola wants a squad of 22 0r 23 players of proven quality and experience and a shadow squad of promising youngsters. If the January departures go beyond Davenport, Boa Morte, Quashie and Bowyer, to include other fringe players such as Walker, Etherington, Spector and Mullins, then it will inevitably put greater emphasis upon the preparedness of the youngsters to come in and do a job, as and when required, for the remainder of the season.

Thus, it could be argued that the loaning out of Spence, Tomkins, Stanislaus, Payne, etc, is a move to get them ready for this new scenerio. I think that there will be a move towards this system in January and the process will acelerate in the summer. It is also nearing decision time about the future of Stokes and Reid. They have been in and around the first team squad for some time. If they are not judged good enough for the first team then they need to pursue their careers elsewhere.

By: Darren Hammer

Darren Hammer — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:32:54 +0000

This poll is bang on – Ashton, though good on his day, has had way too few of them. That’s a statistical fact however unlucky he has been. He’s been carrying a bit of timber for too long as well – so if we need cash (and anyone would buy him in his current state) then unload. And then buy a proper striker to replace that lump Cole. Fair play he’s a tryer, but then so would I be, last time I looked selection for West Ham wasn’t a bloody democracy, though, but a meritocracy. And he’s not good enough. I’d rather play Sears and Bellamy and give the kid a go than employ a player with no guile, little pace and a poor touch. And yes, I know Cole has scored some goals – but they do say if you give a thousand monkeys a thousand typewriters sooner or later they’d write war and peace, if only by accident. Play in a team that creates a chance and sooner or later you get lucky. Doesn’t make you Drogba.

By: SJ Chandos

SJ Chandos — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:31:02 +0000

Interesting survey results. However, I do not think that there were many surprises there really. On Ashton, I agree that it would be folly to sell him. I think that Ashton is potentially the best English centre forward and we need to try to get him fit. I understand that some people are losing patience with his injury record, but we need to give him another chance to prove his fitness. I also understand people’s negativity towards Cole, but I think present circumstances dictate that we should retain him, at least until the summer.

I would sell Davenport, Boa Morte, Quashie and Bowyer this January. If they raise c. £4.5m that would be good business, of the regular first teamers I would sell Faubert for c. 5m, provided those funds are made available to improve the quality of the squad. £9.5m should be enough to finance at least two major deals for a striker and a creative midfielder in January, plus perhaps a loan player.

I had to laugh at Stan Collymore’s article in today’s Mirror. To the best of my knowledge a league of 20 teams is divided into a top and bottom half composed of ten teams each. But no, it would now appear that there is a ‘bottom eleven,’ that conveniently excludes West Ham from the top half and firmly in the relegation mix. I try to dismiss my feelings that there is a sports media conspiracy against West Ham as paranoia, but articles like this seem to prove otherwise!

By: FrannyZola

FrannyZola — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:05:21 +0000

Iain, why have you put those results in % when they do not total 100% so should not be put as a %.

This is misleading e.g the last question about being sold in January… 94% LBM and Bowyer 84%. This seems to be saying that 94% of the people voted LBM and 84% of people voted Bowyer…totallying 178%. But we cannot have 178% of people can we?

I think your problem is with the question you asked “choose as many as you like”. Once you do his you cannot give the result of an individual player in % terms.

By: COYI

COYI — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:48:00 +0000

Why sell Davenport, Neil, LBM and Cole? and PARKER?
Davenport = Good back-up
Neil = Best RB we got
LBM = Didnt play bad against Stoke, may be getting back on form
Cole = Our top scorer, misses most yes but he is our top scorer atm
Parker = Quality, one of the best 5 we have