Don’t panic, Mr. Pardew

Saturday 13 November 2004 … West Ham United faced the mighty Brighton and Hove Albion and lost one nil. At home. In front of 29,514 fans.

Thursday 28 September 2006 … having endured turbulent times, supporter mistrust of a two faced board, a cloud of pessimism, some sections calling for the manager’s head, a distinct sense of failure, no hope… and yet. West Ham United find themselves on the receiving end of a somewhat misfortunate and deceiving 4-0 aggregate Uefa Cup defeat.

That the club were playing in Europe shy of two years of that catastrophic Championship home defeat to the Seagulls is testament enough to a rejuvenated club, that the red tops have turned this month’s vitriol of hate upon the Hammers is evidential proof that the turn around of the East End club is complete.

For not even the most optimistic of West Ham fans, and most of them aren’t given the very nature of the club, would have dared to suggest they’d be playing an away European tie against Palermo two seasons ago. Indeed, few would have proposed a top ten finish in the Premiership, and fewer still an admiration gaining first FA Cup Final performance for twenty years.

Recent events at Upton Park, by which I refer to the deadline day arrivals of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, appears to have upset the Blue Ribbon clubs and the fleet street hacks that benefit from circulating in their footballing dominant world. How dare plucky West Ham, formerly everyone’s “second team”, attempt to encroach on their territory?

Highlighted best, by a SkySports phone in clogged up not by jubilant Hammers, but instead angry Man United fans adamant West Ham had ‘stolen’ their players. The details surrounding the transfers have received more column inches than the Lib Dem Annual Conference, but as with the Lib Dems no greater clarity has been found.

What is clear is that it is unclear. The deals have sparked takeover talks, and the investors are claimed to be shadier than a B&Q parasol exhibition. The reports of the potential investors should be taken with a pinch of salt, however. If the Argentineans’ prompted hostile press coverage, the takeover talk has reaped nothing but the green eyed monster.

It is this reason and this reason alone that West Ham has apparently had a ‘dreadful’ start to the season that no excuses are permitted nor given for home draws to ‘lowly’ Aston Villa or narrow away defeats to Liverpool. The message is clear to West Ham from the big boys, if you want to mix in our circles, then you have to play by our rules. Any loss is a heavy one, any win is a major achievement, and woe betide any successive defeat is a sign your manager is flawed and your club in a rut.

Just ask the man at the helm of the biggest of them all, about over hyped downfalls. Sir Alex had a catastrophic season last time, according to the press at least, whereas the media darlings Liverpool were a team on the up, competing with the best. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but Man United finished above Liverpool last season, did they not? Much of the media like to create a world that fits into their easily reportable one. Detail is overly complicated, and would be lost on us as an audience they feel. Sadly, detail is all too often the truth.

West Ham has become the disflavour of the month for the red tops. The pack of wolves has turned their attention to the Boleyn. Ignore the fact Tottenham are beneath them in the league and have made a worse start to the season. How many column inches have alluded to an imminent departure of Martin Jol for example? It is West Ham who they are after for the minute. It is West Ham who their cyclical witch hunt is focused on for the moment, and it is up to the club, and no one else, to turn this attention away, by winning and winning quick.

The truth is that West Ham have come a long way since November 2004, they have got promoted, played attractive attack minded football from the off in the Premiership, finished in the top ten, sweetly denied rivals Tottenham a place in the Champions League, beat Arsenal at Highbury, played in the best ever cup final, qualified for Europe, signed a rising England forward and now signed 2 World Class players (whatever the circumstances) , so if they have hit a bad patch of form, then it really isn’t too big a deal.

The club and its fans need to reassess itself in terms of how far it has come. If, although I doubt it will happen, they are drawn into a relegation battle, it is unlikely they will be relegated, and any kind of Premiership finish is good, simply for being in the Premiership itself. One win will probably put things right. This West Ham team is a confidence side, it needs to ignore the press and the jealousy, and besides, a set of good results in their upcoming fixtures will likely propel them onto a successful season.

My message to Alan Pardew, is simply … don’t panic.

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