West Ham banter 3

27 May 2026 08:07:04
Thomas Frank would be interested in the West Ham job and for me he is perfect. But we won't go for him, we will go for the easy cheap option and it will take weeks to sort this out.

27 May 2026 09:56:39
WH are under pressure to get the manager situation sorted, pronto.

Offers start arriving for players, who may be sold against a new manager's plans, not a good start.
Joyful.

27 May 2026 10:22:27
It's sorted. Negative. Nuno is staying. Board bottle it again now, change of direction, dross football for another season.

27 May 2026 10:49:55
Robbo, the positives are, though:

1) With Nuno comes Paco.
2) It shows intent of trying to keep more of the better players with a team who knows how to play together.
3) He will have an opportunity to get rid of the dead wood and replace them with his choices.
4) The decision has been made quickly and not dragged.


5) Last time he managed in the Championship his team got 99 points.
6) The decision was primarily Kretinsky's which means Sullivan is finally being challenged.
7) Better Nuno than Sullivan getting his choice of Parker, Bilic, Cooper, or Dyche.

27 May 2026 10:51:27
They have gone on his Championship record alone.

As we all know, past results are not a guide to the future.

In the next week, a lot of bids will be arriving, and, equally, we have to get people in.

This, for me, will be Nuno's acid test. Let's see. Joyful.

27 May 2026 11:00:52
Dabber, low-block football won't work in the Championship, you need to win games to get promoted, not draw. Paco is now out of contract. Potter got his choices, was a crap manager, and that didn't work out; it, in part, along with Nuno's awful tactics, got us relegated. The better players will go if they were going anyway; none are going to take a massive pay cut to stay and play in the Championship just because negative Nuno is heretic, agents will take care of that.

This was a chance to take a new direction, clear the decks, and actually play entertaining football; after all, it is an entertainment business. I'd rather have stayed in the Championship for a few years if it meant exciting, attractive football. Nuno failed last year; yes, he got 99 points for Wolves, but he also kept them up. He didn't keep us up last year. Kretensky must know about as much as Sullivan. We are a clown club run by clowns.

27 May 2026 11:18:11
Both Robbo and Dabber, you make very good points. In a strange way, although opposite views, it’s hard to argue with either post; good, solid views.

All I want to add is that we shall see, by the incoming players, the type of football we will be watching soon.



Until then, a judgement call is hard to make, and if we sink in the Championship, it won’t be long till Nuno's gone!

27 May 2026 12:00:27
I agree, and Robbo, you make some sound points. In the perfect world, being relegated would be the right time to reset and rebuild from top to bottom, but unfortunately our world is run by Sullivan. If it's not Nuno, it will be one of the managers or type mentioned in my post. Until Sullivan goes, nothing will change, and he won't sell his shares until he can get top dollar for them.

That means PL football. Sullivan wants PL football more than attractive football. We've got him for at least another 12 months, unfortunately. I'm just trying to take positivity out of that sobering thought.

27 May 2026 15:57:59
If it means we can hang on to Taty, Bowen, Soucek if Nuno is the manager, I'd be more positive about this. I hope Nuno has learnt from the tactical errors last season, but I guess it will be defence first. He actually sorted that part out well, I thought. Our defence under Potter & Lopetegui was psychedelic!!!

27 May 2026 16:11:20
My argument to this is there is absolutely no evidence that Frank plays entertaining football. Ask Tottenham fans. I think he plays similar football to Nuno, Moyes and Potter. But I would be happy to give him a chance, and hopefully he will prove me wrong. I think we could be back to square one in no time with another boring, overly pragmatic manager. It reminds me of when Potter was given the job. Most on here thought he played attractive football, and it was only a few people that voiced their opposition (like Frank, I didn't really know him because I'd never studied Brighton).

It turned out his football was worse than Moyes and Nuno.
Also, Keith Andrews has got Brentford playing far more entertaining football than Frank, and they have done better in the league. Both managers did well at Brentford because of the way the club is run.
We don't have that.

27 May 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - MK Scouser has posted a new article entitled, Slot, Reijnen and a Summer of Big Calls

26 May 2026 20:32:00
Thoughts on the assistant manager taking over? He did seem to have an impact when he joined. Definitely no nonsense style manager.

26 May 2026 21:27:52
I think I would be in favour of giving that a go compared to much of the dross we are being linked with. We did pick up when he arrived, and the players seemed to take to him. Although, it seems to be rumoured that Kretinsky wants Nuno to stay, but also wants a DOF, which Nuno wouldn't work with.

26 May 2026 09:51:08
So it's quite clear that due to our financial situation we need to raise around £150m from player sales

I was having a think about who is likely to leave and came up with the following

Areola £5m
Tobido £20m
Mavropanos £20m
Awb £15m
Diouf £20m
Fernandes £50m maybe more
Kilman £15m
Fulkrug £7m
Pablo £15m
Taty £20m
Bowen £40m
Summerville £30m
Cornet £1m
Lamadrid £1m
Alvarez £20m
Magassa £15m
Soucek £10m

A little optimistic maybe but I make that £289m.

Pay off our debts, sack Sullivan and £70m for new signings should work but we need an entire first 11 lol

Thoughts?

26 May 2026 11:33:51
It would be great to get these prices, Phil. But I can see many of the actual sale values far lower than you have put here. 15 million each for both Pablo and Killman? Whilst Pablo is young and hard working, can you see anybody paying more than 5 million for him (apart from us obvs 🙄).

40 million for Bowen, nearly 30. Love to see it, but sadly cant.

26 May 2026 11:42:50
Also, sadly, I don't think we can sack Sullivan. Let's hope things outside of football gather momentum to mean his position is untenable, and he is forced to sell, probably for a lower price.

26 May 2026 11:44:22
The more the window goes on, the lower the prices, as we get desperate. Not going to get anywhere near those prices, plus the wages are a big problem. If we can let JWP and Fulkrug go for free, it's a result.

Also, we can't sack Sullivan, he's an owner.

26 May 2026 12:20:29
Yeah, I know that, Robbo, but growing fans' pressure might force him out. It was a figure of speech, lol. 😆 😂 🤣

26 May 2026 17:01:48
I think we could get more for certain players if we hold our nerve, but if this list all sold we would be screwed.

26 May 2026 17:54:21
A lot will depend on who the manager is next season, to be honest, as to who stays and who goes, I think.

26 May 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Sly_C has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's System: Who Benefits and Who Regresses?

25 May 2026 15:48:08
Hi, a gooner in peace. I'm so sad to see what has happened but I'm sure you will be back next year. We need the happy Hammers back in the PL!
If Nuno goes, I reckon Thomas Frank would be a good fit for you...

25 May 2026 17:06:48
Hi Sally, thanks for the post, I too think Frank would be decent, but I'm not sure he'd want to work for our board to be honest!

25 May 2026 17:07:16
Thanks, Sally, for the words of consolation. Sadly, after speaking to many Spurs fans and listening to some phone ins, I wouldn’t touch Frank with a barge poll. He sets his team up just not to lose. We’ve more than enough of these boring type managers.

25 May 2026 17:48:10
Frank built Brentford to be what they are now, and that's what we need. A manager who has brought a club up from nothing and been in the Premier League. And, once he got there, he made them stable, that's why Spurs grabbed him.

25 May 2026 19:09:44
Good point, problem there is a matter of confidence. Has he lost it?

He would certainly make my list... Joyful.

25 May 2026 19:50:26
In true Sullivan style, he will go for the first, easiest option, which, at this stage, seems to be Parker.

26 May 2026 07:34:07
Thanks also, Sally. W.Ham seemed to be liked by many others for some reason. As Mac3 said, Brentford were a nonentity until Frank came & turned them into a great, well run club, so surprised by the comments, but I'd be well happy to have him with us!
But, I can't wait to see our Damager out!
This will knock any complacency the club had about being a PL side.

We are now Championship. ⚒⚒⚒⚒

{Ed001's Note - I think you are massively overexaggerating Frank's part in Brentford's rise. He was just lucky to take charge at the right point, rather than being the main reason, he was a tiny part. Recruitment, similar to Brighton, is what the club was built upon.}

26 May 2026 11:50:26
I think I'm in a minority here but I totally agree Ed0001. I think he is a bit of a snake oil salesman similar to potter. Andrew's had zero experience in the Premier League and has done far better in 1 season than Frank did in all his time at Brentford. With Brentford it is the way the club is organised that seems to make everything work.

As I said before many of my Tottenham mates say he plays really boring methodical football with an emphasis on not losing. Which is what many on here including myself want to get away from and get someone in who throws a little more caution to the wind

{Ed001's Note - spot on H-D. You could have kept Moyes if you wanted to be bored each week.}

25 May 2026 09:28:17
Petty good article in the Guardian this morning by Jacob Steinberg this morning that sums it all up.

25 May 2026 10:35:56
Yeah, he nails it, and so many have said similar. Seems Nuno will be leaving and not because we got relegated.

Now, you cannot tell me that we hadn't planned for this ahead of time?

Therefore (and maybe the board have, but I doubt it; he will holiday first), the wheels should already be turning.



On the upside, we got Fearon, Potts, Earthy and Kante midfield for next season, with Hermandsen, Scarles and Kwp. We have Dan Cummings to play up front with Callum Wilson if he stays, so couple cbs and we dont have a bad 11 that should hold its own.

Bellamy as manager with new owners (ok, unlikely but I can hope).

25 May 2026 11:50:40
Dan Cummings has been awful for the u21s - doesn't even get a game most of the time. Would much rather see Ajala get game time up top, and also don't forget Marshall returning from loan unless we sell him.
Golambekis and Myers at the back, too.

25 May 2026 12:45:44
Young players won't get us up next year. None of them are close to being ready. We'll rely on Mads, Kwp, Scarles, Soucek, Wilson and Kilman. These players are too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premiership.

25 May 2026 13:20:20
If we are relying on Soucek and kilman i don't think ill bother with next season, plus the midget in goal will get bullied at every corner and long throw in with no VAR, I agree we need a couple of older heads but they need to be good and leaders, plus you don't know if the youth is ready i'd say Scarles, potts, Marshall, Earthy are definatly ready for championship others just need a chance I hope they get one and aren't stuck behind carthorses like Soucek and kilman

25 May 2026 15:27:36
Brooking 10, as others have said, this whole necessity of getting back to the Prem without a long term plan is exactly why we are in this position. Just to get there and hope for the best.
Killman, no thanks. Souchek has looked okay in some games this season, and he is a fans' favourite, but it's time to say goodbye to him, I feel. He has only looked so good because he is partnered with Fernandez, who is a proper player.

I think Hermandson will struggle without Disasi and Mav to help him. We do need some senior players, and I would like to keep Wilson to sort of mentor some of the other young strikers. I've heard good things about Golambekis and Mayers when played in central defence, and we have Scarles. I would try and keep Kwp, as he is quite versatile.
We also have Kante, Potts, Magassa (currently) and Fearon.

25 May 2026 09:20:24
I know it's a bad time and there will be a lot of knee-jerk reactions, but what worries me the most is the club statement, with talk of rebuild to get back in Premier League. No mention of reorganisation from the top down, so it's just the same BS we were fed when we moved to the OS.

25 May 2026 10:56:14
Mac, Sullivan won't sell his shares at a reduced price; he'll attempt to get promoted at the first attempt, then sell. This morning I'm not as gutted as I thought I would be. The last few weeks have actually drained me, but today, now it's reality, the positivity in me tells me this might be for the best. If we'd stayed up, nothing would have changed; now things have to change.

We have to follow the blueprint of Brentford and Bournemouth, and get our recruitment policy right for a start. I'll miss Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen (if he goes), but players come and go (Declan, who?) and new heroes will be found. The only permanent fixture is the fantastic fanbase, COYI!

25 May 2026 11:54:57
WH spent 2m organising a stats based computer rhythm, emulating Chelsea and the Brighton Lizard, and brought the man over from Brighton to run it.

After 3 months, Sullivan scrapped it, and reverted to his agent-led ways.



Bear in mind that Fernandes came from the stats system, and WH will make a profit on that.

Sullivan is out of his depth, from top to bottom; whilst he is in charge, nothing will change.

25 May 2026 13:55:22
And that is the reason we are in this position, joyful, as all West Ham fans know.

No way forward until he is gone, and Parker and Oneill are not the answer. Again, no forward vision for the long term.

25 May 2026 15:34:25
Hi Dabber. You could be right; that is not such a bad thing, and has needed to happen. I also like your positivity, and your planning and forward-thinking ideas. I think it is what many of us are asking for.

Sadly, the most pertinent sentence in this thread is Joyful's last sentence: "Sullivan is out of his depth, from top to bottom; whilst he is in charge, nothing will change."

I like the sound of Bellamy, but with Sullivan choosing, it will almost certainly be either Parker, O'Neil, Cooper or Dyche, all of whom fill me with dread.

I was going to renew my ST, but I might wait to see who is the manager before doing so.

25 May 2026 07:04:04
Morning all. All I can say is that this has been on the cards for a while. We were flirting with relegation last season and they didn’t do nothing about it, so we deserve what we got and I hope it’s going to hit the money men (owners) hard. Is Nuno going to stay? I doubt it. So who will come in?

25 May 2026 08:16:36
Totally agree, Stevie. We have dodged a few bullets over the years, now it's finally hit. I know, to some, it probably sounds like continually doing the same thing by getting shot of manager after manager, but he has to go. We had a decent period in between late Jan to around some time in March, and then back to rubbish. Too many mistakes to mention, but for me the Newcastle game summed up his failings, and in our most crucial game of the season.


But again, with Sullivan in charge, nothing will change because of his meddling and lack of knowledge.
As others have said, we do have a decent youth set up now, those players need to step forward and try and do for the club what the likes of Cole, Ferdinand, Lampard, Carrick and Defoe did for us, a complete reset. Only gonna be possible without Sullivan in charge.

25 May 2026 09:24:02
Sadly, it was always going to happen when the sole ambition was to survive. The last 10 years have been riddled with missed opportunities to push on, and we have not got what the club deserved. The supporters don't deserve this.

Still, weirdly, im happy to embrace the new chapter, different challenges, and no VAR, and hopefully more youngsters given opportunities due to lack of funds.

25 May 2026 10:57:31
Totally agree, Robbo.

24 May 2026 20:58:20
Driving home from the game today, my overarching feeling once it sank in that we are going to be playing Lincoln, Bolton & Charlton, was - we will be back.

I will renew my season ticket, I will probably do even more away days next year. I go with my brother who is less likely to go to every game, so I will go with my three year old daughter who absolutely loves West Ham.

There can only be brighter days ahead. West Ham till I die.

24 May 2026 21:39:17
Well said, mate.

25 May 2026 12:47:54
I'm not renewing my season ticket. I spent too much money going to away games. Time to start looking after the family.