Can West Ham join the big boys?

[norwaytips]

Let's look at some simple facts.

1. Hammers have a large fan base. Sell out almost every home game and have one of the best three travelling fan groups. They sell all their allocations,

2. Very large catchment area to increase their fan base. It includes all of Essex, as well as parts of Suffolk, Herts and Kent. The East London population is also large.

3. The Olympics are not really being held in London. They are being held in West Ham, giving them the chance to acquire a massive new Stadium.

4. A structure, already well in place, that consistantly produces the best youth players in Britain.

Now think in terms of a very rich investor.

To outside eyes they are a sleeping giant, with potential to be enormous. Chelsea have nowhere near the fan base of West Ham. When the Hammers were in the Championship, they drew a bigger crowd than Chelsea did in a European game. Reverse that situation and you get an idea of the true fan base. Not just the glory chasers.

Spurs are, on paper, a bit bigger than West Ham. Arsenal too, but neither of these has the mid to long term potential to grow much more.

Most of us are aware that the big money in running a football club, comes from TV, Transfer fees and concessions. (shirt sales etc)

With the Olympics on the way the potential for West Ham is almost limitless.

The answer to the question is, in my opinion, Yes. West Ham can join the big boys. The building bricks are there. It just needs the bricklayer. The next question is. Have we found him? :confused:

[norwaytips]

Forgot to say that I posted this on WHO. Just thought I'd get your opinions too. Tony. :)

[Footstomper]

Ithink we just have joined the big boys. Everyones second team. A real local team and a legend to match Man U. Sh1t, if I had a couple of hundred million to spare I might buy em myself

[blainehammer]

Ithink we just have joined the big boys. Everyones second team. A real local team and a legend to match Man U. Sh1t, if I had a couple of hundred million to spare I might buy em myself
If I thought you would buy the Hammers instead of wasting the money on cigs. and booze and useless instruments....................................

The last musician I gave an empororship to he fiddled it away.

[Footstomper]

If I thought you would buy the Hammers instead of wasting the money on cigs. and booze and useless instruments....................................

The last musician I gave an empororship to he fiddled it away.
What d'ya mean WASTE????

[panicfc]

Yes. We can become a big boy.

A lot of Hammers fans all over the globe waiting to bask in glory.

[blainehammer]

What d'ya mean WASTE????
Exactly.
Prepare yourself for a life of drudgery as a schoolteacher.

[Footstomper]

Exactly.
Prepare yourself for a life of drudgery as a schoolteacher.
Truly you are a vengeful deity:rolleyes:

[Hammerette]

I agree entirely with your sentiments on Chelsea, pre money they were not bigger than us. In think Spurs and Arsenal have always been the top two London clubs. Obviously if we get a shed load of money thrown at us we'll be as big as Arsenal and Chelsea and much bigger than Spurs :p

[mookhead]

posted by norwaytips
Let's look at some simple facts.

1. Hammers have a large fan base. Sell out almost every home game and have one of the best three travelling fan groups. They sell all their allocations,

2. Very large catchment area to increase their fan base. It includes all of Essex, as well as parts of Suffolk, Herts and Kent. The East London population is also large.

3. The Olympics are not really being held in London. They are being held in West Ham, giving them the chance to acquire a massive new Stadium.

4. A structure, already well in place, that consistantly produces the best youth players in Britain.

Now think in terms of a very rich investor.

To outside eyes they are a sleeping giant, with potential to be enormous. Chelsea have nowhere near the fan base of West Ham. When the Hammers were in the Championship, they drew a bigger crowd than Chelsea did in a European game. Reverse that situation and you get an idea of the true fan base. Not just the glory chasers.

Spurs are, on paper, a bit bigger than West Ham. Arsenal too, but neither of these has the mid to long term potential to grow much more.

Most of us are aware that the big money in running a football club, comes from TV, Transfer fees and concessions. (shirt sales etc)

With the Olympics on the way the potential for West Ham is almost limitless.

The answer to the question is, in my opinion, Yes. West Ham can join the big boys. The building bricks are there. It just needs the bricklayer. The next question is. Have we found him?

As an outsider looking in, I agree with you. I especially like points 3 and 4.

[JBigjake]

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/sport/sport2.shtml
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006400674,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006410000,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2338780,00.html
http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Premiership/page_99_126606.shtml

[hammer_scout51]

Hi Tony i answered this on WHO.

Good thread.

[norwaytips]

Yeah, I saw it. Thanks Mike.

[Miles Brasher]

The new found optimism might be misplaced. The two Argie transfers make WH look more like a shop window. If they go in the summer to another club it doesn't exactly destroy the 'selling club' suggestions does it ? Given that Manu are claiming that the players were offered to them on a similar deal only a few days before WH I also wonder exactly how much input Pardew had in the deal and how happy he actually is.
Still you can't knock it, you've got 2 world class players who will probably settle quite quickly in the Prem, for peanuts, and even if they do go in the summer, you'll make a million or 2 from the whole deal.

Can you join the big boys ? depends on your definition of the big boys I guess. If you mean the top 4, I think that's still out of your reach for a few years, (although if a Roman style buyout happens, all bets are off). However if you mean clubs that normally fight for the other european places, (Spurs / NUFC etc.) I see no reason why not, as even without these 2 WH are on the way up.

To get right to the top requires money money money. Arsenal know this having watched year in year out as Manu cash millions more every home game. With our new stadium we will be competing with every top team in Europe. I don't think WH will be able to reach that level for a season or 2, and certainly not maintain it.

[ATL_Iron]

The new found optimism might be misplaced. The two Argie transfers make WH look more like a shop window. If they go in the summer to another club it doesn't exactly destroy the 'selling club' suggestions does it ? Given that Manu are claiming that the players were offered to them on a similar deal only a few days before WH I also wonder exactly how much input Pardew had in the deal and how happy he actually is.
Still you can't knock it, you've got 2 world class players who will probably settle quite quickly in the Prem, for peanuts, and even if they do go in the summer, you'll make a million or 2 from the whole deal.

Can you join the big boys ? depends on your definition of the big boys I guess. If you mean the top 4, I think that's still out of your reach for a few years, (although if a Roman style buyout happens, all bets are off). However if you mean clubs that normally fight for the other european places, (Spurs / NUFC etc.) I see no reason why not, as even without these 2 WH are on the way up.

To get right to the top requires money money money. Arsenal know this having watched year in year out as Manu cash millions more every home game. With our new stadium we will be competing with every top team in Europe. I don't think WH will be able to reach that level for a season or 2, and certainly not maintain it.


For the most part i agree with you, The shop window part is just bollocks, there is not a club outside the top 4 that would not have jumped at 2 world class players for a season for free.
As far as the selling club goes, again its just short sightedess or lack of knowledge by whoever is writing it or saying it. Pards has said repeatedly that we will not be sellling players, This season proves it, not one of our 1st team players has left, including Yossi to Liverpool, Ashton to Newcastle or NRC to Manure or your lot. 15 mil is alot of money, one the "old West Ham" would have jumped at.

I think the best case (without the buy out) would be that the 2 guys get us maybe a champs spot or at least into Europe again next season, the money from another good season and a good run in europe, should be enough to really cement us as top half side behind the big 4. A' la Everton, Blackburn.

With the buyout, thats a different matter entirly. Where $100 million is not going to turn us into the next Chelsea, It will allow us to bring in a couple of major players, and probably keep the 2 argies, that should get us battling for champs league spots. With several european campains in the next few seasons and a 60,000 seater stadium in 2012, then there is the potiental to be a 'Big 5" maybe even a G15;)

[thebigman]

hmm, any chelsea haters that talk about the abramovich ruining football shit and yet excited at the prospect of a billionaire takeover and most likely buying sucess?

i like your club, but the leagues gonna get ridiculous if billionaires keep buying clubs sucess

[ATL_Iron]

hmm, any chelsea haters that talk about the abramovich ruining football shit and yet excited at the prospect of a billionaire takeover and most likely buying sucess?

i like your club, but the leagues gonna get ridiculous if billionaires keep buying clubs sucess


What West Ham are looking at is a million or in this case a billion miles away from a Chelsea situation. I simple look at the figures will tell you that. Chelsea has unlimited wealth and can throw endless money at the goal of winning the champs league. I beleive their losses were $150 million last year alone. They have spent over half a billion $$ on players and god only know how much on wages. That is along way from $100 million investment in a club. So lets not kid ourselves here, it does not take much thought to see the two are compleatly different.

[Miles Brasher]

For the most part i agree with you, The shop window part is just bollocks, there is not a club outside the top 4 that would not have jumped at 2 world class players for a season for free.


Agreed, I can imagine Newcastle or Spurs having them on a similar deal, and I guess getting these 2 in front of clubs like that is a success, but I'd be making the same 'Shop Window' comment to them.
In the case of Newcastle nothing that Shepard does surprises me, and of course I'd waste no time in taking the piss out of Spurs.
WH have this reputation as a selling club because of the past, not the present. Personally I think you're on the up.
The rumour is now that WH don't actually own the contracts of the players and MSI still have control of them. It's still a good move on balance, but I can see some worrying scenarios if things aren't handled right. (MSI demanding they are played against Pardews wishes etc.

On one hand I look forward to the inevitable gossip, but on the other I do worry a little about the route football may be taking in the near future.

Having said all that I'd have like to have Mascherano at Arsenal, but it was never on the cards apparently.

[ATL_Iron]

The rumour is now that WH don't actually own the contracts of the players and MSI still have control of them. It's still a good move on balance, but I can see some worrying scenarios if things aren't handled right. (MSI demanding they are played against Pardews wishes etc.

These 2 rumours have been clear up by club statements, There is no contractual obligation to play them. Its entirly upto Pards. Also it would be agaist FA rules if the club did not own them. Its been stated its a 5 year deal, with various get out clauses and most of the money, i believe 90% goes to Kia.
Also its not MSI, Kia is not longer associated with them.

[Miles Brasher]

These 2 rumours have been clear up by club statements, There is no contractual obligation to play them. Its entirly upto Pards. Also it would be agaist FA rules if the club did not own them. Its been stated its a 5 year deal, with various get out clauses and most of the money, i believe 90% goes to Kia.
Also its not MSI, Kia is not longer associated with them.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting there was a contractual obligation, that would be extremely dodgey, but (and I'm playing devils advocate here) there might be verbal agreements behind the scenes.