Plastic Fantastic And The Rise Of The Keyboard Warrior

No sooner than Pellegrini walked through the door and the club released an away kit with yellow socks the internet spiralled into West Ham meltdown.

The owners made a massive statement when hiring Manuel Pellegrini to take the reins this week. David Moyes fulfilled his brief, walked away with a healthy bonus and a reputation restored.

Have the club listened to the fans when coming to the decision to bring one in and one out? Probably not.

It’s obvious that things weren’t working as they’d envisaged. The third choice fans favourite sacked, the less than popular Moyes replaced and the club far too close to the bottom of the table.

They’ve gone with the man most likely to guarantee stability rather than a gamble on an up and coming manager. Pelligrini will bring a wealth of experience and hopefully push the team forward. I’m sure he had assurances regarding available funds before putting pen to paper, he’s already said “Adios” to a host of the previous regimes back room and medical staff.

It’s certainly a time of excitement and I’m looking forward to the months ahead. There’ll be additions and departures to the squad which is natural when a new man joins a club. Many supporters are disappointed that fan favourite James Collins wasn’t offered a new contract.

My understanding is that his contract had expired and the club has to notify the Premier League of retained players. Collins was told that there may be an extension if Pelligrini wanted him. He didn’t, and as you know there’s no sympathy in football, feel free to ask Gigi Buffon, he may have calmed down now.

James Collins was and still is a great pro. There’s no backing out and a player who gives and gave his all in a claret and blue shirt. Alas time has caught up on him and with the emergence of Declan Rice, he wasn’t offered a new contract and we won’t be seeing him in yellow socks.

He’s not the first and won’t be the last. An easy option would be to keep him on in some kind of coaching capacity but that rests on the shoulders of Senior Pelligrini.

The fans are not happy and here lies the problem with modern day football or generally anything when someone quotes an opinion on via social media.

I’ve been going on holiday to the same island in Greece at least once a year for the past twenty odd years. Although I love to travel, I’m always drawn back to this island.

I was part of a Facebook group sharing stories of favourite beaches, nice places to eat and where’s the best place to rent a jeep. Last week someone posted “Where’s the best place to get a roast?”.

A roast dinner? Usually, it’s, “has anyone walked from the taverna on the beach and how much is a pedalo.” I’m sure the site crashed!! The comments regarding the roast started at playful and ending in let’s meet for a tear up you dirty Northern you know what!!

The feelings about Ginge are also heading in that direction. What’s happened to the art of a conversation? A bit of banter, the shaking of hands and “Okay, let’s agree to disagree?”

West Ham have 1.4 million Twitter followers and the London Stadium holds about 57,000. Somehow I don’t think we’re all gonna get in.

I can because I’ve got a season ticket.

(“Smug git”).

It’s tricky with work to go to all games and I give my ticket to a mate on the odd occasion I can’t go.

( “I never miss a match pal”).

If I could I’d love to go anywhere, everywhere. (“Yeah, well I don’t get a chance mate, mortgage, kids, but I F ing love West Ham mate”).

Me too!!

(“I loved Upton Park mate, then they moved mate. Ruined”).

I know it’s not the same.

(“It’s a —-hole”). (“Sold our soul”). (Ya da ya da ya da”)( Bet you’ve never been mate”).

As they say “That escalated quickly”.

Who has the valid opinion? A home and away supporter who hasn’t missed a match since Geoff Hurst hit puberty or a guy in Mississippi who loves the yellow socks?

The away kit has already brought gasps from many supporters. If I was the kit designer at Umbro I’d be sleeping with a gun under my pillow and I’d definitely make sure it’s loaded.

The owners look like they’re here for the long haul so regardless of stadium, kit, manager or next boy wonder who walks through the door can’t we all be united as one?

What’s a plastic and how do you become one? I’m sure other teams have more fair weather supporters than us. They can’t jump on the bandwagon to follow our success, maybe it’s those yellow socks?

Whatever or wherever it is, can’t we do just one thing? Can’t we just all get along?