The West Ham European Cup final

[undyingking]

... that might have been, and probably the closest we're ever likely to come to such a thing. Out of the nine British-developed players who started, four were products of the West Ham system -- more than those of Man Utd and Chelsea added together.

• We sold Ferdinand because we were offered what at the time (2000) seemed like crazy money (£18M) -- the then British transfer record, and the most expesive defender ever. The club was financially shaky and basically used the money to build a new stand. Leeds very shortly sold him on for what still seems like crazy money (£30M), and look what happened to them.
• Lampard left after the club fired his uncle and father in 2001. He was never popular at West Ham -- the fans thought him fat and lazy, and that he only got in the team because of nepotism. Of course he turned into quite a decent player once he got to Chelsea. Maybe he never would have at West Ham, in his comfort zone.
• Joe Cole left when we got relegated in 2003. He was worshipped at West Ham, and to be honest still is to some extent, five years on. You might have noticed that when he scored for Chelsea at Upton Park the other week, he refused to celebrate the goal. (Unlike Lampard, who celebrated with mad enthusiasm.)
• Carrick stayed for a year after relegation, before moving to Spurs who rapidly made a big profit selling him on. I guess it's fair to say he was quietly appreciated at West Ham, but there weren't exactly riots in the streets when he left. More of a manager's player than a fan's.
• Then there's Tevez, who first learnt English football at Upton Park, and who must be our best-loved player of the last few years despite his brief stay.

With these players divided between the two teams, you might think West Ham fans in doubt about who they wanted to win. But I suspect most hate Chelsea a lot more than they hate Man Utd. And anyway, as Oscar Wilde might have said -- at the sight of John Terry's miserable face at the end, you'd have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.

Comments

[jadeent.livejournal.com]

I have to confess to a hearty chuckle when Terry missed his penalty and a small cheer when Tevez buried his.

It did feel strange to be rooting for Man U last night but there's no way I could support Chelsea.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

at the sight of John Terry's miserable face at the end, you'd have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.

Ooh, hey. What you're forgetting here is that Oscar Wilde was a right git.

I was shouting for Man U by virtue of (a) my boss supporting them (*) and (b) sadly some latent nationalism that I had not realised was lurking, but if there was any Chelsea player I was hoping not to fail, it was John Terry. (Conversely, if there was a Man U player I was hoping would fail, it was Ronaldo - and, in the penalties, he did. That said, I was still glad when Man U won.)

(*) ...and if any of you think that that would be a reason to shout against Man U, I refer you to my comment about Oscar Wilde above.

[dr-bob.livejournal.com]

I can empathise with your position of watching from afar at what might have been. I got to go to Wembley at the weekend to watch my team lose a close game.

Alas not in the FA cup final, but the promotion play-off final to escape the Conference (aka blue square premier division). I suspect it's the only way we'll ever get to Wembley. And I can't help feeling that in scheduling the two games in the same weekend, the FA must be taunting us, just a little!

[dr-bob.livejournal.com]

at least the danger of Cambridge City joining them in the same division seems to have pretty thoroughly receded

We've already been joined by Histon, which is not a historical 'enemy' but is nevertheless a suburb of Cambridge - for a part time (?semi-pro) team to finish as high as they did in the league is quite an achievement.

Never really followed Leeds - just had the opportunity to watch a few champion's league and FA cup matches when I lived there.