Effra calls for a little bit of level headed thinking from the press, supporters, and a slightly deluded ex-manager.
Two home defeats in four days and a former manager lauding it way above his limited ability is not easy to take for any fan even without the added annoyance of everyone wanting to wind us up about not winning since Tevezcherano.
It does, though, all require some perspective.
Lots of West Ham fans last week were quick to complain and talk as if all our problems this season began the day we signed the Argies, with superstars and takeover talks ready to distract our squad from building on last season. But the facts don‘t bear that out. Pre-Tevezcherano we came from behind to beat a 10-man Charlton team who have started terribly, scraped a draw at winless Watford, and could have been whipped by Liverpool. More than half the first choice team missed much of the pre-season, our most important attacking player (Dean Ashton, remember him?) broke his leg training for England, our one wide player has made it through just 90 Premiership minutes so far. Unsurprisingly, it’s all showing.
However frustrating it is nobody can reasonably expect players whose job it is to run with the ball like Etherington to play well when they’re five or six games behind everyone else at this stage of the season. Some things need time.
What West Ham fans did get right though last week was reminding Roeder of a few facts in what was the bitterest singing I think I’ve ever heard at West Ham. Not content in his weekend interviews with repeating his robotic mantra that he took us down on 43 points (no Glen, it was 42 and Sir Trevor got the last 7 not you) after our highest-ever Premiership finish (no Glen, that was Harry), he thinks he can thrust his fists around Upton Park and claim vindication as though he was an untouchable hero to the West Ham faithful.
We spent our money for two years watching the legacy of his misjudgements in the Championship, and he got rewarded with a pay-off and then a top Premiership job off a relegation-ridden CV. Of course, Pardew is a thousand times the better manager than Roeder will ever be but the relegation that Roeder brought about nearly put West Ham into administration and then there would have been no Pardew.
Glen may have apologised afterwards but the fact is his actions said far more than any post-slating “Sorry” ever will. Fans are always happy to remember generously those who gave to their clubs and show respect after – even if there were bad times too but, unfortunately for Relegation Roeder, it’s a bit much to expect them to remember his achievements as something other than what they were. And they weren’t that good.