Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

yes it was worth it. i didn't pay for it anyway.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Anyone over there I've spoken to about the Games, loved every minute and certainly don't begrudge the money. A fair few of them went to the added expense ;) of getting tickets for events or just made a point of going up to enjoy the atmosphere. Some great pics all over FB.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Yes, it was worth it. GBP10b is a lot of candy but the UK government wastes so much more on things like too many civil servants and nanny state welfare. At least the nation got to enjoy this and they now have a whole load of world class facilities to use (whether they will ever get to be used to their full potential again is yet to be seen).

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

London will have the yo-yo games at the Olympic stadium when West Ham start playing there.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Hate to say it, but the way football is going, I can see them in less than 10 years becoming the UK's biggest club. The Championship teams are just about finished with the way money is pouring into the Premier league and although I'd never jump on the Band Wagon. I reckon West Ham will attract 10,000's of supporters from SE London, especially now the transport links are established. They are seen far more as a peoples club than Chelsea, Tottenham or Arsenal and sum up what London is supposed to be about.

They've already got far far more base support than anyone realises. If indeed the Championship clubs keep on losing money, then West Ham will very likely become and stay the UK's biggest club ...... Only way to stop that happening is for that European breakaway league and financial sense to return to the 100+ year old clubs of the Championship and other divisions.

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Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Impossible. There are about 4 clubs that are streets ahead of them globally.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Chelsea started from a far far smaller fan base than West Ham and look what they've done in 10 years. Definitely not impossible and these overseas followers are not fans they will jump onto any winning team. Actually I've put that the wrong way around... The Overseas fans will abandon the losing team quicker than the proverbial rat of a sinking ship, to base ones following on overseas merchandise is a very narrow risky proposition. It's already happened to Leeds and now Liverpool are losing those overseas fans ...In Chelseas favour.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Yes but where is West Hams half a billion coming from to get them there?

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Don't worry,Wet Spam will be back in the championship after a season or two playing to a half empty stadium.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Thats the easiest bit. That will happen., and sadly that sums up modern football. I've got no idea where from, but I'm certain someone will turn up with the dosh. West Ham are a far more merchantable item than Man City were 5 years ago.

They are one overseas businessman away from taking over UK football now especially with this huge and easy to get to stadium.... It will sadly from my point of view be South East London thats puts them there.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

But Man City or even Chelsea havent taken over UK football. It's still Man United who are the biggest club in the world. If West Ham do get a billionaire investor, they might win the league shortly after and perhaps even win the CL. But so what, we've seen it happen. They won't be the biggest club in the UK in my lifetime.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Lets see what happens when Ferguson leaves. I'd also be really interested in hearing views from people who actually live in Manchester as to how big the divide is amongst the football going public in that City. As I said the Overseas supporter will jump off very quickly after 3 years of not winning.

So Mancurians.... How big is the difference between City and United in your town today. ?

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

You mean like the 4 years between 2003 and 2007 of not winning the league? Sounds like wishful thinking from you.

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Also sadly the local population of Newham show little or no interest in the game.With the vast majority of their fan base now located in Essex.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Newham

Newham has the highest young population and one of the lowest White British populations in the country according to the 2001 Census. The borough has the second highest percentage of Muslims in Britain (24.3%).

When using Simpson's Diversity Index on 10 aggregated ethnic groups, the 2001 census identified Newham as the most ethnically diverse district in England and Wales, with 9 wards in the top 15.[6] However, when using the 16 ethnic categories in the Census so that White Irish and White Other ethnic minorities are also included in the analysis, Newham becomes the 2nd most ethnically diverse borough[7] with 6 out of the top 15 wards, behind Brent with 7 out of the top 15 wards.

The main ethnic groups are whites and Asians. Based on 2006 estimates by the Office for National Statistics, over 39% of the population is white, of which 32.6% are British, 1.1% are Irish, and 5% are from other white backgrounds. Approximately 38% of the population is Asian, of which 10.2% are Indian, 7% are Bangladeshi, 13.9% are Pakistani, and 5.1% are from other Asian backgrounds. Approximately 20% of the population is black, of which 6.5% are Caribbean, 12.4% are African, and 1.1% are from other black backgrounds. In addition, 1.6% of the population is Chinese, and 2.6% are from other ethnic groups.[8] Newham has the highest fertility rate in the country at 2.87, as of 2009, compared to the national average of 1.95.[9]

Re: The London 2012 Olympic Thread
 

Absolutely right, the way the British public got behind the Games was fantastic, that may not sit well with some but get over it :)