Julian Dicks' column: West Ham legend on all things Hammers and football (From Echo)

Julian Dicks' column: West Ham legend on all things Hammers and football

12:40pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

Bobby Moore

IT WAS nice to see West Ham and the footballing world pay fitting tributes to Bobby Moore, because he was a great man and he deserves that.

The only thing that disappoints me about it all is it just highlights how much more he should have been honoured while he was alive.

It would have been fantastic if he’d seen how fondly he’s thought of because then he could have seen how proud we all are.

He gave me some words of encouragement while I was playing which really helped me.

I’d been sent off three times in 20 games or something like that, and everybody was jumping on the bandwagon and saying I should be banned.

And I remember Bobby was doing a radio show and I bumped into him and he said ‘don’t worry about it – you are a good player and you will overcome this’.

He spoke his mind but didn’t jumped on the bandwagon. And because he was Bobby Moore – the only English captain to lift the World Cup – he had an aura about him.

And he was always gracious, so when he spoke you listened and it meant something to you.

 

Spurs defeat

IT WAS disappointing to lose the derby with Spurs – wonder goal from Gareth Bale or not.

It is the biggest game West Ham play in the season and it’s not nice to lose, especially at home.

Bale is a class player, of course, but he’s only human and I thought West Ham gave him too much space.

And when you give players with his ability that much room you are going to come unstuck.

I still don’t think West Ham will be dragged into that relegation fight.

But someone told me they’ve now only won two in 12 – so they need to buck their ideas up.

We are coming up to the end of February and if they are still losing next month then they will be in trouble.

 

Stokes versus West Ham on Saturday

COMPARISONS have been made between the playing styles of Stoke and West Ham – so you can forgive supporters for expecting to have a bit of a sore neck when they play each other on Saturday!

Stoke are strong and physical side, they put themselves about and are no nonsense at the back, and West Ham are similar.

To be honest I think West Ham are a better footballing side, but players will have to stand up and be counted against Stoke player for player, because if they don’t they will be bullied out of the game.

That all said, I think Tony Pulis has done a terrific job at Stoke with the players he’s got, and he gets them to play to their strengths.

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