West Ham boss meeting the fans’ demands?

At the end of last season, Big Sam was told in no uncertain terms that he had to provide “more entertainment” to retain his position at the club (Guardian.) Specifically, it was the lack of attacking during the season that caused the most concern, with Sam Allardyce playing just one striker at the best of times, and, on occasion, no striker at all. It would appear that, based on the summer transfer activity, something has changed in Big Sam’s plan for world mediocrity – because pigs have flown, hell has frozen over, and West Ham are to attracting some decent players to the East End of London.

Is Sam now listening to the pleadings of the fans and the board, and do his new signings reflect a change in the style of football that we will see at Upton Park? Has the man who sarcastically cupped his hand to his ear and refused to bow to the fans’ demands finally had his hand forced by the board to deliver better football to Upton Park, and, just as importantly, is he on the right track to doing it?

We’ve seen a different Allardyce during this transfer window. Normally we are linked with the same type of player – slightly ageing, great value or a free agent, and someone we can get some decent play out of. It’s not a bad thing, but it hardly gets the old engine going. This year, things seem different. We’re signing new and exciting players. We’re attracting and signing internationals with a good reputation, and also young British players with loads of potential. Credit is also due to the board who “agreed to support him with the resources that he needs,” and given that the main resource he needs is money, they seem to have done just that. (Guardian)

It sounds promising, but it will be a few more weeks before fans are able to see whether or not he’s met the criteria for exciting football. The pre-season game against Stevenage was not what I’d openly call exciting, but then we didn’t see the full collection of new players take to the field—and we also didn’t see any of the strikers, new or old.

After all, up front is where it all could get very exciting. I get the idea Sam would rather die a fiery death than play with two up front, but given the vast amount of money and experience that we might have available to our attack, surely this is the year he cracks and puts two players on up front?

At the time of writing, we know Enner Valencia is in London having the longest medical in the history of science, with a £12million (give or take) move to West Ham surely imminent. We’ve also signed Argentine striker Mauro Zarate, and given that we still have £15million striker Andy Carroll, loyal Carlton Cole, and a fit Ricardo Vaz Te, the mathematics seem to suggest we’re going need to play more than one of them at a time.

Now, that is something to be excited about.

What do you think of West Ham’s progress this summer? Do you think we might see some decent football this season, and have we bought well? Let us know below.