Ever since the decision to keep Sam Allardyce in place at the helm, I had reservations with the amount of power given to the board. However, what worries me the most, is the switch to ‘attacking football’.
Whilst last season’s performances weren’t exactly top quality, exciting football, we still came in at a comfortable position in the end and had a good cup run – despite the horrific scenes at the Capital One Cup semi-final legs.
I just think the team we have at the moment cannot play the football the fans want from the word go. Cheikhou Kouyate is a great player, it seems, but isn’t exactly an attacking player. Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis are good players, but again have almost been brainwashed into the Big Sam style, get the ball out wide and cross straight away. I almost feel that every time they try and run with the ball and take on defenders they feel like new born calves put out to pasture for the first time and they just don’t know what to do.
James Tomkins and Winston Reid are the same, but especially James Collins. Are they able to radically change the style of play they have been used to for a year or more? They need more game time playing this new style to adapt to it. Collins is a good defender but, again, he doesn’t seem to know what to do when he has the ball and his default reaction is to loft it up field. I do think Aaron Cresswell and Carl Jenkinson are very good attacking full-backs, but will they be unleashed under Big Sam? I can only hope.
Then there’s the unfortunate Mauro Zarate, who will fall by the wayside if we play like we did against Malaga. If we want attacking football I think Sam needs the fans backing and more time than the six-game trial period. I think the game against Sampadoria was a good run out and an important win, and we did see a bit more attacking football and flair but there is still a long way to go. This is my last pre-season article and I hope all the fans back Sam Allardyce and the players for the foreseeable future because West Ham is a team that really thrives off of their fans support and a team that is famous for it. The next time I write will be after the Spurs game so let’s hope it will be an upbeat article!
Personally worried for the season ahead. You have blantenyly pointed out the reasons why.
I trusted Sam to keep us playing top division football but this added pressure to go out and play attacking flair football worries me.
We do not have the players to play that way, but aye what do I know. Just hope I’m wrong and we have a really successful season
Kouyate is quality n u need someone like that holding fort whilst others attack!! Your 100% right bout the wing play! It’s always a lofted ball in from the byline,never whipped across early. We are predictable! N predictability is easy to play against!! As for Collins! Sorry but he is useless, to many mistakes that always seem to lead to goals n the whole hoofing thing is really pissing me off!