After our simply must win game at Peterborough United ended with the three points all connected with West Ham were so desperate for, I was truly shocked at the chants that emerged from the away end at London Road; the calls for Paolo Di Canio’s and the critical jibes at our style of play.
Twitter was also awash with some fans echoing a similar sentiment. I’ve got to ask am I missing something? Of course at West Ham we do like to see our football played in a certain
style; the ‘West Ham way’ is ingrained upon us all and I’m not suggesting for one moment this club abandons the beliefs and ideologies it stands for…but look where we are, we’re in the Championship a league none of us want to be in, a league where with the exception of Leeds and Millwall there isn’t a single fixture to look forward to.
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Surely the most important thing for our club is that we get out of this league, bring in better quality players and play the kind of football we all want to see in the games that really matter?
There seems to me to be a civil war breaking out between the ranks of Irons fans; some who refuse the criticise the team no matter what and others who are ludicrously scathing of Allardyce’s methods to the point they want to see him ousted for club legend Paolo Di Canio.
Big Sam must be so unbelievably baffled; he was brought to the club to get us back into the Premier League ASAP and almost every step of the way he’s been met with dissenting voices
going on about the ‘West Ham Way’ don’t get me wrong the West Ham way is a beautiful and noble fashion with which to play football; all on the deck, attacking football, involving academy graduates etc. but at the end of the day we have to get out of this league; should Sam pander to the fans play a lovely passing game and we wind up in the Play-Offs? Or should he stick to his tried and tested methods and secure us 2nd spot?
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There are just seven games to go and thanks to last night’s win our destiny is still in our own hands. For the crucial last handful of games can we just all get behind the team and the manager regardless of our own individual beliefs on the plight of our club? There is not one of you reading this who wouldn’t have taken where we are when we were finally put out of our misery at the DW last season.
Seven games to show that we are West Ham UNITED and we are seven games from redemption.
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The “West Ham Way” won’t get us out of this league!
Sam’s Way Will
COYI X
I read that some fans see Sam as arrogant – others may interpret that as confident in his proffession.
You mention that only Millwall and Leeds are games to look forward to.
To the rest of the football world that may appear arrogant – but i know what your real point is.
All fans want big teams,big games and big headlines instead of a “Tucked away” column or a 5 minute telly slot – but hang on –
Dont all the Management and playing staff want that as well?
I was there and I sang ‘Paolo’s’ name as I sang Ludo’s and Christian Daily’s names too. This wasn’t unusual as I’ve heard the same old chants in almost every away match I’ve been to since these players left the club.
None of these chants, at least for my part, were aimed at Sam. I’m pleased he’s our manager and hope he stays, whatever the outcome of this season. He’s turned us from a losing team to a hard to beat team in a short space of time. I haven’t forgotten how crap we were last year and the year before that and I don’t want to go back there. Sam gets irritated with his ‘long ball’ label, and we want to stop losing: this could be a good marriage if we work at it, but like all marriages, patience is a fundamental ingredient from both sides.
When the ‘we play on the floor’ chant started up, I did think of Sam and his long ball reputation, but I honestly think it was more a reaction to what we were seeing. At the time, we were hoofing to Carlton, who looked forlorn and isolated up front on his own. Every time the ball pinged back his shoulders dropped a little lower. Peterborough knew we were going to do this, as they had watched the videos. They were well prepared and not disappointed. The solution was obvious to anyone who was watching.
The chant seemed to work. The players responded with more movement and passing. We got out of our own half and scored. We kept it down again, and scored a second. Our tails were up, Posh heads were down and the ball was ours for the rest of the game.
I was at Burnley too, and a similar thing happened in the second half. Sam bought on Baldock and Maynard, the long ball option was off the agenda, we kept possession and scored two goals.
Whatever the chants, the atmosphere and support at London Road were good. We played our part in that win and could do the same at Upton Park tomorrow. Jobi McAnuff has said that Reading game plan is to turn the crowd: whatever the rights/wrongs it’s clearly our Achilles heel. If we can be louder in our support, whatever we’re seeing, we can beat Reading and go 2nd. If we get angry, frustrated and turn on our manager and players, we don’t stand a chance.
I don’t care if we play long ball, sing Paolo’s name, Ludo’s/Daily’s, I just want to win and go 2nd. If Sam can do it with a 4-5-1, a 4-3-3, a 4-4-2, a long ball, a short pass, a fluke goal, a penalty, that’d be fine with me.
PS I still fondly remember Paolo. He’s a legend at our club. However, Sam’s doing fine right now and Paolo, as a manager, isn’t in my thoughts.
Yes I think there should be less critsism towards allerdyce but lOng ball has not worked all season
Those that criticise Sam Allardyce are delusional. They further that delusion with the indulgent idea that Paulo Di Canio will inevitably lead us to the promised land of the Premiership with elegant football.
Sam is having to radically reorganise everything he inherited; not least the desperate relegation hangover of low morale (as evidenced by the fragile home form)and the dramatic culling of the squad. In the face of that he’s been expected to attain immediate promotion.
It has to be acknowledged that the team have just equaled our record number of away wins in a season – equaling two of the most significant seasons in our history.
Get real everyone, and get behind the team and Sam Allardyce.