Sam Allardyce has tactically mastered his way through to the final of the play-offs after watching his side thrash Cardiff City 5-0 on aggregate.
Big Sam tarnished with his “hoof ball” tag, was beginning to frustrate the Hammers faithful but is starting to win them over again, following some attractive free flowing football that has seen his West Ham side win six out of the last eight fixtures racking up an impressive twenty three goals in the process.
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He has finally found a settled team and formation and it is paying dividence as the football on show in recent games has left the home faithful on their feet. The Hammers have been spraying the ball around with ease, and they find themselves one step away from promotion; Sam Allardyce’s main objective upon his arrival.
Since that famous chant “we play on the floor” away at Peterborough the style of play has been completely different to that we were experience early season. The Hammers are in the face of the opposition and when the win the ball back rather than hopelessly pumping the ball forward, they play it along the back until an opening is in evidence. This approach has seen the Irons hitting fine goal scoring touch at the right time, and finding form in front of their own fans. The partnership of Ricardo Vaz Te and Carlton Cole, as well as the fine form of Gary O’Neil has meant West Ham have found a fine balance of attack and defence. A real credit to Sam Allardyce and his coaching staff, as when the
team steps over the white line they know their role in the team.
I admit I was beginning to get frustrated with our predictability at times in games, but I have been proven wrong just at the right time, the Hammers have found some vital momentum as the season came to a close, and then followed it up with a two legged semi-final hammering (excuse the pun) of Cardiff. The stick of Sam Allardyce is finally starting to dwindle and there is even a thread on KUMB stating that “We are West Ham’s Claret and Blue army” should be changed to “We are Big Sam’s claret and blue army”. A show that he starting to slowly starting to win the faithful over. I think that most Hammers fans accepted that West Ham had to win at all cost, and professionalism over style was important, but the grumblings around the ground as a long ball was easily headed away, showed that there was still some deliberation to whether it was for the best.
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But let’s be honest, Big Sam didn’t get of the best of starts endearing himself to the West Ham way, during his first press conference he slated the West Ham way, saying “as far as I’m concerned they haven’t played it for years, the recent West Ham way is losing isn’t it?” But is the new West Ham way an improvement? Professional and efficient whilst playing an attractive style of play is appealing to the fans in the stands.
Sam Allardyce is now just one step away from his objective and towards the end of the season he has done it in style. As the Hammers faithful take over Wembley, his calm and measured way will leave the fans confident of another win.
I for one think he has done a good job, and a win at Wembley on the 19th will mean he has done a superb job. He has come to a team with little confidence and quickly instilled a winning mentality, brought in a proper captain in Kevin Nolan to replace Matthew Upson, and has settled a new team down and made it a winning team and hopefully a promotion team.
Come on you free scoring rip roaring Irons!
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Indeed, Big Sam brings a tactical nous that we have been lacking for years. His ability to scrap out results will stand to us in the final and, let’s face it, we are far less likely to concede stupid goals which has often been our undoing in the past. Oh, and by the way, i think he’s too smart for Holloway who is very charismatic but can be a little naive at times. Over the season we have played a pretty decent mix of flashy football with some determined grinding when needed – it is the championship and sometimes that involves trench warfare.
Perhaps most importantly, at no point could you accuse the team or any individual player of not trying hard enough – some of our late comebacks have been a stunning testiment to the determination that Big Sam imbues his teams with. With decent fortune next Saturday will see the doubters silenced at last!