With Sam Allardyce’s contract running out in the summer and the continuous debate over our Premier League safety here is my selection of potential managers if David Gold and David Sullivan decide if enough is enough with Big Sam’s tenure at West Ham.
1) Paolo Di Canio
You might as well start with the one man who’s on every body’s mind. Hammers legend Di Canio has just resigned at his post as SwindonTown manager and is now ‘back on the market’. He may be the fans favourite choice but the main concern is his lack of experience as a manager and especially in the higher divisions. Swindon being his only club in the country, he lead them to a fantastic position in League One, leaving them in a respectable third place and gaining promotion in his first season as manager. However, West Ham are a Premier League team and need someone with Premier League experience and a manager who has complete control over all of his squad, something in which Di Canio had not.
An example being his dispute with Swindon Town goalkeeper Wes Foderingham but what Di Canio does bring to the team though is passion; something which the Italian was never short of in his playing career. The former number 10 would expect nothing more than 100% from his players which would of course go down well with the fans.
Like I said though, as much as Paolo is a firm favourite and an obvious choice for some, I feel he needs a lot more experience in the game and if he was to, which I’m sure he will, manage West Ham he has a few things to learn.
2) Roberto Di Matteo
Another Italian and a choice which may not go down well due to his Chelsea roots but a manager who has honours such as winning the Champions League and the FA Cup surely can be a consideration. Albeit Roberto Di Matteo had an impressive squad to win these competitions, he also has automatic promotion under his belt with West Bromwich Albion, something which Big Sam failed to do. As much as it pains me to say it, the former Chelsea boss wanted his players to play good attacking football but also knew how to defend when needed, just look at their Champions League win last season.
3) Nigel Adkins
A sacking this season that took everyone by surprise, Nigel Adkins left Southampton FC having led them to double promotion and although a poor start to the Premier League, the SouthCoast side looked like they were beginning to start their climb up the league table.
The shock of the sacking was that the red and whites had lost only twice in twelve games. I have two points for and against Adkins in this selection, the point against is that he doesn’t have a great deal of Premier League experience and if West Ham want to not only survive next season but improve on their final league position from the end of this season, someone who knows what they are doing in the big league is needed.
My point for Adkins is that his teams play football ‘’the West Ham way’. His Southampton side were continuously praised for playing good, fast attacking football on the floor, using the wide areas of the pitch and scoring plenty of goals. This is what the anti-Allardyce fans are after and a free agent at the moment with a decent reputation, Adkins could see himself as a contender.
4) Slaven Bilic
The former Croatia national team coach, Bilic now finds himself managing Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow. Bilic has always said he would love to manage in the Premier League and the former Iron has been linked as West Ham manager before. The Croatian had an impressive record whilst managing the national team with a 64% win percentage. Like Di Canio, he is incredibly passionate and will demand his team put in 100%, having made Croatia a tricky team to face with a team of no out and out stars and is successful in bringing a team together, in which forming good morale with the players.
5) Ole Gunnar Soljskaer
The current manager at Norwegian side FC Molde, Gunnar Soljskaer has been linked to other Premier League clubs but is yet to manage in the Premier League. The former Manchester United striker has won the Norwegian Premier League twice in two seasons and a move to an English Premier League team doesn’t seem too far away.
Although David Gold told SportsDirect News: “I want to make this absolutely clear there is no managerial vacancy for Paolo or anyone else at the club. There is no job available” there is no certainty in football anymore as proven with Adkins and Di Matteo.
Personally, I like Big Sam and hope he is rewarded with a new contract as I feel he has done some amazing things to the club, bringing a great togetherness to the club and making West Ham a team that is tough to beat (unless we’re playing away).
As I’ve said, this is my list of potential candidates if Big Sam doesn’t get a new contract, do you agree/ disagree? Let me know your choice of a future West Ham manager if Allardyce does go.
ME
……….you forgot sibbo!
He’s not going.
Completely pointless article. Allardyce isn’t going anywhere – and a good job too…
Spot on!
Surely this article can’t be taken seriously by ANYONE!
Only 1 possible from that lot would be Adkins.
Totally stupid article because we alrady have the best man for the job in place!
Adkins is a good shout. Good manager with alot of potential and I think and hope Soton regret getting rid of him. However, as some have already stated we have the best man for the job currently based on our squad and our ambitions over the next couple of years – stability in the top flight. If Sam isn’t moving us forward after that then maybe time for a change?
Ha, one win and everyone loves him again. I stand by my thinking that was that we will not progress with his big wages for over the hill players and not blooding any youngsters.
I am thrilled to bits that there is no mention of Steve McClaren in this article. Good job :o)
Didn’t Gold confirm that the board will start talks with Sam in the summer?!?! … and good thing too … he is doing a fine job and provided he keeps achieving his objectives year after year i see no reason to change him other then the personal preference of some of our fans.
If he didn’t sign a new contract though and i had to pick from those five you listed the order would be: Di Matteo, Bilic, Adkins, Di Canio and lastly Soljskaer.
hes got to go
The words “absolute rubbish” do not do this article justice. Why Sean retweets this site is beyond me.
to the article writer, please throw peoples comments here back into peoples faces when we go down next year. No serious club, with beautiful new stadium on the horizon, will ever progress with Big Sam in charge. Ask fans of Bolton, Blackburn, Newcastle…..
Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle…?
Two of the clubs mentioned were doing better with him and one of them didn’t give him the time OR funds…
Oh well facts don’t matter!
Gus Poyet, all day long…..
Problem with threads like this is they attract by nature many short sighted supporters who would be better off supporting fashionable short sighted clubs owned by wealthy short sighted owners.
Sad but true!
You’re either on something or onto something.
I can’t see the owners paying a hefty compensation payoff, so it will have to be someone out off work.
PDC. Maybe.
RDM. Going to Schalke next season.
Adkins. Maybe.
Bilic. Wouldn’t bail on Croatia, so won’t bail on Moscow. Too much compensation.
Ole. Can’t see it.
Unfortunately, it will most likely be a BFS extension.
I’m going to out a spanner in the works a s suggest Diego maradona, currently being linked with a few jobs in France with Montpellier and others. Maybe his experience as a player could attract some big names who want to play for a manager who has “been there and done that” in his playing career.
Simple No
To the people saying its a pointless topic and that its rubbish i think your wrong. Its hardly rubbish if your reading it and taking the time to comment and this is a hot topic at the minute all West Ham fans are talking about is whether Big Sam is staying or no.. Nice read keep up the good work i would through Neil Lennon’s name in there as well, However am still undecided on what i want to happen with Big Sam
Stick with Sam done nothing wrong give him a chance to take us to next level break the bank sign Jack Wilshire arsenal always open to offers replace Nolan with Lampard add Darren Bent and bring in Ceaser from QPR onward we push
Big Sam doesn’t give a chance to young players
Di canio pull your self together the mans a liability,sams the man
If we secure EPL survival, which is looking increasingly likely, it comes down to the Olympic Stadium. If West Ham get the green light for the move, I think Big Sam will be kept on to keep us in the EPL until the move on a limited budget; something he’s shown he can do. If the stadium deal falls through, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen next. I could even see the David’s selling the club in which case it would be someone else’s job to decide what to do with Big Sam.
Why have you started this up again, Thought it was finished with we need the Fans behind the team, Not to keep winding them up. G&S and Sam will sort this out, it is not our job. Lets just get the Season over and hopefully still be in the Premiership.