I have written many articles about Sam Allardyce and why he has been good for West Ham United. I was delighted to hear the news that he has signed a new two year, and not before time too.
Is Allardyce a fan favourite? No, I don’t think he is. However, nobody can deny that he has done his job to perfection. Promotion in his first season was trickier than it looked, and you only have to look at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Wolves to see how difficult relegation is from the Premier League. He has also got us to the top ten in his first season back in the Premier League, and we go into the Reading game knowing a win will secure our place in the top half of the table.
I think a two year contract is about right for Allardyce. No long term commitment is involved from either party, and means we can reassess the club again after two more seasons in the top flight. I’m sure the Chairmen have given him some realistic targets to achieve next season. Realistic would be another top ten finish and maybe a cup run. I think the away form as well, identified by Allardyce, needs to improve drastically. If we can turn 8 of those defeats into 3 extra wins and 5 draws, that gives us an extra 14 points next season, and will let us replace Swansea and West Brom above us next season.
For me, Allardyce is key to our continued rebuilding process, he won’t be here for the next ten years. When the rebuilding process has been complete, and we are once again an established Premier League team, then I think we can start looking for potential replacements.
Allardyce, in my opinion, is ‘holding the fort’ for a few more seasons, to make sure we are a solid unit. I don’t want to sound disrespectful to Big Sam, as I for one appreciate what he has done for our club, but I do not want Allardyce forever. There are still things I don’t like about him, but he is a manager who always delivers what is expected of him.
So two more years is a good length of time I think, it gives him a chance to build on what we’ve achieved over the previous two seasons, and gives Sam a chance to prove that we are not all about the big man up front and ‘long ball football’. If he wants to get rid of the label he got from the media, then what better way of doing it than at a club like West Ham United!
COME ON YOU IRONS!!
By Chelmo Hammer
Follow me on Twitter: @ChelmoHammer
good article spot on for me, i´d like to see at least one fullback who can defend and get up there and get crosses over,plus were desperate for a goal scoring midfielder and of course a 15-20 goal a season striker.
Yep good read, I agree about the length of the contract as well. He’s worked absolute wonders at this club in 2 years and he thoroughly deserves a new contract but if we need to take a new direction we’re not stuck with him like the barcodes are with pards
I understand many supporters share the same views as you do regarding Big Sam, but I don’t think many of the supporters that share those views have a full or complete understanding of the facts.
It’s easy to make generalisations about Big Sam which is what the media and some of our finest do. I’d just like to make a few points that many may have missed.
1. With the remit upon relegation (and financial meltdown) to achieve promotion at the first attempt, replacing the quality players that left with budget players and free transfers, to achieve promotion at the first attempt was nothing short of a miracle.
2. (STILL) With a budget and a limited transfer budget, we have overachieved to clinch what looks like mid table or above. WHAT MORE COULD ANYONE ASK????
3. Has any of the supporters READ his interviews or was ABLE to read between the lines??? Let me spell it out for those that haven’t. WITH BETTER PLAYERS, we will have an even BETTER team! Which is what we all ULTIMATELY want and what Big Sam wants!…………….. UNFORTUNATELY we are restricted by our budget i.e. finances!
Read between the lines in Big Sam or the chairmen’s interviews and I’m sure the doubters will understand.
4. Two year contract??? I’d have made it Five! Why???? It’s called STABILITY, as in a years time we are going to be down the same road again and you can lose first team players and potential signings if there is a constant cloud of change in the media day in day out.
5. Given the money I’d bet my house on it Big Sam can assemble a great footballing side. But after the big man’s achievements over the last couple of years, for supporters to get all “chelski” and think we can tweak this and tweak that, get a 20 goal a season striker, a couple of creative midfielders and get rid of half of this seasons squad whilst we’re at it are probably DELUDED!
One step at a time and have a little patience!
COYI
Spot on mate
“holding the fort” like Zola and Grant & Curbishley, you want to take your rose tinted glasses off mate, its a results business, and he gets results, hes in it for the long term. Are you craving for the “West Ham Way” of the Brooking/Devoshire era, when it was common practice to play hoofball, too many dreamers support the Hammers.
Well said Dave. Some of the things I read at times makes me shake my head in disbelief. Most of the time I try to let it go, but sometimes I feel the need to respond. Too many people are in too much of a hurry……even to think!
If you had read my previous posts, you would see that I like Sam Allardyce. And as the post reads above, he has a good chance of proving he isn’t a long ball merchant. After two more years, if he is still performing, and the team evolves, then we can sign him to longer. But what if in two seasons, nothing has changed? Holding the fort doesn’t mean he goes after the next two years, it means he builds on what he has done, then eventually make way for the right person.
Totally agree with cat,wish we’d signed Big Sam for five years,best manager we’ve had for many a year.
Why keep pissing and moaning about Big Sam and focus on what is really needed ….FRESH/STRONG TALENT IN THE TRANSFER SEASON. 3-4 SOLID players of different positions that can SCORE / DEFEND.
C O Y I !!!!!!!