It’s time to start reflecting on our season, and how successful West Ham United and Sam Allardyce have been. There have been some highs and lows, as their always is for West Ham supporters, but when you look at it closely, we were never really in the relegation dog fight, and with some consistent form over the last 6 weeks, managed to hit top ten, and keep looking upwards.
But what I’m going to be looking at is what has surprised me the most during the season:
1. Signing Andy Carroll – this was a massive shock to me during the last day of the summer transfer window. He had been linked all summer, and I think we were all of the opinion that it was the usual big named player who was never going to sign in a million years. Yet at about 8pm on Deadline Day, Sky Sports breaks the news that West Ham had signed Carroll on a season loan with a view to a permanent deal. Carroll cost Liverpool £35m, and is an England international – it was an unbelievable signing, and I hope we sign him fully this summer.
2. Lack of playing time for others – I’m sure with the signing of Andy Carroll, it meant that new signings Maiga, and then later Chamakh and Wellington, never really got a look in. I am shocked Maiga didn’t get more game time, he looked like he could finish, and I don’t see the point of paying so much money for a player who wasn’t going to play. Only the staff at the club know why Allardyce didn’t play him, but I think we’ll be trying to get our money back on him this summer!
3. Second half performance against Chelsea at home – When Juan Mata scored for Chelsea in our home game early in the season, I feared the worst. However, Allardyce introduced Momo Diame second half, and we turned it around. We played with skill and passion. We dominated the European Champions when we should have been dead and buried. But not only did we play well, we scored 3 times, and slaughtered the Russian Blues. I’ve never seen us come back like that against such top opposition. Diame was instrumental, and that game will live long in the memories of Hammers supporters!
4. Performances of lower profile players – Players like Joey O’Brien, Jussi Jasskelainen, Gary O’Neil and Guy Demel rarely get recognition. But these players have been a massive surprise to me. O’Brien has played most of the season out of position at left back, Demel has been a regular at right back, O’Neil has bided his time and filled in the gaps in midfield when needed, and more recently, has impressed with his displays whilst covering Mark Noble. Jaaskelainen has rolled back the years too, and has performed heroics in some games, and has been worth ten points on his own. These players will eventually be replaced, but for now, they remain key players and deserve more credit.
5. David Sullivan kept his mouth shut – For once, David Sullivan seems to have finally listened to some of the West Ham supporters, and has kept his mouth out of the press! Sullivan had a bad habit when he first came to the club of spouting out in the press and on the club’s website about a variety of topics, so the biggest shock has got to be Sullivan’s silence all season!
I’m sure other supporter will have other things to add to this list, but these were my 5 biggest surprises of the season.
COME ON YOU IRONS!!
By Chelmo Hammer
Follow me on Twitter: @ChelmoHammer
Also, I think Winston Reid stepping up to the plate this season has been a highlight. Didn’t he decide to stay in training with us instead of going to the olympics as well… I think he did. COYI
Also, let’s not forget big sam himself. It’s been a refreshing change not being in a relegation fight (excluding promotion from champo campaigns). If you had asked any hammers fan after the Wigan game (when the disasterous Avram was sacked and we were relegated with a whimper and rock bottom of the prem) that in two years we would be back in the Premier and finish 10th, we all would have bitten your hand off. To be honest, if you look at it, it’s a great achievement. Could we really have expected to finish any higher in our first season back? Big Sam gets such a lot of stick but he has achieved great things for us. Yes, I’d love us to be playing flowing attacking football, but I’d prefer to be in the Premier League. COYI
all true but if we want to be in the top ten next season there is a lot of work to do in the summer.
On the plus side that we secured such favourable terms on the Olympic Stadium. On the less good that James T didn’t kick on after a storming second half of last season and the Olympics. I am sure he will come good in time.
Very true Mr Moon. I think we can already see the benefits of the olympic stadium in our recent aquisition of Adidas as our new kit maker. Surely that played a part in it, it must have. Gold and Sullivan have been amazing for the club, imagine we could have done a wolves if it wasn’t for them. Exciting times for West Ham and the next 4 or 5 years should be really exciting. I can’t wait. Can’t wait for kick off in August to come round. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get Rio to come home for the last few years of his career and finish it off in the olympic stadium. COYI
I can’t understand why some are getting so excited about Adidas as the new kit supplier. The financial details haven’t been revealed and lets not forget this is the sam Adidas that are kit sponsors for Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers, Swindon and Worksop Town!
I agree with you though that exciting times are ahead !
Joey O’brien has been brilliant this season. Doesn’t get the recognition he deserves!