What a difference a year makes…365 days on from our triumphant return to the Barclays Premier League our victory over Reading secured a top 10 finish. We only lost four at home all season so our blinding home form was the foundation upon which our survival was built.
Sam Allardyce has now completed both objectives of his first contract; getting us up in his first season and keeping us up in his 2nd so looking at it simplistically Sam was well worth his new 2 year deal. With everything sorted and the season done and dusted Sam along with the two David’s can now look to strengthen the squad so we can see a continued improvement next season.
I don’t want to get drawn into another debate about the merits of Sam Allardyce as a manager; but one thing that I don’t think anyone can deny is that he has a history of signing quality players; this is a man after all who got Anelka, Djorkaeff, Okocha and Campo to sign for Bolton Wanderers…I for one cannot wait to see what gems he can pull out of the market this summer.
Sam once said many moons ago that if he was a foreign manager his achievements would be more greatly appreciated and eulogised by the press/media. I have to say I agree; to finish 10th in your first season back in the Premier League deserves endless praise as its far from easy and yet such an achievement has been largely met with a wall of silence; as if it’s the norm for newly promoted sides to lose four at home all season and stay up at a canter.
Last season we finished 3rd in the Championship so we were the 23rd best team in the country, one year on and we’ve jumped up 13 places…that’s what I call progress. Things are looking up at the minute; the impending move to the Olympic Stadium, the new deals with Adidas and Alpari FX Trading and with our Premier League status wrapped up comfortably before the season’s end with a bumper new TV deal on the way. It has to be said looking at the cold, hard facts this club is moving in the right direction.
Of course things aren’t perfect; the away form needs addressing, the style of footy is always going to be a thorny issue as is the lack of playing time afforded to academy graduates, but who wouldn’t have settled for this at start of the season?
Exciting times lie ahead… surely we can all agree on that?
I personally think the style of play is absolutely no issue. I don’t think we have a particular playing style.
Spot on Kwame, the merits are there for ALL to see and finances permitting, the quality of players and style of play will undoubtedly improve. But I don’t think the style of play is a massive problem. Do manure, chelski or gooner fans complain when they win ugly??? When manure score a goal direct from a big goal kick or a 40 yard pass is that hoofball???
To think of where we were, when relegated under Grant two years ago with all of the financial problems to go along with it, is simply amazing. The Chairmen and Big Sam have given the club a new lease of life where we feel it is now onward and upwards for this club and it’s supporters. The constant storm clouds which this club has been living under for so long, now seems to have lifted.
COYI