Latest

Has Sam Allardyce finally won the Hammers over?

|
Image for Has Sam Allardyce finally won the Hammers over?

Big Sam has gotten us off to a flying start this season. We’ve enjoyed pleasing pre-season results, and we’ve seen some exciting new players this summer- both new purchases (Razvan Rat and Stewart Downing) and also younger players poised to make good for us (Ravel Morrison and Sebastian Lletget.) We’ve got the strongest midfield and squad depth in midfield that we’ve had in years- and we eased to a fairly comfortable win against Premier League newbies Cardiff City.

It’s all coming up roses for Allardyce – and deservedly so. Given the strong progression we’ve made under him over the past two years, has he finally won over all of the Upton Park faithful?

Initial reaction to Sam’s appointment back in June 2011 wasn’t all positive (to say the least), and there was a lot of concern about his style of play- a style of play that has now certainly served us well. I think, and hope, that fans are aware of how much he’s done for our team since he joined us, and how we have improved in leaps and bounds since he’s been our manager.

The Cardiff game on Saturday was a great point of relevance for looking at just how far we’ve come. Compare us this year to us playing Cardiff on our opening game (and his first league game in charge) two seasons ago in 2011 – a game played in the Championship, which we lost 0-1. He inherited a recently relegated team who had not managed a league win since March 5th of the previous season.

Since then he’s managed to get us promoted, steer us to a top ten place in the Premier League, and break our record transfer amount twice. Last Saturday we kicked off with four of the same starters as we did two years ago – Winston Reid, Joey O’Brien, Kevin Nolan, and Mark Noble—and I think we can all agree that although all four of them have enjoyed good results in the last two years, the improvement that Allardyce has gotten out of Winston Reid has been exceptional.

He’s also made some good signings for the club – Andy Carroll, Matt Jarvis, Mohamed Diame, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan—and some wise re-signings in Joe Cole, James Collins, and George McCartney (if only he wasn’t injured!)

Our attendance has also increased since he’s been at the club. Our average attendance in 2011-2012 was 30,923 and in 2012-2013 it was 34,719 (worldfootball.net) with more sell-outs than not. Say what you will about our style of play –more people are coming through the gates now that Allardyce is here and we are playing football that people want to see (in the Premier League.)

We owe a lot to the ‘Davids’ for how our club progressed, but we also owe Allardyce a lot for how far he’s taken us over two years. I wasn’t sure at the start, but I’m now very glad we’ve got Big Sam at the helm and am optimistic about where we go from here.

Has he won everyone over? Well, I’m sure there are a few dissenters still, but he’s certainly won me over– and I have a sneaky feeling that if we’re not all singing his praises now, then by the end of this promising season, we will be.

Share this article

11 comments

  • Deano says:

    I agree. I think what the owners and manager have achieved is nothing short of a miracle. Rather be playing a slightly more direct football in the premier league than passing between defenders 20 times in the championship.

  • Mike says:

    I agree Its difficult to envisage that the David’s would have given the backing in the transfer market to sign players like Carroll, Jarvis and Downing. There’s absolutely no question about it Sam has done a simply outstanding job and in a few years will be up there wiuth our top managers like John Lyall. The best thing to see about the club is how much they all seem to enjoy playing their football – look at the transformation of players when they come to us – Andy Carroll, Joey Cole, Stewart Downing (who looked outstanding in his 20 minutes last Saturday) There’s no question under the David’s and Sam our club are really going places…….

  • Spen55 says:

    This long ball stuff trotted out by all and sundry (including some Hammers fans) is a myth. Some of the stuff we played on Saturday (2nd goal build up and finish) was as good as weve seen in years. I can remember well the Curbishley regime where the football was just sterile and bad enough to make me question the wisdom of renewing my season ticket. Things now are far far better, and its actually a pleasure to be a Hammers fan at the moment. You don’t have players like Cole, Jarvis, Noble, Diarra, Downing and Diame in a side then insist on playing long balls all day. Allardyce always said if he had the players then the style would change and that’s exactly whats happened. Credit where credit is due guys !! COYI !

  • ironmark says:

    I think since David Gold and sullivan took over the club, the club has had real drive. Big Sam’s arrival has enabled us to move on, and Kevin Nolan as built a close bond between the players. The club are in the best shape I have ever known. I have followed West Ham for 35 years.

  • BG says:

    I have followed the irons since 1964 and have never previously commented on the web but I must say that, for the first time ever I feel that we just may be on the road to take on the big boys. Big Sam is the man for the job. It would be nice if the terraces showed him the support by giving him a couple of verses of big sams claret and blue army.

  • george 2nd best says:

    owe it all to the Davids. if we can stay in the top 10 throughout the entire campaign i think that will be a massive improvement.

  • The Cat says:

    I agree with all the positive comments on here regarding our owners the David’s and manager Big Sam. All the snipers and back biters who seemed to enjoy pouring scorn on the owners, manager and club would probably avoid posting on a post such as this, as it’s too positive.

    Firstly the David’s taking over the club wasn’t well received at the time by many and many of those would have preferred QPR’s Fernandes, who has now proved to be more than a touch naive and could’ve sent us into administration at worst or back to the championship….minimum!
    The David’s did make a mistake in taking Grant on (NOBODY could’ve predicted that) which they have admitted, but I believe they were right to let go of Zola as he was too much of a nice guy & naive as he has also since admitted (maybe letting him go will be the making of him).

    BUT the David’s as well as being shrewd businessmen broke the mould when they appointed Big Sam. Totally left-field, against the grain and the hype that went before the man was deafening. Initially I thought the rumour & speculation was a cruel media joke but when the decision was announced, I was shocked. But once I got over the shock I tried to find out a little more about him rather than the fact that he was the ex Bolton manager who used to beat us regularly, where I felt we were the bigger better team against opposition that I foolishly believed we had a divine right to win against. I found myself impressed and taken aback by his completeness & competence on every level as a manager and the players he had acquired and managed.

    BRAVE, BOLD & INSPIRED decision by the David’s in taking Big Sam on as manager. TAKE A BOW!!!

  • The Cat says:

    I thought I would break up my post a little by also mentioning our prized ACADEMY!

    Before Big Sam arrived, it was hit and miss and the route to the first team was vague. Contrary to what some people wish to believe Big Sam has a plan and sat down from the off and worked out a plan with Tony Carr on how this system would work to get the young talent through to the first team. Tony Carr is a man of principle and IF Big Sam was anti football, anti skill or anti the ACADEMY……. He would have walked!!!

    Not EVERY young player will make it as anyone with any knowledge about football will tell you, but I have seen the BEST signs of “our” ACADEMY in Years (Probably late 90’s early 2000’s).
    Robert Hall walked because he was eager for first team football, time will tell if he’s made the right decision (like Montano. Hines and Stanislas before him), but we DIDN’T let him go and it needs to be remembered that the tail does NOT wag the dog. This happens throughout football which is why we now have Ravel.

    Onwards and Upwards, COYI

  • Johnsey says:

    Your headline on this article shows that some West Ham fans are still living in some kind of lala land.

    Sam has been nothing short of superb since he took over what was a club in absolute turmoil and deep decline.

    The alleged hoof ball spouted by tabloids is a myth, unfortunately some “fans” believe what they read in the papers and gleen their opinions from that.

    I was shocked when I read some reaction to saturday’s fantastic result, comments like: “why wasn’t Morrison brought on” and “Rat should’ve started” it beggars belief that these people honestly think they know more about the team than the vastly experienced current manager.

    Far too many followers (they’re not fans) are relatively successful on their FIFA games and believe they know it all.

    Here’s a thought, who would be prepared to allow Morrison to go out on loan again to free up space for a top striker? ……. Just a thought!!

  • Iron says:

    We are upwardly mobile as a club in all departments. These people know how to run a buisness using their heads but also their hearts. They work unbelievably hard to make our club a success Not only Sullivan gold and Brady but also … You have to hand it to him …big Sam My only one disappointment is that Tomkins has not had the same opportunity to develop as has Reid. A. Shame his partnership with Reid wasn’t allowed to continue from championship. A shame for west hams academy for youth development and a shame for England

Comments are closed.