DISCLAIMER: This article was written before we beat Tottenham 0-3
We hadn’t yet got to October. The leaves were still on the tree, and the cold winds were yet to blow down Green Street E13. However, with the jerkiest of knee jerk reactions, both Paolo di Canio and Nigel Clough were unceremonioulsy dumped from their managerial positions, whilst David Moyes, Sam Allardyce and Steve Lomas were a handful of managers on the receiving end of the vitriol of the respective fans’ ire on radio phone-in programmes, many of whom were calling for their gaffers’ head. To me, it’s ridiculous, but there are two sides to the argument, and ultimately, in my eyes it comes down to money.
Roman Abramovich has set a precedent of throwing his money around with the proviso of wanting immediate results. In his time at Chelsea, Abramovich has employed, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho (twice), Avram Grant,Luis Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez. Not including interim or caretaker coaches, this equates to ten changes in ten years. However, in this time there has also been a number of trophies and success laden years. Many media types (and Chelsea fans) will point to this and claim that despite the management upheaval, it has still spelt success. A point that is true and proven, but ultimately not the blueprint for success that every football club can take on. For every Manchester City that has the financial backing and experienced boardroom, there is also a QPR, Leeds or Portsmouth, that didn’t bring the success that they thought their investment warranted. Some of these football club owners, aren’t football people and when success hasn’t come immediately, will happily withdraw their money, along with their interest, with no thought for the fans.
And this brings me on to my beloved West Ham. Hearing the variations of disdain echoing from many a disgruntled West Ham fan, one thing seems to remain constant. They wanted Sam out. And to me that would be the biggest mistake we could make. Yes, we have had a bad start to the season, but a club of our stature should not chop and change at the merest sign of trouble. When we look at our summer activity, we didn’t set the world alight. Our transfer record was broken by Andy Carroll, a player who spent last season on loan to us. Stewart Downing, another player surplus to requirements at Liverpool, possibly hindered by his over-inflated transfer fee, came in when the supporters wanted further firepower, whilst Razvan Rat, Adrian and eventually Mladen Petric all signed on free transfers. Happy with the signings or not, we have to realise that our budget has been hit and that the board are clearly backing Sam. Therefore, with us meeting the limits of our spending, to sack and pay off Big Sam would be a ridiculous idea right now.
Firstly, it would mean that the team that Sam has built over the past two years, which is a team he obviously has a vision for, would then be controlled by another manager. Would the next manager be able to bring the best out of these players? Sam has turned a club’s fortunes around and modelled the side how he wants it. At various stages over the past couple of years, Mohamed Diame, Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Vaz Te amongst others, have played to the strengths of the side, recognised by Sam. These are all Allardyce signings. Signings that have helped contribute to picking up the shellshocked relegated state of Avram Grant’s beleaguered side to a top 10 Premiership side within two seasons.
Secondly, with rumours of more money being put aside in January that won’t be earmarked for signings, counteracting the poor results with a sacking would take further finances away from any new arrivals required in January. Whilst the Avram ‘experiment’ was a disaster that had to have the plug pulled on it at the earliest and most sensible opportunity, Allardyce is a different kettle of fish. Sam has experience that cannot be bought. Throughout the season, a lot of sides will have a blip, ours might be now. History shows that Sam can turn sides around. That he has a know-how about how to manage in the top-flight. Also, as touched upon with the money situation, we can’t compete in that way with the likes of Chelsea. If we plan for the future, then the familiarity of keeping the same, recognised boss at the helm, will only be an asset to the side.
Patience is the key. There are few fans more frustrated than me at the start of this season, but getting on the manager’s back is not the answer. A lot has been said about the fabled ‘West Ham way’ ever since Sam took over. But surely ‘The West Ham Way’ has never been sacking and replacing managers at the first sign of trouble?
Come On You Irons!!!
@TheRobTaylor32
could’nt agree more,i’ve never been prouder of my team and my manager,big sam is the best manager we’ve had in years,he will turn it around. coyi
I have come to terms with the fact that we have many supporters who although they support the club, really have no idea about the game of football.
This is a National problem up and down the country where supporters expect their clubs to spend money they haven’t got to compete at the highest level even though it could mean winding up orders for their clubs.
whether it’s tactically naive or deluded is open to debate but I tend to avoid certain posts altogether as they attract a certain kind of supporter.
Big Sam is the best manager of this club that we have had for years and I suspect that many are too young to realise this and our chairmen are the best that I’ve “ever” known. If ceratin supporters can’t recognise this fact, then there’s no helping them.