Watching games on the other side of the world at weird times can be somewhat of an out-of-body experience.
Whether it’s because we’re viewing the games through bleary eyes on Saturday night, or staying up until 3am for a late kick-off back home, the process provides a different perspective on the match.
Every fixture is televised, so we watch West Ham week-in week-out. But you can never get the full effects of the emotions that come with being at the game, which allows us to take a more standoffish, analytical approach to certain subjects.
This is true with performances, results, players, and primarily in recent times, the role of Sam Allardyce.
Immediately after many of the results this season, discussion threads amongst the Sydney Hammers community usually echo the seemingly universal vitriol towards Allardyce and the team.
Some people have been baying for blood, which is understandable given the current predicament. Some are calling Allardyce’s sacking, while others suggest bringing in someone in the back room to work alongside him, the likes of Paolo Di Canio or Julian Dicks – someone who can bring in a bit of ‘West Ham’.
When it settles down however, there is a more reflective tone that comes through; accepting of the limitations Allardyce has been under, and recognising the bad luck with injuries.
It stops short of being sympathetic towards him, as some of his team selections, formations, and transfer decisions have been extremely dubious.
But the poor results have often been on the back of frustrating, un-imaginative ,and clueless performances, and most believe much of the blame should be placed at the feet of the team that takes to the field. Look at captain Kevin Nolan for example; he has been a shadow of the player he was last year.
Allardyce is considered pretty much the best man for the squad we have, and the only person who can save us with the players he has assembled.
Whether it’s by stabilising the team, motivating underachieving players, equipping us for a relegation battle, or at worst case, formulating a promotion back from the Championship, there are few others in the market can claim to have the skills to cope with that wide a base of scenarios.
The clear consensus is that he has to invest in January and bring in quality reinforcements. A top class striker will change our fortunes more so than a change of manager.
What must be remembered is we are not cut adrift at the bottom of the table. We are not playing with our full strength side, we do create chances each game, and one of the country’s most expensive strikers is already on our books and closing in on a comeback.
We are all supporters of West Ham, from all parts of the world, and as our Sydney Hammers chairman says: “We will always support the manager regardless, as to do that is to support the club.”
I think you need to open your eyes down under, too much sherry watching the cricket me thinks. DG has openly said they made a mistake putting all their eggs in one basket in the summer, now that is not just the signing of Andy Carol is was the fact BFS has built a squad around one player, one system and one style … add to that the bizarre fascination with playing a system that only suits Kevin Nolan and you reveal the start of the problems he has self inflicted upon our club and himself.
Bony, Ba, Lukaku and Remy all said no to playing for West Ham United in the summer, no amount of money could persuade them which is not a good sign … the same stumbling block exist in the New Year, BFS, his system, his style and his fascination with Kevin Nolan … for me BFS is the problem, and there is always a first time for everything … relegation under BFS is looming …
Hmm, some interesting comment from down under! Not sure if you are damming the current regime with feint praise or being a little timid with your backing! But what is certain is it was a wise man who said “we will support the manager regardless, as to do so is go support the club!” So true! (But would that apply to grant and reoder?!).
Fed up as anyone, but at end of day when you look at the managers that about who we may get
If we was in this situation under someone else and Sam was out of a job we’d being saying get him in he’ll sort it
No so much the money tom as the fact that having spent what we did on Carroll and Sam only playing one up, it must be fairly obvious to anyone (wether gold says it or not) that with system we play carroll plays whenever fit
So ba etc likely be stuck out on wing which he didn’t like here first time or when Newcastle made him do it
Though I must agree that it’s the players that need to turn out each week, in any other job if a team is performing badly it’s the manager that is at fault for not preparing, motivating and assembling the right balance to deal with the job at hand (many different teams means many different systems to play against, so one style of play is never going to get you far – especially when the others can see it a mile off and cancel it out….).
So for me, it’s got to be BFS that has to take the ultimate accountability for our predicament!
We’ve all been here before, many times! Lots of great players and clueless managers of how to get the best out of them!