I’m ready to unleash my unpopular opinion!
West Ham fans are acting spoilt.
West Ham’s relegation history – 1931/32, 1977/78, 1988/89, 1991/92, 2002/03, 2010/11.
The Hammers have hardly had the easiest of rides as a Championship/ Premier League team and periods of stability should be praised. Relatively speaking I haven’t been a West Ham fan for as long as the majority but I’ve already witnessed two relegations and three subsequent second-tier campaigns.
Sam Allardyce took over in 2011 following in the woeful footsteps of Avram Grant. West Ham had a successful Championship campaign and marginally missed out of automatic promotion by two points and the Championship by three.
West Ham then cruised by Cardiff City, 5-0 to make it to the Play-off final where a harder test against Blackpool awaited. West Ham won promotion late-on through Ricardo Vaz Te’s close finish. Next up for Big Sam was his first test of Premier League life with West Ham. A comfortable season for West Ham led them to a 10th place finish whilst the winner of the Championship in the previous season Reading, were relegated. The Hammers also finished five points above Southampton (fellow promoted side). Another extremely successful season, with no relegation battle to be had.
We now arrive to the current season, a relegation battle which certainly involved West Ham for the most part, seemingly quashed post-February. Big Sam has been under pressure from the West Ham fans for his brand of football and lack of entertainment. An undeniably poor season, but seemingly and most importantly another season in the Premier League to follow, ahead of the imminent move to the Olympic Stadium.
There have been petitions to get Big Sam out of West Ham, various polls and even a Twitter profile dedicated to all things anti-Sam. Rather ridiculous really. This season hasn’t gone to plan, granted. But West Ham’s luck hasn’t been in full swing either. So many of the West Ham fans who claim to be missing “the West Ham way” will have witnessed five of West Ham’s six relegations from the top division. Regardless of this fact, they all want Big Sam out. There was a period of silence during February but West Ham’s form has dropped again and the pressure is building once again.
The fact of the matter is: Sunderland, Fulham, and Cardiff City (current bottom three) would all take Big Sam in a heartbeat, as he gets results. Big Sam always has done and always will do. He’s doing his job of keeping West Ham in the top flight, it’s what he was hired to do. If you were fired from your job for not doing what you were supposed to do with enough panache. Any blame for being unhappy with what you’re watching should be aimed at the Chairmen, not Big Sam. Then again, how can you blame them? They are business men who want a manager to secure Premier League safety whilst their master plan of a new stadium grows ever closer. They certainly do not want unpredictable entertainment, and that’s something the fans have to live with, for now. No manager lasts forever, there is always a change. Just be patient, and rejoice in being on Match of the Day, and many other positives of being in the top flight.
With a bit more fortune next season, we will all enjoy a more successful season, there’s no doubting that. West Ham fans are acting spoilt in believing that they deserve better – why? We have never been the cream of the crop and baring a cash injection of Man City proportions, that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Big Sam is doing his job, who was hired by the Chairmen. A successful partnership so far and West Ham are strengthening at the core. It’s a slowly-but-surely process.
Sorry my friend but to a lot of us, it is deeper than relegations and the odd season in the championship. There is quote from Ron Greenwood circulating that roughly reads…
West Ham fans are not burdened with the expectations of results. They will always go to watch entertaining football played in the right way.
This is true and a lot of us are tired of watching such awful 1 dimensional football. Currently, we are probably the most boring, unimaginative side in the league. His tactics barely got us promoted and they are quickly becoming next to useless now. Southampton came up with us, played the right way and look at the success and positive atmosphere around their club…
Another steaming great pile of Allardyce football and tactical genius served up today….
West Ham have become so tactically predictable, if fit Carroll and Nolan to start, Nolan had not a lot of pace in his prime but now he is positivley pedestrian, Carroll has not looked the same player he was before his injury. Teams know how to handle our goal threat, no plan B, It looks very much like 37 points will be our total for the season, lets pray that three teams manage to be worse than we are.
Wonder if the Club are getting at some of our forums/websites, I can’t agree with you, it is disappointing for one of our own websites/forums to be attacking loyal fans, many of us who go back to when were just young kids, instead of directing at The Manager, and Gold & Sullivan who seem to be giving him their blessing and ignoring fans.
Football is in the entertainment business. As soon as fans don’t enjoy watching their side play to the point where we boo a win vs Hull, all the he has kept us up crap doesn’t wash with me. Not one person to have watched us in the last few weeks has enjoyed the experience. Since October the atmosphere at Upton Park has been the worst I’ve known and to top it off Sam is hardly getting any results mate, there is still a chance we get relegated and if we miss out it will probably be by 1 or 2 points.
Being in the Championship was way more fun anyway so all this about how great it is being in the Premier League is rubbish anyway. If we only go to the PL to live a very boring, tedious and embarrassing existence then I would prefer to Vaz Te free scoring days of the Championship thanks!!
Sorry Mr Fry , but you are wrong. BFS as you state, does not play attractive football, but he is in the results business to keep us in there. Well there is something drastically wrong then, because he is not getting results with his format of play either. Our best period this year was February with four wins on the trot, ironically without his pet player Carroll. We have today witnessed one of the worst examples of clueless football yet. Yes, we would like to see good tactical attractive football , preferably on the deck most of the time, which would preclude Sam from being involved,but more importantly we need to WIN some games and he is not capable of achieving that either. We scrapped into the PL and had a relatively good season last year, but our one dimensional tactics are now an opposing coaches dream and when it doesn’t work Sam goes for another big gun approach by bring Carlton on for the last 10 mins which again does not work. In the first instance we would accept being in the PL not matter how we play but given our performances we are lucky to still be there. If it was a choice of losing Sam’s way or losing playing intelligent FOOTBALL most people would opt for the latter!
After reading that “article” I came to the conclusion that you must be Allardyce’s agent. If you haven’t noticed Sam has managed to already match Avram Grant’s achievement of losing 19 games in a season and will certainly go on to surpass it. We wouldn’t mind if the team actually went down every time all guns blazing instead of this rabbit-in-the-headlights act that Sam seems to have instilled into the side. The team is broken. It needs fixing and the fix is to replace the part that is faulty. In this case the manager.
You carry on with your delusional praise of Sam Allardyce. If relegation does not come to the Boleyn this season it certainly will next.
I am sorry,I do not accept that I am spoilt. However if being spoilt is to walk away from a game happy or certainly disecting the game over a pint then I am up for it.
Your like every deluded BFs supporter can only keep bringing up that he got us promoted etc. Open your ears No one has condemned him for that !.
We are fed up with this rubbish he serves up week in week out. We are now 5/6 from bottam and this is with his first team !!!.
Where would we be without that lucky february or lucky win over Hull. There is no one in their right mind that can say this is adequate because it is not.
Then there is the old adage that sam has never got relegated, he came very close.!! Perhaps he will break that record next season. I for one will save my season ticket costs, match day costs and clothing and watch matches in the pub. At least when I have had enough I can go to the bar. Sam and his hanger ons out.
I feel like BFSam is intentionally trying to piss off the fans that pay his extortionate wages.
So we cry out for 2 up top pretty much most of the season, he decides ok lets play 2 front men but I will make damn sure that there is no service to them by taking off our wingers.
End result – Sam looks justified in playing his 1 up top formation.
Pretty similar situation in jan with the exit from both cups (fair enough we had an injury list longer than andy carrol’s pony tail) but it seems he sent out the team to lose at forest – with a knowing smug attitude of I’m right and the young players that you want to see in the 1st team aren’t as good as all you fans claim.
The ravel morrison situation is just a sick joke our best player for the first 10-15 games is sent out on loan because “he hasnt got the fight needed for a relegation dogfight” I think the real reason is he cannot justify picking golden boy nolan in front of morrison when even a retarded monkey can see that he offers more to the team.
I think a boycott of the final home game would have more of an impact in forcing the owners hands and getting rid of Sam all the protests, polls and banners will have little or no effect as long as we keep pound notes rolling in
What’s the point of playing football if your own supporters would rather watch paint dry! I give up moaning, even the Mrs wants Sam sacked just so I stop whinging… And she would rather watch paint dry than watch football. Please not another season of Sam!
To put it in perspective Big Sam is now the 12th highest paid manager in world football! In terms of entertainment, ask this arrogant overpaid manager whether he’d stump up 10% of his weekly wage to watch paint dry, the equavilant cost the average Hammers fan pays. Would he pay £7k to take himself and his wife to a West End show where the actors continually fluff their lines and perform in front of cardboard set? THIS ARROGANT HYPOCRITE NEEDS TO GO NOW!
I’ve never read such a pile of crap in my life !
I’m sick of the fans taking stick, the fans who pay £60 /£70 a ticket to watch the total dross this buffoon presents on a football pitch every week.
He is a clueless twat who now needs to vacate his position, so that a FOOTBALL manager can take charge and provide something decent for the fans to watch.
The man seems to think he is some sort of messiah and actually believes fans have no right to entertainment – we do, and we were here a long time before him and will be here a long time after him, so pack your bags and ***k off, Sam.
Well, 4 losses in a row is certainly not a very good reference for Sam to continue. I must say, it has been an almost unbelievably unenjoyable season. What happens with Sam being at West Ham now is anyones guess, but I totally understand people making their feelings heard. West Ham fans pay their money & are entitled to their opinion. Amen
Fuck Off BFS enuf said & take this shit with you as for Noble keeping on we’re gonna do this & that your a cunt as well
I grew up in Dagenham. I now live (cos of work)in Jersey,I had a chance and took my 5 year old boy to watch West ham vs Stoke earlier in the year. Nuff said about that ‘game’. A few days later, back in jersey, my boy had his first footie session with local team. Last ten minutes, sides were picked for a mini match. The coach picked my lad and another as captains. Then asked the other captain to choose who his team were. My pride was brewing as the other side were deemed Spurs. Still swelling with expectation (I knew he would do me proud, claret and blue blood etc in us both),, the coach asked my boy “and which team are you?” now, bearing in mind, my lad is wearing his spanking new Hammers kit, socks n all, he was bouncing up and down to give his team choice with gusto……… “Stoke City”, he proudly stated. ” Stoke”? Said the coach noting the kit, “yeah, Stoke City, cos they’re the best!” blimey is the politest way I can put my reaction. So, Spuds vs the mighty Stoke it was. And Stoke won…. It gets worse. Days later, many stern talking to’s later, he’s playing FiFa footie. Who do I find him playing as? So, thank you Fat Fuxxxng Sam for introducing one of a new generation of Irons fans to football. My son, who is five, won’t even touch the west ham kit and chooses the put together, generic footie gear over it. I am a lifelong Hammer and this hurts more Han any laugh this story gets. Fat Sam fuxxxng right out!
Will after reading BFS comments in the sun today and our result , i can now confirm i will not be renewing my season ticket, a very sad day for me ☹.
I think I will be joining you if he’s still at the helm – at WBA today another day great day ruined by the football. Even our away support (and there were thousands of us) was so subdued, reflecting the dull and lifeless style we now play. BFS and the two David’s need to remember supporters react to excitement, nuff said?
Can someone tell me what the article about WHUFC inSatyrdays Sun said ? Please ?
“The fact of the matter is: Sunderland, Fulham, and Cardiff City (current bottom three) would all take Big Sam in a heartbeat, as he gets results. ”
Can’t believe what I have just read, ffs we have lost 7 out of last 9 – and with most of his players back! Note we were also v lucky to win v Norwich, Southampton and Hull. “acting spoilt” are you for real???
Get a grip. Remember where we were under Zola and Grant!
It’s becoming embarrassing to say I’m West Ham. Not because of BFS but because of our moaning, whining so-called fans.
There’s been an agenda against Sam, since the day he was appointed and it’s pretty pathetic.
He got us up. And will keep us in this league whilst we slowly build a squad and team that can play a better style of football.
Firstly, no agenda from me, I gave him all the support you could when he arrived. In fact I was actively cheering things.
We were good at attacking set pieces, first time I remember organised, football was ok at times, and in fact argued he played more football than being credit for, then the wheels came off for me, last season, but I still tried to stay faithful.
The killer for me, last season when we were mid table, safe and we went away to play Villa, bottom 3 young kids fragile confidence. BFS decided to plat 5-4-1, ultra defensive. It was boring as hell at HT 0-0 no chances either way. Second half we had half chances, went slightly more attacking but 10 mins of second half nothing happened, then Lambert made a change, and BFS did nothing, and they scored. BFS did nothing. A game we should of been more forceful with.
Then that got me thinking of his poor transfer business and his use of youth players, he hates the academy with a passion, otherwise his treatment of the youth players would not be as it is. This was last season and his antics of this had not even started.
I’d be very very surprised if the owners don’t sack Sam now, because after all, they are business people. Sam & West Ham were in 10th position, now it’s 14th & sliding fast. Every Premier League position lost is money lost to them. What a shame the owners don’t seem to give a damn about listening to their fans, as who Jaybs reminds go back decades to when we were kids. Even though I innitially supported Sam, I have to admit, that I am not looking forward to &/or cannot get fired up about a new season with Sam still in charge, he has just become so old fashioned now, it aint funny. Even for Hammers fans who cannot get to the game & have to watch a game at the pub or wherever, it has become a total embarassment in front of neutrals, in fact Hammers fans have to laugh along with them at the total disgrace of football played by West Ham. A total laughing stock. I wouldn’t watch in front of neutrals. People are turning further & further away from this club now. I’ve cut back on my views about Sam as of late, but if I was the owners, I’d look at the fact that Sam is no longer capable of changing tactics. He’s lost a lot of league positions, losing fans & the club is now losing money with every position in the table lost, no, I’d cut my losses, cut his contract short, put in the assistant manager now & put Andy Carroll up for sale. It’s as simple as that. If the 2 Davids are genuine business people then business is business. Did the Glazers hang around with David?,No!
Whichever way you look at it, regardless of the result between Sunderland v Cardiff today, it is impossible for no more than 3 of the bottom 4 clubs to get past 38 points. All of these clubs have a worse goal difference than West Ham. If West Ham cannot get 1 point from either of their next 2 games, equaling 6 straight losses from their last 6 games of the season, then they really don’t deserve to be in the Premier League. It is looking odds on that at least 3 clubs won’t even get past 37. If that happens, OK (as in West Ham just feebly falling over the line) , but what will not be OK, is that if West Ham end up not even getting 1 point from their last 6 games of this season, then how can West Ham fans possibly look forward to a new season with things the way they are? 6 straight losses would equal Avram Grant’s record of 6 straight losses in the 2010/11 season. We already equal his record of 19 losses for the season & it’s odds on we’ll even break that record with 2 games to go.
I just can’t see good players being attracted to sign for West Ham under our current management, & it looks like we need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & just kick long balls up field to Andy Carroll? Or, just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
Good players will not be attracted to sign for West Ham under our current management, & it looks like we need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & to just kick long balls up field to Andy Carroll? Or, to just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
West Ham, will not be able to sign good players under our Sam. West Ham have been trying for too long now without success, & it looks like we need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & to just kick long balls up field to Andy Carroll? Or, to just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
West Ham need to have a management team in place who are an attractive proposition for any player wanting to advance their talents. Players such as Johnny Heitinga didn’t want to come here because they knew it was a dead end under Sam, who would take their talent to the grave yard. We need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & to just kick long balls up field to Andy Carroll? Or, to just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
THE RECORD IS STUCK. IT NEEDS CHANGING!!!
I just can’t see good players being attracted to sign for West Ham under our current management, & it looks like we need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & just boot it up field to Andy Carroll? Or, just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
Whichever way you look at it, regardless of the result between Sunderland v Cardiff today, it is impossible for no more than 3 of the bottom 4 clubs to get past 38 points. All of these clubs have a worse goal difference than West Ham. If West Ham cannot get 1 point from either of their next 2 games, which would be 6 straight losses from their last 6 games of the season, then they really don’t deserve to be in the Premier League. It is looking odds on that at least 3 clubs won’t even get past 37. If that happens, OK (as in West Ham just feebly falling over the line) , but what will not be OK, is that if West Ham end up not even getting 1 point from their last 6 games of this season, then how can West Ham fans possibly look forward to a new season with things the way they are? 6 straight losses would equal Avram Grant’s record of 6 straight losses in the 2010/11 season. We already equal his record of 19 losses for the season & it’s odds on we’ll even break that record with 2 games to go. I just cannot see good players being attracted to sign for West Ham under our current management, & it looks like we need to sign half a team!!! Tell me, if you were any good as a player, would you sign for a club, knowing you’d be told to just forget all your natural ball play & just hoof it up to AC, or just watch balls flying over your head, getting wasted on someone who can’t score?
Very disillusioned at the moment. Not with Sam or the team certainly not with the board – without them we would be where Portsmouth are or worse.
My only gripe is with so called fans who think its ok to boo their own team.
There are a lot of very short memories and I don’t think some fans realise how close we were to financial oblivion.
If the price for still being in the Premier League – mid table and moving to the Olympic Stadium – then that’s fine with me.
I have followed the hammers for over 30 years and had a season ticket for a good few of those years but have moved to Ireland 10 years ago and have only seen 2-3 games per season since – so admit I have had not had to sit through some of the dross this season. But I do believe that the long term gain far outweighs the short term disappointments.
We have to get behind the team – I think Sam will have one more season – he is out of contract then and we can say thanks very much – Job done and move on.
For those who abuse the team and manager or threaten to not renew your season ticket – all I can say is White Hart Lane is only 8 miles away – you will fit in well.