So, the news many of us have been dreading has finally been delivered in a short statement by the board. Sam Allardyce is to be handed a £20 million war chest to enable him to put a side together that will once again enthral the Boleyn crowds…or so we are told.
The statement reads:
“After listening to feedback from supporters, the Board have insisted on improvements to the set-up of the playing and backroom staff to ensure the team provides more entertainment next season.
“The board will once again be investing considerable funds into the Club this summer. The club have made clear that they want to see progression on the pitch and at least a top-ten finish as a result.
“We have a very clear vision of how we want West Ham United to operate under our joint ownership. Although not everybody understands the West Ham Way, we do and we respect it as we have been supporters all our lives.
“We believe this is about a philosophy that is not just about the style of play, but the whole ethos that surrounds the club. We have mapped out a way forward with (Sam) that will ensure our much-deserving fans have more to cheer about next season.
“We should also stress, though, that while improvements do need to be made, Sam deserves credit for the job he has done thus far after securing promotion in his first year and two respectable Premier League finishes in the two years thereafter.
“The 2014/15 campaign is crucial to our future and we are confident that Sam has the passion, experience and determination to make sure it is a success.”
I thought the feedback from supporters was pretty much along the lines of “Thanks Sam but cheerio, time for some watchable football” Clearly I was wrong given the vote of confidence given to BFS. Mind you, given the well-publicised and lengthy delay in Sam’s endorsement, it can’t have done much for his confidence or ego can it?
There was Sam thinking he had done a great job in keeping little old quaint and deluded West Ham in the big boys division, as per instructions, when others, not least a split board so we understand, needed time to dissect his three-year legacy and debate on the merits of keeping the old dinosaur in work.
The general feeling from those in the so called “know” was that a David Moyes or a Glenn Hoddle or a Steve McClaren would fit the bill nicely, when deep down, there was always a strong chance that the lazy and unimaginative policy of the “devil you know” would predominate, and crush so many fans hopes. And so it proved. The reaction across the board has been brutal.
So the path is set. A defensive minded, pragmatic and pathologically rigid manager is now tasked with a top ten finish (with style and panache). His entire coaching philosophy, honed and sharpened over 20 defensive, snooze laden years now has to change between May and August; some 12 weeks to graduate from crashing bore to dashing score; call me cynical but isn’t that a lot to ask?
Big Sam no doubt pleaded his case with great gusto, backed up by his usual bluster; whilst the three wise(?) persons, nodded sagely and all was right with West Ham and the fans would mutter a little and trot off to purchase season tickets by the bucket load. Or not.
I will buy my 2014/5 ticket for one reason only; it’s the last season at my spiritual home and I couldn’t bear to miss a single match at the place that means so much to me. The football will almost be secondary this season and my expectations are virtually zero; what a horrible way to view the upcoming season isn’t it. But that’s how it is these days. Let down by the board, the manager, and a host of players simply unsuitable for life at the top.
Sam Allardyce has, we are reliably informed, been handed twenty million quid to improve the side. Lets see how many players on the way in are less that six feet tall. Lets see how many are considered playmakers and ball players and passers and thinkers and dribblers and creators. His buys will tell us, more than anything else could, exactly which way the club will be heading, and about the style of play we can expect.
I’ll still make the journey from Ireland to as many games as possible, despite the football on show, it’s still our team, the lads in the pub before and after the matches team, the boys queing up for pie and mash team. the random fellow hammers i meet along the journeys team, BFS just has control of it, we are west ham and we need to stay positive. COYI
We are West Ham…that’s the bottom line Jamie mate so COYI !!
Why is 2014/15 your last season? Gold and Sullivan have the bonus of knowing that if any of us really want to be at the very last game at upton park in the 15/16 season, we have to renew or tickets, they quite simply will not be available any other way. Expensive way to look at it but I wouldn’t miss the last game in 2 years time for anything.
As for the team, we have the solid base to work from. Let them do their work this summer and judge once we have bought a few players.
As for Sam, we all seem to have gone way over the top about this situation. I’m the first to admit this has been one if the worst of my 10 years as a season ticket holder, but anyone would think we have just gone down with record low points tally. When Bolton had okocha and djorkaeff, they had some skill and flair so it may not be a alien to him as we want to believe it is.
The decision has been made, time to try and move forward, keeping all toys inside the pram at all times! At least until we see the signings and set up of our team in mid august. We can judge then.
COYI
Graham. After 50 years devoted and loyal support, like many I think we deserve some light at the end of the tunnel. Do you REALLY think SA can deliver a total about face in terms of style and entertainment within 12 weeks? Ive managed and coached with a EUFA B Licence for many years and the things I keep on about with the kids is touch, movement, passing, support play, always looking forward as your first option, keeping the ball on the deck and keeping it moving to feet, finding space…you get the picture. To then watch my “professional” boyhood team play eight passes across the back before smashing a long ball to big AC is hard to look at, and runs counter to all I coach and look for.
As you rightly say, the decision has been made and we must indeed get on with it and hope we see some more enlightened and thoughtful play. As I said in my piece, once the incoming players are known, then I think we can start to see where we are going. COYI !!
Do us a favour and don’t buy your ticket. God I hope you don’t sit near me.
When was the last time you were entertained over west ham, I reckon Harry did it 12 years ago, and that was for about 1 and a half seasons.
I for one am looking for a few good new signings, a couple of younger guys working there way in, and then get behind the claret and blue.
Look at history, only on very few occasions have we been any good and exciting and attacking.
Don’t talk about the 60’s, its another world and generations away, it would be like people in the 60’s talking about the 1910’s, sounds stupid doesn’t it.
Most of the 70’s was average, I was there watching and we had 3 good years in the 80’s.
Bottom line, if you don’t want to watch a team that are always the underdogs, always let you down when its looking good, and want to win tiltles, go over the Arsenal, you will fit in well with them lot over there.
We were a great club because of the supporters, everyone hated coming to Upton park because of the crowd, it was intimidating.
Now we just have people like you moaning, moaning, whinging.
Smile, laugh and support the team or p… off !
That post is spot on.
I second that Dave. This season for me has been as bad as I have experienced not so much for the football (like you Dave, Ive been around long enough to know better), but for the utter drivel spouted by media and our finest sheep.
I’m WHTID, this is MY club and team and I will support them till the end, not put them down because I’ve got citeh or chelski ambitions.
IF……Big Sam had citeh or chelski money, I could certainly understand all the drama & speculation….. but he HASN’T!
He’s met the criteria to the letter, and he’s been big enough to suck it all up and ready to come again. How many of these cyber warriors have that much about them?
Let’s get reay for the new season afresh with new additions new attitude and ready for the fight!
COYI
We need to give allardyce another chance to be more positive
Amazing that some people cannot differentiate between being a committed supporter and able to recognise when they are being short changed by poor performances,poor,negative tactics from a manager whose whole being embraces a hoofing style received with hilarity by opposing supporters. Rather than anyone being scared of us and our current tactics we have become a laughing stock amongst other supporters and this hurts. We are concerned because where I sit we have years of support and win ore lose over the years we have been entertained by an attacking style by players actually able to pass the ball but I doubt that you would not appreciate that style of game. If you are such a supporter of bfs style I suggest you p… Off to the lower leagues and leave us knowledgeable Hammers fans to get us back to where we belong and that is not with bfs.
Ron…thank god someone has the intelligence and understanding to see exactly what is going on at the club. Its the real fans, not these “happy with any crap” merchants (see above) that have even forced the board to look at the appalling situation. Without the protests and widespread coverage from the fans who CARE about the drivel being served to us in the name of so called entertainment, nothing would have been done. Can you believe people are so naive, dull and uninspired that they seem angry and surprised about the backlash from the Allardyce management style.
My advice guys…don’t be like sheep, get angry if you are not happy, don’t feel that you are not supporting the club just because you desperately want better LIKE WE ALL DO, and just like ive done every one of my 50 years being a Hammer, support the team on match days until you are hoarse.
The club board and management love contented little sheep who just keep their heads down, pay good money for anything served up, keep quiet and don’t have an opinion. Its because the people who care about West Ham have said enough is enough that Allardyce has been told in no uncertain terms ” entertain or go”. David Sullivan is no fan and nor are thousand of others.
West Ham have never regularly challenged in the table and never will, as things stand, because of the financial situation with other clubs. If we finish 15th or 16th and ive actually seen a season full of goals, some skill, plenty of crosses and shots and some will to go forward then I for one will be twice as happy as I have been this year.
If people are happy with what we have been served this season, that’s your choice. If you aren’t say something AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR ALL OF US!
Ok, we may support the club (?) and we’re all different with different opinions and views……….. BUT, whether you like it Or NOT, he will be the manager next season and rightfully so, because he achieved what he was tasked with achieving, in short Premiership survival in the notoriously difficult second season.
Some financially challenged supporters may not have noticed that this club is not financially awash with ready funds. Nobody is saying that last season saw the best football this club has EVER seen, but I have seen many an inept performance in my time and last season doesn’t come close to some of the rubbish I’ve seen.
FFP will have a BIG say in the way clubs meet the expectations of their supporters and if you are a chairman of a club, your naivety and recklessness could finish some clubs forever. As supporters I thought it would still be fresh in many supporters minds, but apparently not.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/22/club-by-club-guide-championship-finances-2012-2013
I was brought up to understand that you put up OR shut up, if you’re that flaky and can’t take no more…..move on. In the Oxford English dictionary a “Supporter”…. Encourages! Have a look if you don’t believe me.
COYI
My take on this is that there are some hammers supporters and some football supporters and I am in the mutually inclusive team. It would seem that some of those above would support a team of monkeys if they wore claret and blue. This is endearing to an extent but also myopic and even juvenile when you consider the money and the effort we all contribute to supporting one of the best teams in the world. Is it wrong to expect a little entertainment along the way or should we all become braying asses.Yes we will be open minded and support any changes made for next season but after 80 years a supporter I am not holding my breath