View from one more West Ham fan

[samaistonsrightfoot]

West Ham fan in peace (as the name implies),

I just wanted to write here to give you a West Ham fan's opinion on Big Sam, to give you the full story on his time at West Ham, and how I believe he will be one of the better managers you've ever had. This will be a lengthy post, so to avoid wasting your time, if you don't feel like reading the whole thing, the highlights are in bold.

First my opinion on BS. When he was appointed, there were a lot of reservations from the West Ham faithful, due to his perceived image. I was reluctant, but I knew he was what was needed at the time. The owners gave him all of the tools he needed to succeed, including a huge budget, and the pick of his captain, Kevin Nolan. To Allardyce's credit (which he deserves a ton of), he came in immediately, cleared out the deadwood, changed the ethos of the club from a dejected and broken group of individuals, to a confident and united squad, and brought in practically an entirely new squad. What he achieved in his first two seasons with West Ham was nothing short of exceptional. Every West Ham fan I know is extremely grateful for what he has done for this club. He took us from the doom and gloom of the Avram Grant season, to a decent mid table premier league side. For that, the reasonable West Ham fans (not the minority hiding behind their computer screens) are eternally grateful. Who knows where we would be without him right now, and that playoff final vs Blackpool will go down as one of my favorite memories ever.

The reason things started to change, was due to the severe change in our form last season. I know some of it was due to the fact that he more than likely knew he wouldn't be in a job come season's end, but don't fall into the trap created by his friends in the media and believe that he was treated poorly by the owners. Some of the fans, yes, but the owners did nothing wrong. The problem we had with the side was that our early season form, and the way we were playing was spectacular. No West Ham fans were booing Allardyce during this time, and we had all believed he had turned a corner and could push on from his typical style of play. However, we were playing this way because of the absence of Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll due to injury. We were able to inject pace into the side and worked a high press, which worked wonderfully. Also, I am in no way slagging off the two players, as Kevin Nolan was vital in uniting our squad, and was a useful player in his first two seasons, and Andy Carroll is unplayable on his day. Once these two were back and (barely) fit, Allardyce proceeded to take out the spine of the squad that was doing so well, abandon the 4-4-2 that had Sakho and Valencia unplayable, Downing unstoppable at the tip of the diamond, and revert to his 4-5-1 with long balls over Big Andy's head, and a reliance on set pieces, and Downing shunted out on the wing. It was so disheartening to watch. We then only won 3 games for the rest of the season, playing football that was, to be frank, turgid at best. We knew that we had a squad capable of playing some good football, but it just wasn't happening.

The booing of the win vs Hull: I wasn't there that game, but I had quite a few (reasonable) mates who were. Every time I hear about the booing, it seems the number of fans booing has increased a considerable amount. It was only a few hundred who booed. The reason the boos were heard is because the rest of the fans were still in shock with how the game went. We were completely played off the park by an awful Hull side playing with 10 men, and only won due to a scrappy OG and a red card/penalty decision. I remember thinking at the final whistle, "How the f*** did we win that?!". It was truly awful, and I definitely didn't find myself applauding, but I would never boo a win, and the fans who did should be ashamed.

The media perceived West Ham fans' delusion/the West Ham way: There seems to be a belief from some other fans and the media that we coined "The West Ham Way", that we demand our manager to play that way, and that we expect to be a top 4 team. Most West Ham fans are realistic and are perfectly happy with competing in the top half of the table. With the new stadium move coming up, that may change in the next 2-5 years, but for now we are perfectly happy with top half, and ecstatic at where we are at the moment. There is no set "West Ham Way". What we like our teams to do is work hard, and have a belief that they can go out there and win every game. There is no set style, and we are perfectly fine with our team mixing in the occasional direct ball forward with the passing style and quick press.

Thanks for that mate. Personally I couldn't give a shite how we play at the moment provided we start to pick up points so sounds promising

 

[Scimmy]

Unbelievable wall of text. Ive seen shorter essays.

Prick.

 

[whufaninpeace]

Great post but I don't believe the players we have will buy into Sam's philosophy. What we have at Sunderland is a combination of players which simply aren't good enough, and a poisonous core of unprofessional freeloaders who only turn up for a few games at the end of the season. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see us getting anywhere near 40 points this season. We've been flirting with relegation for far too long. Even the biggest, most stubborn turds flush eventually, and I think this maybe the season we go down. If we do then I hope we keep hold of Sam as I'm sure he'll get rid of the toxic and the useless, and rebuild as he did at West Ham.

Oh and @whufaninpeace will do me a favour please? Just tell every single West Ham fan you ever meet that there is no WEST HAM f***ing WAY!

Sam will pick out the toxic players almost immediately and give them an ultimatum. If they don't turn it around, they will be sent to the reserves and flogged off in January! It's definitely a tough ask, but you've given yourself a fighting chance with Allardyce

 

[Bladecat]

Best in the league, did you know we won the world cup?

At the heart of West Ham is a good set of fans and I'm impressed you can take the piss of the media love in with you. Pity your Tevez punishment coupled with a usual last day disaster for Sheff U sent the Blades on the slide to League 1

Thanks for the info on Big Sam. We need some hope

 

[Scimmy]

I wish I could believe a word @whufaninpeace says. Sadly proof of the pudding is in the eating. But all I saw on Saturday was humble pie. I thought he was going to be a saviour for us. How wrong I was! None of what he says I saw any evidence of. The way folk are bleating it is like Sam has never lost a game in his life. But we lost and lost badly because of loads of mistakes in tactics.

He need to go.

Have you stopped taking your medication SBC?

 

[jayjaysafc]

Cracking post especially the bit where you say you weren't at the Hull game then described what you did at the end of the match. If you're going to make a load of shite up you need to have a better memory so you can remember what you said at the start of the paragraph.

Probably watched it onthe telly you berk
Logg off and choose a new user name like "I am fkin stupid"

 

[Spaceturtle]

Duly noted, I'll take your word on that one and stick to lads!

Definitely have a lot to relate to as sets of fans. We have both enjoyed a few highs and a hell of a lot of lows! I believe he will turn it around for you though and bring more highs than lows.



It's not guaranteed, but you have done the best thing to give yourselves a fighting chance. Couldn't have made a better appointment, in my opinion of course. If you take the drop, you would be wise to keep him on and let him build a squad capable of getting you up. It's not all doom and gloom, our last stint in the championship was quite an enjoyable one for me!

I don't want to go down again, we've had enough, it also dilutes our history

 

[DJP]

I don't mind the West Ham fans ever since I was having a pint in the Halfway House on Southwick Rd a few years ago when we were playing West Ham.

There was a load of Hammers fans in the pub and a few of them seemed like right crackerjacks so I was expecting it to kick off. Anyway, the pub were raising some money for a disabled young 'un (or summat like that) and the West Ham fans were brilliant, all stuck their hands in their pockets and donated a canny wedge to the collection.

Top blokes on that occasion like.

 

[Billy Batts]

I wish I could believe a word @whufaninpeace says. Sadly proof of the pudding is in the eating. But all I saw on Saturday was humble pie. I thought he was going to be a saviour for us. How wrong I was! None of what he says I saw any evidence of. The way folk are bleating it is like Sam has never lost a game in his life. But we lost and lost badly because of loads of mistakes in tactics.

He need to go.

Jesus f***ing wept. One game in.

 

[JimHep]

Great post.
Makes me feel abit more confident

 

[Mackem Messiah]

Sam is exactly the manager we need, if we go down we need to stick with him.

I wish I could believe a word @whufaninpeace says. Sadly proof of the pudding is in the eating. But all I saw on Saturday was humble pie. I thought he was going to be a saviour for us. How wrong I was! None of what he says I saw any evidence of. The way folk are bleating it is like Sam has never lost a game in his life. But we lost and lost badly because of loads of mistakes in tactics.

He need to go.

Hate is a strong word, but I hate this little deranged ****, go back to your padded cell.

 

[Mallard]

Unbelievable wall of text. Ive seen shorter essays.

My dissertation was shorter

 

[McMackem]

begins to look like the biggest problem could be when someone comes in for an injured 'favourite' and does really well, then things go pear shape when they waltz back in at the expense of the in-form player. What a leap forward that would be from where we are...

 

[Billy The Kid]

Jesus f***ing wept. One game in.

I choose to ignore him, unbelievable how he's wrote allardyce off after 1 game where he only had 2 days to work with some players

 

[Purrfect South]

Best in the league, did you know we won the world cup?

So did we. Snap.

 

[Pepe]

I only read the bits in bold as you had clearly written the rest off.

Interesting all the same. I think he needs a miracle, we are goosed.

 

[WackyJackyO]

...did you know we won the world cup?

Everybody knows that, because you lot never tire of telling us. Shame you didn't treat Bobby better.
Bet you didn't know that we were champions of the World long, long before you won the World Cup:

You must be logged on to see external links

 

[supermackem123]

Rate we go through managers I'm surprised to find out he's still here by time I've read through that essay.


Bet you'd be gutted if your computer/mobile froze midway through eh? On serious note, great post mate - good to get a more fair assesment than the usual "he's so negative" shite with no real point. Think he's the best man for the job, should we survive this nightmare he'll bring stability to us and if that means negative dull football but results that'll do for me.

Thanks pal

 

[ontap]

It didn't let me post all of the post, so here is the rest:

The belief from the press and some opposition fans that we believe we are entitled to "free-flowing, perfect Lyall/Greenwood" football, or that we are entitled to the top 6/7 is way off. We just want to enjoy going to games, win or lose.

Okay now on to the part you guys probably actually care about.

Allardyce for Sunderland:
Pros: Fantastic appointment, hands down. You guys have the added advantage of appointing him before you went down, rather than after like we did. He will come in, analyze the squad, remove the bad eggs and the non-willing workers.

He will unite the squad, and they will love playing for him. He's a pragmatist, there is no doubt about that. He will target the winnable games, and most of the time make sure you win them. They won't be pretty, but he will get you points.

He will have you organized. You will improve greatly at defending and attacking set pieces, and your defenders will grow in confidence because of this. Winston Reid has transformed from a hopeless defender to one of the best in the leagues, and this is due to Allardyce almost entirely. James Tomkins also improved immeasurably under Allardyce's leadership.

I firmly believe that he will keep you up this season. He hasn't had the time he needs to fully implement his philosophy, but there were definitely signs of it vs West Brom. I think West Ham was a big learning experience for him, and he will have you guys playing nice stuff at times.

HE TAKES SH** FROM NO ONE! I love his attitude when it comes to certain things. My absolute highlights with him as manager from a non-playing standpoint are his Mourinho interviews, and his laughing at the diving cheat that is Chico Flores. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you youtube/google it, because it was hilarious. He will provide some moments like this for you, for sure!

He knows the importance of a derby match! Our record vs Spurs/Millwall was fantastic under him, and I'm sure he will place a lot of importance on the matches against the Mags, and ensure that your team is properly fired up for them! Our record vs Newcastle wasn't too bad either, despite the fact that Pardew has a good record against us in general. I also believe he now hates the Mags as much as you guys do.

I believe he will lay the building blocks for you guys to push on in 3-5 years time. From there it will be up to your owners to decide if you want to keep him, or to move on to another appointment.

Cons: I don't want you to think these are bitter comments, as overall I am completely happy with Allardyce and what he has done for our club. The obvious one first, it will not be pretty. When you win, it's no big deal. When you lose, there will be some games where you are truly depressed at what you just watched (I'm sure you guys are used to that at the moment, as we were back then). This won't bother you for the first year or two, as long as you stay up. Later down the line you will more than likely be asking for a change in style, but for now it will get results and that is what you need.

No plan B: There will be some games that are crying out for an impact sub, or a change in style (particularly against the teams with big centre backs ala Stoke, Soton, Chelsea, etc. who know how to suss out the long ball. This will not happen sadly, no matter how much you ask. There are sometimes where his persistence pays off though with a set piece goal.

His ego (pro/con): His self belief is part of the reason that he is such a successful manager. You have to have that belief in order to make it in his profession, but there are times where he takes it too far. It's never his fault, and he will constantly blame referees/other players/your fans for losses, rather than himself. He comes off as really arrogant, and there will be times where this upsets you. I wasn't sure whether to list this as a pro or con, as it's his greatest strength, as well as his worst enemy at times.

Overall, I think you have made a fine appointment, the best one you could make in fact! He will get you to love your team again, and he will turn around the whole belief in the club. Once again, I fully believe he will turn things around and keep you up. He will bring in a couple of decent players for you as well, and help you build on for the next few seasons. You guys have reason to be excited, for sure.

Once again, apologies for the lengthy post. I wish you all the best for the rest of the season, except when you play us of course. All the best!

I for one thank you for all that , great post mate.

 

[GOLDENOLDIE]

We were in desperate need of it at the time, as you are now! Rest assured, he will make you tough to beat, and he will instill a belief into your squad! As for the jellied eels comment, they aren't as soothing up the backside as you would think, not that I would know or anything

Thanks for the post, I've enjoyed reading it. Good of you to take so much time to write it.

Good luck with your season.