If Britain held referendum after referendum – rather than allowing MPs, as delegates, make the decisions – we’d reintroduce the death penalty and depart the EU to the detriment of everyone. Unfortunately, the latter may actually happen.
In a similar vein, while West Ham fans form the blood of the club, the rebellious crowd must not always be consulted during a time of crisis when actions should be measured.
I was at Craven Cottage on New Year’s Day. I remember the dismal weather and matching performance from the Hammers. I remember the cries of “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” I thought at the time the fans were entitled to chant that, but that in the context – only trailing by one goal against a poor Fulham team with ten men – the cries would not embolden a team lacking in confidence.
5-0 and 6-0 defeats followed that result, and yet the chairmen stood by Allardyce. How right they were to ignore the jeers of the disgruntled. Yes, we will only narrowly avoid relegation. But the second season back from relegation is always the more difficult.
It now seems that those cries are again gaining ground after seven defeats out of the last nine league matches. A poll this week conducted by 16 West Ham related fan sites, which surveyed over 10,000 fans, found that 77.95 percent of the Boleyn faithful want Big Sam out.
I am therefore part of the 22.05 percent of West Ham fans who believes Big Sam should stay.
I have argued before WestHamWorld.co.uk how consistency and stability is needed, not just because it creates a stronger club in the long run but also because it was the West Ham way. Stick by your manager.
The argument goes that Allardyce said he would win us games. We can deal with that even if the football is bad. But now, it’s become too much.
Of course, just because one bad season is a not ground for divorce. We did just that with Gianfranco Zola, a promising, entertaining young manager, who we could apparently cope with for one good season and not when we narrowly avoided relegation. Surely he deserved time to cement his status? I believe the same goes for Big Sam.
Note, however, that Zola’s win rate was a lowly 28.5 percent. Allardyce’s win rate is currently almost 40 percent. That’s the best return since Alan Pardew and he had two seasons in the Championship. It’s also 4 percent better than Ron Greenwood’s win rate.
The style of football is difficult to take, I admit, but I believe a long-term vision is the way forward. As I have said before, Allardyce needs to remain in place at least until we move to the Olympic Stadium to cement our position in the Premier League. Our status as a top-flight club has been insecure ever since Harry Redknapp left. That needs to change.
I would rather see West Ham as a continuous presence in the greatest league on earth than constantly yo-yoing between the top two tiers as we work our way through manager after manager.
I feel part of the problem is also the fact that none of us have really given Sam “the man” a chance. Someone pointed out on Twitter that if Chelsea had played in such a negative fashion against Liverpool like they did on Sunday with Rafa Benitez in charge, there would have been uproar. But Jose Mourinho is the Special One, and he is allowed to meddle.
I would like to see Big Sam have more time to impose himself on the club and take us through a third season when his injury list may be a lot less debilitating.
Ultimately, I’ll never forget the tube ride back from Wembley into central London after the Play Off win against Blackpool. A season ticket holder looked me in the eye and said, “This has been the most enjoyable season I’ve ever watched us.”
Keep the faith.
