There’s no getting away with it, Sam Allardyce’s future as West Ham has been up in the air for the past two seasons now.
However, the only reason why Big Sam’s future is more uncertain than ever is because of the good quality of bosses linked with the Upton Park post. Most fans would take the likes of Real Sociedad’s David Moyes, Marseille’s Marcelo Bielsa, Besiktas manager and former West Ham player Slaven Bilic and Napoli’s Rafael Benitez over Allardyce in a heartbeat.
Yes, despite orders from the board to play more attractive football, there are still glimpses, especially against Stoke City last weekend, of the tactics the Hammers are used to seeing from the former Bolton Wanderers chief.
However, as the East Londoners approach saying goodbye to the Boleyn Ground next season, it is much anticipated that this will be one of the most important Premier League campaign’s in our history. This is a chance for West Ham to build a steady, but promising, platform ahead of the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.
Next season, the Hammers are nowhere near relegation favourites, however, the Hammers need to be England’s top flight when they move into the Queen Elizabeth Park. If you’re looking for a manager who guarantees Premier League solidarity, then look no further than Allardyce, who has only been relegated as a manager on one occasion in his 25 managerial career.
With the owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, ordering Big Sam to play more attractive football that will please the fantastic Hammers faithful, player recruitment during last summer was critical.
Admittedly, Allardyce pulled it out of the bag, signing the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Chiekhou Kouyate, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia, Alex Song and Carl Jenkinson, who have all gone onto settle in the colours of claret and blue very quickly. For Allardyce to continue building and improving that team with the same results ahead of the 2015/2016 campaign, it is only fair he gets another season to do so.
Despite the fans’ disappointment at some stages of the season over Allardyce’s decision making and philosophy, there is no doubt that the ex-Blackburn Rovers gaffer has achieved what he has needed to do for the E13 club, achieve promotion from the Championship in 2012 and consolidate Premier League status for years to come. With three years back in the big time, there is no question why Allardyce cannot do the same next season in their final season at Upton Park.
With big name managers being heavily linked with the post, it is inevitable that Allardyce will not be at West Ham forever.
However, the board should not get too trigger happy and give Allardyce the boot. Surely, the Yorkshireman is safe for one more season?
