Sunday 29 May 2011

Allardyce Having Second Thoughts

Whilst West Ham fans debate the merits of Allardyce's appointment, one rather crucial fact seems to have been overlooked. The guy isn't yet it charge. Allardyce has been offered the job, that's pretty close to an established fact, but Sullivan himself, at the first meeting of the Supporters' Advisory Board, admitted that an offer had been made which he didn't expect to be accepted. Almost a week on, and Allardyce still hasn't been annointed Director of the Asylum. Why?

It seems pretty obvious that Big Slam is prevaricating, unsure that this is the right move for him. He knows that the fans don't really want him, that at the first sign of adversity, the crowd will turn on him. He isn't Zola, he is the arch enemy of the Academy and the West Ham way, the Dirty Northern Bastard with a  footballing cosh in hand.

He knows that the players will kick against him. At the first sign of adversity they will start muttering, "That isn't the way we were taught to play."

He knows Sullivan and Gold will hate him. Zola was a shrimp, Grant a yes man; Allardyce is a big mouthed heavyweight of an objectionable bastard. At some point, he will lift the Gobby One off the ground, his little legs kicking in the air, and tell him to "Stay the fcuk away from the training ground or I'll rip your ugly fcuking head off!"

He knows even the groundsman will hate him. "But I've never been asked to dig trenches at either end of the training pitch before nor have we ever erected a tangle of barbed wire in the middle of the pitch along with 'No Man's Land' signs."

Tell me, why would you willingly walk into a mine field like that? Allardyce doesn't NEED this job. West Ham are not Allardyce's war. The club stand for everything he hates in football: Soft Southern Legitimates, the very wimps he has built his reputation upon giving a good kicking.

Allardyce may be on his way down to London but he keeps hearing this voice in his head, "Turn again Sam Allardyce." I bet he is desperately hoping that Birmingham decide to dispense with McLeish and offer him the job.

One thing's for sure, if Allardyce is appointed, there will be anxiety on both sides. This is a marriage made in the divorce courts! And if Big Sham is appointed, Gold will stand before the nation's press and announce, "I have in my hand a piece of paper guaranteeing success in our time."

32 comments:

jaybs said...

I just hope IF it is to be Fat grabbing Sam with his negative style of football (by the way will he want Tony Carr kicked out NEVER) I hope the contract has a water tight get out clause come Christmas!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, obviously haven't read the papers this morning with quotes from the man himself!

Also, West Ham fans don't want him? YOU cannot speak for us all. From what I hear the majority are happy with him coming in.

"Big Sham" just shows how childish you are.

Hammersfan said...

1104, I read the papers announcing that O'Neill was our manager in January. Until Allardyce is unveiled, it remains speculation. Why has it taken 4 or 5 days already for him to say yes and for the announcement to be made? Not a lot of conviction there!

Anonymous said...

Well IF it is true and I hope it aint, we won't have to worry about the state our our pitch as we won't need one!!!

More worrying will be the ability of the players to head a ball with ice on it!!

Whilst I know our options are limited to people who want to come ,this does does not look good for football lovers

Stani Army said...

"Lawyers acting for both sides are currently drawing up contracts and Allardyce said last night: ”Everything has been agreed in principle and I look forward to taking charge after I have had a family holiday.

“It’s always difficult dealing with the aftermath of relegation but I want to get West Ham back into the Premier League as quickly as possible.”

Allardyce’s decision to accept West Ham’s approach hinged on being able to appoint trusted No.2 Neil McDonald, as well as the backroom staff who will put into place his famed sports science support system that carried Bolton into Europe twice."

Anonymous said...

the papers say all is agreed with the exception of a family holiday ! hes been out of work six months and hasnt had time for a family holiday. shows the great sence of urgency that has seeped its way into the roots of our club. work should have started already in preperation for the new year. look at what martin allen is doing at notts forest and tell me he shouldnt have been given the job

Hammersfan said...

Spot on 1129!

Stani Army said...

Had he known he was going to be offered a job now, I'm sure he would have booked a holiday earlier. I'm sure there's nothing in it, just that it was something that was organised a while ago and can't be cancelled. It seems it's only a one week holiday anyway.

Anonymous said...

From my understanding the person to reject the contract was Paul Lambert and the manager who was mulling over a deal was O'Neill and he has a deadline of Monday to reply.

However, the owners have become frustrated by MON's delaying of a response that they've turned to Allardyce after he told them he was interested and a deal has been agreed.

Hammersfan said...

Great sense of priorities Stani! I would cancel the holiday. But then I have a passion for West Ham! Last time I changed jobs, I was suddenly offered a hospital appointment that I had been awaiting for 6 months. I cancelled the appointment as I prioritised my work commitments. That hospital appointment, along with a referral to a spinal clinic is now scheduled for next week - and I have booked holiday time for it - 18 months AFTER the appointment I cancelled. I have be in pain for 18 months now but there was no way I was going to bugger around my new employer. It's called commitment. Whilst Allardyce is on holiday, possible transfer targets may be snapped up. If he joins!

Sav said...

Big Sam represents everything I hate about football. I started supporting West Ham because they were playing football the right way. After being relegated in such humiliating manner, the only thing that was left is the hope that on day soon we will return to that entertaining attacking football. Now it seems that even that hope is quickly been taken away from us. I can safely say the SuGo and Co. have destroyed everything I loved about the Club!

Anonymous said...

when martin allen is doing at notts forest job?

do you not think our players need a good kicking? a manager that will not stand for second rate players, a manager that will shake things up, our backroom staff are shocking, to many injuries, we cant defend set pieces, we conceded 3 goals or more 15 times this year, our scouts haven't got a clue. apart from our youth set up the whole lot need to go, rotten to the core, a few players included. we havent played good passing football since pardew left anyway and that team was built in the championship. we dont need another yes man like houghton or keen, or a second rate manager like jones or mcclaren, and god forbid dowie got it. MON will never take the job and neither will lambert, he is at a premiership club with a new contract in a club he can work well in. and if curbishley dosen't want the job then what exactly are our options, the trouble with most west ham fans are they are never happy and worse than that believe we are better than we are, we would be privaliged to have sam allardyce in our current situation, they wanted harry out at the time, then roeder, pardew, curbs, zola and grant, some they opposed even before they kicked a ball. even if big sam keeps some good young players, sorts out our defence, improves our fitness, gets us defending and scoring at the other end from set pieces and we actually start winning their will still be groans not because he is doing a bad job but because of who he is. the fact is we do not play passing football and even if we did that is a one way ticket to missing out on automatic promotion because to win the championship you can't have overpaid pansies that refuse to play in the rain on a tuesday night away to doncaster, you need a well drilled, committed team that can defend leads that cause teams problems no matter how they play, sam allardyce will bring that. if you dont want that then the only other option is a yes man that keeps our soft under belly that cant defend, cant win, can't be bothered turning up at lesser clubs and we will fail. that is who west ham are at the moment and will continue to be unless we bring in a manager to totally gut the team and staff

Stani Army said...

Don't worry about transfers, Gold Sullivan and Silkman ain't going on holiday!

He's going on holiday HF, not to the international space station. You may not have a mobile phone but other people do.

11:45,
Yes, that was the impression I got too.

Mutha-effer said...

Your worst comment yet.
"He knows that the fans don't really want him, that at the first sign of adversity, the crowd will turn on him."

First, how can you write a piece of what you assume someone to "know".
Secondly, you're tarring all West Ham fans with the same brush by saying they'll turn on him. What, are we all fickle?
Can I a) pay you any money to discontinue this blog. I'll pay you to stop writing.
b) Can we meet up for a fight? Anywhere you want, no weapons, just me and you?

Anonymous said...

11:53 as an employer of 10 people... I'd have found your actions smarmy, unctuous and above all foolish.

Not the act of someone displaying any common sense - only an idiot would suffer for an additional 18 months. Pain and discomfort are not normally associated with an employee providing their best work.

You also ran the obvious risk of further damaging the condition, which could have lead to time off work.

If I'd have found out what you were up to I would have insisted that you attended your appoint ASAP, as I would have been highly suspicious that you were planning to falsify some sort of claim against the company for negligence.

Hammersfan said...

1221, you are right of course, I am a fool to work in pain. There's no bloody way Dyer or Upson would play through a spot of pain is there. Nor Parker once his England place had been banked. Unless Capello asked him too of course! What a mug, I should have followed the example of West Ham players and said bugger my employer. Unctious, mois? I love it!

Hammersfan said...

Mutha, what a great name you've come up with this time. I don't fight, not with my back in its present condition. Perhaps after the operation but then, that would depend on your age and size. I'd much rather beat you to oblivion with my superior brain to be honest. But you are right, not all West Ham fans turned on Grant, some of us maintained the primary blame lay elsewhere; so no, we are not all the same, are we? By the way, you can pay me to stop writing. How much are you offering?

DublinIronsFan said...

I am quite positive about this appointment, being the naive fool that I am! I always felt that Sam was a solid fatherly figure who demanded total respect and discipline from all concerned-something our team badly needs right now - and he will get us up, I have no doubt about that, he may even convince our leading players to stay and fight for promotion. There is one challenge, and here I would agree with you, HF, and that is the relationship with SuGo, there is a lot of ego to be satisfied between that trio, and Sam will demand support and independence from meddling. I hope he scares them into submission!

Sav said...

Sam Allardyce announced that he will be the next West Ham manager (after he has a holiday - which is an improvement on what his predecesor was doing by the way - i.e. having a holiday while on the job).

West Ham is turning into Bolton! Brilliant! And just when I thought things could not get any worse ...!

DoubtingThomas said...

I work in the health industry and I would not advise any operation on the spine / back - it will make it worse and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. I meet people all the time who had operations on their backs and they all regretted it afterwards.

Try Tai Chi - it'll work wonders... well it would for most but you'd have to put some faith in to it, and we all know that something you completely lack.

The Quack said...

Usual negative garbage HF,

Second thoughts? The media, the bookies and Sam seem to think this is a done deal.

The West Ham way? Modern battles are not fought in trenches and sadly Greenwood and Lyall are no longer with us. Times have moved on. It is difficult to think how the football can get much worse than what has been served up under Curbs, Zola and Grant. After that lot someone who can bring back organization, motivation, tactical know how etc. is the first priority. Sam's the man to do just that and better still he'll keep the Board on their toes.

Holiday = a few days arn't going to make much difference in the scheme of things. Best to get the right man on board who is fighting fit.

I am sure your employer would much prefered you to have sorted out your back before you joined. Your start would have been delayed but goodness knows what the rest of the team have had to endure over the last year.

Have you been taking your pills?

Anonymous said...

HOPE is all we have now. once hes had his break we can only hope. but ask yourselves this, is there no one out there who is an ex west ham player who is qualified to do the job ? to keep the traditions and get us back where we belong those of you on twitter take a look at (@MASunday_Sermon for what it would have cost im sure it would have been worth it. sorry for the early comment mistake, its county not forest. @MASunday_Sermon

USA Dave said...

11:54, I believe you are 100% correct. Well said.

Ian said...

Can someone please tell me when we did last play the "west ham way"?? It wasn't under curbs, certainly not under Zola (for a man that was such a fair player his team had none). We have seen moments this season (just after Xmas when Hitz, Noble and Parker ran the midfield for two or three games) but far too little and too late.

If big Sam takes us up then good on him! We need help BIG TIME!!! Our has becoming a laughing stock recently - lets just start winning games and get back into the Premier league where we belong!

Divingles said...

We need a complete clear out and some real orgaisation, not just on the pitch. Our fitness levels have been poor and our players energy levels have not lasted the full 90 mins. Defending has fallen to the 'local park' level. I have supported this team since 1955 and have seen ups and downs, but this has to be the worst of the last 50 years. Let Sam do his work, and pray that our academy still provides a steady flow of talent.

West Sam said...

Bags all packed. Sounds like a holiday would do you good HF.

beelzebub said...

i cant believe anyone is negative to this appointment...

THIS IS NOT THE PREMIERSHIP !, we are down...we are not waiting for the fat lady to sing...we are in the deepest shit we can imagine. In my humble and personal opinion Big Sam is just what we need (yes MON would be better, but never coming...we have the very best of what is available)

We need out of the Championship, lets worry about our play style when / if we win promotion, because once we are up...THEN you can look at the likes of MON with some money to spend.

the team of the 2010 - 2011 season

NEVER played attractive football
NEVER lasted a full 90 mins
NEVER showed any desire

ALWAYS spanked it long from the back (good bye upson you prick)
ALWAYS failed to defend properly
ALWAYS showed their total lack of cohesion

^^ someone tell me what big sam is going to change for the worse ??

Take your heads out your arse's we are a championship club and should be delighted at such an appointment , i just hope the amount of negative bollocks available on the web does not hinder any such deal.

the headmaster said...

I'll tell you where I'm at if the northern piemuncher gets the gig - majorly pissed off. When people were calling for this footballing vacuum to be appointed in January if it kept us in the premiership I said I'd rather be relegated - and I meant it. Now what our owners are proposing is the worst of both worlds - wait unti we are relegated and then appoint the prick! Genius. HF certainly speaks for me - I DO NOT WANT THIS MAN IN ANY OTHER POSITION AT THE CLUB THAN THE OPPOSITION DUG-OUT. Should feel privileged if he accepts the position? My arse. what, is his door continually being beaten down then? Was the 6 month exile self imposed? and why is it the same old tired faces that get banded around on the managerial merrygoround? Is there no up and coming fresh talent? Please God he mulls it over and doesn;t accept, please God.

Anonymous said...

ive read all the comments and have to agree. whats the point in going up playing boring shit ? isnt that why no one liked curbs ? yes curbs was a west ham player, but he managed like he played, and had the personality of avram grant. ill give him something though his heart was in the write place. i have just also read that martin o neil was never going to be our manager, and that sullavon,s number one choice has been allerdyce since last year when avram was nearly out the door. the truth is sul & gold havent considerd anyone else, including the people who walk through the turnstiles every week. well we have no choice as usual, despite the four times a year board meeting with the advisory board (ha ha) im glad im not waisting my time going there to smooth things over and listern to the dribble. for me once again i would have gone for the mad dog all day long. dicksy as a couch ! would he not have pulled em together and got them fit ? oh well its Genna be eddy wearing time now. why dont we go for the old high ball game. stick a couple of heavies in the middle, or stick a couple of big northern lads up front ! time will tell, but personally id rather play football the west ham way. but we will have the highest paid manager in the championship so promotion must be a cert write ? so we can all look forward to playing all the big boys in a year. sams our man (is he fuck) lets just hope he does,nt have a long contract. they did it with avram so they could do it again. (TIME WILL TELL) maybe just maybe they will listen to the people one day. the truth is the majority dont want him !

FatSamAin'tWestHam said...

Don't you dim wits know nothing - it doesn't matter what manager we get - sugo buy the players, pick the team, choose the tactics and speak to the press.

The manager is only there to take the flack!

Anonymous said...

Why do so many people think Sam Allardyce will get West Ham back up? He's been useless since leaving Bolton. That was 4 years ago, he was a disaster with Newcastle and didn't do much with Blackburn.

I think he could possibly still do well with teams that are used to his style of football but West Ham isn't the club for him.

The only positive I can think of is that at least it's not Roy Keane.

Anonymous said...

Allardyce all day long for me, over Hughton, who was my first hope.
No to O'Neill, Davy Jones etc. Very pleased that MCClaren rejected us without even being asked, same for Hoddle.
And if Sam doesn't get along with the 'rescuers of the club', then he'll go and we'll [or 'they'll] be looking for manager number 15. Hopefully Sam will instill a fitness regime and some discipline - all lacking recently.
As for the West ham way, well that was something Malcolm Allison used to talk about in the early/mid sixties.Occasionally in evidence since, but hardly visible at all since Pardew's cup final.

gateman