Look at Tottenham now! True they are only in third place in the Prem, whilst we have stormed to second in our league, but what is so so galling is that whilst Allardyce is brutalising the game at Upton Park, 'Arry is proving that the beautiful game really can win you matches as well as friends.
It was refreshing to hear 'Arry say that if he couldn't enjoy watching his team play, he wouldn't be a manager - and there is no denying that he has Spurs playing the game according to the values of Greenwood and, to be fair, Bill Nicholson. Hearing him express this purist view, you couldn't help but think that there was a little dig in there targeted at his principle rival for the England job. Whilst Allardyce is blowing his own trumpet because we have scratched our way to an average 2 points a game in the Championship, 'Arry's Tottenham are averaging 2.27 points per game in the Premiership, and playing free flowing attacking football into the bargain.
I know we are supposed to hate Spurs, but you can't help but purr when you see Modric, Van der Vaart and Bale combine. If Spurs are lucky with injuries, they may just give the Manchester teams a run for their money in the title race this season.
And the lesson to be learned by the Allardyce Acolytes? Don't buy Doctor Evil's bollocks. Remember when 'Arry led Pompey to promotion from the Championship? They scored 97 goals that season and finished with 98 points, 18 clear of third placed Shafting United. That's the way to do it!
25 comments:
Well written, hope you lot come up as the 6 pts will be useful next year when we back in the Champs League! ;0))
I love the bit in the 2nd paragraph that Spurs are 'only 3rd' in the premier league while WHU have 'stormed to 2nd' in the championship... As if the latter is more of an achievement!! :o)))
Your true colours HF, for many years now most on here thought you were a closet Spud. And you only have to look at the comments to see your true followers. Oh and anonymous 00:26, I think thats Irony. Look it up!
I watched spurs outplay villa on Monday and at times their football was mesmerising. Shame their fans and management don't have the same class.
kevin in Manchester writes..
"makes you purr when Modric, Van Der Vaart and Bale combine" and how much did that lot cost and how much have Spurs spent on their squad ?
Good luck to them they deserve everything they are getting- they are great to watch- but you can't play expansive football if you do not have the squad and we do not and are not likely to have such a squad for a few years yet because we can't afford it.
I remember Bolton when they built their side around Jay Jay Ocha and Djorkaeff and they looked pretty good to me.
Sam is a pragmatist and will play in whatever way it takes to win. I think its useful to consider teh contrary view because if so many fans really aren't enjoying their football when we win; then it needs talking about but it is a long, long time since a west ham side were as resilient as this one - mean at the back, coming from behind, scoring throughout the team. It is a welcome addition to the downside of still throwing points away in the last minutes.
As far as Sam is concerned I'll not rush to a definitive judgement - I feel frustrated by the lack of ambition sometimes but then again when did we put four goals past four teams inside the first quarter of the season? I think perspective is called for here.
i feel for your suffering; however, without the windfall (ill-gotten) of untold riches from public coffers, aka olympic stadium for free) i dont see a big investment in players in the summer. and so another season watching long balls and strapping thug defenders, without the mitigation of being in a title race but rather probably looking over your shoulders at the relgation spots. sorry to say that the traditional w. ham style of play could be a long way away yet
Ever heard of irony ?
Historians will say that West Ham's fortunes began to hide when Harry was sacked by the club. Personally, I think the rot had already set in with the Brown regime. Harry is a footballer's manager and in the past I have bracketed him and El Tel in that respect. If Harry had gotten the Rio transfer money and had been allowed to improve a squad already boasting di Canio we might have been where Tottenham are today. Certainly Harry has showed what he can do with an under performing squad as he did with Tottenham. Now we are where we are and it is unlikely that we shall ever come as close to Tottenham as we once were. They have never seen us as anything other than a noisy neighbour. Our club is led by a possee of unsavoury characters and we wallow in debt and unceretainty over our future prospects. I certainly don't hate Tottenham, I like the way they play and good luck to them for this season in their quest for Champions League qualification.
Fat Sam, as a player was a dour defender and he has no redeeming free-flowing football philosophy, wheras Harry was a right winger, albeit average, but playing under the tutilage of Greenwood and Lyall.His teams certainly mirror their philosophy. Still Fat Sam's job is to get us back in the Prem -which will do his England manager prospects no harm - and at the moment he is acheiving his targets.
Purring ponce
0026, clearly not a regular here or else you might have spotted HF's sarcasm!
Typical Spurs
Nice comments are attribited to their team and the best they can do is come back with snide comments
This is why you will always lack the true class of your North London rivals
p.s Good luck in Prison !
Not sure I'd want a Manager potentially heading for a long stretch inside very soon!
Given you didn't manage a single point from us last season when we were lurching to hell in a handbasket, I wouldn't start pencilling in 6 points just yet
00.26
its called irony, glad you liked it.
I agreed with all that until " If Spurs are lucky with injuries, they may just give the Manchester teams a run for their money in the title race this season."
Not a chance. Don't read too much into a good win over Aston Villa. By their Managers own admission, they didn't turn up. When they played the light blue Champions elect a little while ago they were stuffed 5-1.
I don't think Spurs will even qualify for the Champs League this season as Chelsea and Arsenal will inevitably end up above them in the end.
Just my opinion of course!
Like I say the championship can be won playing free flowing attacking football.The 1980-81 side proved that as well when they skated the old division 2 league.ALLARDYCE is too set in his own boring brand of football to ever change.Once promoted,he needs to go .
To be fair to 0026, I thiink he understood fully that it was irony!
My team in Cyprus APOEL just made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League (top of their Group and still unbeaten!). They have a budget of less than €5 million! It just goes to show how much a little belief and good organisation can do. We really need a bit of that at West Ham. Good luck to APOEL, and may they be playing West Ham in the Champions League next year!
Next year Sav? Are you pissed? How are we going to qualify for the Champions League in the Championship?
What garbage to succeed playing good football you have to spend lots of money on seriously high quality players or produce half a dozen of your own. We dont have the money for the former and the last time we had the latter yep thats right we got relegated chasing Sam's team of misfits if I remember correctly. We have to remove the pink tinted spectacles the only way we have even a beggars chance of a decent meal is going to the OS but hey most fans dont seem to want that either.
One upside though is the last time we were in the premiership with the spuds (short memories these people) we took 5 points off them so miracles do happen.
Scotty Parker - we love him - thank you very very much.
It's true I had a few drinks to celebrate but I really meant in two years time HF!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2065372/Harry-Redknapp-glad-Spurs-signed-Scott-Parker.html
I'm sure 'Arry is glad to get him. As Mullery said on the radio, "He breaks up play and makes short passes to the more creative players in the team". At West Ham we were trying to use him as the creative hub. Tottenham would be third frrom bottom not third from top if they were relying on Scotty to make and score goals! One assist and no goals so far in his Tottenham career!
fat sam has made the best start for WHU in 21 years.
At this point, results are better than the 'west ham way'.....whatever that was.....
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