If West Ham aspired to be anything other than what they are, a middling club who suit lower mid table premier league, then they'd employ players at that level. They don't. They employ middling mid table players and so their new manager is a perfect fit. This idea (of their own fans) that they are somehow above all that is utter bollocks.
I don't know any West Ham fans that believe in the 'West Ham way', it's just the usual vocal minority and constant media bollocks expounding it. Most fans were appreciative of what Sam did, we knew the score, that's why we don't like Sullivan, always undermining his managers. The media blabbered on about the West Ham way and saying how we wanted him out, and used the same photo in every piece to sell the point, probably at the instigation of Sullivan who wanted him out cos he was the highest paid manager in the Prem. It did change in the last 6 months, as it became obvious at Christmas that he wasn't going to get a new contract, and the players stopped playing. The media, of course, chased after any West Ham fan with a bad thing to say.
Although I think Moyes is an incredibly bland and dour individual who has been a rival manager for two clubs; I can't help but feel a little sorry for him. West Ham have massive delusions of grandeur. Okay, they're a decent club with a good history but that's about it. The reality is they're a mid-lower level team with aspirations of higher. They have a history of trying to play good football and going down. Brilliant! Part of me wants him to do well just to shut them up. Like how they treated Sam too. The grass isn't always greener. They should stop whining and stay up first.
Think that award goes to Newcastle. I think if they didn't have that view they would have been contenders by now Also the reason why I don't hate Jose currently or lvg before Sure not liking everything but with successive change and players you have to play with what you have.
I think that fans want to be entertained, though. Managers like Pulis and Allardyce consistently punch above their weight at clubs, but do so at the cost of any flair. It's effective, but who wants to be bored out of their mind for two hours every time that they watch their team play? Someone like Moyes might be the best choice for the here and now, but West Ham would do well to indicate some future plan to their fans. That wouldn't necessarily mean having someone more exciting lined up to replace him down the line, though. Show that they're looking to improve their youth system, that they're investing in their coaching and training methods and that they're listening. They've got the most tone-deaf owners in the Premier League, but they also hog the spotlight. It's a horrible combination. The stadium situation should mean that they've got money to invest. Recognise that they can't improve by going toe-to-toe with your City, Utd and Chelseas and use a different route. Look at what Dortmund have done or what Ajax continue to do. Find an alternative. The same is true of improving their ground. They can't do tons, but they can do something.
I get that mate and agree with large parts of what you say But I do think its unfair on Sam as his Bolton side started to develop into a good footballing side, within their budget etc Pep has been allowed time to make mistakes and get going but has huge money behind him to buy whoever he wants. Likes of pulis and Sam had restrictions and given time made their teams the best they were going to be. Sam needed not to get his saviour of struggling teams tag. I sort of knew people at Bolton and Sam changed everything and utilised all the latest training techniques and equipment etc. Even players like giggs utilised Sam's methods to stay in the game longer. Shame he wasn't given a team with patience and resources as I would have liked to see what he could do tbh
I wouldn't compare Allardyce to Pulis. West Ham weren't boring to watch when Sam managed them; they were direct but quite entertaining and difficult to play against. Pulis' sides just suck all the joy out of the game grind the opposition down. Not sure how Moyes fits in with that. But I don't here too many Everton, Man U or Sunderland fans wanting him back.
Allardyce brought in Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Fernando Hierro, El Hadji Diouf, Anelka and other big name and/or flair players at Bolton. His spending and dodgy behind the scenes stuff damaged his reputation, though. I think that's why he always seems to end up at clubs that have equally dodgy owners. Mike Ashley, the Venky's, Gold & Sullivan, Ellis Short... wouldn't buy a used car off any of them, would you? His off-field antics stunted his on-field ambitions, in my opinion. As for Pulis, I think that he just plays a negative game. Mourinho's not a lot different, just with a lot more money. He's been in the Premier League long enough and with good enough sides to play a bit. He just doesn't want to. I think that's why he's getting a fair bit of stick at West Brom now, despite not doing that badly.
This .. West Brom got a 1-1 at ours with one shot ... a free kick ... just tried to spoil for the rest of the game ... with the exception of James McLean ... he actually wanted to injure someone ... prick.
Probably not no. He's definitely not on the same level as Pulis but I simply have no interest in a manager not interested in attacking away from home. He's a right dodgy **** as well.
Welcome back Matth, I haven't seen you post for a while? That's a bit harsh isn't it. I get Moyes didn't work out for you, but he always came over as a reasonable guy.
This Bolton were actually a fairly decent outfit under fat sam. They had a really good record against us too. It was to fat Sam's credit that he managed to attract good flair players to the club at that time.
West Ham used to have one of the best Academy's in England and regularly turned out top quality English players who eventually went on to play at the highest level. Ince, Lampard, Ferdinand, Carrick, Cole, etc They've lost their way a bit in recent years, but this is exactly the area that I think the club need to concentrate on again. They aren't going to be able to buy their way up the table, so they need a long term plan to develop youth and bring some quality younger players into the team
