Allardyce Hopes Ugly Football Will Bring Success
West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce has today confirmed that his newly promoted team will not be playing any attractive football next season...
Big Sam demonstrates some of the technical skills he wants his West Ham players to employ
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In a surprising outburst at yesterday's pre-season press conference, the former Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle manager was adamant that his team enjoy their dull and dreary brand of football. "I'm sick of people talking about the 'West Ham way'. This way has resulted in the club being relegated.
"Football should not be about entertainment. It should clearly be about analysing statistics and scoring more goals than the opposition. This fancy football with lots of passing and creativity has been brought over here by foreigners. We won't get caught up in it."
A club source explained some of the training sessions planned for the coming season. "Big Sam is a stickler for repetition. The players will take it in turns to hit 70-yard diagonal balls to the vague area of the opposition 18-yard box. This will be our main tactic next season so it's important we get it right.
"We will also be concentrating on headed flick-ons, shoulder barges, long-throws and long keeper clearances. Sam's statistics show that only one goal was scored via a simple pass last season so we simply don't see the relevance in practicing passes.
"We are also looking to sign Shola Ameobi from Newcastle. Big Sam loves the way the big lad can score with many different parts of the body and scoring ugly goals is one of our main aims for the coming season."
Fans of West Ham and local media recently criticised Allardyce for his statistical approach to the game, as well as his pronounced 'northerness'. "I went to an open training session last season and it was a total farce," said lifelong Hammer, 'Cross-Eyed' Chris Coulson.
"There was Sam, on his laptop playing Football Manager while his coaches took training. It was a farce! They were practicing their cross-field diagonal passes and at one point ran out of balls - they were all in surrounding gardens. When Kevin Nolan had to knock on doors, asking if he could have his ball back, it really was a new low for us.
"I think Sam has been using Football Manager to test his tactics. It's completely ridiculous and makes us the laughing stock of English football. He was using FM2010 - what a joke! As soon as he started drinking bitter and shouting 'hey up' I left."
The West Ham United board also confirmed that the players have been watching DVDs of Stoke City for inspiration.