TBH this argument is a bit pointless, bottom line is, we all have our clubs, who we support and love whatever league, position, style of play, financial state, owners, players, transfer and wage structures... etc I can't help it, whatever my clubs does or situation it finds itself in I will love it and support it, and that is something to be happy about and celebrate. On the subject of us under performing last year, we had just finished 20th in the premier League with our 3rd/4th lowest ever points tally in 100 + years of history. Morale at an all time low, our talisman Parker on his way out to bitter rivals for next to nothing, Ba who was our best striker on his way to Newcastle for FREE. 50% of the sqaud leaving. Only the players who loved the club and stayed with wage cuts Cole, Noble, Tomkins, Reid etc. We needed a new manager and a new team and most importantly we needed to learn how to win again. Add on that the pressure that if we didn't go up that year we would be f*cked. I couldn't believe that all the bookies were expecting us to steamroller the league along with Leicster. If you had asked me where I thought we would be at the start of the season, I would of said Play Offs with maybe a challenge for automatic promotion if we hit the ground running. BFS had to reconstruct the team, something people like Hughton got lots of praise for. The premier league and Championship are 2 very different leagues. In the championship its all about wins and draws are no good, something every team in the league was happy with at Upton Park (draws at home led to us being overtaken by Southampton and Reading). In the premier league 38 draws = 38 points = survival. Yes we should of won the league when we were 5 points clear but Southampton and Reading were better at getting victorys, but I think we're the best out of the 3 at avoiding defeat and that is why I think we are the best suited to the Premier League whereas you were both better than us last year.
That last point is a good one. We need to get better at avoiding defeat. Winning is great but a draw will do.
I didn't mean to be bringing it onto the financial side of the argument. Just riles me sometimes. lol The Ramirez statements from his agent were that if the increase in wages was minimal then he may as well stay at Bologna. So you can guess that Spurs were only moderately offering more wagesin the 20-25k a week region. Therefore if we have offered 40-45k (only just more than Lambert and Lallana) then that is doubling his wages and therefore a much better incentive than his agent refused from Spurs. As an above poster states although they aren't as bitter as me was last season Hammers fans were sick of Sam. At the same time they openly belittled Saints 'If we can't beat sides like Southampton then'. this sentiment carried on throughout the season even though WE were in the top2 all season. KUMB was littered with big headed rosy tinted Hammers fans calling Saints little and saying Sam had to go. I've not read KUMB this year. Is Sam now a favourite? That as fickle as the Saints fans who want Adkins out however only 20% of Saints fans are calling for Adkins' head. What % of hammer's fans are now championing Fat Sam? So that's why it riles. The hammers fans attitude last year. The way they call(ed) Saints fans arrogant. The way that any team's fans with BFS in charge can call Adkins Smug. It all adds up. Never heard Adkins say he should be England manager or that he should be in charge of Real Madrid. Yes the latter was tongue in cheek however BFS thinks he's a great manager and does not admit that his team's play some pretty unwatchable football at times. And then you (in jest I know) put in that he could make Ramirez a better player. Hmmm I suppose he has experience of nurturing players to greatness. Never heard of Djorkaeff, Hierro, Okocha or Campo until BFS turned them into good players. There is a reason his Bolton side did very well and also a reason why it didn't do very well for very long and that is because he buys in old heads, very short term. And we are going the other route in building a team that hopefully can stay together in the main for a decade or so whilst constantly bringing through the odd gem from the academy to add to the vision.
Oh the Saints are building for the long term whereas West Ham are only thinking about the now argument again. Funny how when we played you, both teams had an almost identical average age. If Vaz Te and Lambert had started respectively ours would have been younger. We have 2 youth players in our first 11 and 3 others on the fringes. You may well be building for the future but that doesn't mean we are not. No need for the Allardyce developing players into greatness comment. You even acknowledged yourself it was a joke so why are you arguing with it? By the way there is nothing wrong with adding a few old heads to a good young side. Allardyce doesn't deserve criticism for that.
Also I think it's reasonable for fans of a team just relegated from the top flight after 5 years to expect to out-perform one that has just been promoted from the third tier. That wasn't personal. No West Ham fan has a problem with Southampton football club. How could we? You are a cracking club and I have very little to say bad about you although last season there was definitely a smugness from some sections of your fans about the style of your football compared to ours which still exists today (hence this thread). But I consider that a bit of fun aimed at our proud passing tradition and the "West Ham Way". Allardyce has never been fully accepted by 100% of our fans. He still isn't. He is definitely winning more and more of us around though. Just as he would if he ever took over at your place.
The problem with BFS is that he's not the manager you need when you need to beat a side parking the bus, but he is great at avoiding defeat. In the Premier League that's enough whereas last year it wasn't. (so no not fickle)
Fair point Bzzz. I do think that he has brought in players this season to unlock those stubborn sides though. Jarvis/Benayoun/Carrol etc. I guess we will see on Monday night vs Stoke as I expect them to really try and spoil.
Bzzz and Trixie, any chance you could carry on this debate on your own board seeing as you are the only people posting on here for the last couple of hours? Nothing personal.
Why, its not your board , its a football forum on the internet and anyone can use it,, carry on Trix and BZZZ i am quite enjoying this conversation, oh and hi my little sainty mates you really need to pick up points this weekend so good luck. All The Best, Brooking
I think he is fine with the thread whilst saints fans are taking part, but seeing as it ended up just 2 hammers having a chat about Sam Allardyce he thought we might as well carry it on in our own forum. Having said that I'm with you Brooks. Lets carry this on right here. WE ARE BIG SAMS CLARET AND BLUE ARMY.....
Morning Trixter! Brooking it's been a while! tart looking over your shoulder boys we are coming to get you! Starting with 3 points today. I see Fat Sam said you won't be buying in the window but he's worried about injuries. After you have played Stoke you'll have a few more!
You will definitely close the gap over the next 8 games or so. Not sure by how much though. We won't need any further signings in January. Unlike you boys who are bound to go and spunk another 30m! You're financially well run though
Not according to Saints Forum...5 mins over there and I want to top myself (and the QPR match hasn't even started!).
TBh I'd rather QPR went down than you guys, Tony "West Ham, only team for me" Fernandes seems to want to rebuild the West Ham side he tried to buy, next thing he will replace sparky with Avram Grant. If you don't pick up more points than us in the next run of games then either we're doing very well or you lot are in a bit of a pickle.
Qpr to go down for me too. They remind me of us under Eggert magnusson. If they can't learn from our mistakes then they deserve relegation I want saints to stay up although I would prefer it if I don't have to look at Adkins smirk every week so hopefully he will get the tin tac. Ok I know, I know......Sorry.
Well the Saints board is going to look a lot happier this morning, lets hope we pick up 3 points tonight against Stoke, rumour has it we are interested in Anelka and we might try to get him in January, i know he is 33 but it would give us another option. All the best, Brooking
