Since the 2011/2012 season when Sam Allardyce took over West Ham after their relegation to the Championship, the former Bolton manager has come under heavy scrutiny from the fans, despite guiding them to promotion and keeping them in England’s top flight for the third season in a row. Quite a feat with the managerial merry-go-round an unpredictable theme, year after year, not just in the Premier League, but in all four divisions in the country. But with calls for Big Sam’s head being made from all four corners of the Boleyn Ground and a vast amount of managers available, why are the owners ignoring the demands of the fans?
With the 2014/2015 Premier league season well and truly under way, a more attacking style and attractive brand of football was instructed by the club’s board in order to bring the famous traditions back and please the club’s fans. However, this is not Allardyce’s philosophy, and has never played passing football while he had spells at the Trotters, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. Asking a manager to play attractive football on the deck which is not in his nature is an absolutely stupid ultimatum to make. With the season only just kicked off, sacking Allardyce wouldn’t be the worst decision to make.
With the dreaded international break in full swing, dismissing Big Sam would allow a new manager to put plans in place, and get to know the squad ahead of their away trip to Hull City in two weeks. One man that most would like to take to the helm at Upton Park is former Everton and Manchester United gaffer David Moyes. Despite his unsuccessful spell with the Red Devils last season, Moyes’ credentials and achievements at Goodison Park are good enough to convince most people associated with West Ham that he would be a vital asset. On a low budget, and playing quality football, Moyes took the Toffees to fourth place and into the Champions League qualifying round in 2005, were they lost to Villarreal. This is exactly what West Ham need ahead of their anticipated move into the Olympic Stadium in time for the 2016/2017 season. However, getting rid of Allardyce is harder than most people think.
Allardyce is in the final year of his contract at West Ham, but would be eager to sign an extension considering how much he is earning – a staggering £2.95m a year. In 2013, he was the 13th highest paid manger in the world, earning the same amount as current England gaffer Roy Hodgson, and earning more income than Napoli chief Rafa Benitez, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone and Germany national team coach Joachim Loew. On that sort of salary, Allardyce is not going walk out on his own free will, getting him sacked would mean paying off the rest of his contract, and with over £25m spent on bringing new players to club, it wouldn’t be sustainable or financial healthy. For a manager, whose only expectation is to keep his club in the top flight, Big Sam is driving the Hammers into the middle of nowhere.
For a club, that is based on bringing home grown players from the famous ‘Academy of Football’ whom are taught from a young age to play football on the floor, Allardyce has completely ignored what has been with the team for years, even failing to convince academy director, Tony Carr MBE to stay in his role. A man who has served the club with great distinction and produced players like Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard is no longer in a position to produce more players of the same calibre. When was the last time the Hammers brought through a youngster from the academy into the first team?
David Moyes, who brought through Wayne Rooney and bought the likes of Mikel Arteta and Leighton Baines to the club, this is a man who can lead West Ham to success especially when the Hammers move into the Olympic stadium.
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