Is West Ham keeping Sam Allardyce the right decision?

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has avoided the sack, but must change the way his team plays next season

Since the season finished there has been speculation that West Ham would sack boss Sam Allardyce.

However, after a meeting between the boss and the Hammers board Allardyce has kept his job, but on the proviso that there is changes at the club.

Statement

The club released a statement on Tuesday outlining the changes that needed to be made. The statement read: “The club’s direction, values and philosophy and a positive way forward for next season has been agreed.

“After listening to feedback from supporters, the board have insisted on improvements to the set-up of the playing and backroom staff to ensure the team provides more entertainment next season.

“The board will once again be investing considerable funds into the club this summer. The club have made clear that they want to see progression on the pitch and at least a top-10 finish as a result.”

Changes

West Ham fans must be wondering how these changes are going to be implemented, considering it means Allardyce changing his whole football philosophy. The term ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ applies here.

Allardyce has never really produced entertaining teams as such. They have always been more well-organised and hard to break down. The West Ham boss cannot all of a sudden transform his way of thinking.

One question I have is, if Allardyce knows how to make the Hammers easier on the eye why did he not do it last season?

Works

I am not criticising Allardyce’s style, as there is more than one way to play football. There is no law against putting out a side that is well organised and hard to beat, just Tony Pulis. This way of playing has proved relatively successful at Bolton and Blackburn.

At times success at those clubs was a midtable finish or to survive the drop, although Wanderers did occasional flirt with the top six when Big Sam was there. Allardyce is a survivalist. He is a man you employ if you want your club to stay in the top-flight.

In his playing days he was a no-nonsense centre-back and that is how his teams play. It may not be pretty at times, but more often than not it gets Allardyce the required results, which in West Ham’s case has been survival in the top-flight for the past few seasons.

Expectations

I am not sure what West Ham fans expectations of their team are nowadays. There seems to be this ideal about playing the West Ham way, which is attractive on the eye football. In my lifetime very few West Ham teams have played in that manner.

West Ham fans now have to be realistic about the team’s style of play and expectations. It has been a long time since the Irons have played a stylish style of football. These days to play stylish football you need the right manager and the right players.

When Sam Allardyce was appointed it was to get the Hammers back into the Premier League and help them gain stability in the top-flight. West Ham have now been in the top-flight for two years, so surely that is mission achieved.

Surely when Allardyce was appointed West Ham fans knew what sort of style the team would play, yet when he played that style of football they have complained that it is boring. It may be boring, but the style has kept the team in the Premier League.

Unhappy Ending

Sam Allardyce has only been given a stay of execution and it seems inevitable that the West Ham boss will probably be on his way out of the club the next time the team have a bad run of form. The Hammers board are in a no-lose situation here.

If Allardyce does manage the Hammers to a top-ten finish next season and improves the style of play then their decision to keep him will be applauded. However, if it does not work out they will be able to sack Allardyce and bring in a new boss.

Maybe it would have been better for everybody involved in this situation if Sam Allardyce had left West Ham and everybody could move on. This situation only seems to be heading for an unhappy ending for Allardyce and the Hammers.

Is West Ham keeping Sam Allardyce the right decision?