The Championship is an unforgiving competition for those teams aspiring to escape its clutches. Forty six games to complete with some of the toughest teams fighting to climb the greasy pole to achieve the glittering prize come next May. And by dropping points in their opening three games, West Ham are already starting to fall behind.
Former Hammers boss Alan Pardew, no stranger to a promotion battle having won the play-off finals with West Ham in 2005, speaking on talkSPORT admitted that he felt worried over West Ham’s vulnerability this season, in their live session concerning “West Ham’s winless start to the season”.
“With Bowen staying there should easily be enough in that dressing room. Disappointed the defender (Diouf) left but there should be enough. It’s a car crash getting relegated with so many players leaving. (But) He’s still got enough.
Been there, done that: Alan Pardew sounded a warning over the brutal maths of winning the championship
You cant imagine how demoralising it is (getting relegated) at a club like West Ham. Having to battle through 46 games its a hard grind.”
When it was put to Pardew that the performance against Charton at least looked better, he was blunt and uncompromising in his assessment of the brutal reality of a promotion challenge:
“The performance level isn’t the top criteria. You’ve got to win. You’ve got to win. Twenty six, twenty eight games. That’s what you’ve got to win. And so far they’ve played three and won zero.”
On the positive side, and only slightly tongue in cheek, Pards admitted he’d love to be back at the helm:
“if you can negotiate a contract for me I’m coming”
I’d absolutely love to see Pards back at the club as manager. I’d get him in tomorrow.
We obviously have no money to spend on transfers or sacking Nuno. Staveley intervention meaning no 90 m cash injection and no promotion
Alan Pardew , i liked him
Sam Allardyce, not so much
Both failed to win anywhere near that and therefore failed to get promoted automatically and had to use the play-offs to get promoted. Pardew mustered up 21 wins in the season we went up (22 wins in his 1st season & just 4pts above the team he left), Allardyce won 24.
These are 2 prominent pundits that will be regularly paid to comment on any failings surrounding West Ham over this season. So considering neither of them could achieve an automatic promotion then it’s probably best to file them in the surrounding noise / irrelevant section going forward.
I’d take him back without any hesitation on a short term contract. He fully understands the club and the expectation of the fans. Perhaps he can repeat history and get us promoted followed by an F.A. cup final the following season.
Bringing Pardew back as manager is not as daft as it first seems Could be and are doing a lot worse at the moment
Martin,When you wake up tomorrow, give your head a wobble,take a happy pill,and chill out. Most of us have seen a lot worse since the seventies. Give it a rest ffs
Agree