IAN BISHOP TALKS

EXCLUSIVELY

TO CLARET AND HUGH

Ian Bishop watched the two teams closest to his heart fight it out at the Etihad yesterday and declared: “Hammers fans need to make a choice!”

‘Bish’ flies back to Florida tomorrow (Tues) after watching Manchester City beat the Hammers 2-0 to win the league Title agreeing that the Irons style is not his way of playing the game.

But he declared: “In the end the fans will decide whether the manager stays or goes. It is always the same. if Sam Allardyce leaves it will be because the fans have made it clear that must happen.”

The Liverpool born midfielder was one to the most elegant midfielder to play the game at Upton Park – a throwback to the days of Alan Devonshire.

And he admitted: “That’s not the way I played the game. I would have finished up getting taken off in a side that plays to that style.”

And he added: “It isn’t the sort of approach I’m used to as a former Hammer but it is a style that will keep them in the division and that’s presumably want the owners want.

“It’s not my style to go knocking anyone or anything because at the end of it all the fans will make the decision for the owners.

“If they turn their back on things at Upton Park then the owners have a real problem on their hands.

“I know they are unhappy because I keep up with them on the social media network and it appears there’s a growing number who want the traditional Hammers style back.

“I’m not gonna knock Sam Allardyce – he is a character and the game needs those but it’s obvious that if he can’t win the Boleyn fans back he’s in a lot of trouble. ”

Bish made it clear that he expected no other game plan from the Hammers manager than the one he played at Manchester City.

He said: “Obviously they had nothing to lose and many expected him to go up there and have a go rather than play it defensively.

“But the manager has a way of playing and it’s not easy to break out of a system that is so familiar. In the end the deadlock was broken with a shot that looked a bit desperate and I think Adrian should have stopped it.

“But once that had gone in there was no way back for the Irons as City stepped up a gear or two.”

Bish now flies back to the States but expects to return before the World cup as he doesn’t want to be watching the big event in the States.

He said: “No, that’s no good. I’d sooner be over here with mates watching down the boozer. In the meantime I’ll be watching events from Upton park very closely over the next few days!”

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