8 Comments

We have our West Ham back…that was awesome

allardyce smiles

West Ham 3 Liverpool 1

MATCH VERDICT

By Hugh Southon

I received a text and a phone call within minutes of the whistle blowing on a victory which will live long in the memory.

The text read: “I have got my team back – that was quite magnificent.”

The phone call was even more emotional with a very familiar voice saying: “We were all crying at the end…this was the West Ham we know and love but which we thought we had lost forever.”

Then came another phone call from a non West Ham supporter who had watched the game on TV and who had something seriously significant to say.

“What a game…what a so and so game – the type of game which even if you lose you leave the ground with a smile on your face,” he said.

And in that one sentence I realised that Sam Allardyce – albeit a lot later in the day than we would have wanted – had discovered the ‘West Ham Way.’

Nobody wants to lose but it becomes acceptable if we have given it everything, played great football and entertained – this afternoon we had all of that and WON.

It was a mighty victory – one of our top performances for many a long day and we can move on to Old Trafford next weekend not in fear but even with hope in our hearts.

Nine players is an awful lot to bring in during the course of a summer but amazingly they are bedding down even quicker than the manager would have expected.

Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho already look as though they have been playing together for a long time rather than just 180 minutes.

Stewart Downing is becoming the player many have have claimed for a long time that he can become.

And in Alex Song we have a world class player who can defend for his life bringing overwhelming confidence to his back four, whilst also becoming a serious creative force when he moves forward.

This was an awesome performance and it was master-minded by a manager who has caused great division during his time here.

Those who have opposed Sam Allardyce need not apologise for that position as for too long the football we have seen has been totally shocking.

But those of us who have been on that side of the fence must put our hands in the air and and congratulate him on a performance the like of which we haven’t seen in many a long year.

If  West Ham continue in this manner Sam Allardyce will become one of most popular managers ever.

Time will tell but I can’t remember when the signs have been more promising – WE HAVE OUR WEST HAM BACK!

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

8 comments on “We have our West Ham back…that was awesome

  1. Once I stopped laughing at your ridiculous over plaudits for Sam I realised you were being serious.he picked a team and the players did the rest.he admitted he doesn’t know his players,well you wouldn’t if you do the coaching! The players led by Noble produced that performance and to suggest Sam did more than sit and chew gum does this web site an injustice.

  2. It was a great performance, the team really worked hard and made Liverpool look ordinary.

    Downing through the middle, running with the ball was exceptional. The whole midfield played well with Song, Noble and Kouyate all putting in fine performances.

    Valencia and Sakho played really well with plenty of energy and working really hard.

    The only fly in the ointment was the performance of Adrian which was eccentric in the extreme – he does not fill me with confidence.

    The question running through my mind is what’s going to happen when Nolan and Andy Carroll get fit – I can’t really see either of them meriting a position in this team but you know what BFS is like with his blue-eyed boys – interesting times to come!

  3. A truly stunning stunning performance! Attacked brilliantly and defended very well when required. Even a classic breakaway sucker punch at the end, priceless!

    Like it or not BS his coaches and the board must take credit for this! And Shirley it is true there have been times when the football over the last few years gas been absolutely terrible, this season has seen some outstanding attacking play.

    I know for some people will never like/accept BS and it has only been right to strongly criticise his football it is only fair IMO to give him the credit hd deserves when he gets it right.

  4. That was the West Ham that we have all been baying for. We simply took control of the game & outplayed Liverpool in every department, & we did it by playing the ball on the ground. We will remember this match for a long time. If we are going to want Sams head on a platter for bad results then we must give him credit for results such as this. On that performance it appears that the players, Sam & the owners have listened to the fans, they know what we want & they have picked up the baton & run with it. If we continue to play with commitment such as that we will become a team to be feared. We attacked Liverpool at every opportunity with the intent to score. Everyone deserves the credit for that. This is the way to play football & it appears that the club & players have taken our concerns to heart. A positive result that we can build on & we should get behind everyone that has brought this to fruition. We can play football & on that performance, with style.

  5. Hallelujah. That must have hurt giving Sam allardyce any credit whatsoever but to go so far as to say he could become one of the best managers ever … How times have changed eh?

  6. My first status on FB for about a month yesterday basically stated the exact same thing, finally it looks like I’m getting my West Ham back. The football was entertaining, enterprising and as far as removed from a Sam Allardyce side as you will ever see. I for one have to hold my hands up today as I was/am (still unsure at this exact moment) a strong advocate of the Sam out opinion. Yesterday proved a few things, firstly he can produce a plan B, we can play attractive and win and he actually does understand what the West Ham way is despite the drivel that was spoken last year in terms of our approach. Personally I want to see Plan B as Plan A.

    One thing about Sam I stlll don’t like, and this might only be me but when the subs came off he didn’t say a word to them, he did a 180 turn when Song came off, I would like to see a bit more from him in terms of enthusiasm and congratulating the players for their efforts, obviously I can’t say what goes on behind closed doors but he does give this aloof demeanor which could be dressing room dividing and a bit dangerous. My biggest hope is that the continues to play formations to the players rather than the other way around as let’s be honest AC ad KN shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting 11 on current performances from the team. The jury is still out for me but 4 games in and this season has already produced more entertainment for me than last. COYI

    • Last season was a struggle-to stay awake during the games.The football was so dire that my intrest in football was being taken from me,and the 2 davids and sam were to blame.This start to the season has shown promise of some exciting games ahead.My fear is that sam thinks that attractive football comes with a risk,and the next game we lose playing football like we did against liverpool,will result in a return to hooofing it up to carrol and nolan.For me,both players are surplus to west ham,i hope AC gets fit and gets his injury problems sorted for good and returns to NUFC.As for nolan,i think we are stuck with him and i hope the strikers we have play so well that sam has to let him go.To be fair to sam and the davids,they did a bloody good job in the transfer window.

Comments are closed.