It seems to be going unnoticed that West Ham United are still enjoying a high top-half finish in the Premier League at the mid-point of the campaign. This time last year, the London outfit found themselves dangerously close to the drop, after picking up just three league wins in the first-half of the season.
Manager Sam Allardyce found his position under intense pressure as a result, with a host of supporters requesting his immediate sacking. But the decision by the West Ham board to retain the experienced coach was justified, as United started the following season in blistering fashion.
West Ham have won against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to enjoy a lofty position as the Christmas fixtures come in, but manager Sam Allardyce is hardly being lauded as he perhaps deserves for a completely contrasting season with United. His future with the club is in fact still surrounded in mystery, with Allardyce having admitted he’s held no talks with the hierarchy.
“It’s the same as it’s been all season. We’ll sit down when we’re ready and comfortable, and discuss the situation. After we got promoted to the Premier League, we talked about (my) contract around the end of April. I don’t have any problems with that,” he said recently.
Summer signings made by the 60-year-old have had an instant impact in the Premier League, with Diafra Sakho most notably having scored in each of his first six starts for the club. Compare that last season’s fiasco of Andy Carroll suffering a long-term injury after joining on a permanent deal, and there have been many factors to their surprise rise up the table.
Considering the criticism coming Allardyce’s way 12 months ago, he will certainly feel he’s not received the praise he deserves for turning the club around. The last time West Ham were playing in European competition was in 2006/07, but such a pipe dream is looking more of a reality as the Londoners stay around the top-six of the table.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, but the Hammers boss is certainly due a pat on the back after the criticism he was the subject of for the majority of last season. Why are his and the club’s efforts being overlooked?
