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Stranded 8:27 Mon Sep 15
Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

With the prospect of Allardyce going at the end of the season, some are suggesting before that if results go against us, I have a question..

Why do you think the board would let him go if we're still in the Premiership?

They've weathered many storms, almost from the day he arrived - 'deluded' fans, insulting the club's history, ear cupping, negative tactics, supporters booing the team off etc. etc. etc. They even had the public debacle with him themselves at the end of last season.. but he's still here.

In the past, the arguments in favour of keeping him on, and I'd imagine they might be close to the board's thinking, tended to go something like..

1) Allardyce is slowly building the foundations of a new, more solid WH, which is essential after the disaster of our relegation. He's the only manager we could hope to attract that almost guarantees we don't get relegated again whilst it's happening.

2) Replacing him now would be a mistake because he's already built an 'Allardyce' squad. Any incoming manager couldn't get the same results out of it, and would want to rebuild, something we can't afford to do. Nor can we afford the disruption to the team that would cause, with the accompanying possibility of relegation, so close to the OS move.

3) As a manager, he as near to guarantees Premiership survival as we can hope get. Taking on a new manager now would be a massive gamble. It would be a total disaster for WH to enter the OS as a Championship club. It's too great a risk to take just to please some pissed off supporters.

All of that taken into consideration. At the end of this season we'll be ONE season away from the OS, giving any new manager ONE solitary chance to get it right. If it was 'too risky' to sack Allardyce during the preceding seasons, by the same logic it would be near suicidal to let him walk at the end of this one.

What could seem riskier to the board than trying to replace Sam Allardyce, and gambling everything on a new man, one season away from potentially the biggest payday of their lives?


NB. None of the above should be taken as an attempt to promote Allardyce's cause. I hate the fat cunt, and never wanted him here in the first place. But I think it's still a valid question.

Mr Polite 8:30 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

I think given time he will change the way he has played for his whole managerial career and could be the best thing that ever happened to us

Arko 8:36 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Polite, are you serious or is this your version of being sarcastic ?

Mr Polite 8:40 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Totally serious, although he has played exactly the same way for years and believes it to be successful if we just give him time he will change for the better and we'll be in a new stadium with a brilliant style of play that mixes steel and silky attractive football





Only kidding I hope he dies

Alex V 8:42 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Don't see how they could possibly claim point 1. If that is happening at all it is in spite of Allardyce.

The counter to point 2 is that the manager should be changed as soon as possible to avoid going deeper down the rabbit hole. Though I suppose that's why the owners took control of transfers in the Summer, to try and avoid that happening.

I broadly agree with you though. Presuming we are safely in the Premiership next Summer, I don't see why the decision would be any different from this Summer. Depends who's available I suppose.

frank marker 8:46 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Follow the money. That will give you the answer.

The owners will do whatever is necessary to ensure that they secure their investment. If that involves keeping Allardyce, then they will do it. The only reson they will get rid of him is if it looks likely it will cost less than to keep him.

Suck it in, gentlemen, because this could take a long while.

Stranded 8:54 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Alex. Just putting forward the standard arguments for him staying in place, as read many times on here since he arrived.

For the record, I agree with you in both cases.

David L 8:58 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

How exactly does Allardyce 'guarantee' we wont be relegated? Does he get thd club points for his good looks or something?

Stranded 9:06 Mon Sep 15
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

David. I'm not suggesting he does.

Beginning to think I should have put "I hate the fat cunt, and never wanted him here in the first place" in capital letters?

chav slav 12:21 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Really good point, here limp over the finishing line , instead of not making it

Dapablo 12:31 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

We'll get top ten and he will get a new contract, you heard it here first!

Kenny Powers 12:54 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Don't forget the other elephant in the room - Andy Carroll.
When (and if) fit, will he come straight back into the side and will that mean Sam reverting to Plan A?

normannomates 2:01 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

If we have even a half decent season, irrespective of the type of football the team serves up..the bare facts will tell you he was rather successfully as a why manager. Like it or not.
I understand his mentally to some degree regarding the way he sets up against superior opponents. But that style falls down when he stubbornly refuses to change against lesser opposition

Yorkammer 10:56 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

My prediction is a 2 year extension for Allardyce.

If the emotion is taken out of the discussion and the hard-nosed financial view that the owners will almost certainly have is considered you get:

- A team that is in the Premier League that fills the ground for every home game

- Owners who will be approaching 70 and 80 years old when we move to Stratford. Will they want a season of glory in the Olympic Stadium before they cash in and retire?

- A club that is worth more as a Premiership Team in the Olympic Stadium than it would be as a Championship outfit, i.e. a bigger pension pot.

- A manager who is unlikely to get us relegated.

After a season at Stratford, the David's sell up, Allardyce's contract expires and the new owners get their man in. In the meantime, people keep moaning on forums and threatening boycotts while Upton Park sells out each week.

What would you do if it was your pension fund? How many risks would you take with it to appease others?

Dick Gozinia 12:04 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Yorkammer 10:56 Sat Sep 20

when you lay it out as simple as that I can't see anything else happening.

Willtell 12:27 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

You're spot on Yorkammer.

All the time we play like we did against Hull and even if BFS tightens up a bit against top sides, as long as we then go on to beat a few and finish top 10 why get rid?

The only reason BFS isn't liked is because of the awful football and his arrogant versions of matches afterwards but, Ferguson was just the same.

If BFS can play a more open game then I can see him staying for quite a few more years....

andyd12345 1:06 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

I have it on very good authority that Mr Allardyce has recently purchased a £2.5m house in Chingford and in in the process of spending a further £1.5m doing it up.

Not the plans of a Northerner who will only be in London for another few months.

Academy321 1:09 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

If we have a good season, finishing in and around 10th spot with a cup run/ the cups taken seriously and crucially playing a better brand if football thn he deserves a new contract.

David L 1:13 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

A point against Hull and suddenly we're talking contract extensions....

, 1:18 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

Being pro or anti BFS is like the recent Scottish referendum. Here the YES faction was very in your face and out on the street but the majority [ the Noes that is ] were quietly indoors waiting to cast their votes.

Results will decide the fate of BFS and for the owners that will outweigh style. It is clear to me that Gollivan are doubtful of their ability to choose another manager.

Lily Hammer 1:24 Sat Sep 20
Re: Sam Allardyce - The Elephant in the Room

I'm hoping Mr Polite's sarcastic version comes true. It's not the most far fetched thing. Already, we are seeing signs of trying to play more attractive football. balance that with the defensive savvy we built up, and I'd be happy for Sam to remain as OUR fat annoying arrogant fish botherer.

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