Has perception changed??

Wow - had to check I had put this on the correct board

Seems that only Spurs fans look at this board!!!!

unICEF: Big Sam really struggled in the Championship. With the squad we had, West Ham should not have scraped through the play-offs. But in the Premiership so far, he has done tremendously well. And he is such a likeable person; someone you'd want to cross the road to shake hands with. It's not hard to see why players want to play for him.

However, some/many West Ham fans will never take to his long ball style (myself included). It's goes completely against the ethos and traditions of the club and so is harder to accept than it would be at, say, Bolton, Blackburn etc (no offence meant).

I'd love to see Harry Redknapp back. That said, if Big Sam can get us a top-7 finish at the end of the season, I could live with him staying on as manager when his 2-year deal expires.

Myhammers - cheers for the assessment. Top 7 would be some achievement. Just out of interest, where does the 'ethos' you refer to come from. All clubs fans would love to play like Barca. But results drive success in modern day football. Surely??

Us getting relegated has nothing to do with big sam's managerial ability. There was a lot more going on. He was crap for us. Playing for a draw at home to Reading, getting over the hill players signed up on long term high wage contracts. His football was horrific and boring. I didn't look forward to going to games at home under him. It was just dull hard on the eye rubbish. Anyways he's doing a good job at West Ham. Diame is a great signing.

West Ham have always been known for trying to play the 'right' way. This goes back decades. It has always been an implied prerequisite that any new manager observes this tradition.
That's why there was an outcry when, some years ago, George Graham was linked with us, even though it was a certainty he would achieve success. And the same applies to Big Sam's appointment.

In short, rightly or wrongly, we would tend to prefer finishing 13th under someone like Redknapp than 10th under someone like Big Sam.

In short, rightly or wrongly, we would tend to prefer finishing 13th under someone like Redknapp than 10th under someone like Big Sam.
-----------------------
10th and 13th are insignificant in terms of difference. £3m in prize money is the only difference.

How about Europe under Big Sam and 10th under Harry?

or 13th under Big Sam and relegation under Harry?

Make the difference mean something

My point is that we'd prefer a lower position under Harry. Of course, if the difference was hugely significant, that might be a different matter.

It's no different to a club appointing as manager a player who was a legend of their main rivals. For example, if Liverpool appointed Gary Neville as manager, there'd be an uproar among Liverpool fans. But if he won them the title, even they would probably put aside their misgivings.

First three comments by Spurs fans

It's like Petey going out with a stunning girl! he's punching above his weight and he knows it

Sp.uds live on this board. They just hang out here like a bad smell..

Coming to the article, West Ham are not a long-ball team.