West Ham United would be the perfect destination for one specific Premier League star this summer, according to Sam Allardyce.
He does like to keep his nose in our business that’s for sure. Recently, Allardyce was one of the chief cheerleaders for David Moyes, and urged the club to hand the Scot a new deal.
Sam Allardyce managed West Ham from 2011-2015, but he has always had a frosty relationship with the Hammers faithful.
The 69-year-old got us back into the Premier League in 2012, after our relegation down to the Championship the year before.
And during the first half of the 2014/15 season, he had West Ham punching well above our weight in a battle for the top four.
The Hammers faded away in the end, as did the fans’ patience will the dull football being deployed by Big Sam.
Last season under David Moyes was eerily similar to Allardyce’s final campaign in charge at Upton Park.
The fans grew tired of Big Sam’s approach to tactics and playing style and in the end that cost him his job, much like what happened to the Scot.
Sam Allardyce tries to turn the tide with West Ham fans
The former Bolton boss famously hit out at the Hammers fans and labelled us as ‘deluded’ after he left the club, suggesting that he didn’t actually know what the ‘West Ham way’ was, as quoted by the Guardian:
“As soon as I was appointed manager in 2011 the big debate was whether I would follow the ‘West Ham way’, which nobody could define, but, whatever it was, I apparently didn’t play it.”
“I felt the West Ham way was about wearing your heart on your sleeve and showing passion for the club and winning. But the fans were being brainwashed into thinking that, historically, the club had a particular style of play which was akin to Barcelona, which was potty.”
“I once called the supporters deluded and I stand by that. I don’t know who invented the West Ham way phrase, but it’s a millstone around the club’s neck.”
Those comments were a huge insult to the Hammers fans who’d grown up watching the likes of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst and then in later years Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Paolo Di Canio and Carlos Tevez.
The 69-year-old clearly didn’t get what it meant to be a West Ham fan, and he proved that by cupping his hand to his ear after receiving boos from the home fans after our 2-1 win over Hull City in 2014.
The relationship between him and the fans has never been a good one, but he clearly feels like we are an attractive club to prospective new signings.
Allardyce tips PL star for Hammers switch
Big Sam has been speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast about Ivan Toney.
In response to suggestions that the 28-year-old could join Manchester City this summer, Allardyce had another idea.
He said “I just don’t think so. I am just not sure. Would Ivan Toney want to move to Man City to be not the number one? What is he? 28? If he’s moving now, you have got to move to be number one. It’s better if West Ham bought him.”
I actually agree with him here. Toney would be perfect for West Ham and we would be the ideal move for him as well.
Tottenham have just signed Dominic Solanke, so he won’t be going there.
Considering the fact that a recent report claimed there were only two clubs in the running for Toney – the Hammers and Spurs – the striker might only have one option left.
However, given the fact that we’ve already signed Niclas Fullkrug, I’m just not sure there is room for Toney anymore, especially given Brentford’s £50 million demands for him (The Daily Mail).
Perhaps if Brentford lower their demands to around the £25-30 million mark, we might have a chance at bringing him to the London Stadium.
Sam Allardyce thinks West Ham would be the perfect move for the Brentford hitman, so that proves that our former manager thinks we’re a club worth joining.
Maybe it’s time for the Wets Ham fans and Big Sam to let bygones be bygones, and all move on from the bitterness.
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