Big Sam. Do you love him yet?

[New Jersey]

Really don't understand how people are complaining. First season back in the Premiership, we haven't been close to the relegation zone, and even after a bad run of form, we are still 12th. So we got tonked tonight, first time this season, it happens. We also beat Chelsea 3-1 and everyone was talking about Europe.

Big Sam's football might not be the prettiest, but we have become a hard team to beat (apart from tonight). Let's have a couple of seasons of being mid-table, become an established Premiership side, then look to crack on when we get in the OS. Big Sam is the man to do this, he's done it before.

[ShanghaiHammer]

As the poster said, he was playing devil's advocate.

And the answer is clearly no. It is a miracle we are getting any points with this squad. We have maybe two, maybe three real top-league-quality players, and don't forget that there needs to be 11 players in a football team.

Therefore the vast majority of our starting 11 being reasonably gash isn't the managers fault, with the budget and time that he has had.

And if anyone is thinking (as someone actually did write and tried to argue last week on here) something like 'but why didn't we buy Michu or Hernandez', then you need to re-assess your life.

[KernowHammer8]

I was thinking about Sam's contract the other day. Wondering if the Daves had their eye on someone.

I reckon they are looking at Roberto Martinez if Wigan go down, or even if they dont?

Shrewd in the transfer market and very loyal. Also plays lovely football.

I can dream....

[speculator]

I don't think he's going anywhere. I still feel we have not seen the best of this team yet. When they are all back from injury we will definitely go on a run. We still have not had Carroll together with Joe Cole and Jarvis. He does make what seems weird decisions at times but only he knows the fitness of the players.

[Alf Garnett's (Ex) Missus]

Erm....

I reckon they are looking at Roberto Martinez if Wigan go down

- so he's not that ****ing good then is he

Stability is the key........sign Sam up for as long as he wants

[richneal]

Think it boils down to our opinion on the state of things generally, ie. are our results & performances this season due to 1) BFS's incompetence or 2) the generally (comparative) crap state of many of our players. I'd argue that it's impossible to separate the two, but that's what we're doing here.

Now, I am absolutely no fan of the gaffer, but I think that so far this season, he's got West Ham punching above our weight points-wise and results-wise. Performance-wise it's been bloody awful at times, often very ugly and painful to watch. But, we've also seen a few games of cracking football, esp. earlier in the season.

I'd also argue that our better results have been due to a fair amount of luck, but the luck's run out recently, hence the apparent lack of good form. Regressing to the mean and all that.

But really, what can we expect? We've assembled a team on a comparative shoestring budget. I certainly never thought of Allardyce as a manager who produced attacking teams playing in the style I'd like to watch - that was certainly true last season, and remains true this season as well. Not saying I'm happy with things the way they are, but I had - and still have - fairly low expectations for this season and next.

[Bergen Hammer]

I was thinking about Sam's contract the other day. Wondering if the Daves had their eye on someone.

I reckon they are looking at Roberto Martinez if Wigan go down, or even if they dont?

Shrewd in the transfer market and very loyal. Also plays lovely football.

I can dream....

Would be the manager I'd go for no doubt, but would need time to get it working and im not sure he'd get it tbf.

[shammy]

Would be the manager I'd go for no doubt, but would need time to get it working and im not sure he'd get it tbf.

Yes always impressed with a manager who comes 4th from bottom every year.

[Bergen Hammer]

But he does that in style

[RM6]

We're on a bad run off form at a time when we have had quite a few injuries to big players.

We're not in a position to far away from Newcastle. I trust Allardyce to be able to fix it, while I know Pardew is f*cked.

[Knaphill]

Until his "new" contract runs out, I can't see him leaving at the end of the season, nor can I see The Daves not signing him to a new deal before the end of the season.

Sam's been busy extending all the players deals which suggests he's already planning for next season and beyond.

[Rays Rock]

He's mid to late fifties now, so if he looks after himself and controls his weight, he could go on another 30 years.

[chalks]

He'd be able to do his job better if he was allowed to decide on all transfers

Sullivan, hang your head in shame re Paulista

[Marky]

He'd be able to do his job better if he was allowed to decide on all transfers

Sullivan, hang your head in shame re Paulista

Thats a very good point Chalks.

Paulista is a moronic signing

[Denbighammer]

Usual rubbish from the OP.

[carnage]

3 points off 10th. What is going on?

[PrawnSandwich]

Redknapp?

[JBs Caravan]

I certainly would not wish to challenge my skills and strengths against the 2 Daves,Good Luck

[bristolhammerfc]

We are finding our level. We have overachieved so far with a championship side and injuries are playing a part.

The manger is doing his job. He has done a better job this season than Hughes, Lambert and others with a far larger budget.

[bobd_uk]

Wrong starting lineup, wrong substitutions. Onto the next one, it wasn't realistic to expect anything from this anyway.

I think blaming the substitutions is a bit OTT. We were 5-1 down before we made them!