" Big Sam under big pressure at West Ham "

Meet the play-off opponents: " Big Sam under big pressure at West Ham "
Apr 29 2012


" Malky Mackay will take on Sam Allardyce "


So it’s Big Sam and West Ham for Cardiff City in the play-offs. PHIL BLANCHE looks at what awaits the Bluebirds in the two-legged semi-final

So what’s their story?

The Academy, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters. They won the World Cup, didn’t they? Not really...but it’s a good tale. Certainly a better one than Sam Allardyce’s constant style-clash with Hammers fans. Favourites at the start of the season, they soared but then fell short and finished third.

Will they be happy to be in play-offs then? No. Hammers’ fans felt they had a divine right to win automatic promotion, owners David Sullivan (Penarth boy made rich) and David Gold thought they should have finished in the top two and Allardyce knows he under-achieved by failing to do so.

Good time to play them? Possibly. Expectation on West Ham squad (certainly the strongest on paper in the division) to go straight back up is almost unbearable. But one or two signs, notably beating Brighton 6-0 and winning 2-1 at Leicester on Monday, shows they might be handling it at last.

Didn’t we beat them earlier in the season? Seems a long time ago now but Kenny Miller nailed the Hammers at Upton Park on the opening weekend. We’ll draw a veil over timid 2-0 home defeat in March.

Who’s crossing swords with Malky? Big Sam. The fastest gum-chewer in England, well, south of Old Trafford.

Isn’t he big-time and better than the Championship? The England manager-in-waiting. Well, he thinks he is. Newcastle and West Ham fans don’t agree.

Ranter and raver? Remember that documentary when they wired him up to test his heartbeat and it went through the roof. It’s safe to say Big Sam hasn’t mellowed with age.

Will he make a difference? Probably. Depends if he’s got Hammers fans on his back. “We’re West Ham United and we play on the floor” more likely to be heard at Upton Park these days than ‘We’re forever blowing bubbles”.

So all’s not well then? Not really, you get the feeling that Big Sam’s one Amdy Faye punt away from causing a riot in the East End.

Wait a minute, football’s all about players – they got anyone useful? Where to start...Carlton Cole, John Carew, Ricardo Vaz Te, Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock.

They’re not exactly short of strikers then – anyone else? Wales ace Jack Collison is fit again and providing the drive in midfield which once impressed the educated eye of Arsene Wenger.

It’s starting to sound tricky – what’s their weakness? Goalkeeper Robert Green played for England but has been known to throw the odd one in. Remember Clint Dempsey’s goal for USA at the 2010 World Cup. OK you do, stop sniggering at the back.

Like the sound of that, anything else?@ Scott Parker hasn’t really been replaced in midfield and the squad’s so big (with bulging pay packets to match) that you’ve got to think there’s some tension there.

Oh yes, we can win this win one – can we celebrate somewhere? @ The Blind Beggar in Whitechapel is only a few miles away but don’t diss the Krays. They were nice boys really.



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1tQ2FUDvq

I use to like the man, but now he's been at W Ham, he's been really arrogant

Im glad he never took them up, he thought id be a walk in the park .. reality check

I use to like the man, but now he's been at W Ham, he's been really arrogant

Im glad he never took them up, he thought id be a walk in the park .. reality check

this.hope you beat em.they,ll have to sell some jazz mags to sustain those wages next season

Meet the play-off opponents: " Big Sam under big pressure at West Ham "
Apr 29 2012


" Malky Mackay will take on Sam Allardyce "


So it’s Big Sam and West Ham for Cardiff City in the play-offs. PHIL BLANCHE looks at what awaits the Bluebirds in the two-legged semi-final

So what’s their story?

The Academy, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters. They won the World Cup, didn’t they? Not really...but it’s a good tale. Certainly a better one than Sam Allardyce’s constant style-clash with Hammers fans. Favourites at the start of the season, they soared but then fell short and finished third.

Will they be happy to be in play-offs then? No. Hammers’ fans felt they had a divine right to win automatic promotion, owners David Sullivan (Penarth boy made rich) and David Gold thought they should have finished in the top two and Allardyce knows he under-achieved by failing to do so.

Good time to play them? Possibly. Expectation on West Ham squad (certainly the strongest on paper in the division) to go straight back up is almost unbearable. But one or two signs, notably beating Brighton 6-0 and winning 2-1 at Leicester on Monday, shows they might be handling it at last.

Didn’t we beat them earlier in the season? Seems a long time ago now but Kenny Miller nailed the Hammers at Upton Park on the opening weekend. We’ll draw a veil over timid 2-0 home defeat in March.

Who’s crossing swords with Malky? Big Sam. The fastest gum-chewer in England, well, south of Old Trafford.

Isn’t he big-time and better than the Championship? The England manager-in-waiting. Well, he thinks he is. Newcastle and West Ham fans don’t agree.

Ranter and raver? Remember that documentary when they wired him up to test his heartbeat and it went through the roof. It’s safe to say Big Sam hasn’t mellowed with age.

Will he make a difference? Probably. Depends if he’s got Hammers fans on his back. “We’re West Ham United and we play on the floor” more likely to be heard at Upton Park these days than ‘We’re forever blowing bubbles”.

So all’s not well then? Not really, you get the feeling that Big Sam’s one Amdy Faye punt away from causing a riot in the East End.

Wait a minute, football’s all about players – they got anyone useful? Where to start...Carlton Cole, John Carew, Ricardo Vaz Te, Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock.

They’re not exactly short of strikers then – anyone else? Wales ace Jack Collison is fit again and providing the drive in midfield which once impressed the educated eye of Arsene Wenger.

It’s starting to sound tricky – what’s their weakness? Goalkeeper Robert Green played for England but has been known to throw the odd one in. Remember Clint Dempsey’s goal for USA at the 2010 World Cup. OK you do, stop sniggering at the back.

Like the sound of that, anything else?@ Scott Parker hasn’t really been replaced in midfield and the squad’s so big (with bulging pay packets to match) that you’ve got to think there’s some tension there.

Oh yes, we can win this win one – can we celebrate somewhere? @ The Blind Beggar in Whitechapel is only a few miles away but don’t diss the Krays. They were nice boys really.



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1tQ2FUDvq

Blanche - what a clown. Stick to writing about the bread van strike in the ponty observer.

West Ham's 'football' is awful this season and as for their pathetic support……giving tickets away and all sorts to try and fill that complete shithole of a 'stadium'……….fukin tw@ts. Hate the Big Time Charlies with a passion…..

Massive pressure on him/them. If we can sneak a goal lead for the second leg, they will implode. The fans hate him.

Reminds me of us last year.

The team as a whole are under pressure.
I think us at home first is the advantage because if they get nothing down the CCS they will be put under huge pressure by the home fans.
Clearly their fans are fed up with Sam's brand of football and who can blame them? All season at the top and now in the play off's. West Ham are a big club with great football tradition and they have never replaced Pardew.

Just my opinion.

The team as a whole are under pressure.
I think us at home first is the advantage because if they get nothing down the CCS they will be put under huge pressure by the home fans.
Clearly their fans are fed up with Sam's brand of football and who can blame them? All season at the top and now in the play off's. West Ham are a big club with great football tradition and they have never replaced Pardew.

Just my opinion.

they havn,t been a footballing team for years.all part of the myth.