Big Sam at 60

Quite a few articles on Big Sam celebrating his 60th birthday this Sunday, and some people getting irate online about him saying that getting sacked at Newcastle deprived him of his chance of managing a bigger club. I can't see that's being disrespectful to West Ham, as he presumably means the likes of Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, all of whom have been Champions League regulars. And it's worth noting that in the Daily Express the full text reads: "But as plain old Sam Allardyce approaches his 60th birthday on Sunday, he finally accepts he will never get a chance to manage a really big club. Unless he says with the fire of ambition still burning in his eyes, he can turn West Ham into one." 

So far this season I'm happy with what Big Sam has achieved. He's proved that provided with better players he can adapt the system and produce entertaining football and playing Downing at the top of the midfield diamond is looking inspired. Admittedly the last three seasons have seen much functional football, but let's give Sam some credit for getting the club promoted first time and keeping us in the Premier League for two seasons. Yes, Allardyce can at times be a PR disaster with the fans, but if we'd failed to come straight back up we could be floundering where Bolton and Fulham are now.

 

Unless, he says with the fire of ambition still burning in his eyes, he can turn West Ham into one.