Sam Allardyce makes his first return to Upton Park on Saturday since his controversial departure from West Ham at the end of last season. It is hoped that the Sunderland manager will receive the warm welcome his record with the Hammers deserves. The likelihood is that his reception will be mixed, at best, from supporters who never appear to be happy with whoever is in charge.
Big Sam was the manager of West Ham for four years and delivered everything the owners had asked. Despite this, there was still a reluctance from above or for the fans to praise Allardyce. He was told to get West Ham, which had been relegated to the Championship, back to the Premier League in two years; he did it first time around. In the subsequent three seasons the team finished 10th, 13th and 12th. By no stretch of the imagination could this be called failure given the size of the club.
Yet the West Ham fans never took to Allardyce. "Fat Sam Out, Killing WHU" said one banner towards the end of last season. The reason for the supporters' displeasure was that Allardyce's team did not play the mythological West Ham "way" whatever that is.
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