I do not know about my fellow Hammers supporters, but the smug mocking of the ‘West Ham Way’ on Yesterday evening’s MoTD outraged me. Not only for its arrogance, but its ignorance of our club’s history and traditions. It is a dismissive view that originates directly from Sam Allardyce’s orginal comments and which now appears to be gaining wider credence.
Its a view that is certainly at odds with both my historical knowledge and my memories as a Hammers supporter of some 47 years standing. Were West Ham Utd not lionised for their style of their play in the 1960s? Was the 1965 ECWC victory over Munich 1860 not acknowledged, at the time, as the finest team performance by an English side in European competition? Did not West Ham win a BBC award for team performance of the year for their 1965 ECWC Final display? Was the ‘West Ham way’ of playing not instrumental in England’s 1966 World Cup victory? Were West Ham in the 1960s and early 1970s not frequently referred to in the press as the ‘Aristocrats of English Football’ and ‘the great entertainers’? Did that not continue in to the John Lyall era, with a succession of West Ham teams who played quality football and were almost universally admired for it? Did I imagine the style and entertainment value of the 1985-86 title challenging team? Was the attacking ability of the Redknapp sides an illusion? As recently as 2005-06, did West Ham not star in one of greatest FA Cup Finals of all time? (Perhaps the last great FA Cup Final?).
Did I imagine the technical ability and skill of greats like Moore, Hurst, Peters, Brooking, Devonshire and Di Canio? Did West Ham’s Academy not produce generations of England internationals, from Bobby Moore to more recent graduates such as Ferdinand, Carrick and Joe Cole? Similarly, did the famous triangular passing moves of Lampard Snr, Paddon and Brooking not happen? Were the skillful, expansive, attacking displays of the West Ham teams of Fenton, Greenwood, Lyall and Redknapp some kind of false memory?
No, they are real and they are things of which we can be justifiably proud. West Ham are far from the most successful club in English football, we have been inconsistent and exclusively achieved our honours in Cup competitions. Since 1978, we have suffered multiple relegations and, apart from 1985-86, have not really challenged for the 1st Division/PL title. All this is freely admitted, but do these facts give anyone the right to dismiss our equally real traditions/history of playing an outstanding and attractive style of football. When did the almost universal respect of the West Ham philosophy in the1960s and 1970s degenerate in to the contemporary mocking by Alan Shearer on MoTD? And what does it say about society and football in the present era?
If you had asked commentators and football people, of earlier eras, what is the ‘West Ham Way,’ they would have told you without a moment of hesitation. They would point to a philosophy and style of play based upon flowing passing movements and attractive attacking play.They would talk of full-backs and central defenders that could pass the ball well and quickly switch defence in to attack. And forwards of skill and vision, who could pass through the opposition rearguard and carve out precise goal scoring opportunities. All underpinned by innovative coaching and tactics. They might also talk of the sporting spirit of the club and its insistence upon high standards of fair play. Ex-players from the Greenwood and Lyall eras can easily explain the West Ham Way and its interestingly that none of the cynics seem to have taken the time to ask them. That committed Greenwood convert, Bobby Gould, famously offered to go to Chadwell Heath and explain to Sam Allardyce exactly what the West Ham Way was. Perhaps, while he is about it, he should also take the time to educate and enlighten Mr Shearer of MoTD!
On Alan Shearer, it has to be said that he obviously has a short memory. Perhaps he should think back to his PL title winning season with Blackburn Rovers and a certain evening game at Upton Park, when a inspired Redknapp side inflicted a convincing 2-0 defeat on his championship chasing side. Not only did we beat them, but we did it playing with a style and swagger that screamed ‘West Ham Way.’ While he is at it, he might also look at his Blackburn Rovers Championship medal and reflect on the fact that he ultimately owes it to West Ham Utd playing out a exciting 1-1 end of season draw with mighty Man Utd! So, maybe he owes more to West Ham, and our ways, than he seems to realise.
Putting the issue of style of play aside for one moment, what if we were for a moment to adopt the view that winning cups and titles is actually the ‘be all and end all.’ Then it would be only right to point out that there are actually less successful teams in the PL than west Ham, like Newcastle Utd for instance! When did they last win anything, the 1971 Fairs Cup? And are their fans not also protective of their history, of the late 1940s and 1950s, Jackie Milburn and all that? Moreover, are they not also adverse to a certain type of direct football and keen to see the game played the right way? Yet, strange enough, no one attacks their traditions and justifies it in terms of their lack of success!
The club needs to understand that there is real concern amongst the fan base at the way that we have played this season. Sam Allardyce illustrates his lack of understanding of the club’s supporters when he attempts to explain their discontent in narrow terms of a reaction to losing a home match (i.e. Vs Crystal Place). It may be that way for Bolton or Blackburn Rovers fans, but the expectations of West Ham supporters are different. Its not only about winning, its also about playing with some style. Some people might find that unimaginable, but then they need to appreciate that it is a product of generations of us being brought up in the ‘West Ham Way’ of doing things!
It was always obvious that in order to succeed at the club, Mr Allardyce needed to ‘mix up’ his play, combining flowing passing moves with his more direct tactics. Last season, the club did not do too bad a job of doing that. However, performances this season have too often been both dire and one dimensional. All things being equal, there will not be a change of management this summer. However, the board might be well advised to use their ‘end of season review’ to impress upon the manager the necessity, next season, of delivering improved entertainment and a greater respect for the club’s traditions. If the board can also fund some quality summer signings to facilitate a better style of play, then so much the better!
SJ. Chandos.