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| Another Tottenham match, another victory. |
Throughout the 2013/14 season, football fans were tortured by
a Barclays advert featuring the ‘I can’t stop loving you’ song over the top of
shots of Premier League supporters watching their team. It was ironic that West
Ham fans should feature so prominently, when in reality most could not have
felt less love for their club. This season will be remembered as the one where
the team were booed off after winning.
The only new permanent signing since the end of the previous
season, who wasn't a freebie, was Stewart Downing. The lack of investment was telling. The budget was
blown on retaining Andy Carroll who because of injury did not feature until
midway through the season. In the meantime, Allardyce struggled to find an
alternative system. He persevered with
Modibo Maiga for a time before admitting defeat. He then switched to a bizarre strikerless
system. It worked to devastating effect in a 3-0 away win at Tottenham, but
thereafter West Ham were predictable and easy to play against.
A winter of discontent saw the team win just one league
match in December and January. There was embarrassment in the cups with a 5-0
defeat to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup and a 9-0
aggregate defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup semi final. Just 14,390
fans turned up for the second leg at Upton Park.
An unlikely draw at Stamford Bridge proved to be the
catalyst for a change in fortune, with West Ham winning the following four
matches. Jose Mourinho described Sam Allardyce’s tactics as “19th
century”. It was a rare occasion when Hammers fans jumped to the manager’s
defence.
The relationship between manager and fans deteriorated
rapidly. Fielding a team full of rookies in the Forest match was a step too far
for many. Having assembled a fairly average squad, Allardyce felt the best way
to reverse a poor first half of the season was to play every game, regardless
of the opposition, negatively.
West Ham were in the relegation zone at the start of
February but finished the season seven points clear, suggesting that Big Sam
had got it right. But the lack of entertainment was too much for many fans to
stomach. The tension reached a head at the end of an abysmal home game against ten-men
Hull City. The team scraped an undeserved victory. The fans booed the team off,
with Allardyce unwisely cupping his ear at them in retaliation.
The remainder of the season – much like the rest – was dominated
by talk of whether he should remain as manager. Much of the criticism was
justified. From some corners, though, it was disproportionate and spiteful. The
atmosphere amongst some sections of the fans was nothing short of poisonous.
Sadly, it took the tragic death of Dylan Tombides to put all
that into perspective. Many of us had been under the impression that he was
getting the better of cancer. Depressingly, that was not the case. No defeat or
relegation has ever made me cry. Dylan’s death did. What more can you say. Rest
in peace, Dylan.
The highlight of the season was undoubtedly three victories
against Tottenham. I am pleased to say I witnessed every one. Each was special
in its own way, but it was hard to rival the 3-0 win in the league match at
White Hart Lane. A better awayday I have never had.
The ugly anti-Semitic chants of previous seasons were
notable by their absence. This time it was Spurs fans who were in trouble as
the authorities clamped down on the Y word. In another West Ham match, Nicolas Anelka
was punished for a “Quenelle” gesture, a salute that carries anti-Semitic connotations.
How refreshing for us to have the moral high ground for once.
Other noteworthy moments included ex-player Tomas
Hitzlsperger coming out as gay, the dirty tactics of pantomime villain Chico
Flores, the release of Ravel Morrison on loan to QPR and a rather spectacular
goal from the halfway line from Wayne Rooney.
So how was it for me? Honestly? It was awful. The hopeless
away defeats at Crystal Palace and West Bromich Albion are particularly hard to
shake off. But failing to enjoy victories, such as the Norwich City game, was a
new and unwelcome experience.
The prominence of social media in football began to feel
like a largely negative influence. It has brought me into contact with many good
people – special thanks to Chris and James for inviting me onto the KUMB
podcast not once but twice. But the Twitter landscape is dominated by people
who are only supporters in name – who positively thrive on any piece of
negativity.
This blogger was the only one not to take part in promoting
an online poll about whether Allardyce should remain as manager. I gave my
reasons via a polite and, what I believed to be, constructive email. There was
no response. Instead, I was labelled a “prat” in a blog by the person behind
the poll.
Can I continue to contribute to the commentary of West Ham
on social media, while retaining my love for the club? I’m not sure I can. My favourite tweeter of West Ham is @twistandshout. Nowadays he doesn’t bother,
such is the bile one has to wade through. The idiots are winning.
I have been counting down the end of the season for some
time. I think the one thing that unites us all is a relief that it’s finally over.
It’s hard to predict what the future will bring while so much uncertainty
reigns. But I believe there is undeniable potential for this club to progress.
We have survived second-season syndrome. Some positive activity in the transfer
market could take us a step in the right direction. But it was ever thus.
