Sam Allardyce's job is in doubt after a heavy FA Cup defeat
The Hammers boss, still reeling from last Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat by West Brom, is out of contract at the end of the season. No plans have yet been made to sit down with the co-owners to negotiate a new deal.
Yesterday, on the eve of the London derby with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, Allardyce spoke about the progression West Ham had made since he became manager in 2011 in the wake of Premier League relegation.
“We’ve made good progress,” he said. “Look back at what the club were when I got here and you can say we have since forged a structure at the football club that’s hopefully going to breed success.
“We’ve managed to put in an infrastructure that has grown the club from where it was when I came in until, at this moment in time, a top-half Premier League club in my fourth season.”
Asked if he wanted to remain in charge when the club moved to the Olympic stadium for 2016-17 season, Allardyce pointedly said: “I’ve never said I didn’t want to stay here.”
Allardyce should have James Collins, Winston Reid and Matt Jarvis available for selection. Brazilian forward Nene received international clearance but cannot play tomorrow because of fitness concerns.
Nene would probably have not been purchased had the move for Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor gone through.
Instead, it has been reported that Spurs blocked the transfer in the final hours of the transfer window, preferring him to stay at White Hart Lane because the Hammers are currently a threat to their hopes of a Champions League place.
Tottenham v West Ham - Premier League Preview
And Tottenham defender Ben Davies admits he is shocked to see West Ham competing with them for Europe’s biggest competition.
The Hammers sit eighth in the table, just five points behind Spurs in the race for the top four.
They have also won on their last two visits to White Hart Lane ahead of tomorrow’s London derby and Davies said: “I think they’ve surprised everybody really, they’ve done well this year.
“The boys are always making you aware of how big these games are, so we’re aware of what’s at stake.”
Davies believes West Ham – fined £30,000 yesterday after the club admitted an FA charge of “failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion” during the 0-0 draw with Southampton on February 11 – are a different side without Andy Carroll, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Davies said: “Is it easier dealing with a team that doesn’t have Andy Carroll in
it? Yeah I suppose it is really!
“He’s always a tough player to play against, but they’ve got other good players in that squad so we’re not underestimating them just because he’s not there.”
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