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TOTAL FOOTBALL WITH MATTHEW GLAZIER |
Bet365's Head of Marketing Matthew Glazier gives his views on the beautiful game.
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Hammers Woe Set to Continue
Alan Pardew’s team are experiencing that ‘difficult second season’ in the top flight....
It could easily be said that West Ham over-achieved last season. Lest we forget, during season 2004/5, an under-pressure Alan Pardew steered the Hammers to just sixth position in the Championship and it was only the lottery of the play-offs (and some expert finishing from Bobby Zamora) that ensured they returned to the top flight.
Despite their promotion, the jury was still out on Pardew as far as most Hammers fans were concerned. It was only an increasingly successful season, culminating in a 9th placed league finish, an FA Cup Final appearance and the unbelievable prospect of European football, which convinced the Boleyn Ground faithful that he was the right man for the job.
Now the tide is turning once again for West Ham and Pardew as they experience what appears to be ‘difficult second season’ syndrome. No longer can they rely on the momentum from last season, where nothing was expected of them and the wide-eyed youth of Harewood, Reo-Coker and Ferdinand blossomed alongside the talent of Benayoun and Ashton to remarkable effect.
During the 2001/2 season, Ipswich Town suffered a similar fate following an equally successful return to the top flight the season before. The Tractor Boys had attained the heady heights of 5th place during the previous campaign, securing a place in Europe thanks to ‘Manager of the Season’ George Burley.
However, a sluggish start allied with the distraction of the UEFA Cup meant Ipswich failed to consolidate their top flight status and a Ruud Van Nistelrooy penalty at Portman Road on 27th April consigned them to the second flight where they’ve been ever since.
Some ill-fated foreign signings, including Finidi George, were cited as one of the factors in Town’s relegation and a couple of recent West Ham recruits spring to mind when assessing where they’ve gone wrong so far. Unless Pardew can help his players rediscover the team spirit which enabled them to finish in the top half of the table last season, West Ham’s day’s in the Premiership are numbered.
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