West Ham United took the decision to keep faith in Sam Allardyce despite widespread criticism from the fans. West Ham have a tradition of playing beautiful football, but this has totally disappeared under the stewardship of Allardyce. The former Bolton and Blackburn Rovers manager has a reputation for being all about results. He adopts the long ball philosophy in order to get those results. Allardyce has admitted that he tends to focus on situations like set pieces because they can be utilised to beat even the top teams.

Following widespread criticism, Allardyce accepted that he will change his philosophy from the season onwards. The club has obliged to his statement by providing him with enough transfer funds to sign a number of attacking players in the last few weeks. Players like Zarate have come to Upton Park in the last few weeks of the transfer window. Defender James Collins says that the decision by the club to retain Allardyce will be rewarded in the coming years. Collins has been at West Ham for the last few years after being brought in by Allardyce in 2012.

The Welsh international has been a mainstay in West Ham’s defence in these two years and this is unlikely to change going into the new campaign. West Ham have spent in excess of £ 20 million in this transfer window.

“As soon as the news came out over the summer the lads were delighted. He has done well for the last two years, we weren’t too happy last season but we finished 13th in the end. He is so good, he sets out a plan for the whole season and how many points we need to finish as high as we can and improve on last year. We are looking to kick on this year,” said Collins.