Allardyce: I’m winning and that’s what counts!
Sam Allardyce maintains that his West Ham are the best footballing side in the Championship – whatever Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman thinks.
Freedman hit out at the Hammers’ style of play following their 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park back in October.
Allardyce was so incensed by those comments that he produced a sheet of stats, and said: “It disappoints me to hear a young manager talking in the way he did about my team.”
Big Sam has no doubts they are proving value for money and wants his players to do the talking when they take on Palace in a televised London derby at Upton Park today.
“If you remember I produced stats that proved we played them off the park,” said Allardyce. “So the perception was wrong at that time. That’s long gone, but we know the reality is that we’re one of the best footballing sides in the league, if not the best.
“I don’t go around bragging about it all the time, like several of my fellow managers do. Rightfully so, they wouldn’t want to be tagged as anything other than trying to play the game in the right way, which is what I’ve always done.
“I have been a manager for 20 years, and have had success the right way – which is winning football matches with style, with ability. It’s what I’m paid to do.
“And there’s not many managers that have worked with the world-class talent that I’ve worked with. Unfortunately I can’t get rid of my tag, but ignorant people ask ignorant questions.
“I saw Freedman a few weeks ago. He’s a young manager, but that’s water under the bridge for me.
“He’s welcome in my office for a drink after the game, like every manager.”
The Hammers returned to the top of the table with a fine 4-1 at Blackpool – despite being reduced to 10 men for the third match running.
Allardyce admits his heart cannot take much more if West Ham have another man sent off today, and reveals he was exhausted following their memorable win at Bloomfield Road.
“I felt like I’d gone 15 rounds with Amir Khan,” he added. “I almost felt punch-drunk when I woke up, not just because of that game, but because of the two previous games. The tension and the emotion you go through is massive.
“Having to suffer it three games on the trot has left me without much left in the batteries.
“We’ve taken it very, very easy with the players over the last couple of days because of the physical and mental fatigue that they’ve gone through.
“Not just on Tuesday, but also the previous two games, and we don’t want that to be detrimental to our performance or result against Crystal Palace.”
