West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has struggled to keep the fans on board this season despite getting them up to 9th in the third season of their new spell in the Premier League.

The fans have been calling for the gaffer’s head for some time with many not liking his style of play and his attitude of refusing to change his ways. After Stoke scored a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time to earn them a 1-1 draw at Upton Park an irate Allardyce told the press that their lack of form was not down to him but to the players.

Allardyce said, “We should be on 50 points now, we have thrown away seven points in two mnutes or less with being nervous.

“We cannot find the right key elements to see the game out- if we had concentrated better in those minutes we would be sitting on our greatest total and finish ever in the Premier League,” he added.

West Ham remain in the top 10 but fans know their position should have been a lot more comfortable. While rumours fly around about who could replace Allardyce at the end of the season, the 60-year-old has been trying to show that he is capable of staying as manager. The boss’ contract runs out at the end of the season and it is looking less likely every day that he will remain in charge next season.

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Whilst a portion of the fans have already expressed their feelings towards Allardyce and vice-chairwoman Karren Brady spoke out earlier in the season about her opinions of the current boss. Bookies currently have the ex-Bolton player at 9/1 for the next Premier League manager to be sacked and he hasn’t done himself any favours.

Fans never like it when managers come out and blame the players for the problems on the pitch and these latest comments have lost Allardyce even more fans. Fans took to twitter to air their grievances with “Allardyce” even trending briefly on twitter after the Stoke match.

Allardyce has said he is ignoring all the press about his position in the club as he concentrates on getting to the end of the season but if he has lost the confidence of the fans is there really any point in him staying at the club?

Big Sam has done an incredible job at Upton Park. They have grown in strength since they were promoted back into the Premier League in 2012 and this season has seen them beat Manchester City in part of a 100% unbeaten October record. These stats mean nothing to many fans though and many have already made up their mind that the gaffer needs to go.

While Allardyce may want to stay at the club it is looking more likely that his time is up. His comments about the players show that he is starting to crack under the pressure. He has lost the board and the fans and when you start blaming the players it is only a matter of time before he loses them as well. It is time to bow out gracefully and not go kicking and screaming Big Sam.

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