The Hammers are currently top of the Championship, but will supporters demand a change of attitude if they are promoted?
With the sky-high cost of relegation and an uncertain future over long term plans for a new stadium, West Ham simply cannot afford not to win promotion.
So pragmatism is the name of the game at present, with owners Sullivan and Gold admitting so when they appointed Sam Allardyce.
‘Big Sam’ has lived up to expectations as a ‘results man’ and presently all that matters is promotion, but if it is secured, it may be time for a rethink in terms of approach.
The club have had players sent off in their last three league matches, and are becoming experts at making life difficult for themselves and grinding out results with 10 men.
Compared to second place Southampton, who have scored 37 goals in their 17 home matches, West Ham have managed just 25 in 15, just over one a game.
It is hardly the sort of free-flowing football which Hammers fans crave, yet for this season, they are prepared to put up with it, so long as the results are good.
Allardyce has a bit of a reputation, going back to his Bolton days, as a route-one manager, which he was unable to shake off at Newcastle or at Blackburn.
Yet if it is winning, and avoiding relegation that counts, Sam is the man.
It was no coincidence that Newcastle sacked him and got relegated, Bolton immediately struggled without him, and Blackburn have also never recovered.
So West Ham’s hierarchy should think twice about making snap decisions when/if they get promoted, and the supporters start to show dissent.
But Allardyce will have to adapt, and he knows it. The Championship is a tough league to get out of, and this season is certainly a case of needs must, but there are positive signs for next season.
The acquisition of the exciting Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard offer exciting possibilities if the trio can find their feet ahead of next season.
And the win away to Blackpool was certainly dramatic, the Hammers riding out 4-1 winners despite Henri Lansbury playing half an hour in goal.
The Premier League is a whole new ball game, and it will be fascinating to see how the side adapts, because a pragmatic style of football is fine when the results are good, but in the Premier League they invariably will not be, so the battle for fans hearts off the pitch will be as important as the battle on it.
West Ham fans, what does Allardyce need to do next season to keep you onside if the club is promoted?
image: © law_keven
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