Super Ted
Sheringham boosts Hammers
Since being appointed manager of West Ham in 2011, Sam Allardyce has consistently masterminded positive results for the east Londoners. Nevertheless, Big Sam has regularly been scrutinised throughout his Hammers tenure with the primary accusation being that the team don’t provide enough entertainment.
Having consolidated the club’s position in the Premier League, Allardyce has made genuine efforts to explore a more expansive style of play in 2014-15. One of the most significant decisions, though, was to add former teammate Teddy Sheringham to the coaching staff at Upton Park.
The former England star joined West Ham towards the twilight of a highly successful playing career in 2004 and his experience was a key facet in helping the Hammers gain promotion back to the Premier League in his maiden season with the club. A decade later, Sheringham is having an equally instrumental impact from his coaching capacity.
During his playing days, Sheringham reached the very top by scoring the crucial equaliser in Manchester United’s famous Champions League final turnaround against Bayern Munich and he was widely regarded as one of the top finishers in English football. Perhaps his biggest asset, though, was an advanced reading of the game and that precise awareness more than compensated for a slight lack of pace.
That wonderful understanding of the game was best highlighted by the striker’s unselfish assist for a memorable Alan Shearer goal in the 4-1 demolition of the Netherlands at Euro ‘96, but there are plenty more examples from the Sheringham highlight reel that underline his phenomenal mental attributes. With this in mind, it is easy to believe that the 48-year-old would make a fantastic coach and the early results at West Ham have certainly reinforced that sentiment.
By the end of October, the Hammers were flying high in the top four Premier League places. While it is commonly accepted that the club won’t finish the campaign in the Champions League qualification spots, it does signal a vast improvement for a club that spent the majority of 2013-14 worrying about the threat of relegation. That fantastic start has largely been thanks to the team’s efficiency in the final third.
While Allardyce is rightly receiving all the plaudits, Sheringham’s influence shouldn’t be underestimated.
Last term it took West Ham until December 28th to score their 17th league goal, but the Hammers had already reached that milestone after just nine matches in 2014-15 and their ability to find the target will be extra pleasing for everyone at the Boleyn Ground; not least due to the worries surrounding their frontline prior to the season’s start. With record signing Andy Carroll injured, Allardyce placed his faith in summer signings Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and Diafra Sakho.
That gamble has certainly paid dividends thus far. While fans were aware of Valencia’s talents due to his positive displays at the World Cup, as well as Zarate’s thanks to a previous spell in England, Sakho was somewhat on an unknown entity for the majority of football supporters in this country. However, the bargain capture from Metz has become an instant hit around E13 by equalling Micky Quinn’s Premier League record of scoring in each of his first six starts. Additionally, he is also the new holder of a club record seven goals in seven games.
With Valencia supplementing Sakho superbly, the Hammers now boast a frightening strike force and England man Carroll could face a particularly tough time trying to recapture starting berth in the New Year. Naturally, the players have to take the bulk of the credit but Sheringham’s coaching has clearly had a shining influence.
First-team coach Ian Hendon has publicly praised the new attacking coach, suggesting that Sheringham’s finishing masterclasses on a Thursday and Friday have been a beneficial factor in keeping the forwards sharp. Sheringham and West Ham appear to be a match made in heaven. The owners demanded a more eye-catching brand in 2014-15 and the vastly experienced local lad has unquestionably played a vital role in that transformation. Perhaps this season, Sheringham’s impact will prevent those proverbial bubbles from bursting. Whatever happens, the Hammers are happy to have him on board.