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Sacking Sam Allardyce will see West Ham relegated, says Jeff Stelling

Image: Allardyce: lacks squad depth, even when all players are fit, says Jeff

The West Ham fans are calling for Sam Allardyce to be axed, but he's been in this situation before and has got some big, broad shoulders on him. However, I can't remember ever seeing them quite so slumped as they are at the moment.

However, I don't understand why David Gold and David Sullivan felt the need to put out a letter to the fans earlier in the week. It almost undermines the manager in some respects by the fact they felt the need to do it. They might have given him a vote of confidence but in truth they're admitting they have concerns. It doesn't do anything for the manager's position at all. In their defence, I think Sullivan, Gold and Karen Brady have the club at heart and it's worth remembering that West Ham was in one heck of a mess financially when they went in. They have effectively sorted things out and for all intents and purposes they overachieved last season. They got some fantastic results, built upon a rock-solid defence but they've just not been able to produce it again this season. Maybe it's second season syndrome? They're in a terribly difficult situation now and it's one they wouldn't have anticipated being in. The only thing they can do now is guts it out and stick with what they've believed in. I know it won't make me popular with the West Ham fans but I just think the alternative now is unthinkable and won't advance their case at all. They've got to rely on Sam to put things right.

JEFF'S GEM OF THE WEEK

To go away from home and win at a Premier League side means Sheffield United are my Gem of the Week. It was their first win at Villa Park since 1966 and Nigel Clough has quickly gone in there and sorted them out - one defeat in their last 10 games in all competitions. I think his approach is probably a bit more pragmatic than some of the managers that have come before him and they thoroughly deserved the win. Villa seem to be unable to play in front of their own fans for some reason and I don't think it had anything to do with all the stuff beforehand with Paul Lambert saying the Premier League was more important than the FA Cup. I think all he was doing was saying what every Premier League and Championship manager believes. For me, he said nothing wrong and he didn't demotivate his side - it's just that on the day they came up against a well-drilled Sheffield United side who had the resilience to come back once Villa had got level. A big well done to United and Nigel Clough.

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