Premier League: Sam Allardyce wants West Ham fans to respect QPR's returning old boys
Sunday 5 October 2014 07:51, UK
Sam Allardyce has urged the West Ham fans to give QPR's former Hammers a warm reception when the two sides meet at Upton Park live on Sky Sports Super Sunday.
Rob Green, Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora have collectively made more than 500 appearances for the Hammers while Harry Redknapp was West Ham manager for six seasons from 1994.
The quartet are all now plying their trade on the other side of the capital but Allardyce insists their time in East London should not be forgotten when they return to Upton Park this weekend.
"I think they should get a warm reception as all three of them were here for a considerable amount of time - they weren't short-term stays,” Allardyce said.
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“We would like them to be very miserable at the end of the game though.
"The year I had Robert (Green) when he helped us get back in to the Premier League, he was a great professional, and we all know about Rio.
“Harry has been managing longer than me - one of the few left who has.
“I think they will all come back with an extra determination to return to their old club and show everyone what they can still do."
Despite making some high-profile signings in the summer, QPR have struggled so far this season and find themselves sitting 18th in the table.
Ferdinand and Steven Caulker were among the big names to arrive at Loftus Road but the team have conceded 13 goals in six games - the most in the division – and questions have been asked about the pair's performances.
"It's a team game, I don't think you can point out those two individuals," Allardyce added.
"They have had a transition because they've changed the way they have played - they thought that the back three would work and now they've moved to a back four.
"They will be talking about how much protection they are getting - or not getting - from the midfield players to stop those goals going in."
Allardyce has responded to the demands of the West Ham chairmen for a more attacking style of football this season with the Hammers scoring 10 goals in their opening six matches.
At the heart of the more expansive approach has been the resurgence of Stewart Downing, who has flourished in a more central role behind the strikers.
Regarding Downing’s form this season, Allardyce said: "His experience means he's made that transition to his new role very quickly.
"A player of his ability gets more possession on the inside than he does on the outside and that's why he's more impressive. He's not past his best by any stretch of the imagination.
"You only get past your best when your legs can't carry you where you want to go and Stewart is one of our fittest players.
"There's one angle for Stewart that he should score more goals for the chances he creates and that he gets, but hopefully he'll get that more this year playing in a different position."
West Ham entered the weekend lying 13th in the table but only three points above QPR and the bottom three.
Allardyce says it is never too early for supporters to grow frustrated and believes it is vitally important to maintain a gap above the relegation spots.
"The pressure affects us all if you're in and around the bottom even at this stage of the season," he said.
"There's no give or take whether it's the start, middle or end of the season so you have to avoid ever being there if you can.
"The only way of doing that is to make sure you win and if you don't win make sure you draw - if we had drawn rather than lost some of our games we'd be two or three points better than we are now.
"That kind of gap can be important to take the pressure off so it's almost a six-pointer on Sunday."
Watch West Ham V Queens Park Rangers live as part of a Super Sunday double-header – coverage starts at 3:30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD.
