It’s not unusual for West Ham United fans to eagerly look forward to the end of the season. Decades of frustration, under-achievement and broken promises have often meant a campaign either petering out with a whimper or a relegation battle which leaves fans battle-worn and embittered.

Even by the usual standards set in stone at the Boleyn though, this has been something of an odd season.

Practically safe by Christmas with some even talking openly – prematurely in my opinion – of Champions League football, results since the turn of the year have left everyone angry and confused; looking for someone to blame and berate.

I’m not sure why. The Hammers ‘coming down with the decorations’ was a given even when my Grandad was pedalling down to the Royal Albert Docks to work.

Fans are loath to give houseroom to unreliable historical precedents though, so how useful to have Sam Allardyce to carry the can.

Big Sam, the whipping-boy of choice, is, of course, guilty of every problem that has occurred in the area from the dwindling number of Pie ‘n’ Mash shops in Upton Park to the surfeit of Doodlebugs in 1944 and the return from the dead of Cathy Beale in EastEnders.

Slumped in his seat, sipping coffee and nonchalantly chewing gum as his team were driven round by Manchester City like sheep during an episode of ‘One Man and his Dog’, Sam’s body language suggested he believed that his efforts to lead West Ham into Stratford in 2016 are about as likely as Andy Carroll going a season without an injury. His insouciance is reflected in his team who looked uninspired and devoid of ideas. This is bad enough, but the resulting debate on the situation by fans on Twitter, Facebook and various unofficial West Ham sites – where opinion and rumour are undeniable fact – has reduced most of us to gibbering wrecks.

One of the more tiring opinions this last week says West Ham are showing relegation form. Surely you can only show that when relegation is an option? After all, you could argue that any lost game is ‘relegation form’, but if it’s followed up with three wins doesn’t it then become ‘champions’ form’? At season’s end, you see where you are and then review the situation from there. Anything else is madness.

Even so, there’s still room for a good old East End tear up on what compromises success.

Crystal Palace supporters, for example, will almost certainly see they have had a good season even if they finish outside the top ten. Stoke and Swansea will probably view their season as successful too. Even if they finish in the top half, the desolation of West Ham fans is likely only to be matched on Tyneside, one or two of the relegated clubs….oh! And Hereford.

For me, West Ham’s season was built on a shaky foundation. Failure to keep clean sheets in the first successful phase of the season was always likely to cause problems as pressure mounted, injuries occurred – another Claret and Blue perennial – and the goals dried up.

Quite why Allardyce – master of the obdurate defence – has found himself compromised this way can only be guessed at, but it can’t be a coincidence he was told to produce more attacking football last May.

With only first-choice Enner Valencia available against Manchester City, Sam’s decision to play the Ecuadorian and start Carlton Cole looked an odd decision from the off. This would have looked to be an ideal opportunity to play Valencia on his own and pack the midfield behind him. In fact, after an abject hour, the Hammers only came good – though I use the term loosely – when Cole went off and Kevin Nolan came on.

Whatever happens, hopefully, at the end of this campaign Davids Sullivan and Gold can decide what they want and let the manager – whoever it is – get on with it. I’m long past the point where I can even be bothered to either defend or condemn Sam Allardyce. All I want is the situation resolved so we can all stop the sniping and move on.

Whether that move on is also upwards is another debate altogether – West Ham’s form in this area isn’t good – but at least that discussion can wait until next season. I can hardly wait!