On arrival many were left bemused, as this wasn't your average Sam Allardyce striker.
Baldock didn't posses great height, overpowering strength, or the ability to win a header against a 6 foot.5 defender. Nevertheless we all had high hopes for our new number 7 and initially he didn't disappoint; scoring his first two goals in a 4-0 victory against Blackpool. Baldock went on to score 5 goals in his first 6 games. Injury soon struck Sam B down and first team chances became limited, furthermore with the arrival of Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te this made increasingly difficult on Baldock to reagin any real consistency.
Towards the end of the season Sam didn't feature much in West Ham's play-off winning triumph and he was eventually sold to Bristol City. Since moving to Bristol Sam put in some decent performances; notching up a few goals along the way. Although Sam's impressive goal-scoring form this didn't stop Bristol City from being relegated to League 1, so Sam is back where he started for the time being.
With his future at Bristol remaining uncertain, where next for Sam Baldock?
I was bitterly disappointed Sam left us, throughout last years pre-season their were reports linking him with a move away but I hoped it would be a loan move rather than permanent.
When I look at our current lack of strikers I wonder if Sam could have eventually broke into the first team and assisted Andy Carroll?
With Nicky Maynard its different because with Cardiff getting promoted to the Premiership he will get his chance in the big league, whereas Sam has the possibility of playing back in League 1, a league he has already proved too good for!
Was letting Sam go a mistake?
Could he of broken into the first team at some point?
Let me know what you think!
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