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It’s a new dawn; it’s a new day… |
Kwame Boakye looks at the resignation of Alan Curbishley as manager Of West Ham United.Can any of us say we were surprised that Curbs has gone? No but at the same time the reasons he walked are very concerning… as players were sold and brought in without his knowledge. It’s clear the board held technical director at Upton Park Gianluca Nani’s judgement over that of the manager. Whoever steps into the Claret and Blue hot seat will have to work in harmony with Nani. Although I completely believe the manager should always have the final say on transfers can anyone really blame the West Ham board for taking Nani’s word over Curbs? How much money was wasted on players who were either always injured or were just not good enough? Then there was the whole Ljungberg saga; the very definition of a disastrous signing: a has-been who spent much of the 07/08 season on the treatment table, only scored two goals and put in some very mediocre performances and yet he walks off with around 6mil in his back pocket to get his estimated 75k per week wages off the books. Nani was brought into assist Curbs but his opinion became more important as the club looked to balance the books and bring in new players. When that became apparent Curbs had no choice but to leave and he should be applauded for that; as many other managers would have waited it out for the inevitable sacking thus securing severance pay/compensation. Looking to the future now and the one name on every Hammers fans lips… Slaven Bilic a manager with a soaring reputation in football, an ex-player who knows of the clubs traditions and what the fans expect. Whilst many tip him to stay with the Croatian national team I do believe the lure of managing a London club in the Premier League as well as a chance to significantly boost his pay packet would mean he would be interested. I believe he would be a fantastic appointment; he’s ambitious, young and charismatic and is someone I could see delivering the style of football we love to see at West Ham as well as challenging for trophies. He is also someone who is very tactically astute masterminding two victories over England in qualifying and one against Germany in the Euros. His Croatia team were ridiculously unlucky not to reach the semi’s and were definitely one of the better teams at the 2008 championships. Bilic is the bookies favourite and maybe I’m dreaming but if we could bring in Paolo as a number two… things certainly would be interesting down at the Boleyn! And the fans will be the first to tell you that simply wasn’t the case under the previous management. Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |