The news of Alan Pardew getting the boot today was a bit of a shock. It was even worse because I misheard the bloke who told me at work and I thought he said that Kevin Keegan was standing in for the time being. Fortunately it is actually Kevin Keen. Trevor Brooking (pbuh) must have been unavailable this time.
Given the recent run of results, with the weekend’s 4-nil thrashing as the last straw, I can see why the Icemen have done it, but it seems a little unfair.
The question now is who will come in as replacement? The usual list of names has been circulating, but I think we know who the supporters would like to see – the man who we wanted when Roeder went but could not be prised away from Charlton at the time: Alan Curbishley. Quite apart from his record with Charlton, he would fit in with the old West Ham tradition of having ex-players in charge.
Of the other names mentioned, my opinion is:
- Sven – NO! NO! NO!
- Glenn Hoddle – Please no!
- David O’Leary – Too miserable. No.
- George Graham – Might do a good job
- Iain Dowie – Another ex-Hammer. I wouldn’t mind him in charge.
One ex-player with a lot of experience coaching/managing teams has not been mentioned: Paul Ince. I think that would be too much for most of us though. Someone speculated about tempting Harry back from Pompey, but I don’t think he would be interested and I shudder to think what he would do with a £20 million fund in January and what footballing equivalent of a tin of magic beans he would piss the money up the wall on.
How about bringing back Billy Bonds though? I can’t see anyone in the team slacking if they knew they had to face him afterwards.
After MOTD2 showed Magnasson’s reactions to the goals on Saturday it was less of a surprise when it happened. Though at least he didn’t cut his throat or whatever it was he said he would.
Wouldn’t Curbishley not bring much the same approach as Pardew? I’m surprised a new regime with so much resources isn’t setting its sights a little higher. Ranieri?
After reading a colleague’s copy of the currant bun today it all makes a bit more sense – assuming there is some truth to what they were saying.
There were some rumours about Pards’ personal life going round the internet and the players were all aware and basically sniggering behind his back. Not a good foundation for inspiring them.
And then there was the day he turned up for training in a brand new Ferrari and when his idea of a motivational speech was to say how he was a millionaire already so if the players played badly it was only harming themelves.
Might all be nonsense, but it all pointed towards someone not having a grip of the team. Maybe the idea with Curbs is that the approach was not wrong but just the personality?
I would always rather see an ex-Hammer in charge – even in preference to a slightly better outsider. I’m just old-fashioned like that.