It was the final game of the season in the Italian Seria A league this evening and the outcome of the game between Napoli and Lazio was claimed to have a knock on effect for our search for a new manager.
West Ham managerial target Rafa Benitez needed a win for for Napoli to claim third spot and qualify for Champions league football. Yesterday Franz Beckenbauer claimed another West Ham managerial target Jurgen Kloop would join Napoli if they qualified for Champions League. Fortunately Napoli lost 4-2 to Lazio this evening meaning Benitez finished in fifth place with Napoli in Seria A while Lazio claimed the Champions league 3rd place. Benitez is expected to be announced as the new manager of Real Madrid next week despite previously agreeing to join West Ham in principle.
Yet another West Ham managerial target Unai Emery is also set to choose between West Ham and Napoli this week following the final game, although he may still decide to stay at Sevilla. Napoli’s loss this evening might be West Ham’s gain as Napoli qualify for Europa league instead of the more lucrative Champions League.
Napoli have a similar turnover to West Ham around the £120m mark however Napoli already have a large stadium with a 60,000 capacity at the Stadio San Paolo although their average attendance is just 32,500 this season over 19 home games. West Ham managed an average attendance of 34,871 at the Boleyn Ground over 19 home league matches.
Hopefully the draw of the Premier League might make the difference between several in demand managers deciding between Napoli and West Ham. Napoli’s loss this evening also means former Hammer Ravel Morrison who may be playing champions league football next season when he joins Lazio.
Of course, whether Benitez really agreed, in principal or otherwise, to join us is pure conjecture. However, knowing how these top Spanish (and Italian) clubs change their minds in an instant, maybe RM may now decide not to give Benitez the job after all and throw another spanner into this crazy managerial merry go round, which, so far has surpassed anything the media and pundits will ever be able to dream up when transfer time comes around
The manager will come when it’s ment to be,but I guarantee we regret letting Rav go,
He will turn out the capture of the season for Lazio,
Never mind canchaz I will just slip off and cut my wrist
So Napoli play in front of 28,000 empty seats and West Ham play in front of 28 empty seats (usually in the away section) our gate will be nearly 55,000 very soon. Turnover might be close now but very soon the new TV deal comes in and we will have the extra revenue from the Olympic Stadium so we will leave them trailing miles behind. So attendance & turn over might be close now but in 1 years time we will be a much larger club in those areas
Ravel a player with undoubted quality,skill etc but a head up his own arse. He was the kind of player a manager should put there arm around tell them that they are the future,play them build there confidence let them express themselves. Unfortunately we had a manager who had a system where it wasn’t if you played well, just a system where you played because of who you were, which agent you signed for and misguided loyalty. Skilful and game breaking weren’t in his vocabulary just defensive, minimal movement direct football. Ravel was a missed opportunity same as Zarate has been but BFS wasn’t there to entertain us was he?? Your right Bubs he’ll be another Pogba sold back to the highest bidder next summer ,and we’ll be looking back saying he scored a wonder goal against the spuds but never really saw him again because our so called manager dropped him for a captain who was his favourite.
I guess that’s called karma… Good luck Rav 😉
Rav is a lost cause,he will be back here by christmas thrown out by Lazio.Sorry Matte but it will just happen,he is a car crash waiting to happen.Personally im glad we got rid of him.He flattered to decieve in most matches & one wonder goal against Spuds didnt cover up the fact that he basically did **** all in the other matches.A few flicks & tricks & then tackled or gave the ball away.Best out of the club in my opinion,sorry lads 😉
ahah… ok Rads… don’t worry, that’s your opinion and I respect it… but I think Ravel has never had the real opportunity to show his great talent. I suppose only time will tell which one of us is right. 😉
Haha,im not saying he aint really talented but i want to see an end product as well.Not beat 3 or 4 players & give the ball away.Too many times when he played it was more about him showing a few tricks than any end product.He never stood a chance under hippo but i think he would have p*ssed many managers off,on & off the pitch.He may get a couple of games for Lazio then he will be back on the bench or in London imho.Sorry Matte but i cant share your love for him,lol 😀
I’m ever hopeful he’ll come good but for playing with us I agree with Rads,he didn’t show enough and IMO he looked too lightweight. His attitude was lousy and as much as I’d love to blame the genius on this instance I can’t. Finally I’d have to say I wasn’t impressed with his off field antics that shone a poor light on the club.
Ahah… Don’t worry lads, now i have two mates less… Lol The most important thing is you share my love for Nolan… 😀
Haha now you’re talking Nolinho the speed of a cheetah,the cunning of a fox and killer instinct of a great white,put that together with our genius of a manager we were unstoppable,we didn’t have enough polish for the trophies lol. Ahh the good old exciting days
Oh dear,sorry Matte,but im glad we fired him put of the door as well.Im all into a flair,exciting player like a Di Canio but Rav was all style no substance.I agree with the lads,too lightweight,too many tricks,flicks,no end product.He had some shocking games for us when he played.He might as well have not been on the pitch.Well rid of him i believe.Sorry Italian Correspondent but lets be honest,he couldnt even get games in a division lower than the Prem at both QPR & Cardiff,enough said in my mind 😉
I don’t think we can put the blame on this at the fat one’s feet, Fergie tried & failed, birmingham failed & QPR failed. Needs to get away from people blowing smoke up his arse. He can become a great player but if he screws up at Lazio l think he will struggle to find another half decent club willing to gamble on him.
Ahah… On Second thoughts wetpants is not so bad… I’ll move there, I’m sure I will be appreciated by My new friends… Lol 😀
It’s me and you Matte must be the Sun,never mind we can sit back and watch it happen,
Sorry lads I would sooner watch those flicks and going past people even if the final ball fails then watch players with 5 year contracts chase the ball all over the pitch and then win it only to pass it straight to the other team,If Noble was worth his contract Rav was worth another 2 year contract just to see if a Newman could bring the best out of him,
Just an old expats opinion ( haven’t had a drink yet )
Matte don’t leave us, couldn’t bare to replace you with our new nightly guest. The all knowing Kevin..!! Need our Italian correspondence 😉 lol
we will all follow & troll you everywhere you go….. hahaha
Ahaha… Ok essex, but now I’ve got only one friend here… Kevin … Lol 😀
Ahhh,dont be sad Matte,we are all your friends,just dont rate Ravel.He has talent but does **** all with it.I cant be ar*sed to watch him flick the ball to nobody or beat two players in our defensive half.He is well overrated,he will be serving Big Macs in a McDonalds in 5yrs time when no one wants him 😀
Ahah… I Know Boys, I’m just joking… Lol 😀
If he is Nolan will be dressed as Ronald and they will be serving big hippo burgers,
Haha,you wouldnt last 5 mins on wetpants Matte,they would have you banned for being a troll 😀
Ahah… I think it would be a funny experiment… Lol 😀