It’s all gone quiet over there as far as a new Director of Football is concerned – or, should it be, a proper Director of Football.
Word earlier following the Moyes arrival was that it would be addressed at the end of the season and it’s probably easy to work out why.
After all we had no idea then, and even less now,which division West Ham will be playing in from August although in reality that shouldn’t make too much difference as we need the best we can get regardless.
There’s a huge case to be made for getting an even better one should we be in the Championship given that we need to unearth the very best at the cheapest prices.
We want to see David Sullivan moving quickly once we reach the end of this God-awful season and ready to pay the price required for such an operator.
There can be no more halfway house appointments like Husillos where then manager Pellegrini was allowed to bring in his chosen individual.
This time we need a board appointment in which they consult the very best football people at their disposal starting with Sir Trevor Brooking. Of course Moyes would need to be consulted but should not be allowed to make a mandatory decision
This will cost the board – and so be it – because if deputy chairman Karren Brady is being paid over £1 million a year for doing – err sorry, not sure – then a proper DOF is surely worth the going price of around £50k a week.
This after all is the guy who consults with the manager – who has more important issues on his hands day to day – to find out what he needs be it an attacking or defensive full back, same in midfield and elsewhere before providing him with names from which to make his choice before going off and doing the business.
The board – as is the case at other clubs – then take a far more relaxed and hands-off role simply providing the money for the deals to be compelted.
There is such a man out there and he’s a former Hammer. So hopefully a name on the list already is former defender Ian Pearce who is head of recruitment at West Brom.
There will hopefully be others under consideration but Pearcey would perhaps not be a bad starting point after seven years with the Irons between 1997-2004.
Personally you couldn’t find ANYONE better to consult and to help create the Blueprint for the Structure of the club going forward. Including the DOF role and what it should entail.
That person is… Sir Trevor Brooking!
The Reason why England and English footballers are now on the up as a footballing nation has everything to do with his work for the FA as Director of Football Development in charge of coaching and development.
There is no one better than West Ham Legend Sir Trevor Brooking, who has the DNA of this club running through him, West Ham, through and through. He HAS to be central to ANY decision made and No One would argue with his ability to carry out this task either.
I think that long term with the way the game is going the club will have to be sold just to be a ‘hang on to PL status’ club. Short term there won’t be new owners but we could still become a decent mid PL club even with the current owners. BUT this would need a new approach including a D of F, but covering more than that. There has to be a clear vision of what the club is aiming for. That could be a Brentford approach as mentioned above or a Burnley or something else. But there has to be an identity or vision that everybody at the club can buy into & a restructuring to achieve that vision.
The problem with the present owners is that I can’t see them being prepared to delegate (or preferably step back completely) to turn a West Ham into a modern, open, club able to compete in the PL. Their recent actions just depress me, & David Sullivan’s recent statement in which he harped on about the owners’ achievements (some of which I genuinely appreciate) but totally failed to address the errors appalled me. Apart from a grudging reference to possible mistakes in appointing managers he seemed to think the disappointing performance of the team was just a bit of a mystery rather than a direct result of mistakes made at the top. And no indication of how the situation was going to be changed in the future. Just carry on & hope for better things? Not good enough.
Give the Job to Rio! he would have the respect of the fans! and he is his own man
No experience – he chose to become a pundit
Hugh ; for some time now there has been a second user on this site going by the name of
“ Kevin “ . Don’t know how that can happen . But anyway I want to change my Name .
Could you please tell me how I do that . I have been trying but to no avail .
Thanks in advance ; Kevin
There are many Kevin mate but all have an addition to it. You have to come in on a new e mail address should u want to change your name. Hope that helps
Maybe it sounds crazy but I think Don Hutchinson (if he wanted to do it of course) would be a great Director of Football – you can tell he clearly knows his stuff when it comes to young talent, either homegrown or abroad.
I think Sir Trev is a great shout to keep the process away from the present trio who have proved their limited knowledge of football fully. If he needs someone younger to support him, he can seek a younger assistant. Maybe Stuart Pearce as he apparently not blocked by the Board!
Didn’t realise Ian Pearce carried out the role at WBA. A great shout and a Hammer fan as well. Bumped into him at a service station on way to Palace Play Off final and he was going just as a fan.
tony cotee
Not sure Trev would fit the bill at 71, you need someone with huge energy to sort this mess out.
What is a must this day and age is to have someone who is close to the agents who run the world of player recruitment, like Wolves etc.
Someone with a long term vision and quite frankly someone who can deal with meddling owners, Brady and a demanding fan base.
Couldn’t imagine Sir Trev wanting to get involved.
Who is this person…. no one our owners would work with.
Said he should consult not appoint Dave
They could do a lot worse than have a look at what Brentford are doing and try to replicate that.Could you imagine unearthing and bringing through Ferdinand,Cole,Lampard,Johnson,Defoe and Carrick now?? £200m+?
When they go in with big fanfare signings ,the fans expect results, but when you bring one of your own through the fans have more patience and buy in to the long term development,imo.
I remember when we went in for Hernandez after being rejected by another striker (cannot remember the name) who was over 6′ and the complete opposite to him – This is where a DOF sits controlling a scouting network and identifying the exact type of player the manager wants and ,if a manager gets sacked, the continuity is still in place.What is really telling is the fact that we have not lost a manager to a “bigger club” or a player for that matter!!
I’ve got to think that for best results, a new DOF needs to be brought in as soon as humanly possible. This way he can start to restructure all of the departments that SHOULD be under his control, which is basically anything to do with football other than the finance dept.
Doubt we will get a proper DOF though.