Hammers dated managerial wish-list

Hammers dated managerial wish-list

The two leaked names to replace David Moyes as West Ham manager are uninspiring, to say the least. Obviously, Christophe Galtier and Paolo Fonseca are just rumoured names, but the latter is known as someone the Hammers’ board covet.

Which begs the question . . . why these two? In last night’s article, I covered why Galtier would be a risky appointment, but Fonseca is every inch the managerial journeyman. I’m not saying he’s a bad manager, but his record is boosted by his time in Ukraine, where he won the title with Shakhtar Donetsk. Much is made of his win percentage, but everyone who’s managed that club has won trophies. To put it bluntly, Shakhtar won the title before Fonseca and continue to win after his departure.

West Ham are one of the top 16 richest clubs in world football and can recruit a top-level manager . . . Fonseca isn’t that. He’s okay; his team Lille is 5th in the French league and have won 2 of their last five. They have also just been booted out of the cup by Said Benrahma’s Lyon, who have been battling relegation all season.

Hammers wish-list should include the best

West Ham could perhaps look at an up-and-coming manager like Girona’s Míchel, who currently sits 2nd in La Liga ahead of Barcelona. As a manager, Míchel led Rayo, Huesca, and Girona in both top divisions, winning promotion with all three, including as champions with the first two clubs. The young manager truly is forging an impressive CV.

If West Ham are set on recruiting a Portuguese manager, then Rúben Amorim is a much better punt than Fonseca, however, I doubt those making the decisions at The London Stadium have even heard of him.

Which brings us to the subject of Tim Steidten. West Ham’s director of football would have played a role in bringing Xabi Alonso to Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is widely considered to be the best young coach in world football and will take the Liverpool job when Jurgen Klopp retires at the end of the season.

What is the point of employing a director of football if we won’t be able to fully use his expertise? The names of Fonseca and Galtier appear to have been plucked from quite a dated dossier, and I’m very suspicious as to where the names have come from.

West Ham needs to have some faith in themselves and the stature of the club. We have the second biggest stadium in the Premier League, a European trophy in the cabinet, and the 13th highest wage bill in European football. We can attract a top-level football coach, so why we’re leaking the names of also-rans is anyone’s guess.