John Hartson – a team mate of Slaven Bilic’s back in the nineties- does not believe there is any serious problem between the manager and his West Ham squad but insists: “They will waiting for him to come up with new ideas.”
Harts has been following our season of misfortune and told ClaretandHugh exclusively: “Nobody will know better than Slaven that if this doesn’t change he will be looking down the barrel. I think it will.
“I was a young player from Arsenal when I arrived and had many a tussle with him on the training ground but off the pitch he is intelligent, a gentlemen and not a man I have ever seen lose his temper. His personality won’t be a problem.”
And he added:”I feel for him of course because clearly Andy Carroll – who looked to be right back towards his best in pre season – would have been central to all his plans and then there’s a big miss in Aaron Cresswell.
“But Slav has to forget that and start winning. We can analyse this, that and the other; the training ground routines, tactics, players and look for answers everywhere.
” But look, the bottom line is it’s all about winning. That’s the end of that and he will know that. He will know he’s in trouble and could be as few as three games away from the sack. That’s enough to focus anyone’s mind.”
He added: “The players are very often weak people an they will feed off the manager. So Slav’s weekend interview where he looked so down won’t have helped anything.
“He needs to get into the dressing room and on to the training ground with some real positive stuff and fresh ideas to lift and inspire the squad.
“I didn’t like the look of Mark Noble’s body language and interview either. Slav will know and will have noticed it too and know that all of this comes back on him in the end.”
Harts drew on his experience under Martin O’Neill at Celtic to reall: “He was a man who achieved so much but he said to me one day: “I’m only three games away from the fans saying I should be sacked.
“Slaven is the nicest man in the world and I can’t believe there’s anyone who doesn’t want him to succeed but he must start winning – simple as that.
However, he can’t legislate or the sort of handball we saw from Arthur Masuaku or some of the defending that been occurring. He has to sort it out as far as he can but there is a weakness in midfield and no real focal point up front.
“Those are manager problems and we can forget all the conspiracy theories. It can only be put right on the training pitch and I believe this is a very talented squad and hope and pray Sav can find the answers.
“This is not the time to panic – he needs to get some players back – and he needs a bit more time but he will understand the reality of his position. ”
Mark Noble looked like he did int hat interview because he knows it was another terrible performance and the team are letting the club and the fans down.I also can’t believe that Julian Dicks is not putting rockets up a few arses,he wouldn’t have allowed this to carry on,if he was on the pitch.Football,basically is a simple game,I was always told pass and move,but we don’t seem to be able to do that.I’m hurting like like all passionate WH supporters.
They will get it sorted out stand on me.All they have to do in the meantime is duck under a few of the bullets being fired at them from some fans haha 😀
These are the times,we as fans play our part and play as a twelfth man,stick together,stop in fighting,vocal support for the team,and live up to our united history. COYI
I’m sorry this is a time to panic. We get knocked out by minnows in the Europa and struggle to beat Accrington Stanley so how are we expected to beat a premiership side if things don’t change. I like Slav. but i think his team selections haven’t helped. He seems afraid to play any of the youngsters which surely would put energy into the side.
It will be the same result Saturday if he persists not changing things. If it is I’m sorry but he has to go. We will need Sam back if this carries on because it will be a disaster if we go down.
Mark Nobles body language was full of sadness and capitulation in my opinion . He had played his guts out and doesn’t deserve the treatment some fans on this forum are giving him . He must be wondering , just as we all are , what the heck is going on !.
I have said previously that the time to panic is , Now .. And I stick by it . No point in hiding behind cushions of faith and ignoring the obvious . If things don’t improve there will be only one casualty; Slaven Bilic , third choice manager who gave us a great season finishing 7th.
You can’t live on past glories in the Premiership ( or football , for that matter) and think the roses will continue to grow brightly . Most of us realize that leaving Upton Park was a massive risk and a huge undertaking that isn’t bearing fruit just yet . But we will grow into it eventually be it with or without Slaven Bilic . If things don’t improve by Christmas we will have a different Manager , so be Happy , if that’s appropriate !.
Steady on Kevin.Mark Nobles form has been just as poor as anyone elses this season.He is getting just as much stick elsewhere from fans who realise he is not on his game this season.If Kouyate,Lanzini,Antonio & the rest get flak why the hell should fans not point to his form.Personally i dont see him as the whole issue at all but if fans do point him out that is fair for me,he aint untouchable.