Well we remember the undercover – type photographs taken when Tim Steidten had his ‘secret’ meeting with Graham Potter ahead of the Julen Lopetegui sacking in January of this year. Appearing to show Potter and the then- Hammers technical director locked in earnest conversation, it turned out indeed to be the end game in play for Lopetegui’s time as the Hammers head coach.
Nine months of substandard performances on, and now the boot is on the other foot. According to an ‘ exclusive’ story from Footballinsider247.com, and covered by several sites since, West Ham had a certain manager in their boardroom:
Their article titled Exclusive: “Kieran McKenna spotted in West Ham boardroom in new manager twist” adds two plus two and makes about ten:
“Kieran McKenna was a surprise visitor in the West Ham United boardroom during their defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, sources have told Football Insider.
The Ipswich Town boss, wearing a jacket and jeans, had been invited to the London Stadium by the club for the match, which ended in a 3-0 derby defeat.”
Which, if you subscribe to the ‘no smoke without fire’ mindset then there is, certainly, grounds for excitement.
If however you’d rather approach these sensationalist stories with a modicum of caution and rely on corroboration then – don’t get your hopes up (or your worries started) just yet.
As always, we’ll see what our transfer sources close to West Ham have to say. McKenna is certainly highly regarded at West Ham: Premier League experience too but he falls foul of the ‘having to pay compensation’ clause which normally rules out West Ham from any decent, currently employed manager. However on second thoughts, we’ve already signed a relegated goal keeper and a relegated midfielder: Why not a relegated manager too? Might better prepare us for life in the Championship next season.
I think we’re all missing the point here what top class manager who knows his job is going to come to us and be told what he and cannot do by a complete and utter idiot who know nothing about football, sorry its no going to happen.
Let’s hope it means they are taking the situation seriously something needs to give.
I have lived in Suffolk for over twenty years..I know they generally don’t put too much pressure on their managers.. McKenna got Ipswich to the Premier League with half a team from league one…That’s why they went back down..To re finance a whole team was too much for the Suffolk club..That’s why they kept McKenna..They know his ability and the fan base feel lucky to have him…It might be time for him to move on… Because he might feel he has done his best on a limited budget…I know this though.. When the news broke today..My Ipswich mates were not happy..That tells you a lot… They know if he goes…The forward momentum that they have enjoyed over the last few years will disappear.
Just opinion, but based on past experience, I doubt the board’s ability to pick the right manager to come in, and I doubt their ability to know when best to make decisive change, and I doubt their ability to let the manager and staff do their job without interference, and I doubt their ability to galvanise the team and the supporters in any substantial way.
Apart from that, I have every confidence.
I heard spotted at the ground not in the boardroom which I guess isn’t inconsistent if he was there. I looked it up and he has two years remaining is the thing that makes me think not.
His win ratio is good at 46%, by and large he’s been successful at Ipswich gaining promotions. Last seasons relegation from the premier league was probably an odds on.
SACK POTTER NOW
BRADY CAN GO AFTER THE PROTEST
Well I put my hands up before Saturdays game I said on here that Potter needs time to build a team. Unfortunately he got it wrong against Spurs in my opinion. The spine of the team Paqueta,Soucek,JWP Kilman and Mavropanos along with the keeper was always going to get us done. Central defenders who can’t defend a keeper who looks out of his depth and two slow midfielders what was he thinking. Sorry but he needs to go. Silva I like Nuno also but have a few concerns. McKenna may be decent but not really proven in the Premiership
McKenna is worse than Potter.Ipswich were promoted 2nd behind Plymouth into the champ and 2nd behind Leicester into the Prem. They were abysmal in the Prem and there fans are not enamoured with the start of this season. There is absolutely no truth in this story anyway so moved on
I’d give McKenna a go…… Ipswich were relegated with a very poor team. Just four wins all season with a squad made up of mainly Championship and League One standard players. That’s no reflection on the highly regarded coach that is McKenna. Give him the chance to work with the likes of Bowen, Paqueta, Fernandes, Wan Bissaka, Summerville, Magassa, Diouff, Todibo, Kilman, Guilherme and a bunch of youngsters in Earthy, Potts and Marshall and I’d expect different results.
I wouldn’t , is he really the best we can get , just a question not a sly on your comments . We need the best we can get if it cost compensation or not
If Sullivan bought out the contract of a decent manager in the first place he wouldn’t have to pay out compensation to these second raters he keeps employing – supposed to be a businessman !
I quite agree Kenny, I thought he was to supposed to sell D!ldos, not buy em!
If them twits on the board had any sense , which is a big if
They would pay a bit of compensation and go an get marco silva
Instead of employing out of work managers that end up costing you money when you realise they are out of work for a reason and weren’t fit for the job in the first place
It’s not rocket science
The nail has been hit on the head.
Won’t come down to whose most suited but which is cheapest option.
Although there could be a confliction regards conditions Nuno would be Sullivan’s choice.
This will linger on as the words compensation for dismissal will stick in Sullivan’s throat.
Refused to sack Moyes for exactly same reason.
Nuno could insist on being backed in January transfer period (needs to get assurance in writing).
Whu tend to agree as a matter of convenience and then change their mind.