The two names being regularly touted since the manager came under pressure from sectors of the fans are Jose Mourinho and Eddie Howe – worlds apart!
On the one hand we have a jobless 56 year old egotist who would cost an absolute fortune to employ – even were he to be remotely interested in managing us – and a 41 year old Brit who has worked a near miracle on the south coast over the past seven years.
I recall talking to Frank MacAvennie at the time Sam Allardyce was on his way from Upton Park about his choice for the job and he had absolutely no doubts that Howe was the man.
He said: “He’s the one. He gets the ball down, has his teams play football and would be ideal for the Hammers.”
Four years on, Allardyce is out of work after managing three other clubs, interrupted by an excursion into the England job, whilst Howe remains exactly where he has been most of his life – on the south west coast.
He’s beginning to look very much a one club man after playing for the Cherries before staying around the area with Portsmouth and Swindon.
Mourinho on the other hand – is a world travelling manager but no longer the Special One – who regularly pops up on Sky as a pundit whilst attempting to fill a few empty hours.
The troubles of Manchester United and Chelsea behind him, but not forgotten by most, suggest that he is incredibly high risk and would want the sort of fortune in the transfer market which West Ham simply haven’t got.
Wages? At least what we are paying Pellegrini.
When managers and the sack race chat starts it’s important that there are obvious replacements to consider and quite frankly there don’t seem to be any around.
We soldier on but CandH would love to hear from those who reckon they have an answer to the issue!
How good a manager would Mourinho, indeed Klopp & Guardiola etc, be without a big cheque book?
Would they achieve what Howe has done at Bournemouth or Dyche at Burnley on such small budgets?
The answer to your question Hugh is more about immediate results than anything else. And that probably rules out a young manager, however talented, being given time or consideration.
Hugh I know you say that Pelle will see out his contract – and I hope that he at least sees out this season – but if we dont get a win in the next 6 games I feel that he might go – in which case we would need a relegation fighter – definitely not Mourinho – if we had brave owners they might go for someone like Lee Bowyer
Anyway lets hope that things turn around or that Pelle and the players turn things around so the debate will stop
How about we get some new coaches in.
How many goals have we conceded to corners and free kicks. Someone needed to sort out our defending shambles.
Anderson and Yarmo should change wings sometimes. Easy to defend against as you know they will check back onto there good
foot. Easier to defend against even if they get past fullbacks. Their crosses are in front of defenders. Easier to deal with. Other teams have worked this out why can’t we. Is it rocket science?
I’d always been critical of Howe but would definitely consider him, he can work on a budget, gets the most out of his players, plays attacking football so the existing squad should suit him. It has to be said also you put Fabianski in goal we are still in the top six, put Antonio in we are probably top four, their loss has ruthlessly exposed us in defence and attack.
The owners are not going to bring in a manager who is already under contract. They simply don’t want to pay twice! Only have to look at all their appointments thus far.
If the wheels really fall off it will be whoever is already not in a job who can protect their investment for another year.
West Ham fan no 32
So Fabianski and Antonio = top 4….
No wonder I was never good at maths..
I love your positivity / optimism but unfortunately cannot agree with you as there are so many “weak links” in our ranks… Full backs, midfielders and our creative players don’t know how to put in a proper shift when asked to do defensive duties…
Top 10 perhaps but let’s keep dreaming 😉
All this about Howe amazes me. Did nobody see Bournemouth beat United on Saturday. It definitely wasn’t the West Ham way. Maybe they were based on attack in the past but there’s has been a definite change to a more defensive setup. Also a lot of their tackling was brutal. But no he would not come anyway!!! Mourinho has said several times he is only interested in winning things ( & not the Championship I reckon). So Big Sam it is then😂😂😂
Eddie Howe for me.
Allegri (ex-Juventus)
Rangnick (ex-Leipzig)
Schmidt (ex-B. Leverkusen)
None of them would cost more than Pelle and they all like attacking football.
Graham Potter for me. Has improved every club he was at, plays an attacking style of football but can vary tactics when needs be.