West Ham thread *FA Cup Finalists. Come on you Irons!!*

[Magpie]

Well, the rumour mill has already moved into overdrive, with names like Alan Curbishley and Sven Goran Eriksson linked with the manager's job. Julian Dicks was interviewed on the radio last night and firmly said "No way" when the interviewer asked him about Eriksson but said that he wouldn't mind Alan Curbishley being appointed.

I think Curbishley would certainly be a lot better than the Swede - look what he did for Charlton and the situation they're in without him. The thing is, he walked away from Charlton presumably because he couldn't take them any further but I suppose there's more scope at West Ham as they have a bit more money behind them.

I suppose it's a case of wait and see...
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[West_ham_hammer]

I honestly don't know where to start with the many rumours flying around on who will be West Ham's new manager.

As long as I am able to breathe, I don't want Sven Goran Eriksson nowhere near my club. And if ever he gets put in charge of West Ham I promise you it will be the day I stop supporting them.
As for Alan Curbishly. I don't want him to manage West Ham. I am not for one minute saying he is a rubbish manager. But he's not a manager I can see who will take West Ham onto the next step of the premiership. To employ Alan Curbishly after sacking Alan Pardew would be a neutral move. If anything Mr Egg may as well have left Pardew to run the show. The problems with Pardew this season started when Peter Grant was allowed to depart as West Ham's number two to take charge of Norwich. Peter Grant was the mouthpiece of Pardew on the training ground and at the stadium on match days. He was a massive blow to lose for west Ham. It was like someone had chopped off Pardews right hand and his left wasn't doing what his right used too.

Back onto the subject of the new manager. I personally would like to see a foreinger, or an outsider, someone who doesn't know West Ham's traditions inside out.
I have heard Slaven Bilic's name bannded about. I know he is ex West Ham so without wanting to contradict myself I would have to say is he really the man for the job? If he's as good a manager as he was a player for us. We will be challenging for honours every season. But I can't see it personally.

My choice would have to be Claudio Ranieri . I did a little check up earlier, I believe he is unemployed at the moment. I always admired him when he was at Chelsea. And I think he was very unlucky to get the chop at Chelsea.

Whatever happens, I hope it happens soon. It's heartbreaking to see the team you love in relegation trouble. On the plus point, we're not even half way through the season yet. Plenty of time to turn things around. But it has too be sooner rather then later.

[SE13]

But you have to admit that Alan Curbishley did a first class job on little money at Charlton Athletic. Not to mention that Curbishley is a former player, and a lifelong supporter of West Ham United.

Personally, I would have thought that his employment would be a good stride forward. Apparently according to reports on the radio, talks are already happening, and Curbishley could be named any time soon. There is naturally the added factor that he is not contracted anywhere, so there will be no compensation payout, and no relocation package as he is already a resident of London.
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[Magpie]

[SE13]

The press conference at 3pm (United Kingdom time) at Upton Park, West Ham United officially announced Alan Curbishley as the new manager of the club. One of footballs worst kept secrets was revealed to all.

I still think he will turn the fortunes of the club around, although at this minute in time, the priority is to avoid the dreaded drop, anything else is purely a bonus.

Thing is, when a football club is taken over by new owners, and fresh cash to flash, they have fresh ideas as to who will do what with it, so unless West Ham United were topping the table and running away with the title, this was always likely to happen.

You have to feel for Alan Pardew, though. When he first took the reins, he was far from the most popular choice among the supporters, but won them over with promotion to The Premiership, and further still getting west Ham United to The FA Cup Final in Cardiff last season.
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[West_ham_hammer]

Alan Curbishleys claret blue army
Alan Curbishleys claret blue army.

Sorry it doesn't go with the tune of the popular terrace chant. On that basis and that basis alone, he has to go straight away.

But in all seriousness I am glad it wasn't Sven. I'll admit, and I think most know I didn't want Alan Curbishley in charge of West Ham. But at the end of the day I didn't want Alan Pardew 3 years ago (I can't believe it's 3 years, seems only 1 or 2) But I gave him the benefit of the doubt and he did West Ham proud. It had been a life long ambition of mine to see West Ham play in a FA Cup final (I was only 6 in 1980), ok I didn't manage to get a ticket for the game. But I watched on television, one of the best ever FA Cup finals played. And for that I thank Alan Pardew. Also he got us back in the premiership after Roeder sent us there with the best ever squad of players we have for many a year. Alan Pardew may be gone, but he will never be forgotten by me.

So I shall reserve judgement on Alan Curbishley for a while at least. Not the manager I wanted. And in my eyes no better then Alan Pardew. But time will tell, and I am prepared to wait and see.

It couldn't be a worse start then Manchester United at home. I don't expect to walk away from there Sunday with Three points. Manchester United are back to there very best. And it won't be a tradegy if we do lose there Sunday. Alan Curbishley won't be the one getting the balme, he's only been at West Ham for five minutes, so we'll let him off if we lose.

But I can't see fans patience lasting if we do go down this season. Alan Curbishley has been brought in to save us. And save us he must.

[SE13]

Well, time is the key here. I think that Alan Curbishley really could be the man to turn the fortunes around. But as you point out, Manchester United in their current rampant form is hardly the best of starts, but then you had to face them at some point.

Incidentally, the terrace chant can be re-created by simply dropping "Alan" from the start, thus becoming "Curbishleys Claret Blue Army" OR "Super Alan's Claret Blue Army" and so on. I feel certain that the West Ham Faithful will be industrious enough to ensure something fits with the chants....
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[Magpie]

[SE13]

Well, I have to say that I was stunned by the result. I had a feeling that Alan Curbishley would come up with the goods, but not in this fashion!

What a perfect start for the new manager, and looking at his reactions both during and after the game, he might be there for some time, with a point to prove, and prove it he might just do.
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[krt]

Many of us would have been stunned by the result, but what a delight for West Ham and especially their manager, who has finally been manager of a club when it beat United. While I give credit to West Ham, I can't help feeling that United should have got a point out of that and their chances indicate this, particularly C. Ronaldo's shot which could have had some more oomph to beat Green (who, by the way, done an excellent job the whole game).

[Magpie]

You've got to make chances count though. Games aren't won by the number of shots on goal and I know from bitter experience that if your team doesn't capitalise on chances created, they may end up on the losing side. Manchester United fans may feel that their team deserved something from the game but that's part of football. I've seen my team lose too many matches this season when they've been much the better side and created a heap of chances but failed to convert them into goals.

...not that I'm bitter you understand!!
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[West_ham_hammer]

Perplexed too the state of utter astoundment and general confusement and bewilderment.

I think that sums up my state of mind after Sundays premiership clash between the might of Manchester United.

This was West Ham United, the club who under the new ownership of Eggert Magnusson had just sacked there manager in Alan Pardew after a disastrous start to the season.
The club who have got a new manager in Alan Curbishly, which went largely against who the fans of West Ham United wanted. But come full time Sunday afternoon, the fans were warming to him. Time will tell if the warm hearts of West Ham fans Cool down or go out, but time is apparently on Curbishlys side if reports from Upton park suggest correctly. And with the promise of a fair few million to strengthen the side in January, I'm betting many a West Ham fans heart will will keep warm this winter and beyond.

West Ham in my opinion deserved there win, but Manchester United will feel slightly aggrieved that they didn't come away with a point. Robert Green in West Ham's goal pulled off a save to deny Cristiano Ronaldo that Peter Schemical would have been proud off in his days at Manchester United. West Ham also had there chances, especially when Bobby Zamora was put through on goal for a one on one with Edwin Van Der Sar, only to aim his shot straight at the keeper.
The signs were showing that West Ham meant business and weren't going to roll over and be pushovers like they had been this season. Finally in the 75th minute after clever play from the substitute, 'young' Teddy Sheringham found the feet of Marlon Harewood who cleverly managed to cross the ball in front of the united goal for Reo coker to ghost in at the near post and send the ball crashing into the back of the United net and send the Upton Park crowd into a rapturous state of celebration. And perhaps not for the last time this season a rendition of Alan curbishleys claret and blue army rang out from the stands of Upton Park.
West Ham held on for the remaining fifteen minutes and four minutes of injury time to give Alan Curbishly his first win as West Ham manager and his first win over Manchester united in his long and illustrious managerial career.
Whether that is the kick start to the season West Ham so desperately need remains to be seen.
Next up sees a London derby against Fulham, before embarking on the busy Christmas period.
I feel that come the new year we will know if West Ham have appointed the right man in Curbs, and whether West Ham will struggle until May or whether they have the bottle and courage needed to stay where they deserve, the premiership.

[Magpie]

I think that Alan Curbishley will prove to be the right man for the job and guide West Ham out of trouble to stay in the Premiership. He did an amazing job at Charlton but had taken them as far as they could go with the money he had so he left and look at them now. I'm convinced that the forthcoming festive period will see the Hammers climb from their current position, most probably changing places with Newcastle United, who have an absolute nightmare of a festive fixture list!

Before all that, though, we've the small matter of playing Chelsea in the League Cup quarter final at St James Park. Not exactly looking forward to it but you never know, we might "do a West Ham"!
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[West_ham_hammer]

What I saw off the game against Fulham impressed me. It looks like the arrival of Curbs has had a positive effect on the squad.
The starting eleven resembled the starting eleven that we would have started last seasons games with. Maybe that's what has gone wrong this season? Pardew was too keen to include the argies in his team so not to disappoint people. But in all reality it didn't work.

I can't really comment much more on the game today as I kept falling asleep after only 4 hours sleep, after a 12 hour night shift. But I did see Marlon Harewood was unlucky not to score on a few occasions.
And I think Koncheskys red card was 50/50 and he was very unlucky to be sent off.
We go into our next game now without Reo coker and Konchesky through there bookings. So maybe it will give others a chance to claim a starting place in future weeks.

[West_ham_hammer]