Filed: Friday, 29th August 2008
By: Graeme Howlett
Growing numbers of supporters are voicing their discontent by calling for
Alan Curbishley's head following United's edgy start to the season. Despite
leading the Hammers to two wins in their opening three games the manager's
position appears increasingly fragile with each passing week.
With the club's Board forcing a trimming of the squad Curbishley has taken
the brunt of the blame from disgruntled fans - a strange situation perhaps
given that he has arguably met all of his targets so far.
Although both managerial polls conducted on KUMB.com during the last year
resulted in the majority of fans giving their overwhelming backing to the
Forest Gate-born boss (the last, at the end of the 07/08 season which you
can view here saw 70% backing Curbishley) small pockets of fans were
randomly calling for his dismissal at Wednesday's Carling Cup near-fiasco
against Macclesfield (despite being barely audible amongst all the boos).
It was that sort of night, perhaps - after all the first chants of 'sack the
Board' relating to the current administration were also aired in recognition
of the Icelanders penny-pinching this summer - but it gave the media, who
mistakenly believe that Curbishley is reviled by the vast majority of
Hammers followers carte blanche to publish a veritable avalanche of
anti-Alan articles (encouraged, it has been rumoured, by some from within
the club itself).
How time flies . It was only 15 months ago that Curbishley was the toast of
the East End after leading his team to safety by beating Champions
Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day of the 2006/07 season.
The 'Great Escape' was followed by a top ten finish last season - despite
his team being constantly decimated by injuries (something else blamed on
the manager despite the club having admitted since that they simply didn't
have the necessary manpower to cope with the situation at the time). Decent
results, on paper.
So what of the criticisms? Curbishley's transfer policy has been widely
panned - even though (club captain) Lucas Neill and Luis Boa Morte played a
vital role in avoiding relegation the season before last whilst Matthew
Upson has become one of the club's most consistent players.
Additionally, Calum Davenport is beginning to (finally) show glimpses of his
worth as are Julien Faubert and Valon Behrami. The only signings that are
yet to realistically offer anything in return are Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy
(both long-term injuries) and Nigel Quashie (whose signing even the most
ardent Curbishley fan would find difficult to defend).
Then we come to the banal and frankly ridiculous complaints. His demeanour,
for one (perhaps we should hire Crusty the Clown as our next manager?) and
his continuous references to the injury situation (despite being asked the
same questions day in, day out). All managers are guilty of this; read
'getting back to what we're all about' for Alan Pardew and Harry Redknapp's
now infamous 'bare bones'.
However the main gripe with United supporters is not the personnel
introduced to the club, Curbishley's sagging jowels and hangdog expression
or even his occasional foray into David Brent country during interviews -
but the defensive style of play which has come to characterise the former
Charlton boss's tenure in East London.
The long-ball has, sadly, become an increasingly familiar tactic much to the
chagrin of Hammers fans weaned on fluent, passing play (although in truth
it's been many, many years since that kind of football was witnessed on a
regular basis at the Boleyn Ground).
In Curbishley's defence it can be argued that, until now, the flair players
he purchased to give his attacking unit a certain verve and style have never
been fit. His fault, some may say, for signing injury prone players - even
if many of those long-term injured have been rendered so through no fault of
their own (Dyer's broken leg, Faubert's torn achilles, Collins' cruciate
etc).
But unlike the other criticisms, the team's style of play is something the
manager can - and must - address should he wish to win the full backing of
the fans (and possibly save his job). Curbishley's squad is bursting with
pace on the flanks (Behrami, Faubert, Boa Morte and for all his other
faults, Matthew Etherington) but they are too often ignored in favour of a
60-yard punt aimed at Carlton Cole's shiny forehead.
Put this right, get the side playing football again and things will change.
That and winning the odd game, of course ...
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