Gianfranco’s penchant for playing our stars in positions other than those to which they were previously accustomed has raised the odd eyebrow at the Boleyn, but should we be so surprised? Stanislas on the left has probably been the most high profile, but Collisson left midfield, Noble playing wide and last year Tristan playing anywhere on a football pitch are other examples.
From the day he arrived looking like a little lad on his first day at “big” school, wearing his older brother’s shirt and tie; he has looked to me, uncomfortable wearing the mantle of management.
Likeable though he undoubtedly is, he is also a square peg; a sardine dressed as a role mop herring, certainly the team played like a bunch of gherkins on Saturday.
He’s a coach, not a manager. He has brought players on individually and most look more comfortable on the ball than they did under Curbishley, the short passing and movement have certainly improved. But his insistence on sticking with 433 which has been highlighted on this blog is undoubtedly one of the major reasons for our predicament.
He won’t be our manager next season, the two Davids have already begun work to ensure that his undoubted principles leave him with no option but to resign, thus saving a payoff and removing one more high wage earner from the staff. Clarke will be offered a manager’s job elsewhere and take it and Curbishley will prepare the old brown Volvo for a service and a new MOTD.
I hope I’m wrong, no one likes to see a nice guy fail, but I think Gianfranco is both happier and more suited to the job of coach. It won’t happen of course but I think Clarke as defensive coach, Zola as offensive coach with someone in the mould of Martin O’Neil as manager would be an excellent combination. Dream on!
El Martillo
It could happen at Chelsea, with the current manager overseeing the pair!
ReplyDeleteSquare pegs in round holes? Given how G&S made their money, that could bring tears to the eye Marty!
ReplyDeleteI'm right though aren't I, our personal development and happinesss as individuals depend heavily on our ability to find our niche in life. I like Gianfranco enormously as a person but at the moment he's not in the right space for him as a human being or for us as supporters of West Ham, I would be delighted if that changed but sadly I don't think it will.
ReplyDeleteDunno if you have seen this but i think there is something in this, maybe Zola is realising he isnt cut out for it
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/8553672.stm
Look at 45 seconds when he takes the blame. Tying to get the players to rally around him or admitting he isnt up to it?
AppyAmmer
Yep you are spot on Marty. Curbishley as Zola's Technical Director? Now that would be the ultimate marriage made in Hell! "I've bought you a new centre back Gianfranco, he specialises in the lump!"
ReplyDeleteAh! The "Lump"; Gollivans latest scheme to bring value for money to the Boleyn. Long live the seventies!
ReplyDeleteYou won't get me I'm claret and blue, John. You won't get me I'm claret and blue, John. You won't get me I'm claret and blue , John. Till the day I die!
Marti,
ReplyDeleteStans a left winger....he's always played on the left. But I do agree that Collison shouldn't be anywhere near either wing.
Stani, Stanislas is not a left winger, he is right footed. I don't care where he has always played, she should be on the right, skinning full backs and whipping in crosses, not coming inside from the left trying to get the ball on his right foot. How effective is Lennon on the left? As effective as Stanislas! Put him on the right and Lennon is a shoe in to the England team! Stanislas needs guidance!
ReplyDeleteMy dear fellow, Stani may be a left winger, but junior is by trade very much of the conservative persuasion; sorry, I mean a bit of an Ian dale's diary, that is............a right winger!
ReplyDeleteLOL Marty. I thought for a moment that you were implying that Junior wanted to play at the back!
ReplyDeleteCheeky!
ReplyDeleteHe could play at the back, I hear he's got a good tackle and is an expert at coming in from behind...which is not allowed these days, punishable by a red or yellow.
ReplyDeleteThen again, his shot is too good to play at the back. He doesn't just go for the straight one, he goes for the bender and scores more often than not.
I'm worried, HF refering to Stanislas as 'she', and Stani I hope your last message was intended to be full of euphemisms!
ReplyDeleteT.I.S,
ReplyDeleteStan does have a tendency to score own goals when he's playing at the back. I know many feel that there's nothing wrong with scoring own goals these days, but this is where Marti's title of 'square pegs in round wholes' is most apt....whether he meant it or not.
What does T.I.S stand for? Quick, before I start guessing.
*I did mean holes by the way. Don't look to far into that.
ReplyDeleteThe Increadible Sulk. It was just that i'm childish and your last post (20:07) sounded very sexual.
ReplyDeleteel martillo, hello, i did like the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns. Good article. You are 110% correct. Lovable fella Zola etc. but no one starts at the top without playing the crying game at some stage. It's up to the players now, we are the Irons & we fight till we are dead etc. Parker seems to have got the hint. I get the gut feeling of a good game against Chelsea. Yes, the Curbs jigsaw is beginning form a picture, possibly. Volvos do seem to pride themselves on safety. I always preferred the wind in my hair though. Good article, good blog. Thank you HF.
ReplyDeleteT.I.S
ReplyDelete20:07 sounded sexual? And my 06:01 didn’t? Damn, I’m losing my touch. Carry on being childish! Adults are boring.
….and you were right all along ;)
Winston
I'm feeling it too. We need to get Carlton in and around Hilario. Unfortunately, we all know what Did-I-Hear-Drogba will do to Tomkins and Upson. May be HF can use his evil-eye and make him go off injured in the first few minutes.
Daprela needs to be on the left, if only to falter Chelsea's tactics a little. As HF points out, teams will target our left with Specsavers there, so how about putting Daprela under a little pressure and see if he can do any better, after all the next two games should be an experimental period for us. Maybe try out Da Costa again as I don't see what he did wrong to be dropped. Stanislas should start also on the right, and bring Noble into the fold if he hasn't stopped wanking, if only because he will understand the rivalry. May aswell tell Parker to pick up another yellow at Chelski, we need him for Wolves.
ReplyDeleteT.I.S,
ReplyDeleteNoooo! Noble can understand the rivalry from the bench :)
Big game, and we can try Daprela but I can't help feel that after the game we'll be left thinking that we should have gone with Specsavers (What? That's not as bad as some of HF's).
lol yh I think i made it up myself. Spector is so unconsistent. I guess depending on what attributes the winger has we should pick a full-back more capable of dealing with the threat.
ReplyDelete