Forget the Capello Index, Follow the Grantazola Index!

In keeping with the launch of the Capello Index, The Games Gone Crazy is proud to announce the unveiling of the Grantazola Index, the official measure comparing our new manager's performance against that of his predecessor.

As with the Capello Index, the Grantazola Index will assess relative performance over the course of the coming season. Although no meaningful games have been played so far, the Index shows Grant with a clear advantage thus far.

Unlike Zola, Grant seems to have played the transfer market intelligently so far. Barrera and Hitzlespurger seem to have been identified specifically to enhance the team in areas of known weakness - namely a lack of goals from midfield and a lack of width. Piquionne and Ben Haim, meanwhile, seem to have been recruited to deepen the squad. Where Zola's signings seemed random and at the instigation of Nani, Grant seems firmly in control of the comings and goings thus far. And, Barerra apart, he has signed players with Premiership experience. Jimenez or Hitlersburger anybody?

Where Zola allowed Neill and Duxbury to bugger him around, claiming that Lucash had "promised" to let him know his plans ahead of making a decision about his future, Grant has laid it on the line to Upson. Either show commitment or bugger off. Ben Haim has been signed to prevent Upson holding any sort of gun to Grant's head. "You want to play in the Champions League? After THAT performance against Germany? Best of luck mate! Now, do you want to play for us or not?" Neill made Zola look pathetic; Grant has put Upson in his place.

Then there is the little matter of results so far. True the opposition wasn't up to much but we've won two games in a row, and we only managed that ONCE throughout the whole of last season! And Cole scored in both games. You remember, Carlton Cole who only Zola could get to score apparently! And, of course, both games were away from home and under Zola victories away from Upton Park were as commonplace as Asians at a BNP convention!

Things may change of course. The Grantazola Index is subject to fluctuation and Grant's rating could go both up and down. For now, however, despite the debt and the Davids, Grant has not only nudged ahead but seems to have opened up clear claret and blue water between himself and his smiling predecessor!