Dean Kiely believes West Ham manager Alan Curbishley can turn the club around if he is given enough time.
The Premiership strugglers are deep in relegation trouble and West Brom keeper Kiely admits Curbishley, who he played under at Charlton, looks "dejected".
Kiely told BBC Sport: "I doubt Alan has ever had such disharmony at a club and his body language shows he is unhappy.
"But he must now set the tone. He has the skills, and will not walk away - but he may not get the time he needs."
Indeed, time waits for no manager as Alan Pardew found in December when he was sacked by West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson, who had taken over the club a mere 20 days previously.
Magnusson then appointed Curbishley - but the Hammers have since won only twice in 13 matches, including an FA Cup victory over League One Brighton.
The single Premiership win came in Curbishley's first match in charge against leaders Manchester United and proved to be an entirely false dawn.
More representative of the misery at West Ham is their recent 4-0 thrashing by Curbishley's former club Charlton, who are now managed by Pardew and also staring relegation in the face.
Kiely said: "Alan does look very down at the moment. I'm sure he thought he would pick West Ham up, go from strength to strength, and give himself a chance to revamp the club in the summer.
"But that is very far from what has happened."
I think it's probably the first time Alan has experienced such disharmony at a club
The reality appears to have horribly shaken Curbishley; his posture, gestures and words are all those of a man in despair.
Curbishley cuts the sad figure of a man emotionally distraught at being unable to help a loved one - for that is what West Ham is to him; the club he played for, now manages and has always held in such affection.
"I'm sure what really hurts Alan is if he feels players are not showing the commitment, endeavour, and pride in the West Ham shirt that he did when he played for the club," added Kiely.
"You have got to have players who are prepared to put their bodies on the line, who will go an extra yard and who care."
Perhaps therein lies the problem, maybe Curbishley is too affable -"even-keeled" as Kiely describes him - to sort out an under-achieving set of players.
Curbishley, according to Kiely, is a "good fella" - but a 'Goodfella' of sorts is what is needed; a ruthless mob boss to deal with West Ham's seemingly unruly mob.
At Charlton, Curbishley was the head of a friendlier family.
Kiely, who was at Charlton between 1999 and 2006 recalls: "We were a bunch of very low-maintenance players.
"For a long time in that golden era at Charlton the team picked itself from Monday to Friday.
"There were no dramas, the players relished playing for the club and we got the job done with no fuss.
"Curbs guided us, but make no mistake we were a group of players who were self-referencing, self-motivating, we knew our jobs and did them very well."
Another contrast from Curbishley's tenure at Charlton is the speed at which he has had to make changes at West Ham - with rapid decisions needed in the hope of providing instant solutions.
And in the January transfer window, perhaps Curbishley's judgement was hindered by his being unaccustomed to the faster pace.
Were Nigel Quashie, who has already experienced relegation four times, and Calum Davenport, surplus to requirements at Tottenham, panic buys?
It is up to Alan to instil a work ethic in the team and run the club the way he wants to - and he needs to do it quickly
"Alan had to buy fast and that was maybe a bit foreign to him as he took his time to assess players when he was at Charlton. He watched Darren Bent for a season before he bought him," said Kiely.
"But at West Ham he needed immediate results -and obviously things have not gone for him."
And then there's Matthew Upson, who has been injured for most of the time since signing in January, and apparently has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave West Ham if they go down.
"I don't know if it is the case at West Ham, but if there are players thinking that they will be all right if the club gets relegated because their agent says he will get them a transfer, that is very damaging to the team," said Kiely.
"But it is up to Alan to instil a work ethic in the team and run the club the way he wants to.
"And he needs to do it quickly as he does not have the luxury of time."
That is especially true when you consider that Curbishley has just been backed by Magnusson.
I wonder whether Deano hasn't just hit the nail on the head regarding Curbs strengths.
At Charlton, he spent a long time building a team. A lot of that has to do with signing players with the right mental attitude. He has said that as a player he failed to fulfil his potential. I suspect that he generally goes for players who show a mature, determined and self-critical approach. He clearly has a problem with players who swan around flashing their bling in all directions. He has walked into a situation where some players need the hairdryer treatment and some strict discipline, Ferdinand being a prime example, but he's forced to play him because the players he has brought in have been injured. Thus he has not been able to impose himself as he would like.
His mentor is The Great Hairdryer in Chief who has a pretty similar attitude. When Fergie first went to Manure, he got rid of much of the drinking culture there and imposed pretty strict discipline. His approach did not bear fruit for a number of years and the press were constantly at him and suggesting he was about to get the tin tack.
I think that Curbs is entirely capable of turning West Ham around. If the Icelandic pockets are truely capacious, and they can afford to hang in there, which I suspect they can, then Curb's may still be the right man for the job.
One thing is certain, just because he is struggling now, doesn't make him suddenly a bad manager or worse than Pard's who at present can do no wrong. Their challenges have been entirely different. Pard's needed to lift the spirit of honest, hardworking professionals who just needed some organisation and belief. So far he has done that brilliantly. Curb's has to sort out a bunch of under-performing big time Charlies who feel that somehow they've earned the right to talk the talk, when they are manifestly not walking the walk.
Yeah, just look at Andy Todd. A really top player but he fecked up and Curbs chucked him out on his arse.
There's plenty more where that came from for some of those twats at West Ham.
Great post Bing, Curbs clearly DOES follow the Fergie management style wherever possible and is a long-term man not a quick fix merchant.
If the Biscuitman keeps faith with him then Curbs nouse and the Icelandic cash could make West Ham a top 10 side in the Prem but it will take at least five years for him to do it - has the Icelander got the patience?
The best thing Magnusson should say is that Curbs is staying, regardless of relegation or not and that it'll be the players who are shifted out. He failed to back Pardew in the same manner when there was dissent in the changing room and indeed sacked him and later blamed him for "losing" the changing room. That gave the players at WH the impression that they were bigger than the club, and that attitude made things harder not easier for Curbs.
[cite]Posted By: Ormiston Addick[/cite]Yeah, just look at Andy Todd. A really top player but he fecked up and Curbs chucked him out on his arse.
Might have a wonky memory - but after a lengthy period banished to the sidelines, didn't Andy Todd have a bit of a run back in the side shortly before going to Blackburn?
(There's always an anorak about......) *smiley winky thing*
Sorry Oggy, only just seen your question but the answer is no. Once Curbs bombed him out he went on loan to Grimsby where he did really well and kept them up which got him 1 million move to Blackburn. He never played for us again even though we were struggling at the time, once Curbs put you on the outer then that was generally where you stayed. Terrible waste of a really class player over something so daft.
No worries, Ormy.....told you I might have a wonky memory.
When he played for us, it was great to have a mean hearted bastard on our side, for once.
I'm surprised Curbs even signed him in the first place. When he played for Bolton against us, wasn't he sent off for half killing Graeme Stuart? *that wonky memory again*
[quote][cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]No worries, Ormy.....told you I might have a wonky memory.
When he played for us, it was great to have a mean hearted bastard on our side, for once.
I'm surprised Curbs even signed him in the first place. When he played for Bolton against us, wasn't he sent off for half killing Graeme Stuart? *that wonky memory again*[/quote]
Comments
Dean Kiely believes West Ham manager Alan Curbishley can turn the club around if he is given enough time.
The Premiership strugglers are deep in relegation trouble and West Brom keeper Kiely admits Curbishley, who he played under at Charlton, looks "dejected".
Kiely told BBC Sport: "I doubt Alan has ever had such disharmony at a club and his body language shows he is unhappy.
"But he must now set the tone. He has the skills, and will not walk away - but he may not get the time he needs."
Indeed, time waits for no manager as Alan Pardew found in December when he was sacked by West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson, who had taken over the club a mere 20 days previously.
Magnusson then appointed Curbishley - but the Hammers have since won only twice in 13 matches, including an FA Cup victory over League One Brighton.
The single Premiership win came in Curbishley's first match in charge against leaders Manchester United and proved to be an entirely false dawn.
More representative of the misery at West Ham is their recent 4-0 thrashing by Curbishley's former club Charlton, who are now managed by Pardew and also staring relegation in the face.
Kiely said: "Alan does look very down at the moment. I'm sure he thought he would pick West Ham up, go from strength to strength, and give himself a chance to revamp the club in the summer.
"But that is very far from what has happened."
I think it's probably the first time Alan has experienced such disharmony at a club
The reality appears to have horribly shaken Curbishley; his posture, gestures and words are all those of a man in despair.
Curbishley cuts the sad figure of a man emotionally distraught at being unable to help a loved one - for that is what West Ham is to him; the club he played for, now manages and has always held in such affection.
"I'm sure what really hurts Alan is if he feels players are not showing the commitment, endeavour, and pride in the West Ham shirt that he did when he played for the club," added Kiely.
"You have got to have players who are prepared to put their bodies on the line, who will go an extra yard and who care."
Perhaps therein lies the problem, maybe Curbishley is too affable -"even-keeled" as Kiely describes him - to sort out an under-achieving set of players.
Curbishley, according to Kiely, is a "good fella" - but a 'Goodfella' of sorts is what is needed; a ruthless mob boss to deal with West Ham's seemingly unruly mob.
At Charlton, Curbishley was the head of a friendlier family.
Kiely, who was at Charlton between 1999 and 2006 recalls: "We were a bunch of very low-maintenance players.
"For a long time in that golden era at Charlton the team picked itself from Monday to Friday.
"There were no dramas, the players relished playing for the club and we got the job done with no fuss.
"Curbs guided us, but make no mistake we were a group of players who were self-referencing, self-motivating, we knew our jobs and did them very well."
Another contrast from Curbishley's tenure at Charlton is the speed at which he has had to make changes at West Ham - with rapid decisions needed in the hope of providing instant solutions.
And in the January transfer window, perhaps Curbishley's judgement was hindered by his being unaccustomed to the faster pace.
Were Nigel Quashie, who has already experienced relegation four times, and Calum Davenport, surplus to requirements at Tottenham, panic buys?
It is up to Alan to instil a work ethic in the team and run the club the way he wants to - and he needs to do it quickly
"Alan had to buy fast and that was maybe a bit foreign to him as he took his time to assess players when he was at Charlton. He watched Darren Bent for a season before he bought him," said Kiely.
"But at West Ham he needed immediate results -and obviously things have not gone for him."
And then there's Matthew Upson, who has been injured for most of the time since signing in January, and apparently has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave West Ham if they go down.
"I don't know if it is the case at West Ham, but if there are players thinking that they will be all right if the club gets relegated because their agent says he will get them a transfer, that is very damaging to the team," said Kiely.
"But it is up to Alan to instil a work ethic in the team and run the club the way he wants to.
"And he needs to do it quickly as he does not have the luxury of time."
That is especially true when you consider that Curbishley has just been backed by Magnusson.
Er? I wonder what Andy Todd has to say about that.
At Charlton, he spent a long time building a team. A lot of that has to do with signing players with the right mental attitude. He has said that as a player he failed to fulfil his potential. I suspect that he generally goes for players who show a mature, determined and self-critical approach. He clearly has a problem with players who swan around flashing their bling in all directions. He has walked into a situation where some players need the hairdryer treatment and some strict discipline, Ferdinand being a prime example, but he's forced to play him because the players he has brought in have been injured. Thus he has not been able to impose himself as he would like.
His mentor is The Great Hairdryer in Chief who has a pretty similar attitude. When Fergie first went to Manure, he got rid of much of the drinking culture there and imposed pretty strict discipline. His approach did not bear fruit for a number of years and the press were constantly at him and suggesting he was about to get the tin tack.
I think that Curbs is entirely capable of turning West Ham around. If the Icelandic pockets are truely capacious, and they can afford to hang in there, which I suspect they can, then Curb's may still be the right man for the job.
One thing is certain, just because he is struggling now, doesn't make him suddenly a bad manager or worse than Pard's who at present can do no wrong. Their challenges have been entirely different. Pard's needed to lift the spirit of honest, hardworking professionals who just needed some organisation and belief. So far he has done that brilliantly. Curb's has to sort out a bunch of under-performing big time Charlies who feel that somehow they've earned the right to talk the talk, when they are manifestly not walking the walk.
Well even the best are allowed one mistake.....:-)
There's plenty more where that came from for some of those twats at West Ham.
Great post Bing, Curbs clearly DOES follow the Fergie management style wherever possible and is a long-term man not a quick fix merchant.
If the Biscuitman keeps faith with him then Curbs nouse and the Icelandic cash could make West Ham a top 10 side in the Prem but it will take at least five years for him to do it - has the Icelander got the patience?
and the chairman, our minty is excellent at chairing, old eggert aint imo!
Might have a wonky memory - but after a lengthy period banished to the sidelines, didn't Andy Todd have a bit of a run back in the side shortly before going to Blackburn?
(There's always an anorak about......) *smiley winky thing*
He never played for us again even though we were struggling at the time, once Curbs put you on the outer then that was generally where you stayed.
Terrible waste of a really class player over something so daft.
When he played for us, it was great to have a mean hearted bastard on our side, for once.
I'm surprised Curbs even signed him in the first place. When he played for Bolton against us, wasn't he sent off for half killing Graeme Stuart? *that wonky memory again*
When he played for us, it was great to have a mean hearted bastard on our side, for once.
I'm surprised Curbs even signed him in the first place. When he played for Bolton against us, wasn't he sent off for half killing Graeme Stuart? *that wonky memory again*[/quote]
Tried to strangle him if I recall correctly...