Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
-
- #3,681
Why the scandalous treatment of Avram Grant is a black mark on West Ham that will take some time to wash away
By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 11:10 13/01/11
His name is Avram, not Joseph.
But the situation is the same. And just like the lead character in Saul Bellow's first novel, the manager of West Ham has been left a "Dangling Man", waiting for the inevitable.
For all the self-regard the Upton Park board have for themselves, the treatment of Avram Grant over the past few weeks has shown them in their true colours.
Newcastle and Blackburn were rightly criticised for the way they axed Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce respectively, while the departure of Roy Hodgson at Liverpool was hardly a shock given what had happened.
Yet the way the Israeli has been left in a constant state of managerial limbo by the men he is expected to provide with results has been nothing short of scandalous.
If Grant had been sacked two months ago, on the back of a poor start to the season - even though David Sulivan, David Gold and even Karren Brady conceded he had inherited a team that should have been relegated last term - it might have been understandable.
After all, even if the Hammers had won their next game, they would still have been rock-bottom of the Premier League pile.
But now it is different. Still bottom, yes. But, as Grant ruefully pointed out in his programme notes before the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham, a win in their next game could take them 14th.
No matter how much negative attention any manager gets, it is normally results that kill them.
On that normal measure, though, Grant should not even be a candidate for the chop, let alone the prime contender to be next out of the door.
West Ham have suffered one defeat in their last seven games, winning four of them.
Admittedly, as Grant readily concurs, that defeat was a shocker, his team simply not turning up at Newcastle, although the Israeli would point to the fact that he did not have the possibility of refreshing his side and did not have a left-back at the club fit to play.
But on the basis that results should determine a manager's future, look at this list:
Arsene Wenger (two wins, two defeats), Gerard Houllier (two wins, four defeats), Alex McLeish (two wins, three defeats), Steve Kean (three wins, two defeats, in just six games), Ian Holloway (three wins, three defeats), Owen Coyle (three wins, three defeats), Carlo Ancelotti (two wins, three defeats), David Moyes (three wins, one defeat), Mark Hughes (three wins, three defeats), Kenny Dalglish (two defeats from two games), Roberto Mancini (three wins, one defeat), Alan Pardew (three wins, three defeats in six games), Tony Pulis (two wins, three defeats), Steve Bruce (three wins, three defeats), Roberto Di Matteo (one win, six defeats), Roberto Martinez (two wins, one defeat), Mick McCarthy (three wins, three defeats).
So, 17 of the other 19 top flight managers have a worse recent record than Grant.
In fact, over those seven games, only Sir Alex Ferguson (five wins, two draws) has a better record, with Harry Redknapp's run at Spurs exactly the same as West Ham have achieved.
And yet Grant is the man whose job is being touted around, to Martin O'Neill or Allardyce.
Grant does not begrudge those managers listening to the offers. It is a dog eat dog world and you don't get a job unless a vacancy is created.
But the very fact that the Israeli has been forced to work against the background of so many leaks and briefings to his detriment is a black mark on the club that will take a very long while to be washed away.
Some of Grant's closest friends have been advising him to walk out now, to put the club on the spot and let the world know what has been going on - some of which would make your hair stand on end.
It is not his way and the Israeli is determined to keep fighting, keep working, until he has no other choice.
What will really irk is the promises that were made over his job being a work in progress, of time to sort things through, of an awareness that this would be a season in which survival mattered but when it was understood that things would be rocky.
Yet here he is, 90 minutes away from taking West Ham to their first Wembley final since 1981 - and facing the chop because of his "demeanour".
Was he suddenly expected to transform himself into Frankie Boyle?
Grant is Grant but if the West Ham owners have any intelligence they will stop the outrageous behind the scenes posturing and read what David James wrote in his newspaper column last week.
James wrote: "The only manager I've ever played for who turned the dressing room around was Avram Grant. When he first came to Portsmouth we kept losing. The club seemed to be going down the pan, we hadn't been paid, and morale was low.
"But a good run in the FA Cup kept us buoyant. It was something to focus on, a light at the end of a tunnel. We were happy under him. He kept us together and guided us towards this light. At the time it was awesome and we believed in him."
James does not say things for effect. He says them because he means them. Mr Sullivan, Mr Gold, Ms Brady - take notice.
By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 11:10 13/01/11
His name is Avram, not Joseph.
But the situation is the same. And just like the lead character in Saul Bellow's first novel, the manager of West Ham has been left a "Dangling Man", waiting for the inevitable.
For all the self-regard the Upton Park board have for themselves, the treatment of Avram Grant over the past few weeks has shown them in their true colours.
Newcastle and Blackburn were rightly criticised for the way they axed Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce respectively, while the departure of Roy Hodgson at Liverpool was hardly a shock given what had happened.
Yet the way the Israeli has been left in a constant state of managerial limbo by the men he is expected to provide with results has been nothing short of scandalous.
If Grant had been sacked two months ago, on the back of a poor start to the season - even though David Sulivan, David Gold and even Karren Brady conceded he had inherited a team that should have been relegated last term - it might have been understandable.
After all, even if the Hammers had won their next game, they would still have been rock-bottom of the Premier League pile.
But now it is different. Still bottom, yes. But, as Grant ruefully pointed out in his programme notes before the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Birmingham, a win in their next game could take them 14th.
No matter how much negative attention any manager gets, it is normally results that kill them.
On that normal measure, though, Grant should not even be a candidate for the chop, let alone the prime contender to be next out of the door.
West Ham have suffered one defeat in their last seven games, winning four of them.
Admittedly, as Grant readily concurs, that defeat was a shocker, his team simply not turning up at Newcastle, although the Israeli would point to the fact that he did not have the possibility of refreshing his side and did not have a left-back at the club fit to play.
But on the basis that results should determine a manager's future, look at this list:
Arsene Wenger (two wins, two defeats), Gerard Houllier (two wins, four defeats), Alex McLeish (two wins, three defeats), Steve Kean (three wins, two defeats, in just six games), Ian Holloway (three wins, three defeats), Owen Coyle (three wins, three defeats), Carlo Ancelotti (two wins, three defeats), David Moyes (three wins, one defeat), Mark Hughes (three wins, three defeats), Kenny Dalglish (two defeats from two games), Roberto Mancini (three wins, one defeat), Alan Pardew (three wins, three defeats in six games), Tony Pulis (two wins, three defeats), Steve Bruce (three wins, three defeats), Roberto Di Matteo (one win, six defeats), Roberto Martinez (two wins, one defeat), Mick McCarthy (three wins, three defeats).
So, 17 of the other 19 top flight managers have a worse recent record than Grant.
In fact, over those seven games, only Sir Alex Ferguson (five wins, two draws) has a better record, with Harry Redknapp's run at Spurs exactly the same as West Ham have achieved.
And yet Grant is the man whose job is being touted around, to Martin O'Neill or Allardyce.
Grant does not begrudge those managers listening to the offers. It is a dog eat dog world and you don't get a job unless a vacancy is created.
But the very fact that the Israeli has been forced to work against the background of so many leaks and briefings to his detriment is a black mark on the club that will take a very long while to be washed away.
Some of Grant's closest friends have been advising him to walk out now, to put the club on the spot and let the world know what has been going on - some of which would make your hair stand on end.
It is not his way and the Israeli is determined to keep fighting, keep working, until he has no other choice.
What will really irk is the promises that were made over his job being a work in progress, of time to sort things through, of an awareness that this would be a season in which survival mattered but when it was understood that things would be rocky.
Yet here he is, 90 minutes away from taking West Ham to their first Wembley final since 1981 - and facing the chop because of his "demeanour".
Was he suddenly expected to transform himself into Frankie Boyle?
Grant is Grant but if the West Ham owners have any intelligence they will stop the outrageous behind the scenes posturing and read what David James wrote in his newspaper column last week.
James wrote: "The only manager I've ever played for who turned the dressing room around was Avram Grant. When he first came to Portsmouth we kept losing. The club seemed to be going down the pan, we hadn't been paid, and morale was low.
"But a good run in the FA Cup kept us buoyant. It was something to focus on, a light at the end of a tunnel. We were happy under him. He kept us together and guided us towards this light. At the time it was awesome and we believed in him."
James does not say things for effect. He says them because he means them. Mr Sullivan, Mr Gold, Ms Brady - take notice.