This man will be the next West Ham manager
We’ve got it straight from the biscuit tin – the shortlist of managers West Ham’s owners are considering and the man who is odds-on favourite to manage the Hammers, at least in September 2008.
But first, the candidates:
West Ham’s Final Five
1. Roberto Mancini: Popular choice amongst the fans, can’t speak English (or Icelandic for that matter) and is unlikely to jump to a club outside the Champions League. Maybe if the board weren’t so skint this year they’d bribe him a la Dhabi, but expect Mancini to wait for Hughes to be fired (he’s learning Arabic as we speak – as are a host of other managers).
2. Harry Redknapp: First to issue a denial, just like he did with Newcastle. Not happening, although give Pompey 6 months and if they’re not in the top-10, Harry could be interested.
3. Slaven Bilic: Really, the man who’s odds-on favourite to take his country to the World Cup and lost in the Euro 08 quarterfinals to the strongest-willed team of them all, he’s going to come to West Ham? It will be a coup bigger than Robinho – maybe if they paid extra for the nightlife?
4. Sam Allardyce: The main gripe against Curbs was that his teams (Bolton or Newcastle) didn’t entertain. It’s a bit of a surprise then to see Allardyce on this list, but I assure you that he’s a genuine candidate and may even be a front-runner considering that no one else is interested in the job….
5. ???: The identity of the 5th… short-listed manager is unclear with many different names being suggested – Stuart Pearce, David O’Leary, Paolo Di Canio, Glenn Hoddle, Gary Johnson and even Kevin Keegan and a shock return for Glenn Roeder. However, Curbs is not returning to the post (no one comes back from the dead, right?).
The Next West Ham Manager
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Bring in Paolo Di Canio all day long.
September 4th, 2008 @ 19:43Actually you’re incorrect about Roberto Mancini not being able to speak English. He can speak English and has lived in England (having played for Leicester City).
He has all the right attributes to be Kevin Keegan’s successor at Newcastle perhaps not so much Alan Curbishley’s successor at West Ham. It’s whether Mike Ashley or the West Ham board has the faith to back an innovative coach like him.
Word around the Tyne is that David O’Leary will in some way be part of the set up at Newcastle United. He was seen at Mal Maison bar yesterday evening and he’s postponed a series of media commitments that he was due to be involved in the next few weeks. Perhaps he’s only advising Mike Ashley but maybe he’s being sounded out to take over from Kevin Keegan.
September 5th, 2008 @ 10:21i dont want to be nasty but your list is wrong.
September 5th, 2008 @ 16:52It is:
Bilic
Donadoni
Mancini
Zola
Houlier
wildcard
Big Sam,David o’leary,di Canio for west ham.
September 5th, 2008 @ 21:41Mancini,houllier,Shearer for Newcastle.
Zola’s got it. Toon job is short-listed to Poyet and Steve Bruce
September 9th, 2008 @ 11:06