Back Roeder?

With the opening match of the new season fast approaching West Ham fans are confronted with the thorny issue of how to greet returning manager Glenn Roeder?

Are we welcoming back the manager who impressed by taking an underachieving team to the verge of Europe, or dreading the return of a manager who took the same team of internationals (three of whom represented England at the previous Summer’s World Cup) into the Nationwide League! The answer to that question and the reaction of the supporters to his reappearance on the touchline should be interesting to say the least?

The teams poor form (and performances) through the majority of last season saw the normally loyal West Ham support calling for his sacking, calls only made louder with the 1-0 defeat in our ‘must win’ game at the Reebok stadium in early April.

Glenn Roeder’s dramatic collapse following the home win over Middlesboro and subsequent brain surgery, coupled with the morale boosting appointment of Trevor Brooking as caretaker, saw a shift of focus away from the stricken manager.

Now, with Glenn Roeder declaring himself fully fit and poised to return to the touchline is it time to “Back Roeder” or “Sack Roeder”?

To find the real Glenn Roeder here’s a look at four keys areas of his management record with West Ham :

1.Results

The above statistical analysis shows that in terms of results Glenn Roeder’s teams stand comparison with those of Harry Redknapp’s, with surprisingly also little difference in terms of goals scored and conceded. Harry’s teams also registered final totals of 42 points on several occasions, which would have seen them relegated last season.

Where Glenn Roeder’s teams do stand out is in their ability to swing wildly between extremes of success and failure. Seventh place in his first full season, relegated in his second. Best home defensive record in 2001/2, worst away defensive record. No home wins for six months in 2002/3, one defeat in eleven games at the season’s climax.

Is this a lack of consistency, or a lack of control?

2. Transfers

Significant Buys : James, Hutchinson, Repka, Breen, Labant.

Significant Sales : Lampard, Johnson, Sinclair, Labant.

It’s widely acknowledged that Harry Redknapp’s increasing number of transfer ‘rickets’ cost him his job, with Glenn Roeder himself criticising the quality of the squad inherited from his predecessor.

However, have Roeder’s buys signalled an improvement? David James can claim to have improved his international standing during his time at the club, but incoming internationals Hutchinson and Repka have seen their stock fall. Vladamir Labant was purchased and then loaned out after less than ten games (at a cost of a £1M transfer fee plus wages), and the less said about Gary Breen the better.

In mitigation, Glenn Roeder’s reign coincides with the decline in football’s finances, and an already parsimonious West Ham board keeping an even tighter grip on the purse strings.

On the plus side Cole, Carrick, Defoe and (the now departed) Johnson have all cemented places in the first team, and achieved international recognition under Roeder’s managership, and he is recognised as an effective developer of young talent (in-keeping with the traditions of the club).

3. Team Performance

Glenn Roeder’s arrival saw the shift of tactics from the attacking 3-5-2 formation to a more rigid 4-4-2. The plan was to give the team a more stable platform from which to defend and attack, and move away from the practise of putting square pegs into round holes (Sinclair at wing-back, Minto in the back three, etc).

As shown earlier the change in formation hasn’t overly affected results, with the winning or losing of games seemingly dependent on individual moments of class or calamity. However, regularly starting in their preferred positions has brought the best out of Cole and Sinclair, and given the Team England scouts a chance to see them play in Sven’s preferred formation.

One area of justified criticism is in the team’s total inability to either take of defend a set piece. The back four’s repeated failure to defend crossed balls has been evident again during pre-season, and it’s telling that Trevor Brooking’s first act as caretaker manager was to change the identity of the free-kick and corner takers.

Shouldn’t a manager with Roeder’s coaching reputation (and a former defender himself) be able to instil the basics into his side?

4. Relationship with the supporters

Perhaps we’re now approaching the heart of the Glenn Roeder enigma for West Ham fans? Hammers love a personality, and the promotion of ‘Glenn Who’ was never likely to start pulses racing.

Two seasons later are we any wiser about the man in charge? Despite his leather jacketed ‘rebel without a cause’ phase, Glenn Roeder has never shaken off his image as Terry Brown’s yes man. While he has good reason to be loyal to Brown, this is unlikely to win him any favours among the supporters.

So what now for Glenn Roeder and West Ham? The fixture computer has been kind in providing a season opening away match and a ‘soft landing’ among our outstanding away support. The real test will be the first home match of the season.

With the Board unlikely to be moved by protests (particularly now we’re out of the Premiership spotlight), and a long-term contract to be paid up if sacked, it looks like Glenn Roeder is here to stay.

So will the real Glenn Roeder please stand up?