It's now or never

Growing numbers of supporters are voicing their discontent by calling for Alan Curbishley's head following United's edgy start to the season. Despite leading the Hammers to two wins in their opening three games the manager’s position appears increasingly fragile with each passing week.

With the club's Board forcing a trimming of the squad Curbishley has taken the brunt of the blame from disgruntled fans - a strange situation perhaps given that he has arguably met all of his targets so far.

Although both managerial polls conducted on KUMB.com during the last year resulted in the majority of fans giving their overwhelming backing to the Forest Gate-born boss (the last, at the end of the 07/08 season which you can view here saw 70% behind Curbishley) small pockets of fans were randomly calling for his dismissal at Wednesday's Carling Cup near-fiasco against Macclesfield (despite being barely audible amongst all the boos).

It was that sort of night, perhaps - after all the first chants of 'sack the Board' relating to the current administration were also aired in recognition of the Icelanders penny-pinching this summer - but it gave the media, who mistakenly believe that Curbishley is reviled by the vast majority of Hammers followers carte blanche to publish a veritable avalanche of anti-Alan articles (encouraged, it has been rumoured, by some from within the club itself).

How time flies … It was only 15 months ago that Curbishley was the toast of the East End after leading his team to safety by beating Champions Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day of the 2006/07 season. The ‘Great Escape’ was followed by a top ten finish last season - despite his team being constantly decimated by injuries (something else blamed on the manager despite the club having admitted since that they simply didn’t have the necessary manpower to cope with the situation at the time). Decent results, on paper.

So what of the criticisms? Curbishley’s transfer policy has been widely panned – even though (club captain) Lucas Neill and Luis Boa Morte played a vital role in avoiding relegation the season before last whilst Matthew Upson has become one of the club's most consistent players.

Additionally, Calum Davenport is beginning to (finally) show glimpses of his worth as are Julien Faubert and Valon Behrami. The only signings that are yet to realistically offer anything in return are Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy (both long-term injuries) and Nigel Quashie (whose signing even the most ardent Curbishley fan would find difficult to defend).

Then we come to the banal and frankly ridiculous complaints. His demeanour, for one (perhaps we should hire Crusty the Clown as our next manager?) and his continuous references to the injury situation (despite being asked the same questions day in, day out). All managers are guilty of this; read 'getting back to what we're all about' for Alan Pardew and Harry Redknapp's much-derided 'bare bones'.

However the main gripe with United supporters is not the personnel introduced to the club, Curbishley's sagging jowels and hangdog expression or even his occasional foray into David Brent country during interviews - but the defensive style of play which has come to characterise the former Charlton boss's tenure in East London.

The long-ball has, sadly, become an increasingly familiar tactic much to the chagrin of Hammers fans weaned on fluent, passing play (although in truth it's been many, many years since that kind of football was witnessed on a regular basis at the Boleyn Ground).

In Curbishley's defence it can be argued that, until now, the flair players he purchased to give his attacking unit a certain verve and style have never been fit. His fault, some may say, for signing injury prone players - even if many of those long-term injured have been rendered so through no fault of their own (Dyer's broken leg, Faubert's torn achilles, Collins' cruciate etc).

But unlike the other criticisms, the team's style of play is something the manager can - and must - address should he wish to win the full backing of the fans (and possibly save his job). Curbishley's squad is bursting with pace on the flanks (Behrami, Faubert, Boa Morte and for all his other faults, Matthew Etherington) but they are too often ignored in favour of a 60-yard punt aimed at Carlton Cole’s forehead.

Put this right, get the side playing football again and things will change.

That and winning the odd game, of course ...

A version of this article first appeared in the Evening Echo on 29th August 2008.

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