West Ham
Hammers analysis: Write? Curbishley got it wrong!
HERE'S a question. Just how many public relations gaffes can Alan Curbishley make before he understands exactly how the national press works?
Earlier this season, the West Ham manager blamed the media for having "agendas" against the Irons when none existed.
Last week, as the whole world knows, the Hammers boss made a complete faux pas by writing in his weekly newspaper column that he would "raise a glass" if Manchester United won the Premier League title.
Curbishley went on to label United boss and old pal Sir Alex Ferguson "Mr Amazing", claiming it would be a "great injustice" if Fergie's men did not retain the championship.
Maybe so, but how naïve must you be to write such thoughts in a national newspaper just a week before your own team is taking on the Red Devils in a pivotal title-decider?
Amazingly naïve is the answer, especially for a man who has managed at the highest level - and therefore dealt with the press - for nearly two decades.
Quite what Curbishley was trying to prove is a mystery.
Yes, everyone knows he has great respect for Fergie, a man he has been close to throughout his managerial career, but there is absolutely no need to remind everyone of that fact just days before your team is taking on United.
Chelsea manager Avram Grant, while not questioning Curbishley's integrity, was right to say that the Irons boss was "wrong" to share such thoughts.
Whoever advises Curbishley should have known full well that the tabloids would get hold of those comments and rip them - and the man himself - to shreds.
To compound his error, the Irons manager decided to dodge the post-match press conference at Old Trafford, instead sending assistant Mervyn Day to face the music following Saturday's 4-1 defeat.
Poor Day, a stand-up man, was forced to field searching questions about Curbishley's column, a column he did not write.
It was completely unfair, but perhaps not surprising when you look at the manager's track record of blaming the press when things go wrong.
Last January, having seen his team beat Brighton in an FA Cup tie, Curbishley launched into a two-minute rant against the media.
Next came the "agendas" accusation, and then Saturday's latest debacle.
One hopes Curbishley will learn how to play the media game in time for next season, when more searching questions will surely be asked if his team do not perform. Sadly I doubt he will.
12:02pm Monday 5th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Wayne, Herts on 1:38pm Mon 5 May 08
Hopefully he wont be around next season. How many more games do we have to endure when he gets tactics and team selection wrong. The game against Manunited was an embarrasing disgrace playing 451 against 10 men! How many times has he done that at Upton Park. I hope that BG understands that West Ham will lose a lot of season ticket holders with Curbishley in charge. I hope that something is done and we dont have to go through another season ala Charlton. We can say that we are better off than last season. After the money he spent I should hope so. And he only played Tevez because the crowd got on his back. He persists with Boa Morte with better players sitting on the bench. This situation makes us look idiots nearly every time WHUFC play in the premier league.
Hopefully he wont be around next season. How many more games do we have to endure when he gets tactics and team selection wrong. The game against Manunited was an embarrasing disgrace playing 451 against 10 men! How many times has he done that at Upton Park. I hope that BG understands that West Ham will lose a lot of season ticket holders with Curbishley in charge. I hope that something is done and we dont have to go through another season ala Charlton. We can say that we are better off than last season. After the money he spent I should hope so. And he only played Tevez because the crowd got on his back. He persists with Boa Morte with better players sitting on the bench. This situation makes us look idiots nearly every time WHUFC play in the premier league.
Posted by: sudburyhammer, suffolk on 7:43pm Mon 5 May 08
couldnt agree more wayne im a season ticket holder and i dont mind if we lose as long as we put up a show something that curbishley just cant seem to understand
couldnt agree more wayne im a season ticket holder and i dont mind if we lose as long as we put up a show something that curbishley just cant seem to understand
Posted by: GF, London on 7:41am Tue 6 May 08
Cant agree more, the bloke is a fool if he thinks he can make West Ham a top club, in the eyes of the Fans we are a top club already but with Curbs in charge we arent going to go anywhere other than down to the championship, the Man UTD game was a disgrace, team selection tactics all season have been wrong, since first game of the season humiliated by Man City and it has been poor ever since, Curbs wil not get any better he doesnt have any more to give sureley even a blind man could see this, and if BG doesnt start to cough up the cash to push the club forward what does the future hold for our club, youcant compete on home grown talent, especially when you leave it sitting on the bench all season, if you gain experience from wwatching games then let me play!! But then I'd need to have watched decent football for that wouldnt I!!!
Cant agree more, the bloke is a fool if he thinks he can make West Ham a top club, in the eyes of the Fans we are a top club already but with Curbs in charge we arent going to go anywhere other than down to the championship, the Man UTD game was a disgrace, team selection tactics all season have been wrong, since first game of the season humiliated by Man City and it has been poor ever since, Curbs wil not get any better he doesnt have any more to give sureley even a blind man could see this, and if BG doesnt start to cough up the cash to push the club forward what does the future hold for our club, youcant compete on home grown talent, especially when you leave it sitting on the bench all season, if you gain experience from wwatching games then let me play!! But then I'd need to have watched decent football for that wouldnt I!!!
Posted by: Trunkymunghound, Penge Rd on 10:20am Tue 6 May 08
"Curbishley got it wrong!
" and the Munghound got it right again
Sooner the Mancs, Chelski, the 'poo and the Arse are out of the Premiership and into a full time European(or world?) league the better
Then the little munchkin clubs like West Ham will have a chance but until then, all you'll get is a big fat zero
Cheers!
"Curbishley got it wrong!
" and the Munghound got it right again
Sooner the Mancs, Chelski, the 'poo and the Arse are out of the Premiership and into a full time European(or world?) league the better
Then the little munchkin clubs like West Ham will have a chance but until then, all you'll get is a big fat zero
Cheers!
Posted by: Shrimper Nation, Shrimpington on 5:38pm Fri 9 May 08
Curblishley is a secret Shrimper!
Curblishley is a secret Shrimper!
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