Forum | Non-Football Related

“I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him," joint-chairman David Sullivan told the club's official website. “It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our ambitions." What could possibly go wrong?

Well, plenty actually! Despite his vast experience Pellegrini, just like current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, is being found out. It is one thing to guide a team of super stars to the top, it is another thing entirely to mould a team on a relatively restricted budget, that is not to say the task is impossible, Eddie Howe is a classic example of a manager who can do so.

However this is West Ham United we are talking about, a club that snatches defeat from the jaws of victory on a constant basis, both on and of the pitch! The 'car crash' that is unfolding at the London Stadium is similar to the BBC's hugely expensive TV flop Eldorado, in which the BBC tried to move Eastenders to the Costa Del Sol, they moved in to an old spaghetti western set, well suited to that genre, but hopeless for trying to film a soap series, there was a complete impracticality as the set was not fit for purpose, an enormous 'carbuncle' of detritus was left when the plug was eventually pulled. 'Fish out of water',was one of the kinder comments as the reviewers savaged the 'useless story line, the participants and especially the location', does that seem familiar?

The truth is, whichever kind of positive spin you put on events currently unfolding at the 'Soulless Dome', the club is in turmoil, a busted flush! Having sold what was one of the most intimidating football grounds in Europe, in order to reach the next level by moving to the Olympic games stadium, the current owners inadvertently set the club on a collision course with disaster.

It would be churlish to suggest that their intention was to end up in this state of affairs, but by trying to 'box with the big boys', they have metaphorically had their pants pulled down, they have created a club that has had it's charisma sucked out of it. The 'Pellegrini' experiment has definitely failed, whether because he wasn't backed to the terms that were originally agreed or for whatever reason, the fact is the club is in serious danger of being sucked further in to a long hard relegation battle.

To anyone with a pulse it is clear that Pellegrini has 'lost the dressing room', that is not to suggest that the players don't respect the 66 year old Chilean, it is just that his methods aren't working and his recalcitrant attitude is not helping the players or fans, his insistence on his 'my way or the highway' approach is having a collaterally negative effect on the entire first team squad.

The great experiment failed, now the club need to lick their wounds, consolidate, and then rebuild. Unfortunately the rebuild will be extremely costly due to the need for a complete replacement of the managerial 'foundations', such a course of action will cost in the region of £22 Million in compensation just to start from scratch, and then there is the matter of 'acquiring' a top manager.

On paper Eddie Howe is the best possible option, due to his current contract running down, the fact that it has not been renewed by Bournemouth is one of the reasons that Howe is the Bookies favourite, especially now that Rafa Benitez has ruled himself out of the running. Although Howe would be highly unwilling to leave the Cherries mid season, and if by any chance he did, Bournemouth would be entitled to compensation.

Make no mistake, Manuel Pellegrini and his staff will be on their way well before their contracts were due to end, it is not a case of if, but when they go! - Ed

Despite having been sacked as Bayern Munich manager, Niko Kovac is a man in demand, and as such has been 'linked' with the vacant managerial job at Hammers Monday night opponents Arsenal. Some wishful thinkers are hoping that his previously announced attendance at the London Stadium could possibly be a portent of him replacing Manuel Pellegrini instead!

However, it is Panto season, and probably the only people to be 'looking behind them' will be Hammers defenders, as the beleaguered Arsenal players put in a shift to impress their potential new manager. It seems the Irons are destined to face 'newly invigorated' teams and provide them with the opportunity of experiencing the 'new manager bounce', and that Manuel Pellegrini is firmly rooted in his spot due to the fiscal perniciousness of terminating his contract.

There are far fetched rumours that Pellegrini might start with two up front, featuring a 'risk fit' Michail Antonio which would enable Sebastian Haller to play the role that he is accustomed to, a role that bought him and Eintrecht Franfurt a lot of success, which was one of the reasons he was signed by West Ham for £45 Million.

Please remember though, it is Panto season, and we are talking about the tactics and line up stipulated by one of the most stubborn managers in the Barclays Premier League! Manuel Pellegrini's 'my way or the high way' stance has already cost the club dearly as a result of him backing Roberto in goal, he finally succumbed to fan, and no doubt board pressure, by replacing the hapless Spaniard.

It is to be dearly hoped by the vast majority of those in attendance this evening, and the millions watching on TV around the Globe that Pellegrini 'adapts' to the situation, after all, if he fails after satisfying people's wishes, he will be on a far better footing when facing their criticism.

All the ingredients are there for a classic encounter at the London Stadium, but you can guarantee neither sets of supporters would ever have envisaged this match being a 'relegation six pointer ' as little as three months ago! As they say, "look behind you!" We will be there to cover the match at the London Stadium, and as has already been mentioned on KUMB as well as other media outlets, there will be 'enhanced' security checks this evening. Whether it is to prevent 'down with the board' banners, or a more serious security issue is a matter of conjecture, but the already time consuming and invasive procedures on entry look as though they are going to get a whole load worse!

Where ever you watch it, enjoy the match and be safe. - Ed (from a very, very blustery Stratford)

Renowned for giving struggling teams a helping hand, West Ham face Arsenal on Monday night in a fixture that threatens to continue the visitors worst run in their modern day history, a terrible run of results that culminated in the sacking of Unai Emery. Traditionally West Ham will flatter to deceive before Arsenal, guided by former Hammer Freddy Lungberg, finally steal the points in a smash and grab raid.

Emery joined Mauricio Pochetinio as sacked managers of London Premier League teams, many thought that Manuel Pellegrini would also be joining that select group, however Pellegrini earned a stay of execution with the surprise 1-0 victory away to Chelsea, but normal service was resumed in the 2-0 defeat away to Burnley. The difference between the two games was like chalk and cheese, with the main factor being the fitness and availability of Michail Antonio. How on earth can a team assembled at relatively vast expense be so dependant on one player, a player who arrived on transfer deadline day from Nottingham forest for a fee of £8 Million four seasons ago?

For game after game, fans screamed out for Roberto Jiminez Gago to be dropped following his appalling displays as replacement goalkeeper for the injured Lukasz Fabianski, before Manuel Pellegrini acquiesced and replaced the hapless Spaniard with David Martin, which had an immediately positive effect on team morale. Those same fans have also been calling for the beleaguered Hammers boss to change from his traditional and stubbornly rigid 'one up front' formation which has left £45 Million signing Sebastian Haller as an increasingly isolated striker.

Why spend £45 Million on a striker who was blisteringly brilliant playing as one of a front two and then play him as a lone striker? The thought of facing Haller AND Michail Antonio is a terrifying one for most defenders, if you then add Felipe Anderson playing behind the two of them in a similar position to that which brought him enormous success in Serie A, and you would have an awesome front line comprised of players in their natural position!

It's not rocket science is it? Playing players in their 'correct' position, and one that suits them most in order for them to perform to the very best of their abilities. Antonio is like a Duracell bunny compared to most of the rest of the team, but by playing in their proper position the rest of the squad might just begin to be 'infected' by his enthusiasm. Although it is a sorry state of affairs that so much responsibility for the team's progress rests on the not inconsiderable shoulders of 'Big Mich', if he fails his late fitness test, Monday's fixture against Arsenal at the London Stadium could be a further embarrassment for Manuel Pellegrini, who, despite being an older statesman of the Barclays Premier League must realise he is next for the chop unless results really turn round! - Ed