Sep 03 2008
Curbishley Calls It Quits, While Ashley Loses Grip On Newcastle
Alan Curbishley has ended his relationship with West Ham United today, citing the club’s mishandling of transfers as his chief reason. Curbishley was reportedly angry that the Club decided, without his consent, to sell Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney. To which I would say, how can you not include your manager in such huge transfer decisions as these? West Ham is struggling as it is, then you sell Anton Ferdinand, your best defender, and you expect Curbishley to just make an adjustment?
How can a manager manage when you constantly alter his own formula for success? West Ham had a club with talent, possibly on the up, but now they appear to be in shambles. And now without Curbishley, I wouldn’t be surprised to see West Ham drop to the relegation zone at seasons end.
Hot on his recent controversy over Mike Ashley’s public pint during the weekend Newcastle fixture at Arsenal.
As we all know it’s against the law to have an alcoholic beverage at your seat during a Premier League event. Though Newcastle’s press release about the event was hilarious, as they claimed Ashley was given a drink he thought was non-alcoholic. Which clearly as the side was losing 2-0, he knew wasn’t true, and Ashley was intending to drown his sorrows.
But beside that, Ashley is set to tear the club apart with his willingness to make moves without consulting Kevin Keegan. Keegan is hanging by a thread as club manager after Ashley’s attempts to sell Michael Owen and Joey Barton under Keegan’s nose. Again, why you would play with a managers player pool without consulting the manager, I’ll never understand. As Newcastle appears to have a need to crack the top four in the next few years, so why would you defy your manager.
Keegan is supposed to be your man, but you’ll tear away his resources without even his suggestion as to what moves to make? Michael Owen still has some good games left in him, and now has something to prove with his being dropped from the England squad. Why would you sell your captain? And especially why would you sell a huge fan favorite, and someone who has carried Newcastle through many key victories last season, saving the club from the threat of relegation.
I thought Mike Ashley was a great owner because he was a superfan of the club. But apparently he’s a fan to the extent that he thinks he can make tactical decisions for the squad. Take a lesson from Roman Abramovich, trying to force changes on a squad against the manager’s will, only hurts the team.
Anyone remember Andriy Shevchenko, and how he didn’t belong in Chelsea, but because Abramovich confused him for being Russian, Roman forced him into the lineup. Forcing out the great Jose Mourinho. Take a note Ashley, if you ever want Newcastle to bring some silverware back to the Toon.
