CURBISHLEY GOT IT ALL WRONG

IT is one of the great ironies that Alan Curbishley failed to understand what being a successful West Ham manager was all about.

On the face of it, Curbishley was perfect for the job when he was appointed 20 months ago.

Having worked wonders at Charlton, he was not merely an experienced manager but one who had claret and blue blood.

After all, Curbishley had grown up around the corner from Upton Park, signed for the club under Ron Greenwood, trained as a schoolboy with Bobby Moore and made his debut under John Lyall.

Even though Curbishley moved on at a young age, he always retained a bond with the club.

But it quickly became apparent he had lost touch, not just with the intensity and expectation of the fans but with quite how big West Ham had become.

Do you agree with Shep? He'll be online from midday on Sunday (August 24) to answer your points, so click here to tell him what you think of Alan Curbishley.

Ever since Moore, Hurst and Peters inspired England to the 1966 World Cup triumph, West Ham has always attracted special attention.

Decent

It has been admired by a far wider audience than its own fans because West Ham teams were based on breeding talent and producing a brand of football that combined passion and panache.

Cynics often cite a lack of success but for the majority of supporters eating at the big table, a few cup wins and forays into Europe was a decent level of success . . . providing they were being thrilled and entertained with adventurous football.

Curbishley should have known all this yet what he quickly brought was a caution that looked like he was trying to turn West Ham into Charlton.

On top of that he couldn't come to terms with the spotlight he was under after 15 years in what had become a comfort zone at The Valley.

West Ham's Houdini relegation escape in his first season was more down to individual heroics - not least by Carlos Tevez - than any inspiration Curbishley offered.

And despite then splashing out substantial sums, Curbishley set the sights too low last season. If there was a moment which defined where Curbs, who can be colourful company off the pitch, lost the plot it came last March.

Downbeat

Within six minutes of coming on, 18-year-old debutant Freddie Sears scored the winner against Blackburn.

Upton Park was euphoric. Yet in his post-match appraisal Curbishley wore a hangdog expression and was depressingly downbeat about the spectacular arrival of a local hero.

It was only because he had so many injuries that the kid had been thrown in, he claimed. It was not what people wanted to hear.

And even last week after the 4-1 win over Blackburn, he caused a furious row in the dressing room by moaning.

Curbishley may well have a point over boardroom interference in transfer policy or, more to the point, the role of technical director Gianluca Nani.

But he was well aware the club had to raise £16million in the summer and cut the wage bill to below a ridiculous £60m.

It said it all when his solution was to sell star striker Dean Ashton rather than offload bits-and-pieces players.

Slaven Bilic played for the Irons for just over a year but the Croatian, still the club's first choice, would seem to retain more West Ham DNA than Curbs.