Charlton in Claret and Blue.
I am sure Alan Curbishley's heart is in the right place. He seems to feel defeat evrery bit as much as most fans. But where is the invention, inventiveness and inspiration in the current West Ham set up.
Its hard to imagine Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day and Glyn Snodin joining mensa or outwitting teams with their tactical acumen - rather they remind you of a rather tired old PE teaching espousing the virtues of discipline, professionalism and hard work. All very laudable - and lacking last year. But where's the imagination and excitement. The culture of excellence that runs deep at the Emirites.
Alan is right when he says that we have been unlucky with injuries. But when you buy players with a history of long term injury problems its shouldn't come as a tremdous surprise that they miss a significant number of games. Taking a chance on one, or maybe 2 injury prone players is perhaps a worthwhile risk. But in signing Kieron Dyer, Freddy Ljungberg, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy over the Summer the club brought in players in had all had injury interrupted seasons. Not one of those players played anything approaching a full season's game last year. With their track records it would, in fact, have required a great deal of good fortune if all had played regular first team football throughtout the season.
Given the experience with last year's panic buys - who, almost to a man suffered injury problems, common sense and prudence should have dictated that money was invested in players where the expectation, and their previous track record suggested that they sttod of good chance of actually playing.
What we seem to have the the rather curious case of a manger gambling not inconsiderable sums (£47.1m to date gross) on new signings, whilst player safety first football with uninspired team selections.
Somehow we have managed to only concede 9 goals in 11 games. Unfortunately we have only scored 12. I suspect these stats look quite familar to Charlton fans as probably does the syle of play.
As I recall, his signings at Charlton were generally unspectacular and, at best function, with Darren Bent being the one notable exception.
I will credit him with a more organised team - particularly at set plays - which were a nightmare last season. But something more is required given the financial investment that has been made in the team. (if anyone knows quite how this has been funded I would love to know, by the way.
I guess like most supporters I will be content with finishing in 10th place this season, and with avoiding a flirtation with relegation. But at £40 plus I would like to get some entertainment and to see the players compete and enertain on a regualr basis. This is a well supported club, in one of the greatest cities in the world. Winning the Premier League and competing in Europe shouldn't be beond reach. To do that the club needs to be focused on excellance and to make use of every asset available.
A record of finishing 3rd, 5th and I believe 6th twice just isn't good enough. The supporters deserve more.
