West Ham appear to have made at least a few steps in the right direction during this transfer window.
If you read this site regularly then you know that I’m very, very critical of ownsership. Simply put I don’t think they represent the club well or the fans loyally and it is hurting West Ham not only as a brand and icon of London’s football history but as a club.
One of the issues is that David Sullivan and David Gold have for too long tried to manage the day to day business of the club themselves when that simply is not the way in which modern football clubs are run anymore.
The times, they are a changing
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It used to be that football clubs were built in the identity of lone and single men. One brain trust from whom the rest of the clubs ethos poured. Manchester United of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign were the best football side I’ve ever seen besides those high but inconsistent years at Barcelona and Maldini’s Milan. They were competitive and decisive, attacking and consistent for more than two decades.
The reason that worked though is because of Sir Alex. One of if not the greatest manager of all time Sir Alex Ferguson was a good choice for Manchester United to build on. The simple fact is however that Alex Ferguson’s don’t come around every couple of years. United learned that with the failure of Ferguson’s own self-chosen successor David Moyes.
Less Responsibility Per Man
Recognizing that football clubs that have been looking for more stability have chosen to create a more corporate or militarized (depends on your opinion) leadership structure. There is no longer the lone warrior approach but a series of generals, lieutenants and corporals who divide the important duties that make up club management.
David Sullivan and David Gold still try to run West Ham in the same way that Manchester United used to be run by Sir Alex Ferguson. The issue is however that they are not the greatest manager and one of the best motivators and innovators in the history of English football. They are just two guys.
The good news is that they backed Slaven Bilic through the he-who-shall-not-be-named-to-Marseille scandal and through some of the rough points in the season. West Ham need to establish order at the club again from the top down.
Next: 3 last minute additions West Ham could make
At this point however it is just as important that they start building contingencies. They need to put more roots in the ground in terms of management structure so that the tree can eventually grow. West Ham need to stop living in the past and look to the future or else they run the risk of being left in it.