Slaven Bilic Update
By: Chris | March 11th, 2008As noted in this space last week, ex-Karlsruhe and West Ham defender Slaven Bilic was interviewed for the manager’s opening at HSV by the search committee. Bilic is a spectacularly hot commodity in the managerial ranks, having guided Crotia through to Euro 2008 at the top of Group E, and in the process knocking off mighty (LOL) England at Wembley in November [Note: I am snickering because I love the English national team and there's no way they should have lost a match in that group, let alone not qualified--their ineptitude was monumental]. As I speculated in a reply to loyal reader Diana (who has a great blog herself on many things, a great many football related, here), one of the other clubs interested in Bilic might be West Ham United of the EPL. Turns out I have a lot more foresight than I give myself credit for having. The Hammers are indeed interested in Bilic. Alan Curbishley’s boys presently sit smack dab in the middle of the Premiership, 10th place in the table on 40 points. It’s their recent form that must have them looking for leadership elsewhere. Back-to-back-to-back 4-0 losses to Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool have certainly tightened the screws on Curbs, despite the devastating number of injuries the Hammers have endured in this campaign.
What’s it all mean? On the one hand, Bilic was quite successful and popular during his time at Upton Park, so there may be some truth that he is being looked at as Curbishley’s potential replacement. While Curbishley has worked a few miracles at Upton Park since he replaced Alan Pardew in December 2006–from saving the Hammers from relegation (thank you Carlos Tevez!) to guiding them mid-table with all their injuries this season–consecutive 4-0 whitewashings in league play will get the “we need a change at the top” momentum going amongst club ownership. I suspect that the interest in Bilic is a way for the good folks signing Curbishley’s pay stub to subtly apply some pressure while publicly pronouncing their support of the manager.
What does it means for HSV? Well, here’s a very good quote from the original story to sum it up:
“. . .but intense press speculation in Germany has also linked him with the Hamburg manager’s job, where he would link up with Croatian international striker Ivica Olic. Bilic played in the Bundesliga for Karlsruhe before heading to England and is known to be a big fan of German football.”
Graeme Waterford, Goal.com
It means they better get off their Hanseatic backsides and pick a new manager once and for all and then go get him, whether it’s Fred Rutten or Slaven Bilic. Especially if it’s to be Bilic.
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I think it’s all about how they can get Rutten out of his contract anyway and Bilic is kept as a backup solution?
Posted from
United States
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Stop press!
Chris, the West Ham management had given their backing to Curbs. Yes, three consecutive 4-0 defeats is not nice and this is what’s being said from the AFP report (first published on 10 March) – ‘West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Monday received the backing of the English Premiership side’s board despite three 4-0 defeats in the club’s last three games at the hands of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
“The board of West Ham recognise that recent results have been disappointing and frustrating for everyone connected to the club,” a statement said.
“However, there is no question of Alan Curbishley’s future as manager being called into doubt.”
Adding that the club wanted Curbishley to deliver success and stability to the East London side the statement added: “Alan, his staff and the players have done well to put the club into the top half of the table, despite a massive injury list, and they have the full support of the board.’
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblengprwestham&prov=afp&type=lgns
And by the way, my blog is not always all things football.
Sometimes I just rattled off what is happening to me personally. Like having an almost nasty fall on a very wet and rainy day. 
It has been raining cats and dogs over here in Singapore lately. And I don’t usually associate March as being a rainy month here (it’s usually from November to around February).Posted from
Singapore -
Diana, I read the same (or a similar) article and my take was that “unnamed sources” in West Ham’s management were talking up Bilic while publicly they were backing Curbishley. The only reason I could see them doing such a thing is that they can’t sack the guy given the miracles he’s worked with zero talent last year (other than Tevez, who’s gone on to ManYoo) and a whole slew of injuries this year, but they can’t allow the string of 4-0 defeats to be swept under the rug.
I read the post you made on your blog Monday morning about the FA Cup and B’liga. In fact, almost all the posts on the page right now are football related. Keep it up.
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United States -
Jan, I am with you in that I still think HSV are playing hardball with Rutten by touting another manager, and I think that the West Ham rumors may eventually call their bluff.
Posted from
United States -
‘but they can’t allow the string of 4-0 defeats to be swept under the rug.’
With managers coming and going in the Premier League like there is no tomorrow these days
, Arsenal and ManYoo had proved that you can have a manager who will be there for more than a couple of seasons (if the club have patience, that is). Club chairmen should know who they are getting. ManYoo manager Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t achieve instant success when he first came over in 1986. It took him some time before trophies start to arrive.And at Werder Bremen, Thomas Schaaf has been there for some time now. Anyhow, the 6-3 loss to Stuttgart over the weekend is something Schaaf would rather forget…
Posted from
Singapore
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