Kaye Foskett, London
Harry did his best to do an honest job and got better as time went
by after buying some of Europe's worst players. Now we have a
few really good young players (even after selling Rio and Frank).
What we needed was a manager with a good track record to show them
that we have serious ambitions and don't want to remain a small
club. Glenn doesn't have that track record. Why couldn't
they have got a good European manager? I didn't renew my season
ticket, says it all really!
John Wilkins, Harlow, Essex
I must say that I haven't been happy with the way the whole
thing has been handled over the last few weeks, and the club have
unfortunately set themselves up for criticism.
However, I have thought long and hard about this whole situation,
and I really can't see any real reason to go mad about what has
happened.
I think most people agree that Alan Curbishley was our first
choice, and I have no reason to doubt that the board felt that way
too, and tried to get him. For whatever reason, Curbishley has
decided to stay at Charlton, so we've had to look elsewhere.
Steve McClaren was next on the list, but considering that so many
fans are screaming for a 'big-name manager with experience and
credentials', I hardly think that McClaren fits that bill. He
has been a coach at the most successful club in the country - a job
that, to be honest, anyone could do. McClaren just simply happened
to be flavour of the month, as I recall Brian Kidd being a couple
of years ago, and we all know what happened there.
Then I look at the managers who are available and may have been
interested - George Graham, Terry Venables, Stuart Pearce - no
thanks to any of them.
Then there are the managers at other clubs who were linked with the
job - Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and Alex McCleish. Again, none of
those choices would inspire me.
I consider Glenn Roeder to be no worse than any of those. And he
has an advantage in the fact that he has been at the club for two
years already, knows all the players, and has seen where Harry went
wrong with certain situations.
He was a stylish player at the top level, and the fact that our
best two young players are delighted that he has taken over says a
lot to me.
Okay, it would have been more high profile to get Marcello Lippi or
Frank Rijkaard, but let's be realistic about the whole thing
and rememember that we aren't one of Europe's biggest
clubs. And also, who's to say they wouldn't have problems
in settling, as Claudio Ranieri did?
And remember, when George Graham left Leeds a couple of years ago,
they wanted to appoint Martin O'Neill but couldn't and in
the end had to go for the inexperienced David O'Leary. He gave
the kids a chance and look what happened!
At the end of the day, we have got a squad of players at West Ham
who have the potential to be a top six side. They need someone in
charge who can organise them into a system and coach brightly to
keep them on their toes and improving.
After Curbishley, I would say that Glenn Roeder has just as much
qualification to do that as any other name mentioned.
Neither he nor the board need reminding that they will face the
firing squad if this all goes wrong, so let them get on with it and
let us get on with supporting the team. Results are the only thing
that will determine the outcome, so let's look forward now.
Heath Monk, London
I'd like to wish Glenn all the best, although it's not the
forward move I'd hoped for. The suspicion has to be that Glenn
is the only candidate who'd take the job on the Board's
terms, ie, no money for developing the squad. Relegation in a
distinct possibility - I'll be spending the weekend deciding
whether to keep my season ticket.
Richard Carpenter, Frimley
Give the guy a chance - has he done anything wrong yet? I would go
for youth, with a smattering of experience for balance. Gareth
Southgate in, Di Canio Oout, maybe look to Harry's
'new' charges for fresh blood - they've got a couple of
decent strikers!
Samuel Liyanage, Phoenix, USA
I am a lifelong West Ham fan now living in the US. I was shocked
when Harry left and very dissapointed but the club comes first.
That is why I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to bring in
a big name. The board obviously tried but failed (for whatever
reason) to get the man they really wanted. Now Glenn Roeder is in
the hot seat and only time will tell whether the board went for an
easy option. I personally have my doubts. For your sake and the
club's I will only be too glad if you prove me wrong Mr
Roeder.
Ian Rudder, Chafford Hundred, Grays
I am somewhat dissapointed by the appointment of Glen Roeder. I
feel that we should have gone for a higher profile manager, if it
was deemed that Harry Redknapp had taken the club as far as he
could. Will Glenn be able to bring in players of Paolo Di
Canio's quality? I think not and he will be under tremendous
pressure if we have a poor start to the season. Glenn would have
been better served being an assistant to someone like George Graham
or even a top foreign coach.
Jake Bull, Chelmsford, Essex
Players for Glenn to go for: Robbie Savage, Muzzy Izzet, Lee
Hughes, David Dunn.
Dal Supreme, Berkshire
With £15million at West Ham's disposal, I feel that
Glenn Roeder, who I hope has a successful campaign next
season, should be targeting at least three players, in a bid
to prove his worth. He should spend around £6million on
Michael Ball, who should bring in solidity to our defence. Also,
the purchase of Seth Johnsen for £7 million, should enable the
attacking skills of our other midfielders to flourish. Mihalis
Konstantinou should be another transfer target, who could be
available for £2-3 million and should help sort out our
striking issues.
Mike T, London
A disaster, and totally indicative of the lack of ambition and
direction at the club. Does anyone study past managerial records
before making such appointments? In two years this club has gone
from one with pretensions towards Europe, to a small-time selling
club faced with the trapdoor of relegation - despite having a huge
population catchment area on its doorstep. In today's highly
commercial football business if you think small, you'll be
small.
Barry, Dagenham
I would have preferred a high profile manager, someone who has
been there and done it! But they are hard to get nowadays if you
ain't got the dough...so lets just wait and see how Glenn
does!
Ian Jobling, Basingstoke
I have to be honest and say that Alan Curbishley was my first
choice. However, now that Glenn has the job I hope that
everyone involved with club, from fans to the MD, get behind him
and give him all of their support. As to who to buy, well we
didn't get their manager, but what about their centre half. By
that I mean Richard Rufus - an ideal replacement for Rio at a
third of the price. That would leave about £10 million for a
world class centre forward, a 20 goal a season player with a
proven track record.
Darren Kelly, Buckhurst Hill
The rot started with selling Rio (players like that don't grow
on trees, ask Leeds), was compounded by sacking Harry Repnapp and
is now complete with the appointment of the long promised 'man
with the big CV' Glenn Roeder. No other takers for the job
because of the enormous £4m (+ £11m from the sale of
Frank Lampard) to spend on players perhaps. Our humiliation is
complete; we are the laughing stock of the Premiership but not for
long because we are sure to be relagated. As a company director, if
I had presided over a farce like the board's attempts to sign a
manager I would be sacked. This is our lowest point.
Matt Dynan, Camberley
I think that Glenn will be a success. He has the respect of the
younger players and that's what we need if we are going to go
forward. I wish him all the best and hope he can bring in some
quality players. Robert, the French winger, has to be a target - he
played very well during the Confederations cup and would fill a
void in our squad.
Alex Fenby, Singapore
I don't think Roeder will be as bad as most fans think,
but I am still amazed at the lack of ambition on the board's
part. Now, to appease fans they've announced that there will be
£15m to spend. but they've created such turmoil
that I think Roeder's first priority will be to keep the
squad together, never mind look to buy new players. Players he
should target include Southgate, woodgate (in trouble at Leeds?),
Arca, Cruyff (alaves), Conte (juventus), Luccin (PSG), Hadji,
Silvinho (sitting on the bench at Arsenal), Butt (Man Utd), Hughes
(WBA), Elliott (Leicester), Lambert (Celtic). Get going Glenn, get
some big names, show the club has ambition!
John Wenner, Belfast
Congratulations to Glenn, I'm sure he will do his best and all
true fans should support him. He has worked with Terry Venables
which I think is a good thing. What I do hope is that old Pearcey
is able to join in and add his weight with the staff, as I'm
sure that this combination would be really good.