Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe a hit with Webb
EX-Cherries boss David Webb believes Eddie Howe should have been crowned manager of the year for keeping the club in the Football League.
His comments come after Howe guided Cherries to their best start to a season for 28 years since Webb masterminded promotion from the bottom flight in 1981-82.
Webbs rich praise also follows on from Howes nomination for the League Two manager-of-the-month award, which is due to be announced today.
Like Howe, Webb was in his early 30s when he was handed his first managerial post by Cherries in December 1980. And after tasting success at Dean Court, he took Southend from the bottom tier to the brink of the top flight before steering Chelsea to Premier League safety in 1994.
Now 63 and still living in Poole, Webb, who also managed Torquay, Brentford and Yeovil, told the Daily Echo: Hes certainly entitled to win the manager of the month and should have got the manager-of-the-year award last season.
Considering his players hadnt been paid every week, what they achieved was incredible. It was like winning the league as far as I was concerned.
You didnt have to put up with that in my day. The butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker would always come along to help. I think Bournemouth have had four or five goes at that and it hasnt worked out for them. Lets hope what hes doing on the pitch will bring some stability off it.
Hes an old head on young shoulders. He isnt frightened to trawl the non-league for players and I think you have to do that. You have to work hard at your job and you have to make sure your players do likewise.
Hes got a way of getting the good out of young players. If you treat players like you wanted to be treated when you were a player, youve got a chance.
He is sensible enough to make the right decisions and, hopefully, the people who are running the club will back him.
Webb, whose interest in football is now restricted to watching son Daniel play for Salisbury, also says Howe has been a breath of fresh air to him.
He added: Hes a shining light and, eventually, he will get his rewards. Nobody could have had a better apprenticeship than he did at the end of last season.
I was very impressed with him and the way he conducted himself. He didnt squeal or moan, he just got on with the job. I thought his players deserved a lot more credit for what they achieved.
This season, they are keeping up the momentum and, hopefully, there will be no stopping them, providing the manager gets the right backing and support.
Howe was short-listed for the League Two manager-of-the-month award along with Ian Hendon (Barnet), Mark Robins (Rotherham) and John Still (Dagenham & Redbridge). The winner will be announced on Sky Sports Gillette Soccer Saturday from midday today.
