Source: Daily_Mail
Teletubbies would be easier viewing for West Ham fans than this car crash - Leo's London
It would be fascinating to know what the world looks like through the eyes of David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady.[LNB]A world in which David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Joe Cole have been genuine transfer targets for West Ham and Martin O'Neill was about to become their manager.[LNB]Maybe it is also a perspective in which their club is safe in the Premier League and highly respected for the way it is run too.[LNB] Time for Teletubbies: The Kids TV show would be better viewing for Hammers fans than Upton Park car crash[LNB] For those who buy into it, I imagine it has the same strange but comforting effect that the Teletubbies programme does on kids.[LNB]For those who don't, it is truly frightening.[LNB]The latest episode centred on O'Neill and had more people tuning in than ever before.[LNB]The highly-respected former Celtic and Aston Villa manager was apparently so desperate to get back into the game after a few months out that he was prepared to take a gamble on West Ham.[LNB]Never mind that they were heading for relegation with a less than impressive squad, inadequate transfer budget and run by a demanding board among whom cracks were appearing. [LNB]What was not to like? O'Neill apparently gave West Ham enough encouragement for briefings to be given that the incumbent, Avram Grant, was about to be sacked.[LNB] As you were: West Ham have stuck with Avram Grant (R) after failing to convince Martin O'Neill to take over[LNB]But, not for the first time, O'Neill changed his mind about an important decision. He declined the chance to wreck his reputation.[LNB]In Laa-Laa land though they didn't appear to see it coming and had no credible plan B at the ready.[LNB]Instead, West Ham put out a statement backing Grant, who had all but given up hope and must have already decided what he would do with his whopping pay-off.[LNB]So it is disappointment all round and the 'chemistry' that apparently attracted the club's owners to Grant in the first place must now have all the properties of a stink bomb.[LNB]A poor manager who never should have been appointed and was failing to guide his team to safety has now been fatally undermined but must carry on.[LNB] Double act: It has been a tumultuous first year in charge at Upton Park for West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan (R)[LNB]Owners who have staked their claim to credibility on a record of standing by managers have now axed one and all but cut the head off another in their first year at Upton Park.[LNB]Oh, and the incredulity at the wages paid by West Ham's previous owners that was expressed by Sullivan and Gold when they took over has gone quiet after the £90,000-a-week loan signing of Wayne Bridge.[LNB]West Ham fans will always have to be grateful to the former Birmingham owners for saving their club from financial meltdown but after the car crash they have made of it since, maybe watching Teletubbies instead isn't such a bad idea.[LNB] You certainly cannot fault Tottenham for their ambition.[LNB]Maybe the introduction of Chelsea as a stalking horse forced them to act earlier than they had hoped to in the signing of Steven Pienaar, but they refused to risk losing their transfer target.[LNB]The South Africa midfielder will add something to their squad too but quite who he will play instead of is hard to fathom.[LNB] London calling: Steven Pienaar opted to snub Chelsea and leave Everton for Tottenham[LNB]It is not as if David Bentley's move to Birmingham has created an obvious opening as the club have gathered one of the biggest and best stocked squads in the Premier League.[LNB]Unless Spurs hold a firesale before the end of the transfer window, Harry Redknapp's midfield will be overflowing with riches.[LNB]They could still do with options for the holding role but Pienaar is not an obvious candidate and may have to be patient.[LNB] Nice guy Powell must toughen up fast at CharltonChris Powell was known as one of the nicest men in football when he was a player at Charlton and with good reason.[LNB]But as manager at The Valley he will have to demonstrate his tough side too as he will be a carrying a heavy burden.[LNB]Firstly, there will be the pressure to guide the club to promotion after inheriting an upwardly-mobile team.[LNB]But on top of that will be the weight he feels to pave the way for other black managers in the game.[LNB] Mr Nice Guy: But Chris Powell needs to get tough at Charlton[LNB]Powell should be allowed to go about his business in his first management job without this being an issue, but the imbalance between the number of black players and managers in this country make it unavoidable.[LNB]Despite the smile and the friendly personality, the former PFA chairman is strong enough to handle it and if he succeeds as a manager, he will make a fantastic ambassador.[LNB] West Ham throw backing behind Grant after failing to lure O'Neill to Upton Park Tweet deal for Harry! Pienaar seals move to Spurs after rejecting ChelseaPowell completes return to Charlton to replace axed Parkinson as manager [LNB] Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, Karren Brady, David Bentley, David Beckham, Harry Redknapp, David Gold, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, David Sullivan, Thierry Henry Places: Birmingham, South Africa
