Who should be the next West Ham manager?

Alan Curbishley has resigned as West Ham manager after just 21 months in charge. He was known to be unhappy with the club's transfer policy and according to reports in today's papers he fell out with Lucas Neill, the team's captain, after the 4-1 victory over Blackburn at the weekend.

What do you think of the club's current turmoil? Who is calling the shots at Upton Park? Who should replace Curbishley as manager? Who will be attracted to the job? Have your say by leaving a comment below.

Comments

[dennis hillyard]

I am constanttly amazed by the 'rush' to sack the manager as soon as a few results go wrong.
Not a Man Utd fan but I remember when Sir Alec joined and for three years everyone was calling for his head due to the lack of trophy's.

To their credit, the Board of Directors stood by thie choice because they could see what Sir Alec was building behind the scenes and for the long term success of the club and the rest is history.

Instead of sacking the manager, occasionally it mightr serve better to dismiss the directors who appointed him.

[Rory]

The way Curbishley was treated was a disgrace incongruous with the traditions of our club. and although he did a bloody good job keeping us up and then (with a lot of injuries) leading us to tenth last season, he wasn't quite up to it. the new manager needs to be a stronger character, a more inspirational figure,
and it looks like its down to 7 - bilic,donadoni,mancini,collins,laudrup,zola
bilic i would be happy with-think he would inject a lot of energy into the club and hes young and is apparently a very intelligent man.also the only one out the seven to have a real connection to the club
donadoni would worry me a little bit,mainly cos italy were quite boring under him,
mancini is unrealistic i think i think he could be waiting for a bigger club and apparently has loads of stuff to sort out with inter,
collins, not keen at all to be honest
laudrup would be a good appointment, think he is very highly rated in spain and is known for attacking,stylish football
zola is the one who most interests me the most- a chelsea legend (hmmm) but very likeable so i dont think it would be an unpopular choice in that aspect- dont know much about him as a coach but is apparently got alot of potential, would be an ambitious decision,the board prob dont have the balls.
so for me, in no order of preference, on out of bilic, zola and laudrup

[Rachael]

I'd like to see someone who has a connection to or understanding of, the club. Bilic has that, plus experience of how to play against differnet types of teams, systems and abilities in the Croatia job. Its not club management but there is something very impresive how he has taken a group of players from a tiny pool and got them working for each other and adapting where they need to for the greater cause - the sum being greater than the parts. West Ham need that. I liked Curbishley but he was a disaster in the transfer market. Absolute disaster and the sales of Ferdinand and McCartney were to recoup the millions they paid for Dyer, Ljungberg, Bellamy and Faubert for absolutely no return whatsoever. This appointment is important - they really need to get some stability in there.

[Bisa Amoo-Gottfried]

I seem to remember that a lot of Charlton fans thought that Curbishley wasn't good enough to take them to the next level. He left and they got relegated the very next season. Anyone else getting a sense of deja vu??

[Ricky S Taunton]

Why would it be Bilic? What club mangement experience does he have?
How can he be judged after a few good results as Croatia boss??

Look at Curbs, 15 years experience in the top two divisions but not good enough. Ok, he says it was transfers but that's an easy get out. The West Ham fans have wanted him to go ever since that amazing day at OT when we stayed up. When was the last time West Ham had a manager and didn't sing about his Claret & Blue army?

I'd go for someone with bags of managerial experience. Someone English. Good track record of playing good football....

Gary Johnson, Bristol City. Didn't see that coming did you.

[Kris]

Something just doesn't feel right, both players have refuted the reason each was sold, Duxbury saying one thing, Curbishley saying another. However, the correct decision has been made. We were never going to be better than mid-table under Curbs. Throw the chequebook at Bilic, get Di Canio in as assistant, and let Lucas Neill try and explain his recent bad performances to Paolo!

[Andrea Conte]

Curbishley was never the right man for the job at West Ham. A manager in the Harry Redknapp sense of the world, he found it difficult at a big club where a lot of money was available (rather than at Charlton where he kept them in the prem with literally no funds). Curbs deserves another shot at the big time but I would not be surprised if he took charge of a big championship side to try and bring them up again.

As for his replacement, Bilic is the only suitable candidate. A Roy Keane figure, it's exactly what the club needs and he is very well loved by the fans.

[Jimbo]

Yes, I do think Curbs had the clubs best interest at heart.Yes, I do think if we had less injuries last season the team would have done better, and things would probably be different today.Yes,I do remember that it was Curbs who guided us to premiership safety, when all around were convinced of our impending demise.Some of us will remember the chants of "West Hams going down" from the away supporters at Upton Park, how it made us feel,and the sheer delight of surviving.So lets not forget the job our manager undertook that season, when certain players stopped playing for Pards, and we were already freefalling from premiership heaven.I do believe Curbs was as proud to manage the club he was as proud to play for.He just had some bad luck.I think Bilic would be a good choice for our next manager,however coaxing him from his national side may not be a possibility right now.A swing at the world cup is not something all managers will get a chance at in their careers,and with all his players fit he should reach the finals and then who knows.Some may laugh now but I see no reason why we can't say come back Pards all is forgiven.After all it wasn't his fault he got sacked was it.

[Andrew]

It has to bee Paolo Di Canio but I think the Board should resign and put the club up for sale as they have shown no respect for Curbs by dealing with him in such a way. he had to go but this is not West Ham style. Also they have made serious mistakes. Bringing back the former owner into the group was a massive error of judgment.

[Steve]

Didier Deschamps.

[mark]

terry venables

[shoreditchhammer]

paulo di canio - the most inspirational figure to wear the shirt - it has to be.

[jim]

i am uo for this job. i am currently off work for a month following keyhole surgery but i would love a big contract and wouldn't really mind too much receiving a huge pay off after 4 weeks when they realise i am only a little better-suited to the post than whoever they finally appoint.

just thank god paul ince already has a premier league job i say

[Matthew Jones]

Stay away from Tony Pulis please!

[Gary Yates]

The West Ham transfer policy makes complete sense to me. Both the Anton Ferdinand deal and the sale of George McCartney where in the hammers best interests. £8million for a player who is yet to make a full international appearance is a good deal. George McCarthy handed in a transfer request and if a player doesn't want to play for the his club he shouldn't play. I think the next manager should be Harry Redknapp however, I think he would be a little bit reluctant to leave Portsmouth again.

[Lionbeat]

It's got to be Slavan Bilic for the job. I was getting so peeved with Curb's brand of football - it just didn't represent what West Ham are about. That said, this is an odd time to get rid considering the board had all summer to play their cards. Also, I don't buy the 'accepted his resignation' line... I bet they wind up paying out his contract, but feel it's more hush hush this way: Face saving all round, after similarly ubiquitous ineptitude in each party's core role. Bilic seems to be relishing international management, but we do have a decent enough squad to play impressive, attacking football - and the Premiership is clearly the biggest stage after international management... Here's hoping. I don't want Stuart Pearce anyway...

[Andy]

Lucas Neill is a joke, how can he comment on somebody's leadship qualities when his only motivation in the game is his weekly wage! I feel sorry for Curbishley, all his good signings have been constantly injured and the board have not backed him this season. As for who the next manager will be, Slaven Bilic.