We are now embroiled in a European Championship. Before it started I made it quite clear that actually I had no particular interest in watching any of it….so far, I have seen every single game.

It’s been difficult these past few weeks to actually bring you any concrete news. Not that many of you are particularly interest in the concrete mix trade, but I digress. The trouble has been that ever since the transfer window has opened all you get it rumour, rumour, rumour. It would easy for me to log on today and type that we have signed Ronaldo…hits through the roof, ratings through the floor. I would be even more enjoyable for me to write that we had sold Louis Boa Morte, however that is slightly more unrealistic with Curbishly in charge…ratings through a few floors!

All this considered, it finally came to my attention that we as West Ham should maybe be taking a slight interest in the Championships, not (like me) using it to fill 3-4hours of the day. That interest comes in two words and it’s not brockwurst. Slaven Billic.

This guy has today surpassed all my expectations of what he is capable of as a coach. He was a class player when in the Claret and Blue and now has become a feared and respected coach. Nasty earring though. Croatia wiped the proverbial floor with the ‘formidable’ Germans today. Actually that’s harsh on them, they are in fairness quite good…just got to give them stick though, it’s the law.

They way his team plays is with a sense of ‘been there, done that’ elegance, despite only generally being fairly modest in the age department. The elegance comes from the way they pass the ball, the style in which they defend and their ability to counter-attack, with the ‘been there done that’ attitude of a far more mature team. They don’t take no for an answer, they don’t roll over and die and they all wear their hearts on their sleeves. All the major qualities England lacked under ‘he who shall not be McNamed’.

I know Billic has committed his near future to the national side (contracted now for the coming two years), but how much do West Ham need a manager like him. I believe we have quality enough in the current side to push on to bigger things (on paper in really small writing), but we need a leader. A leader of biblical proportions. Somebody who grabs people by the short and curlies but also is an encouragement, an inspiration and a motivator. Somebody who has a phenomenal relationship with his players, somebody they trust and the fans trust in. As you can see this matter is very close to my heart(!).

I think with a manager fitting the above description we would pursue greater heights failing that, I think we are in trouble. Honestly I do. I’m not saying sack Curbs straight away, I am a very big believer in the process of time. But if things don’t improve next year and/or the year after, Billic could very well be a splendid option

Thanks for reading

Sam