West ham boss curbishley upbeat despite awful run of form

The beleaguered boss received a vote of confidence from the board on Monday (March 10), and he’ll be hoping it’s not the precursor to being shown the door at The Boleyn. But Curbishley is confident he’ll be given more time to turn things round, at least until he gets more of his injured stars back.

He said: “In football nothing surprises anybody. I think they [the board] are realistic with what’s been going on. They get the update every Monday with the injury situation.

“Any other team that has suffered six or seven out every week will find it difficult and the teams that have had settled sides, like Portsmouth and Everton, you can see the difference.

“Man City have come under pressure recently with a couple of injuries and found it a little bit difficult. You need to have a fully fit squad to pick from and we just haven’t been there. I think they are realistic about it but we’ll have to see on that score.�

Curbishley needs to galvanise his shell-shocked players for the visit of Blackburn Rovers this Saturday (March 15). The Irons will have their work cut out to repeat their 1-0 win at Ewood Park in December.

The Hammers’ last win came at struggling Fulham on February 23 and, having had their goal difference wiped out, their European aspirations look to have disappeared. Curbishley is still hopeful of a top 10 finish, however, and he believes the fans will be content with that.

“I think they were happy when we were eight points clear in tenth spot,� he said. “We were looking at the teams above us who were having a little bit of a wobble as well but we’ve just not managed to bridge the gap and make it up. But football’s football, we’ve just got to get on with it. Results are what count.�

One bright note for Curbishley this week came with the news that 18-year-old striker Freddie Sears has signed a contract keeping him at the club until 2010.

The highly-rated youngster has notched 25 goals in 24 games this season and forced his way to the fringes of the first team. With goals in short supply in the Premier League the pacy Sears might be the ideal solution to replace the injured Craig Bellamy.

Curbishley said: “He is Bellamy-like. He’s quick, wants to get in behind people and goes about his business very quietly. He is a good finisher. He has burst on in the last two months really and I think the natural
progression is to get some sort of football. I am not afraid to put the young boys in. If an opportunity arises I will do it.�

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk