One of the names on the shortlist to be the next Blues manager and one I’d personally like to see is ex-Blues player and Charlton manager Llewellyn Charles Curbishley (Alan to his friends). I thought that he was particularly harshly treated at Charlton as he had built a consistently established Premier League side. In a move some Birmingham fans themselves have called for under Trevor Francis, Steve Bruce and now Alex McLeish, the Board sacked him, citing the ‘need to take Charlton to the next level’. Sadly, for the Charlton fans, this next level was the next level down, as the club seemingly imploded once he’d departed. In fact, Charlton suffered two relegations in three years, to see them floundering in League One. His time at West Ham, subsequently included saving the Hammers from an almost certain relegation and a top ten finish the following season…
He resigned when the Board apparently agreed to selling players without his permission, and almost spookily in light of the current Blues climate, won a claim for constructive dismissal, in 2009. He was paid £2.2 million in compensation, which would be welcome from Aston Villa right now…
His win rate was 38% at Charlton and 40% at West Ham. He spent a MASSIVE 720 games in charge at Charlton, so the 38% is an excellent record over a sustained period, especially when the ‘loss rate’ is only 36%. That leaves draws at 26%, something virtually unheard of at Saint Andrews under Alex McLeish. A draw was the most likely event for the past two seasons, Wembley aside.
As a player, Curbishley spent the majority of his time with Birmingham City, 130 appearances, scoring 11 goals. In an odd quirk of fate, considering McLeish’s likely departure to Aston Villa, Curbishley played for Aston Villa 36 times, scoring only one goal. Other playing clubs were West Ham, Charlton (twice) and Brighton.
Having managed Charlton and West Ham, with Aston Villa’s post about to be filled, surely destiny would suggest he’s due at Brighton or Birmingham City imminently?
Interestingly, his career also included a single England U21 match, suggesting he didn’t quite hit the heights, or that he was another overlooked Birmingham City player. I’m biased, but I favour the latter…
I had almost ruled him out as a ‘nostalgic impulse’, but his recent statement in the media…
“The last year, I have been offered Championship jobs and from Premier League sides who have been struggling. But they’ve not been the right jobs for me…Perhaps I have been too choosy. Perhaps I’ve been forgotten a little bit…But if something comes up that does interest me then I’d obviously go looking for it…I have said for some time that I’ve spent most of my time in the Premier League and that’s where I’d like to go…But if something came along that really I felt had a chance I would look at it.”
From Birmingham Mail…made me reconsider his acquisition, particularly in light of Kenny Dalglish’s success having been out of the game for a lot longer!
For your consideration I give you Alan Curbishley.
If you haven’t already read it you can read Kev’s case for Chris Hughton here
If you haven’t already read it you can read Aylesbury’s case for Roberto Di Matteo here
I just hope the board take note of the support for Alan.
As an Addick fan I agree that Blues would be an option Curbs may consider outside the Premiership, however I would like to put your account right. He was not ‘sacked’ by the board in order that the replacement would take us to the new level. Alan refused to sign a contract extension which had a year to run. The club were ready to invest beyond previous spending on players and you simply could not do that when the Manager is effectively stating his intention to leave at the end of his contract. He maintains an excellent relationship with Charltons Director at the time, Richard Murray. The outcome however is unfortunately as you state! We now linger and finsished mid table in a porr 3rd Division.
I would think Curbs would be an excellent Manager for you, he is tenacious if not overly exciting, but he gets the best from players and I certainly would have been happy to se him at Charlton til he retired.
Good luck this season, I hope you get the right man for the job.
West HAm fan here – I think Curbishley would be great for you. A lot of W Ham fans don’t like him, but I thought he did an excellent job. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are now if the crooked board had not sold Linda McCartney to the Mackems without his consest; the last straw for him and why he resigned.
I hope you dont get him though, he’l make you real challengers next year and we don’t want that !!! Why not give Uncle Fester (Avram) a chance, or maybe even Roeder !!!
I hope the board at Blues get it right. Zola and Hughton haven’t the experience.
Curbishley is the safe and attractive football bet.
I like the idea of curbs I hope that he would want to come as really it looks as though there’s no money to spend and with the board we have he may not want to be with us
To be honest any of the 4 mentioned mainly in the context of our managers job would do for me. Curbs, Zola, Hughton or diMatteo, of the 4 I’d plump for Curbs as the “safe hands” but would the others gain us promotion, don’t know, would our future be brighter, probably, would we watch more entertaining football, YES.
For experience and background it has to be Curbishley, Zola would be an interesting punt, I can’t say any of the others impress
No its not Curbs, zola or Houghton. I understand there will be an announcement at the weekend. We are getting a Premier Winning Manager!!!! Thats right, Birmingham are currently negotiating a compensation agreement for the release of Ja Lu Hom the manager of Shanghai Rovers along with his back room staff.
Carson’s dream of 11 chinese players is getting closer
Curbs is the man for me. With things off the pitch uncertain he’d steady the ship on the pitch and he’s got an attachment to the club, the fans would stick with him… Houghton/Zola worth a go if he wasn’t interested but more of a gamble and I think he’d see at the perfect chance to get back in anyway.
Clive – Please tell me that your comments are of a jovial nature. If that happened I would not be able to bear it – please tell me you are kidding.
My choice is still Gus Poyet but I don’t think we’d get him. Failing that I could go with Curbishley but remember – after playing for us he went to the Vile and kissed their scummy badge in front of the holte end – not sure about him – or anything else that comes out of the smoke! KRO.
Clive whilts it may be in jest I for one can see it happening.
I’d like too see Glen Hoddle or Chris Houghton all the others ( mentioned ) have failed to impress with other clubs.Hoddle was over the last twenty years the best manager England had ( sacked for something he said not something he did or didn’t do ) whilst Houghton did a grand job up north and could be good for us.
Who ever it may be do it soon give the new man time to settle and shape our squad and please please don’t let that ginger scot twat rape our club.If we sell at least make sure it is not to the Scum over the dark side of Brum.
I wouldn’t want Hoddle anyway near the Blues thank you!
Personally,id plumb for DiMatteo, I really admired the way Albion played under him,ok,they couldnt defend but it was exciting to watch and they scored goals!!…I know he didnt play up any trees in the premier but one step at a time. We could worry about that when we got up.
However,I have to say,im desperate for us to get anyone reputable at the minute and quash this uncertainty surrounding the club,its killing me(Im on the net every half hour,looking for positives and I think the wife thinks im playing away) I cant help worry what the future is going to bring,we seem to be run by a bench of clueless muppets(sound familiar?)…..decent appointment this week please.Curbs,Di Matteo,Hughton??…Prove me wrong PP and CY.
KRO
BTW Glenn Hoddle?…..NEVER!
i think you may have charlton and west ham mixed up. curbs was harshly treated at west ham, but alan decided not to sign a new contract at charlton and left of his own accord.the man is a legend who will do a good job foe birmingham.
Due to some commentators like Alan Brazil and other talk sport presenters. Football fans seam to believe that all Charlton fans wanted rid of curbs this is not true. Yes the last three seasons of his management were very safe and boring but everyone was aware of what he had done for the club. Also we had lost Scot Parker and were unable to replace him, A player that we had started to build the team around. If Curbs was shafted by anyone it was west ham. If you get Curbs the fans will have to be pationt he (and Steve Grit who played a large part in those early years) built us up from nothing. Also can other fans stop telling us “bet you wish you never got rid of him” Nothings forever. And if Fulham can change managers as often as they do and stay in the prem we should have been able to.
I sincerely hope that the board are not paying attention to this ridiculous thread. As I mentioned in another post, I wonder how may of you Curbishley voters would have even given him a second thought if he had not played for Blues. You know it is possible to think beyond people with a previous link to our club which should be no qualification in itself. I’m not saying Curbs is a terrible manager but “safe and boring” is not what I want to see. We have a wonderful opportunity to rebuild and remodel the team (and academy) in a manner which generates attractive and entertaining football. In my opinion we need one of the new breed of progressive and imaginative young managers who have achieved success at lower levels whilst working with small budgets. Appointing Curbishley would be the equivalent of stepping back 15 years. My choice would be Nigel Adkins with 3 promotions in four years whose Southampton team pushed Brighton very close for the league 1 title and finished a goal diff of +48. He’s a former player and physio who understands all aspects of the games and comes across as a very intelligent guy. I doubt he’d come to us though (who would with the circus we’ve got in our board room). Alternatively I’d go for Simon Grayson although arguably he’s already at a bigger club. Failing those two then I’d be happy with either Di Matteo, Poyet or Hughton. We really can do better than Curbishley. If any fans are desperate for the new management to have a Blues connection then note that Di Matteo would probably bring Eddie Newton with him !
I’ve spent half my life working alongside Charlton fans and well remember the refusal to renew season tickets because they were sick of the style of play under Curbishley. He’s a good lad and was undoubtedly popular, but life’s too short to give up Saturday afternoons watching what it took to stay in the top flight. Their preference at the time was to step down a league and watch something entertaining. Given hindsight they’d doubtless change their minds and settle for boring is best. I guess my point is that all Curbishley offers is more of the McLeish doctrine.
sussex mick and addicted. Apologies if I misrepresented Curbishley’s departure. I think Bernie’s comment exemplifies the public perception of Charlton at the time, which is perhaps why I incorrectly thought he’d been sacked. I still wonder if he walked after fan complaints? As for the suggestion Curbishley is only a candidate as an ex Blues player, if i ruled him out, some would accuse me of letting his villa spell influence me! I think his record speaks for itself. If i simply wanted an ex blues player, i’d be calling for Pesch or Dugarry 🙂
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