Whenever someone's asked me, as a West Ham fan (sufferer), what I thought of Glenn Roeder, my stock answer has been: "Nice bloke, poor manager." Now I'm not so sure, and I'm not talking about a vast improvement in his managerial skills.
His prolonged celebrations with the Newcastle fans at Upton Park were inappropriate for two reasons. Firstly, his own goalkeeper was receiving treatment at the time for a serious injury which resulted in him being stretchered off. Secondly, most returning players and managers have the good grace to celebrate goals against their former sides in a muted fashion; Roeder spent longer waving to the crowd than the Queen did on her Silver Jubilee.
If Roeder had been subject to a torrent of abuse from the stands beforehand, I could understand him wanting to rub our faces in it. And while I don't doubt some idiots behind him gave him a mouthful, the vast majority of the crowd gave him a lukewarm reception - far more than a man who relegated one the most gifted West Ham sides in recent history could ever have expected.
I thought Roeder showed great dignity during his troubled final season at Upton Park, and even greater decency when he was sacked. I note his subsequent apology to West Ham fans, but like the team that contained Di Canio, Cole, Carrick, Kanoute and Johnson, he's gone down in my estimations.
I think taunts of "Tumour Boy" are a little bit more than "a mouthful". Don't you?
Posted by: Paul | September 20, 2006 at 12:57 PM
The people who abused him because of his brain tumour could do with some brain surgery themselves, and I don't seek to defend them in the slightest.
But Roeder should know better than to provoke the crowd, especially given his chequered history at the club.
Posted by: Footblogger | September 20, 2006 at 01:36 PM
I still don't think waiving to your own fans amounts to provocation.
If it did, then every manager in the league is guilty of that when their team is away from home and the away fans chant their name.
Posted by: Paul | September 20, 2006 at 01:42 PM
If he'd given a quick wave to acknowledge the Newcastle chants, I'd agree 100% with you, Paul. No problem whatsoever.
However, he spent a good 10 seconds waving on two separate occasions, and then turned towards the West Ham fans and started pumping his fists like a middle-aged Tim Henman. It was over the top.
Posted by: Footblogger | September 20, 2006 at 01:53 PM
I really have to learn how to spell wave!
I hardly think his was that chequered a history. As I understand it he tried his best, was struck down by a brain tumour, returned after you were relegated, and you sacked him.
I think we'll have to agree to differ on that issue, though at least we can agree on the fact that "tumour boy" or comments wishing he'd "died three years ago" are completely unacceptable.
To be honest, I think I'd have been far less restrained in Roeder's position - getting a victory against the team that sacked him must have been somewhat satsifying. Particularly after the comments made by the cretins near the dug out.
It was hardly Jose Mourinho running down the touchline, fist pumping and shushing the home fans.
Posted by: Paul | September 20, 2006 at 03:00 PM