Why Moyes example shows Hammers must keep faith with Avram

By Darren Lewis

Published 08:30 03/11/10

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Five years ago David Moyes suffered the kind of nightmare start to the season that would have seen many of today's managers sacked already.

Teams such as Fulham, Portsmouth, Wigan and Manchester City pre-riches piled on the pressure as Everton slumped to just one win, away to Bolton, in their first ten matches.

The tailspin had come as a result of their bring brought down to earth by Spanish side Villareal in their Champions League qualifier.

The La Liga team ran out 4-2 winners on aggregate, leaving Everton to concentrate on the more modest fare of the UEFA Cup.

But even then they were crushed 5-1 by Dinamo Bucharest, with a 1-0 win in the return leg not enough to keep them in the competition.

And so it went on. Spurs ran out 2-0 winners against them at White Hart Lane and Middlesbrough put them out of the Carling Cup before the end of October.

Imagine if Avram Grant had presided over that run of results.

Not only would he be sacked, he'd be shot at dawn. Likewise Roy Hodgson at Liverpool.

At Newcastle Chris Hughton would be thrown overboard by their cowardly owners who are widely believed to be desperate to replace football's best-loved coach with a more fashionable name.

Yet Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, aware of the calibre of manager he had at the helm, held his nerve.

The easiest thing to do would have been to get rid. To conclude that the manager had lost the dressing room and draw a line under his tenure.

But patience is a far more valuable commodity in football than money. It is the reason Arsenal are enjoying the benefits of Wilshire and Ramsey.

Because despite all those years of not winning trophies the Emirates board were well aware of what Arsene Wenger was trying to do.

It is to be hoped that the West Ham board take such a view with Avram Grant.

He may not have the dynamism of a Jose Mourinho, the ferocity of a Fergie or the track record of a Carlo Ancelotti.

But Kevin Keegan had that so-called 'passion' everyone is demanding from Grant - and look what happened to him in the England job.

Grant has shown, at Chelsea and at Portsmouth, that players respond to him, which is why he came within a penalty kick of winning the Champions League and within a few points of reigning in title winners Manchester United.

League Managers Association figures suggest November is the time that under-pressure managers are thrown out onto the bonfire.

When the itchy trigger fingers of impatient chairmen can hold out no longer.

Although the appetite to sack Grant is becoming more voracious than ever, I hope he can keep the sharks at bay.

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