Faubert Reborn?

In the summer of 2007, the summer after the greatest escape the Premier League has ever witnessed; the then West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley spent around 6 million of your finest English pounds on a powerful and dynamic French international winger…ever since Julien Faubert has been an enigmatic character to say the least.

Rarely played by Curbs (due to injury) played out of position by Zola and completely frozen out under Avram, Big Sam has finally given Faubert a run in his natural right wing position; thus giving him the kind of backing and confidence not afforded him by his previous three managers.

As a result Faubert’s performances and attitude has improved drastically, at the start of the campaign Faubert was quoted as saying this would definitely be his last season at the club; he cut the figure of a man desperate to flee the east-end for just about any other club on the planet. More recently Faubert was quoted as saying ‘I am really pleased to be here because the manager gave me a lot, he talked to me a lot, respected me a lot so things are different and I have to give it to him back.’ Such a change in attitude is rarely seen in football these days; one only has to look at Manchester and our ex-fallen star’s now terminal relationship with his employers.

For the first time in his Hammers career Faubert has been given a run in his position; it looked for a while he might lose the coveted spot to David Bentley, but with Bentley’s return up the Seven Sisters road Julien has taken his chance and has been one of the most improved performers this term. Faubert’s power and pace down the right-hand side have wreaked havoc at this level so far; remember Leeds anyone? With the score a 1-1 and with West Ham running out of ideas Sam threw on Faubert and moments later we were 2-1 up after his run and cross resulted in an own goal. It was during that game I think we all realised what a threat he can be a this level, the Leeds defence who up until that moment had been in relative comfort simply had no answer to his power and pace.

Faubert’s renaissance is a direct consequence of Big Sam and his man management abilities; he knew what an asset Faubert could be at this level, brought him back into the fold and gave him the confidence and belief that his predecessors failed to. The wonderful finish from the edge of the area against Leicester was hopefully the start of Faubert’s ascent to the sort of form that won him his one and only France cap in Zidane’s legendary no. 10 shirt.

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