OPINION
It’s abundantly clear at this point that the majority of West Ham United supporters want manager Manuel Pellegrini out of the club. One win in 11 will do that.
What’s not universally agreed upon is who the fanbase would like to replace the Chilean. However, there is an exciting candidate who is looking like a genuine possibility.
Football Insider reported on Wednesday that the club are ready to make a move for Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, with Pellegrini just one game away from the sack.
Indeed, the east London outfit are said to have received encouraging noises from Howe’s camp that the Cherries chief would be interested in taking over at the London Stadium.
Now, while supporters never entirely agree on anything – even Pellegrini – the vast majority of West Ham fans will surely be blown away by that update.
There’s simply no disputing the phenomenal job Howe has done on the south coast. He’s dragged Bournemouth up from the doldrums of English football – appearing on the verge of exiting the Football League at one point – and has established them as a solid Premier League team.
In a combined 9 years in charge of the club, he has presided over 517 matches and won 223 of them. That’s an average of 1.5 points per game, achieved over numerous different divisions [Source: Transfermarkt].
His record of improving players, too, has been exemplary. Look at the job he has done with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Nathan Ake, David Brooks and Callum Wilson. Three of those are established internationals now.
He is a young, vibrant, invigorating manager who could take this talented West Ham squad to the next level. He’s probably done as much as he could at Bournemouth. Now is the time for him to make the step up to the London Stadium, hopefully propelling the Hammers forward as he does so.
