Date: Wednesday 21 May 2008
Location: Luzhniki Stadium Moscow
Time: 23:35 (local time)
Event: UEFA Champions League Final
What’s at stake: An illusive Champions League title and, evidently, Grant’s job
Situation: Possibly Avram Grant’s most important half time team talk to date
Having already lost in the League Cup Final, the pressure was on Avram Grant to deliver some sort of silverware to the Chelsea hierarchy. This was his last chance, the final game of the season, the one trophy that Russian owner Roman Abramovic wanted most, the Champions League. Grant had the chance to turn himself from zero to hero in the space of a single match.
It’s coming up to half time, you’re team have been outplayed for most of the first half, 1-0 down, barely still in the game thanks to some outstanding saves from your Czech goalkeeper. You’re planning your inspirational team talk, what can you say to the team to lift them for the second half? Then, Frank Lampard equalises, suddenly everything’s changed. You’re back on level terms before the break, what to say now?
Whatever he said worked, to a degree at least. Chelsea were resurgent in the second period, pinning Man Utd back and taking the game to them. The only thing they couldn’t do was score. Extra time came and went. The lottery of a penalty shootout. Chelsea lost, and Grant was sent packing.
Fast forward three years…
Date: Sunday 15 May 2011
Location: DW Stadium Wigan
Time: 16:50
Event: Wigan V West Ham 6 pointer at the bottom of the Premiership
What’s at stake: Survival/relegation and possibly Avram Grant’s job
Situation: Another half time team talk. Maybe not as important as the Champions League Final, but try telling that to Hammers fans
Sitting bottom of the Premier League, Avram Grant’s West Ham are 6 points from safety, 3 points away from their opponents on the day Wigan. Win, and they see another week of Premiership action. Draw or Lose, and they are relegated from the Premiership.
A great first half from Grant’s side, as a brace from Demba Ba see’s them take a 2-0 lead into the break. 45 minutes of football left to play, and all West Ham need to do is stay in the lead. Grant again takes his players into the dressing room for the all important team talk. Keep going? Sit back and absorb pressure, maybe make a defensive substitution to shore up at the back?
His words didn’t have the same effect as they did back in 2008. 12 minutes into the second half Charles N’Zogbia had got one back for Wigan, who were level just over 10 minutes later. With West Ham struggling under pressure, the killer blow came as late as the 94th minute. N’Zogbia with his second of the game, cutting in and somehow slipping it under Rob Green’s body to relegate West Ham to the Championship. Avram Grant was relieved of his managerial duties before he even left the stadium.
Two contrasting games in which Grant managed a team who were in need. Neither time he managed to get the result he was after, although I’m not reading into that here. What this post is all about, is the highs and lows of football management and how quickly it can all turn around, for better or worse. Take Steve McLaren for example; from “wally with the brolly” to Dutch league champions, to a (very brief) unsuccessful stint in Germany with Wolfsburg. The fact is, with so much at stake in football these days, it’s a cut throat business where chairmen, directors and even fans demand results. If those results don’t come, you’re out of the door without a question asked. There’s no continuity, not enough time for a manager to actually build a squad and getting them to gel together. If the results don’t come immediately, it’s goodbye, and you’re only ever as good as your last job, your last result.
Anyway, back to Grant. With three clubs in three years, he has reached a League Cup Final, an FA Cup Final, a Champions League Final (losing all three) and relegated two of the three teams, although to be fair to the Isreali, Portsmouth did have a 9 point deduction, not helping his chances whatsoever. Nice man that he seems, I can’t see him having too much trouble getting his next job, although not necessarily a top one. As for West Ham, a big club that I always wanted to survive. I hope they bounce straight back next season. Manager wise, if you want someone to come in and get the best out of your team, Martin O’Neill’s your man. Would he be interested in a Championship job though, only the man himself can answer that.
For now though, I look forward to seeing you at The Ricoh Arena next season.
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