I think a few people still don't quite get the man that is Avram Grant. A mate of mine was talking yesterday about how amazed he was at Avram's rise to fame and fortune over the last 4 or 5 years, and if you look at how he's been transformed into one of the top bosses in the Premier League considering his relative anonymity just 5 years ago, it really is quite astonishing.
Hats off to Roman Abramovich, who first had the wisdom to put his trust in a man largely unknown outside of Israel. And to put his trust in someone who was going to follow in the footsteps of The Special One AND manage his ever expanding roster of amazing and very expensive football talent (Lampard, Drogba, Ballack, Cole...). If I was ever that loaded with cash, I'm not sure I would have had the same trust, so...either Avram has a very charming smile, or he is just very well connected...
After a season which was just a John Terry slip from landing the Champions League trophy, it did appear that Avram might have had his moment in the sun...but no, there he was again, a year later in the arms of Portsmouth on the sunny south coast. Who he then led to the FA Cup Final and almost brought about an amazing victory over his ex-Chelsea players (again, a penalty was perhaps the turning point...). But to the Portsmouth fans he'd become a hero, and instilled a fighting spirit that was never going to save them from relegation from the Premier League, but was going to restore some lost pride. "Legend" I heard some Portsmouth fans describe him on TV...
So now Avram Grant is off to West Ham. In much the same setup as he had at Portsmouth, he will need to instill some pride and passion while on a very tight budget. Will he be able to do it? I think he might just surprise some people again this season. OK, West Ham won't be gunning for the title, but they could certainly challenge the Top Ten...and after the season the Hammers have just had, some of their fans will be very happy to have their own "Legend" come next summer.
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