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SLAV FITS BIL FOR HAMMERS
AFTER his jubilant players carried Slaven Bilic aloft at the final whistle of their seismic win over Germany, the Croatia boss ducked out of the post-match lap of honour.
Instead, Bilic, who had cut a wildly passionate figure stalking the touchline during the game, nipped back into the dugout to reflect quietly with a sneaky fag.
If he did that at an English ground these days he would be in big trouble. But I suspect it won’t be long before Bilic (above, celebrating with Darijo Srna) will be reaching for the nicotine patches and strutting his stuff in the Premier League.
West Ham’s Alan Curbishley must already be a bit twitchy.
With the Upton Park season ticket renewals slow despite a decent 10th-place finish, many Hammers fans blame Curbishley for an over-cautious style of football.
Bilic is not the type to fan the flames. Unlike so many in football, here is a man with certain values.
He sees managing his national side as more than just a job. For him it’s an honour.
Recently his salary rose from £48,000 to a basic of around £85,000. Yes, in the mainly money-mad world of football, that’s a year, not a week.
But here is manager who has twice outwitted England and now seen off Germany.
Bilic may well be tempted to stay on with Croatia and plot their World Cup campaign which would threaten England again.
But he might cash in on a reputation that is in orbit and renew the strong emotional ties he has with West Ham.
Given what happened to Steve McClaren, perhaps Fabio Capello is praying the Hammers have a difficult start to the season.
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Scu have to go
IT’S time for Richard Scudamore (right) to let it go before he is let go. Overall a good Premier League supremo, Scu is still stupidly besotted with his flawed 39th game.
The other day he warned that without it, the Premier League would be fifth in line “to go global.”
Come on, Richard, surely the financial success of the Premier League is down to the fact, thanks to Sky’s patronage, it already IS global.
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They're making a for-Toon!
HOUSE prices falling. Fuel prices soaring. Yet Newcastle are charging an extra 10 per cent for season tickets unless fans make a three-year commitment.
Toon fans deserve better than having to dig deeper to ensure millionaire players get an extra £10k a week.
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