Time for Alan Curbishley to carry West Ham out of limbo-land

After such an almighty struggle to beat relegation last year, West Ham have enjoyed a relatively enjoyable and stable season in the Premier League.

They are looking rather isolated in 10th place, not remotely bothered with the hassles of relegation. Yet they also seem and act like a side not capable of climbing any higher in an attempt to challenge for a UEFA Cup spot.

It’s a rather odd situation that has left them in a state of limbo and the fans slightly confused and perturbed at the same time. With the Premier League drawing closer to a stage of stagnation when teams have a good idea where they will finish at the beginning of every season, West Ham (always wanting to be different and entertaining) don’t have a clue from one campaign to the next. It’s terribly refreshing!

Who knows where they might have been if injuries to Scotty Parker and Craig Bellamy had not taken a sense of bite out of their play. Once Freddie Ljungberg, Matthew Upson, Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and now Freddie Sears, start running things the West Ham way, it's very probable that the Hammers could sustain a concerted effort for a UEFA Cup berth.

Manager Alan Curbishley was forced to tone down the traditional free-flowing attractive passing game due to such injuries and a realisation that safety was of paramount importance.

This job has been successfully achieved. There is now a platform and time available thanks to the meticulous planning of Curbishley and his backroom staff. Indeed, many Hammers fans were nervous that Curbishley was adopting a style akin to his days with Charlton. Thankfully that’s not the case.

A record of 34 goals in 31 games points to a West Ham side that is not displaying free-flowing, attacking football. The close season needs to see a striker with a top pedigree brought in to solve this.

The defence is not as tight as it should be, either, but there are no huge alarm bells ringing at Upton Park. But the need to improve from an advantageous position at the moment is serious, otherwise teams around them in the Premier League will up the ante in the close season and West Ham could find themselves slipping down the ladder again.

Curbishley has a very good and talented squad at his disposal. However, many of his top players are, unfortunately, injury prone. The first team squad needs to be added to with a mixture of affordable and reliable Premier League-class players and, with the money available, a couple of exciting superstars.

The money generated by top Premier League teams nowadays can accommodate such luxuries. It must be achieved by using the traditional values attached to West Ham Football Club.

It can be done. West Ham, if managed properly and astutely, can rise above the land of limbo they currently live in and start challenging seriously in the higher echelons of the Premier League.