Lou Macari had what can only be described as an average start to his time at West Ham. But fears about his perceived long ball style proved unfounded as the team played football at times that would not have looked out of place under his predecessor, John Lyall.
Friction at Villa Park: The Ward Disquiet
Macari’s stiffest test to date came at Villa Park in the third round of the Littlewoods Cup. This was in the days when teams played their strongest teams in the early rounds of the cup competitions. Not just a test from the opposition, but the first rumblings of disquiet from Mark Ward. Unhappy at the strict diet and training requirements, he asked to go on the transfer list and failed to turn up for the team coach.
As the team battled out a 0-0 draw against an Aston Villa side flying high in the first division, Ward made his own way to the game and watched from the stands, earning himself a suspended fine and a dressing down from the Board, who insisted that he see out the remaining 30 months of his contract.
The Bookmaker and the Programme
A 3-2 win over Oxford United at Upton Park followed, Julian Dicks scoring with a rasping drive that was an indication of what was to follow. A draw at Bournemouth with a rare strike from Gary Strodder, and the even rarer sight of Mark Wark being booed by his own fans when he came on as a substitute, was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Wolves that involved a personal duel between Phil Parkes and Steve Bull, the Wolves striker eventually coming out on top.
Macari’s liking for a bet was starting to cause issues in the changing room, as with 10 minutes to go to kick off, Macari was nowhere to be seen – returning flustered from a local bookmaker having placed his bets for the afternoon. No-one knew what the team was. Macari told the players the team was as per the programme. No-one had a programme, so Tony Gale went and bought one only to find that he was not in the starting XI.
Upton Park Highs and Dressing Room Lows
The disappointment of four points from nine in the league was tempered by a magnificent Upton Park night under the floodlights beating Aston Villa in the Littlewoods Cup replay. Julian Dicks rifled in a free kick in wet and windy conditions, nonetheless it was a useful yardstick showing that Macari’s Hammers could compete against the best teams in the country.
Yet Macari was still failing to connect to the players. It is unclear whether he was obligated to retain John Lyall’s backroom staff or whether it was his own decision – subsequent interviews indicate it may have been the latter – but either way the majority of the playing and coaching staff were still bitter at Lyall’s departure. Macari needed an ally in the dressing room and sought to bring in Ray Wilkins as his assistant – however, his former Manchester United colleague found the lure of a managerial role at First Division QPR too much to resist and declined the invitation.
Striker Shortages and the Fashanu Experiment
The problem as always was up front. With no recognised focal point, David Kelly still proving to be disappointing, Frank McAvennie with a broken ankle, Leroy Rosenior almost permanently injured and Eamonn Dolan not yet the real deal, Macari was forced to play diminutive strikers in the shape of Stuart Slater and Mark Ward, not recognised strikers in any event.
To try to resolve the problem, Justin Fashanu was drafted in on loan from Manchester City. Fashanu, represented by Ambrose Mendy, Paul Ince’s agent, made such financial demands that meant it would only ever be a temporary deal.
The Sunday People Scandal
A blood and thunder game against promotion rivals Newcastle ended 0-0, but it was an eventful day off the pitch too, with fighting on the terraces and, the next day a story about Macari appearing in a national newspaper. A story that spelt the beginning of the end for the likeable Scot. Sunday People journalist Bill Bradshaw ran a full double page spread claiming that Swindon Chairman Brian Hillier had bet on his own team to lose a cup tie away at Newcastle, netting him £6,500 on a £4,000 stake. The article claimed that Macari was complicit. Macari’s world was starting to cave in.
To avoid as much press intrusion as possible, Macari took his squad to Ireland to play a friendly against Munster. On his return, the team rallied to a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, emergency striker Stuart Slater scoring one and a less than motivated Mark Ward finding his way back into the first team. Despite all the uproar, the Hammers were still in touch with the top three and still in the Littlewoods Cup. A memorable night against Wimbledon in the fourth round, saw West Ham go through with a Martin Allen goal, but a red card for Julian Dicks. It was to prove to be the high-water mark of Macari’s time at Upton Park.
Ince, Yoga, and a Blackburn Disaster
Before the match at Blackburn, Macari used his contacts to blag the use of the Manchester United training facilities at Cliff, where they encounter a hubristic Paul Ince, bragging about his new-found wealthy lifestyle. On returning to his brand new BMW he found his windscreen wipers twisted out of shape. The culprit has never been (officially) identified.
The game at Blackburn was a disaster – 4-1 down at half time and 5-1 down shortly into the second half, and that against a not particularly good Blackburn team. The Hammers did fight back to 5-4 but ran out of time. Fashanu started the game but is distant physically and mentally from his new team-mates. He failed to join them for the pre-match meal, allegedly opting instead to sit in the hotel room doing yoga and eating mashed potato.
A Sinister Turn and New Arrivals
A brief respite in the ZDS Cup as Plymouth are beaten 5-2 after extra time at Upton Park, but in the league things have taken a sinister turn, with a 0-0 draw at home to relegation-threatened Stoke City and a 2-1 defeat at an equally poor Bradford City. Goalkeeping is as big an issue as the strikers – Phil Parkes, legend that he was, cannot go on indefinitely and McKnight is simply not up to it.
Macari sources a goalkeeper from near Moscow – Ludek Miklosko. He signs subject to a work permit being granted – but that won’t come through for another two months. In the meantime, Macari signed Perry Suckling on loan who debuted against Oldham at Upton Park in a 2-0 defeat that is best forgotten.
The Legacy of the Macari Months
The Hammers are sliding out of the promotion frame and Macari has to act. After crashing out of the ZDS cup 4-3 at Chelsea just before Christmas and losing 1-0 at Ipswich on Boxing Day, Macari cashes in on his most valuable asset. Mark Ward goes to Manchester City in exchange for Ian Bishop and Trevor Morley. At last, a recognised striker and a talented ball-player.
They debuted at Filbert Street on 30 December in another 1-0 defeat but the indications were that with the two new signings, and the capture of proven goalscorer Jimmy Quinn imminent, and a towering Czech International goalkeeper waiting in the wings, 1990 would be a vast improvement on 1989. That is, if the Sunday People would get off Macari’s case.
My YouTube series “The Macari Months” follows the fortunes of the club during Lou Macari’s tenure, merging match footage with interviews, newspaper cuttings, news items, music, TV, and cinema from the time. It is a must for anyone who remembers those heady days, or those who are curious to learn. The period is covered in Episodes 3-5 – see @westhamhistory
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