I have spoken previously about the need to test Zavron Hines’ PL potential this season. At 20/21 years of age, we need to ascertain whether he is made of the right stuff. I know that you need to coax along young talent to a certain degree, but I think Hines is ready for the big challenge this season. And we have the perfect opportunity, with the failure to sign Chamakh et al, to give him some serious first team action before January.
He certainly looks the part and a possible source of the goals that have hitherto been lacking this season. Tony Cottee certainly agrees, in a recent interview he has praised Hines goal scoring prowess and likened him to Defoe as a natural born goal scorer. Although Cottee does not take the Defoe comparison too far, he marvelled at the Geoff Hurst type variety of his hatrick against Birmingham City reserves; one with his head, one with his left foot and another with his right! A sure sign of a good striker.
Hines needs to start matches or at least play a substantial part from the substitutes bench. Of course a lot depends on tactical considerations. If we play a 4-3-2-1, with Diamanti and Jimenez occupying the space between the midfield and Cole, it is not possible to start with him. However, he is an ideal player to have on the bench to revert to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation. And obviously he can actually start if we kick off with one of the latter two formations.
I think that the likes of Diamanti and Jimenez will benefit from having a mobile, pacy striker like Hines operating in the final third. It is also a big ask to expect Cole to labour as a lone striker all season, it must take a real physical toll after a while. Cole would probably benefit as well from having Hines play regularly along side him.
So come on then Zola lets see if goalz really do meanz Hinez!
SJ Chandos
Oh yes, he defo needs a run out. Runs his socks off. I would like to see Diamanti start as well. So, what is the formation needed against Liverpool 451? I can't really say at the moment until we hear if Ilunga is back, Collison back, Jimenez back. All I have to say is Liverpool did not look good today at all. I wouldnt be surprised, if all cylinders firing perfectly, we nick the points Saturday. I'd rather see us lose attacking like mad, than lose playing 442 and simply trying to defend the entire time. But again, it depends on who is back. Hines to start for me, Franco subbing out Cole.
He's definitely worth a good run in the first team, we need the extra fire power in the squad and at age 20/21 he should be able to make the step up without concerns over confidence / strength / etc that you might have if he were a few years younger.
I have seen Zavon Hines play for the reserves on several occasions before he played for the first team. First few times I was not impressed as he appeared to be too lightweight. However he has worked very hard on his game and it was unfortunate that the injury last season held him back after a good pre season. He now has quite a bit of variety to his game and appears to be able to look after himself. In an interview some time ago he said he has modelled his game on Thierry Henry. He needs to be given a go and we would gladly accept a West ham version of Thierry Henry.
I said after watching him play on Saturday that he should play regular first team football this season, he looked up to the task and not out of his depth at all.
By the way SJ, i'm gonna have trouble keeping up with all these posts mate. Did you quit your day job or something?
I've been impressed with what i have seen so far but I think caution is required. With expectation comes pressure and there are enough examples of seasoned pros failing to deal with pressure let alone a novice 21yr old.
We also have to consider that Hines's rises has been fairly meteoric – none of us were calling for him to play at the back end of last year nor at the start of this. He could simply be going through a good run of form, one that he may never replicate long term.
I would prefer to see Hines used as an impact sub – spend a season getting aclimatised to the pace and power of the Prem. If he has got 'IT' he will put in some decent performances and maybe change a few games. Remember – we were all demanding that Freddy Sears should get more run outs and when opportunities did come he was found sadly lacking.
That's the problem identified SJC. We don't play 4-4-2, a game that is only suited to Hines IMO. He isn't a 4-3-3 player in that he is small like Cottee, Defoe, Owen, Philips etc and needs a big man to play off to be most effective. The point is that he is a forward playing up against opposition defences and not a deeper playing wide striker.
Zola loves 4-3-3 which we have never had any success playing last season and this because we haven't had the players for it. Diamanti and Jiminez now perhaps, provide that opportunity but for me it is not as good a system as 4-4-2. It strangles midfield because it inevitably becomes 4-5-1 with too many players in midfield and the wide strikers too far away from the lone central striker to help him. Maybe it will work this week against Liverpool's 4-5-1 come 4-4-2 if Gerrard plays the link role between midfield and attack?
Sorry to be nitpicky but isnt his name Zavon?
With the departure of Etherington & Bellamy and the injuries to Dyer & Boa Morte, we have lost our potent counter-attacking pace that served us so well prior to Bellamy's departure.
It is evident that Hines has to play against ANY team until his form takes a dip. Defenders hate pace. Cole at his best, takes 2 men out of the game by his very presence. With a quick player to run in behind we become a different proposition to banging chest high balls up to an isolated Cole, which leaves him the option of turning and taking on a whole defence alone of controlling it and playing it back from where it came from.
Give them some playing time together and see what sort of partnership they can form. Cole & Defoe look a dangerous pairing, even when on opposite sides and I believe that Hines & Cole could do some real damage between them.
like your sense of humor Devo, nice assist for Defoe wasn't it?
sliderule, richo, sliderule.:o
Guille Signs!!!!
With Guille also now on board this should give GZ a few more options to play with. just hope that he can score goals.
Typical Sky their yellow tracker came up stating that WH had signed approx 5mins from adverts they then finish with other sports news and break with commercials. Their biggest sports story this AM is Neill signing for Everton
Top story at 10am for sky GFranco signs!!!
Hooray good time ahead we hope!!!
With Franco now on board this gives GZ according to the official site- a new array of attacking options in the final third for Zola. He has at his disposal Cole ,Dyer and injured Ashton, Diamanti & Jiminez plus Stanislas, Nouble & Hines.
Where Ashton is going to play??? You tell me!!!!Lol!
Franco has just been officially announced
From what I have seen of Hines he has a lot of potential. I havnt seen enough of him in the reserves to comment on him being too light weight last season but from seeing him at the Wigan game he has certainly worked on that part of his game.
He has a low centre of gravity, decent body strength and lots of pace which will make him tough for defenders to cope with.
His goal in China really impressed me with the way he broke into the box and finished so calmly. I think he can play 4-3-3 provided he is given the support and service from the main striker. Centre backs dont like having to deal with a pacey forward breaking towards them as they are back peddling towards their own goal. I am not sure if Hines will start this weekend as there has been no word yet about Jimmi (well apart from reading that his ex gf, accidently got her baps out on Italian tv) and if both he and Diamanti are fit then they need to start.
My team for saturday would be
GK:Green,
RB: Jules, CB:Upson, Tonka, LB: Illunga/Deprela
MF: Behrami, Parker, Collison
AM: Diamanti, Jimmi
FW: Nouble (why not, he cant be any worse than Cole was at Wigan)
CH – i think your dislike of CC may be clouding your judgement. Do you really want to go into the game without a recognised striker? Irrelevent of belief of ability, CC would have to start the game if we go with your formation.
I personaly would go with the following
GK- Green
RB- Faubert CB Upson De Costa LB Illunga/Deprela
RM- Stanislas
LM- Diamanti
CM – Parker Behrami
ACM – Jiminez
FW- Cole
4-2-2-1-1
Jolly I was at the Wigan game and it looked very much to me like we were playing without a striker, recognised or otherwise. Liverpool are too shrewd not to have done their homework on Cole, clatter him early and he goes quiet, cut out crosses by being in front of him and chances are he wont give a toss anyway.
Let Nouble have a go, or Franco if he is fit and cleared to play. Give them something they havnt planned for and dont know how to handle. Be honest mate you cant deny that if Cole plays like he did at Wigan he might as well be on the bench (or in the stands) for all the use he will be. Can you honestly say that you know he wont play like that again?
I saw Nouble play for the Reserves midweek and he is still some way from a first team player. Dissapointed in that a number of times he did not compete for the ball giving the defenders an easy clearance. He only had one real chance with a one on one with the Goalkeeper and did not seem confident. At times he appeared to be a younger inexperienced clone of Carlton Cole.
Tony I only saw the guy when he came on against Wigan and he looked promising, He worked hard and was eager to get involved in the play. I doubt Franco will be fit enough to play even if he recieves his clearance.
Sir Geoff Hurst was quoted as saying Carlton Goal is the new Martin Peters exciting times ahead hey!
Completely off-topic, i've just been looking at the Fantasy league stats (I wanted to add Ginge to my team now he's gone to Villa), and Iain's mini-league is a respectable 29th out of over 175,000. Also, West Ham fans are, on average, better fantasy managers than fans of any other club.
Last one: outside England and Ireland, the country with the most participants is Malaysia.
ooh, well done us! I must admit I picked a team, shipped out Lescott and have left as is since. I suspect one W. Rooney at captain is carrying my lads along.
Dave I am managing in typical Hammers style, my big name signings are all misfiring and my team is crippled with injuries. I made Van Persie captain and Arsenal score 6 at Everton and while everyone else on the team fills their boots he doesnt get one! Frank Stapelton was commenting for Irish radio and I am sure even he managed to bag goal!
I bought Tores and he looks like he has been taking finishing tips from Carlton Cole!
Celtic, I made Torres captain – he got the goals against stoke, then lost his shooting boots. Arshavin got crocked, and myu original third striker hasn't started yet (changed him for Booby Z. Yeah right, great move).
I sold CC so I could bring in Diamante last week though, plus Green and Upson did well for me in the first game.
BTW, so that WHTID doesn't get clogged up with FF stuff, thames-ironworks.com will be making it's appearance next week.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Actually, apart from his unhealthy dislike for Cole, I agree with CH's XI, but I think Gabbidon will continue at LB if Ilunga is unfit.
sorry for going off topic but Franco has signed!
oooops, bit slow off the mark there. sorry guys!
Guys, as much as I totally enjoyed our chats (and heated debates) with you all, I feel it is now time to bid you farewell.
I will pop in occasionally to say hello
SJ, I wish you all the best and hope you make a good go of it here mate!
Celtic, keep up the long messages mate!
Good luck to you all and good luck to West Ham
All the best
Matt
See you, Matt. Until the next time.;)
Matt am not sure why you are leaving mate but this forum will be poorer without you.
I have enjoyed our sparring and hope you dont wait too long between pop-ins!
All the best
Celtic
Has someone blown off, or something? Where's he gone?
It will be a worst site without you….shame your leaving.
Pop back ofton.
All the best.
Thank you for all the kind remarks guys! I just feel the blog has lost the charm it once had, we used to have a post every couple of days or so and we chatted about it and had a laugh, it seems now we get a post every couple of hours lol and it's turned back into what it is supposed to be – a blog!
I'm not complaining one little bit but I've never really been a big fan of blogs and I think what attracted me before was a the way it wasn't really blog like!
Some might say that with the new messaging system, it is more like a forum than ever, maybe so, but I just feel it was better the way it once was
Just my opinion guys, and I know you lot will keep it all running great! Iain and [now] SJ should be very pleased and proud of all the great guys that post here!
Like I said, I will be back now and again but I just don't feel like it something can get excited about anymore!
Good luck with it all guys and peace to you all
Matt
Matt,
Sad you feel that way, I'll miss your posts, pop back in soon
[youtube YLUc8tTwpbU&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLUc8tTwpbU&NR... youtube]
Hope this works, fellas!
Franco in action. First impressions:
Marginally quicker than Tristan.
Good in the air.
Scores with both feet.
Hits penalties down the middle.
Will make decent sub for Cole.
Devo, nice video mate but its going to be murder learing the words to his song by Saturday!
Nice music to calm me down on a Frantically mad Thursday.
Get your money on us to win this weekend, boys.
just to point out, these are from his time in mexico and not when faced by european defenders. He may do well against shorter, lightweight defenders. But the goals he did get in Spain were rarely headers and ofton from close range. Highlights can be deceptive.
He is a confidence player and if he starts well could do well for us. He will work hard and his link up play should be good (if he is not rusty). Just get behind him and hope….having a strike partner will lift some pressure of cole and he needs that IMO.
Hopefully we will play 442 now and have a settled side!!!!!!!!!
I never rate highlights too much, but looks like he could be usefull in the air, and that his placement is good. In the right place at the right time, hopefully that will be a plus for us as it doesn't rely on speed. I wouldn't let him take penalties though!
Are all these extra posts necesssary? I preferred the less is more approach personally. This site has gone way downhill, lately. What with armchair supporting bores like CH who sends us all to sleep with his brainless nonsense (notice how these overseas fans who can count on one hand the live games they've been to suddenly think they know it all), not to mention the never ending streams of comments about transfers and formations. Martin O'Neill was right when he said modern day fans all think they are managers. None of you will ever be tactical geniuses, no matter how much you bang on about 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or whatever numerical combinations you can dream up. zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Yep I'm another one saying bye to what was once a good site. Shame I won't be here to read your lovely replies. Caio my poppets xxx
Obviously terminally underwhelmed, oh well you can't please 'em all
I never got round to entering but I walked a mini league last season, which contained spuds & gooners.
The main thing we have now is a accurate free kick specialist….something we have really lacked since Di Canio. This makes defenders scared to tackle around the box and so helps the forwards. This should also encourage our forwards to run at defenders more ofton. We have the players to damage any defence now. We must start attacking teams for 90 mins and not waiting till we go behind. We nearly beat Liverpool in the cup final because we were not scared of them and took the game to them, if we have the same attitude we can do it again.
When im already logged in….why are all my comments having to be approved before posting.
They want to see if your comments are PC.
Tony, it appears that there is a glitch in the new posting system. A small number of people are having all their posts held for monitoring when they should go through automatically. Iain is aware of it and is talking to his technical people to resolve it asap.
People may want to believe that it is a conscious strategy to ensure ‘PC’ checking of posts, but it is far more mundane than that! Do you really think I have enjoyed spending my time this week continuely releasing posts!!
Thanks for getting back to me..not a problem. Just seems to happen every now and then. Found it clears if i log off and back on.
God start..now loads of diff blogs.
User willtell had some problem about PM ??
I had not done anything, think he mistook auto reply notification for complaints…but not sure.
Thanks for getting back to me..not a problem. Just seems to happen every now and then. Found it clears if i log off and back on.
Good start..now loads of diff blogs.
User willtell had some problem about PM ??
I had not done anything, think he mistook auto reply notification for complaints…but not sure.
well that one worked ok!!!!!……what happened to the proper one?????
Couldn't agree more, I've said it before.(I'm a poet and I didn't know it)
I want to see Cole and Hines play together in a 4 4 2.