Zola was very clear in his Stoke City post-match interview that West Ham were playing well but not getting the rub of the green. He likened the current situation to the poor run last season last autumn, when we were putting in very good performances but not getting the points that they deserved.
Zola felt that all the signs are there that we wll turn the corner very soon. He pointed out correctly that we are being punished for every mistake at present and that the team need to cut them out to progress. You have to feel for Zola at present, things are not going his way and he is obviously operating in a difficult circumstances. However, he will do what we all expect of him. He will work hard to put things right on the training ground and put out a team to play expansive, attacking football . Zola and Clarke turned it around last season, to go on to win deserved plaudits, and they will do it again.
We need to get back to the defensive solidarity of last season and in Green, Faubert, Illunga, Tomkins and Upson we have the defensive unit to do it. The return of Berhami and Collison is a massive bonus, Berhami in particular has returned firing on all cylinders. He is a massively influential player and he is going to be crucial in turning things around.
We definitely have the quality in defence and midfield to improve results. In Diamanti and Jimenez we potentially have two very good playmakers. However, they need to start taking games by the scruff of the neck and hurting the opposition. In young Stanislas, we have a genuine player of pace and skill, who has the ability to run at opposition defences and cause problems. He must be encouraged to use those assets and given the freedom to express himself.
There is no doubt that we have lacked a cutting edge up front. Too often Cole is left isolated because the support play in the 4-3-3 is not close enough. Personally, I think that our best, and most immediate, solution is to play Cole and Hines as a strike duo. In addition, Franco needs to be given the opportunity to show what he can do; as do Nouble and Dixon in due course. We all know that our biggest lack at present is the absence of a proven, top class goal scorer. That has arguably cost us points so far this season, as we have failed to turn domination in to goals. We can not even think about doing anything to bring someone in until the January window, but what we can and should do in the meantime is show faith in Zavon Hines’ pace and finishing ability. Who knows, he could save us a lot of money?
In the minus column, the negative speculation around the club continues. We need to hope that this is not adversely affecting the playing staff too much. After all, cohesion, morale and team spirit is vital when you are battling for improved results.
The story at the weekend about pay differentials within the squad and the contracts terms of our younger players is, at face value, a worrying development. However, If the story is true, I refuse to believe that the club are not on top of the situation and actively dealing with it. Hines in particular should be signed up to a new contract and the terms of the contracts of the likes of Tomkins, Stanislas and Collison need to be re-negotiated.
Ideally, I would have preferred more experienced cover in key positions. We are very reliant on inexperienced players as squad cover. Also, we need to be mindful of not over-burdening or burning out our youngsters. It is particularly difficult for youngsters when results are going badly, that’s when experience is vital. Yet, on the other side of the balance sheet, we are attracting these young prospects because of our unrivalled reputation for developing and blooding our youth products. Also, young players need PL exposure to progress, rather than stagnate as they do at clubs like Chelski and Liverpool. It’s the rationale underpinning project football. But It is also about getting the balance right!
One very positive peice of news at the weekend was the story about the opening of negotiations with the new US based consortium about a takeover. It offers hope of a cash rich consortium taking over, the injection of substantial funds in to the club and putting us back on track. The ‘cherry on the cake’ is that they are allegedly a consortium of wealthy Hammers fans! I do not doubt that C&B Holdings represents a safe life boat for the club, but the lack of investment in the summer has proven unhelpful to our cause.
We need to know the exact details of the deal, but in principle, it would be positive to have a consortium of cash rich Hammers fans taking control of the club. A consortium that has the interests of the club at heart, as well as a business plan. C&B Holdings make me nervous because they view us purely as just an asset, the value of which needs to be protected to eventually pay off creditors. Ok, if business interests are what are protecting our club’s future, then that is good enough in the short-term, but there is no doubt that the club would be an happier place if there was a board that we fans could relate to and was investing in the Hammers future.
So, that’s my take on a number of issues relating to the club at present. I have taken care to show that there are positives as well as negatives to consider. On balance, do you agree with Zola, are better results just around the corner? Moreover, could we also be on the cusp of a bright long-term future with new owners and investment?
SJ Chandos.
I do think that Zola will get it right but the next 3 or 4 games are not those you would choose in our current situation. One win will probably do wonders for the confidence of the team but the chances of getting that in the next four matches are, as SJ says, pretty long. Everton at home will probably be our best opportunity although even if we can scrape a point against the Gooners it will be a bonus. We could really do with a Burnley or Hill at home now.
More than anything I hope that the current negativity coursing around this site begins to ease. OK, none of us are happy about the current situation but negativity breed negativity. No doubt one win will bring comments about qualifying for Europe!
What we need are owners who have the club,s best interest,s at heart!The Arsenal game will give Zola a chance to beat his nemesis of a London club and a top 4 club and possibly that and the game away at Sunderland will go a long way to prove he is the right man for our top job.If results continue to go against him obviously we have an issue but as he is such a good guy I still really think he is a coach but I hope he proves me wrong.As for a consortium of fans there should only be one leader and all concerned have to be in total agreement of budgets and who is responsible for what no unhealthy squabbling just clear concise instructions of who does what.We would hope as a fanbase this will give us stability and a chance to progress onwards and upwards because otherwise we will never progress just look at the investment at villa and sunderland there is a good vibe even wigan with no dosh, incredible!So really Mr.Zola the time has come to deliver please!
Agree with you Chandos
Oddjob, it does look a very daunting run of games granted, but we should never bet against the Hammers to get unlkely results. They are just as likely to beat Arsenal, as lose to Stoke City! It's been a feature of our club as long as I can remember.
Lets hope that particular Hammers characteristic re-asserts itself on Sunday!
That's a fair point. I long ago lost count of the defeats we have had to endure against the "lesser" teams we play and our history is littered with the times we overturned the big boys. Leet's hope Sunday is one of those good days.
Well said SJ.
I believe Z+C can turn it around, we are playing well but small mistakes, lack of confidence, and poor refs are making it hard work.
If the coaches can keep the players heads up and continue to play well I think we will be ok.
However the fans are going to have to be patient and brave while things are turned around.
The financial problems are the biggest worry and to some extent have contributed to our problems on the pitch.
Its not easy but when was being a Hammers fan easy?
Keep the faith, we could be higher in the table and playing awful football! And that would be even more frustrating. Things are very close to being right, just support and get behind the team
Well said my friend, spot on!
I was away on a golf weekend so haven't had a chance to catch up on what people thought of our performance against Stoke. I saw the goals on MOTD and Green was badly at fault for the winner.
Whilst I am still a firm believer that we won't be involved in a relegation struggle, these cheap goals we are conceding have to be rectified.
Oddjob – I wouldn't bank on 3 points against Everton. We never beat them and hardly ever score against them!
I'm not banking on it Devo. I just think that, logically, that game is our best chance of the four. Also, it's about time we turned Everton over – the bad results against them can't go on for ever. And I don't think that they are as strong as last year and, anyway, I think they have been defying gravity for a while now. They really are not that good – just awkward and well organised.
I agree with Oddjob, although I have followed the Irons for long enough to know that we are just as likely to beat the top teams and lose to the lesser ones. Remember Hereford, Newport County, Southend United, etc? OK, so they were in the cups, but same principle! Z+C are the right men for the job, we just need a break in our luck and for the team to tighten up a little more as a unit.
As regards off the field, the problems that can be solved such as players contracts, I have every faith in Duxberry to sort them (assuming they exist and are not an invention on a slow news day of one of the comics. A new owner with some money and a love to match ours would be excellent, and necessary before too long.
Im totally confident we can steady the ship in the next 4-6weeks.If the ref spots the foul on upson we are 2-1 up and stoke have 10men.Tomkins missed a few sitters this year and greens patchy work have all piled on the misery. What we cant afford is any/many injuries.Green has been under performing somewhat this season and im still not sure about faubert,he has very strange technique.We need cole and hines up front together,this is simply a must! And our midfield needs to start playing with some consisitancy and confidence,like i know it can after watching some of our best performances last year.Diamanti should start turning promise into results,he has the ammo to be something special.Lets hope the luck starts turning our way too.
Watched the performance of Faubert against Stoke what qualities does he have to be playing in the back four as both goals especially their winner could have been stopped.The whole idea of him in the back four is fascinating but you would have to say there must be someone better equipped at defending!
New owners is what we need, that is my main concern for our club at the moment, the football is good and i think things will get better soon, just our end product missing but we are nearly there, if this new owner situation is true then i will be over the moon as our club will finally have stability and money to spend in january on a striker or two and another defender would be nice. Lets just hope we have new owners very soon so that we can look at a brighter future.
Come on you irons!
I am very surprised that no one has mentioned the man that captained the team last season. He has been missed massively. Yet another case of the hierachy at West Ham knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing?
Just like beating 'the top' teams that is another unfortunate Hammers trait.
Lets hope this new consortium is the light at the end of the tunnel and not a train coming towards us.
i refere to a post i made earlier that got slated for saying some people calling for zolas heads were idiots,____The facts….____newcastle,spuds,portmouth,charlton,man city, and many many more have had a change of manager on a regular basis with very little success.____the most succesfull clubs in the most dificult league in the world are manure…arse…liverpoo…and everton who have had there managers for many many years. cheslkie excluded as potless money doesnt make it a comparison.____I strongly believe that in order to gain success we need to go back to what west ham became known for and that was long serving managers with a passion for good football.we have that man.we have that back room team and we need to get right behind them and not become a hire and fire club.I work in the motor trade and every succesfull dealership has a long serving team,all the other dealerships that have a high turn over of staff are unprofitable and either gone or going bust.its the same for any business.____surely we want mr right and not mr right now ! getting bilic in now would be a massive up heavall for the whole club again and were so far in the doggy doodle it wouldnt make any sence !
The new owners story if true fills me with confidence, the team unfortunatley doesn't.
We have a very very tough few weeks coming up and its not getting any easier these days in the PL, my concerns on our back 4 are a massive problem and footballing teams have ripped us apart thus far, I've moaned so so much this season about certain players that i'm bored with doing it now, i dont care what anyone says but 62% possession vs Stoke should produce more than a headed goal from a corner, this turning the corner stuff from Zola is just like the stuff he blurted about b4 the CC with Bolton and look at that, we need to have a big look at ourselves people because at present we have a look about us and i'm hoping we're in a position come Jan to get some quality in or its gonna be very very hard.
Agree with most of your comments SJ, although I am starting to worry about our defensive fragility. I never thought I would say this, but I think we are missing Lucas Neill. Several people have commented on the lack of leadership on the pitch and I tend to agree that this does appear to be a problem. Green is going through a sticky patch, Upson looks below par and Faubert is still a concern for me, even though he impressed in earlier games this season.
Our midfield is still our strongest asset, but we need them to get forward more and start scoring goals. Noble and Kovac are the weak links at the moment, but with Jack & Valon back we do have positives.
Up front a Coles/Hines combo must be tried for a few games.
Finally, the ownership is critical. Let's hope the weekend reports are correct as we desperately need financial stability and a injection of funds to sign the players that we all know that we need.
COYI – Of course the future is bright!
Sorry, Shropshire, but Noble is not a weak link, OK, he's had a couple, of below par performances this year but he is the only midfielder we have who can really pick a pass and he did pretty well against Stoke. There just seems to be a general downer on him at the moment.
Ok, weak link was perhaps the wrong term, but he has certainly lost form this season. I think we all want him to come on strongly, but I really think he needs a break. Hopefully with Jack & Valon back in the mix, it will give GZ a chance to rest him.
We have to encourage and support Zola and the team. The evidence over last season suggests that he did very well considering the circumstances. Thanks SJ for a more balanced review of the situation rather than some of the hot headed comments that I have read for the past 2 days! Although I do share the annoyance of our current situation.
That said we have to support the good things about our club and aim our frustration on the real problem which is C&B holdings NOT Zola and the team.
I hope that this consortium can convince C&B holdings to sell up. If they are true hammers fans and have the financial clout to make a difference then I can see us being able to move forward more smoothly rather than the more compromised situation we have to operate within. A blend of youth and experience with a transfer kitty that gives us the ability to spend £10 million plus on a player would make a real difference.
What went wrong this weekend, in a game we dominated with good posession but made mistakes and lost?
Simple really.
We are completely lacking the ingenuity of creating goal scoring chances. We have NO idea whatsoever how to turn decent posession in to goal scoring chances.
On Saturday we were passing the ball around nicely, keep hold of it, and, unable to find the killer ball through, we were continaually hitting long balls up to Cole – who was marked by 3 or 4 defenders – and he couldn't win them. Even if he had won them – there was no one playing up alongside him. Long balls seemed to be our only tactic. The only other chances we created were so few and far between that we might not have scored them even if Torres was on our side. Cole had maybe 2 chances on goal all game… if we'd created more and given him 4 chances, he probably would have scored.
The only time we look like scoring is when Diamanti decides enough is enough and beats his man and has a crack on goal. Other than Stanislas (who should be starting) he's the only player we have that will do that.
We're playing good stuff, but we don't know the way to goal at the moment. It isn't bad luck, it's lack of 'final third' specific tactics.
Come on you Irons!!!
Behrami and Collinson back in the side will make a difference. I agree that we miss Lucus Neil at the back for his experiance and leadership skills as much as anything else. Zola and Clarke are the best for the job and are working under very hard conditions.
According to the papers today on Sky We will not hear much about the potential takeover for a couple of wks we now have to be patient and sit tight. We must also give our backing to GZ&co & hopefully get a few vpoints on the board.
All clubs have added to their squads last window and it will be difficult . However we have the quality and with some good news on the financial front may lift the squad to up their game that extra bit and put in a winning run. As Gz says we are bclose to turning the cornerlets us hope it is on both fronts financially & on the pitch.
WATCH THIS SPACE, FISHY!
Right ON!!! ECH!lol!
What we have to do is take all the negativity & back GZ to the hilt. He will have to turn things around with the squad he has until January at least and this he will do. Come January we must get rid of any dead wood and generate what transfer kitty we can by selling those players who have 1/2 yrs on their contracts and will not sign new ones (Upson Green etc) and try to get in players who really want to play for WH
Regardless of a takeover this is the best we can hope for the immediate future.
Anyone else slightly annoyed about this…
We had oen fo the best defences last season, they were so solid. We sell James Collins to Villa (they got Dunne, too) and they have the equal best defence in the league.
I know a lot of fans would rather have sold Upson, who would have commanded a higher fee, too. And, sods law, Upson has been disapointing this season so far. He was at fault more than Green for Stokes second goal on Saturday. Just not good enough.
ECH, I agree we should have sold Upson & kept Collins a bad bit of business in my opinion. Upson he will go in the Jan TW anyway he still has not signed a new contract and has no intention of doing so.
I find Upson frustrating sometimes but he's definitely good enough. He was the defensive difference last season. I think it must be the England thing that's desatbilised him. Still, not many are going to want to buy him at the moment are they?
I'm also backing Zola to turn it round. I think it may not start til after Xmas though looking at our fixture flow so I hope the club and fans can show a lot more patience as we get tonked at home five more times before Xmas.
This is what being a West Ham fan is all about. I don't want mid table obscurity where players go through the motions while dreaming of their summer holiday – I want something to make me turn up on a Saturday week after week, and if that something is watching a team get reborn while in the wrong area of the table then so be it.
The management will get there eventually – Zola might or might not be tactically naive, but as fans we can't fault him for sticking to what he believes in whether you agree or not with his use of certain players.
The bloke is trying to do all this with his hands tied – I don't think that the little money that he has had made available to him has been put to best use, but like everyone else on here I don't get consulted on board and managerial matters.
Too right Bubbleblower – if you can't handle being on the Rollercoaster that is the emotional trip that being a West Ham fan brings then just get off.
West Ham 'Til I Die? More than five words – it's a commitment.
Thank you SJ for a brilliant article, one which left me revelling in optimism. I share your views totally and nobody should be left in any doubt that West Ham will still be a force during this and future seasons guided by the brilliant Zola and Clarke. The fact is that we have great management and an excellent team who have just been unlucky to miss out on the end results. It will change and as we all know we are not averse to beating Arsenal or anybody else for that matter.
Chandos I want to ask you a question,If we continue with 1 upfront and find ourselves bottom at christmas, is it time replace the manager,yes or no?
I ask this because I'm intrested to see a what point people behind Zola would turn.
and before everyone jumps on me……. I hope of course it does not come to this.
I hope that it does not come to that Chris. I do not think that it will. However, I would have to come at it from another direction, if Zola was sacked who would we replace him with? It would have to be someone better, who could get us out of relegation trouble.
Just sacking a manager, without having someone lined up would be irresponsible, especially in the middle of a relegation battle. look at what happened to Newcastle Utd last season after Keegan chucked it in. They drifted in to relegation!
Last season, Levy at Spurs took good, decisive action, but he had Redknapp lined up to replace Ramos. Love or loath Arry, the fact is that there are few better in a relegation battle!
Internally, before it got to the sacking stage, the club’s management team would raise issues with Zola on tactics and results. If results did not improve going in to January, then pressure would mount on Zola, no doubt about it. Then they would make a decision, but it would go back to these central questions of who replaces him, would the new coach be an improvement and could they get more from the players?
The moritorium ends 11/12/09 SJ there may not be a January
Zola needs to go now or we are down, Zola think's we are playing good football, he must be watching another game.
Chrischris you are the only one talking straight – Zola and tactics do not belong on the same page – is everybody blind? have we really been playing great football – is it just bad luck – is the light at the end of the tunnel too far away?
we need new money and new management – Zola gets 3 more games then thats enough.
I personally think Zola's days are almost up! I hate saying that! But teh run of games ahead of us are going to be very hard and I can't see us getting more than 2 or 3 points from the next 18.
That in itslef is not Zola's fault, it's just rotten luck that the games are where they are!
But that will take us in to the beginning of December and I can't see us getting out of the bottom 3!
Just seen the goals again and I thank God that it wasn't Tomkins that made that attempted tackle on Fuller. His snipers would have had a field day on here. Also, how the hell did Faubert get beaten to the rebound? 3 errors in one move. No wonder we are conceding goals.
Every post-match thread returns to the same problem. Cole isolated on his own, no support. If we can all see this, why can't Zola & Clarke?
One last thing, which someone else touched on in the other thread. Why are Zola's substitutions reactive rather than proactive?
Why does this stuff always happen to us and no one else?
Simon, You ask why us & no one else??
We are West Ham and we would do it no other way. Lol!
Its all speculation about a take over, I hope its true.
Am T the only one getting worried about our current situation. Even when we play well we are losing. That spells relegation. Selleing Collins was a huge mistake. If we are not taken over soon we can expect to see Thomkins and Collinson out the door. Unthinkable? This is West Ham, this is a club being run by bankers who have no interest in the football side. Relegation isn't going to max out what they get for the club but selling assets is what they now and they have not been shy selling anyone so far. Roll on this takeover, it cant get any worse!
i’m right behind Z/C and the team – IRONS all the way! – but i think we are in serious trouble if our game plan relies on CC to score our goals. in my opinion a lone striker will not work because he is not the man for the job. he is not a natural striker and his record prooves that. this is reflected by the amount of time Z/C have spent working on him this season. we would be better served if he played in defence in place of upson. he is terrific in the air and his defensive game particularly at corners is very good. diamanti, hines, stanislas, nouble, jimenez, franco can all play upfront. i think we need to try something different before it becomes a struggle and at least try 2 up front, without CC. CMON YOU IRONS,,,,
I believe that there is a direct correlation between results on the pitch and troubles off it – look at the season the Icelandics took over or look at Pompey before they were sold from one sheik to another – when players have no idea if they are staying or going, it affects there mental fragility after they step over the white line. It's probably the biggest contributing factor to the poor form of Upson and Green – will they be here post January or not?
If the takoever talk is genuine, and given that the front man is talking so it would appear to be so, then that should calm the nerves, make funds available for a proper striker and ease any worries of relegation. BUT if the takoever drags on and then, heaven forbid, fail to materialise, well then my friends we could all be looking at a club we love going the way of the Dodo………..
Jolly, good post and straight to point. The position off the field has a lot to do with performance on it. the constant uncertainty as to will they wont they BUY or SELL whoever is on the other end. Whether Upson or Green will still be with us in January?? I doubt it even if we are taken over. As for this one the next 48hrs or 5days whichever way you look at it will become clear if this consortium is genuine or not we have heard it all too many times before being let down yet again. Anyway lets hope this is the beginning of something new for the club.
On a positive note:- Watch this Space!!!! Lol!
As for performances on the pitch getting better – I have to fundemantaly disagree with GZ who i think is being too naive. WBA were roundly applauded last year for their frre-flowing football. They were 'apparently' repeatedly the victims of bad luck when they dominated games but failed to win them. Sound familiar????
spot on Jolly, very good point, WBA were nice to watch last year but couldnt hit water if they fell out of a boat!
As for people on here saying we'll turn it around after xmas, thats a ridiculous thought, you can be stranded come xmas and we cannot hang on till Jan, i don't think people want to admit it but we're in it, Zola is a lovely lovely bloke and i admire him but you know what they say about nice guys…….
lets hope santa puts a tevez in our xmas stocking or else we could end up down the chimney,,,
It's not remotely ridiculous to say "after Xmas."
A quick look at the fixture list tells you why not. It's a simple exercise of analysis.
We're a point behind where we would have been last year if we'd had the equivalent fixtures in the order we've had them this season.
We have Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Everton and Villa to come to the Boleyn before Xmas. It ain't going to get better before then. After that it will.
However what could damage us is that by then we might have thrown the management out of the pram along with the toys and the bathwater if you'll excuse the mixed metaphors because of the panic about being "stranded" as if teams (e.g. us) have never turned it round in that time before.
If we'd had the fixture list the other way round right now we'd be hearing the converse nonsense about being top 6. Sometimes I wonder whether some of our fans have ever actually looked at the bigger picture round a *league* football season.
Sorry LJ – i'm a bit confused? We beat Wigan and Stoke away last year and Fulham at home – that's 9pts for starters! How do you work out we are only 1 pt worse off? Time for a new calculater me thinks…….
Oh and a draw at Blakburn – so that's 10pts from the same games last year.
I agree that it's not until every team has versed each other ONCE before you could properly analyze the league. However you can get a very good indication of how things are going from recent results as well. It will turn around eventually in my eyes, it's just a matter of how soon. Arsenal will be very hard to verse and I think we will rise to the challenge. However as we know, 'rising to the challenge' is a different story to winning a match. All it takes is a couple of vital moments and the term not performing as well can beat the better playing team.
and the team not performing*, sorry.
Come on you Hammers!
LJ, do you believe we have the current crop of players to 1.deal with a rele fight? 2.Get us out of said rele fight?
The tactic at present just isn't working. It's not the best formation for Cole, and seems to be used to make the most use of West Ham's surfeit of midfielders. It leaves Cole too isolated. It puts his back to goal and is too reliant on midfielders running on to the ball in support of him.
4-4-2 would be better, with Hines playing off Cole, and balls thru the middle to make use of Hines' pace and more crosses to make use of Cole's strength and heading. Of course, this leaves the problem of how to fit in Parker, Behrami, Collison, Noble, Dyer, Diamanti, Jimenez, et al, but it would lead to more scoring chances, which is something we are desprately short of right now. Defence is a weak point too – never should have sold Collins, and the less said about Faubert the better.
Robert Hut has just been charged for violent conduct by the Fa
At least that is a positive from the match we should not have lost
Still heres to the next game at least a point from Arsenal saturday
"was investing in the Hammers future"
SJ you are still talking about this as though a football club is a rational and decent investment. They are not. The hype of the past 20 years is about to subside and all the ludicrous money with it. The 'billionaire' owners are all based on paper from Dubai to US to Iceland and one way or another they are facing a tighter future. So a potless 'billionaire' happy to splash money on a football club as a loss leader to achieve status in UK society is going to be an increasingly unlikely option.
The other option of buying the 'franchise' to expand, diversify and take over the world is also a non starter – look at the mess Liverpool and Man Utd are in. They are both barely servicing huge interest payments on the securitized debt that was used to buy them.
The only way is for self sustaining – in this Duxbery is right. Ferguson has even said as much. As advertising revenue and TV money starts to dry up at the end of this season, you can expect clubs starting to look to their natural markets to sustain them, their loyal local supporting fans. Clubs are not like other businesses, there is no unlimited market out there for them and they can't start diversifying into supermarkets and finance without coming unstuck. They rely on fans and success on the pitch, the rest has been an illusion.
With the potential takeover IF true WHO would you like to see at UP GZ&SC to stay N&Dux to go with a new man at the helm CEO & TechD
Here is what someone else thinks
WHUFC NEWS= Christmas is to come early for the hammers. Jim Bowe to take over the club by the end of November. He will pay of the £100m debt and will give Gianfranco Zola a massive £40m to spend in January, and about the same amount in the Summer. Even if we are still struggling come January Zola will not be sacked, but Scott Duxbury and Gianluca Nani will all be sent packing. Zola still however wants a technical director, but someone who he knows and trust. I expect someone like Gus Poyet as the favourite for the job. New long term contracts will be offered to both Robert Green, Matthew Upson plus all the other promising young players coming through. Robert Green is likely to stay but it is belived Upson still wants to join Man City plus Micah Richards in exchange.
January Ins=
Marouane Chamakh – Bordeaux – 5m,
Carlos Vela – Arsenal – 5m,
Micah Richards – Man City – FREE,
Steven Taylor – Newcastle – 4m + Gabbidon,
Victor Moses – Crystal Palace – 4m,
David Wheater – Middlesbrough – 5m,
Joe Ledley – Cardiff – 5m,
Jonjo Shelvey – Charlton – 3.5m.
January Outs=
Matthew Upson – Manchester City – 18m + Richards,
Mark Noble – Arsenal – 15m,
Danny Gabbidon – Newcastle – FREE,
Kieron Dyer – Stoke – 3m,
Jonathan Spector – Burnley – 2m,
Dean Ashton – Retire – 7m Compensation.
noble, upson, dyer and ashton could all do a job for the club i think, even gabbidon could. however i agree there must be a chance ashton will never play again or we would have heard some news on him. i think the club are not saying anything hoping the problem will just go away
moses would be a good capture, i remembe seeing him play a while back, looked very good.
OH! and just 1 more thing to say
WATCH THIS SPACE!!! LOL!!
Christmas???What decent player will want to come to us if we are in a relegation scrap?
Only a change of shape and tactics will turn fortunes around, but I can't see Zola doing a complete reverse.
I'm getting fed with people keep saying back Zola,when Zola is the problem not behind scene problems.
West ham were 2-1 down and on 89mins brings on Franco, tactics are rubbish, Zola never wanted to bring in another striker because he likes his one man up front, so don't blame the off field problems, look at the bigger picture.
If this take over happens and Zola gets money for transfers, would you trust him with that money? Zola would buy just midfielders from Italy.
Zola is not up to the job…
JUst in WH to appeal against all 4 charges in CC fiasco
Whether we will get any leniency or just the judges sentence of death
Fickle? A few weeks ago, Zola was the man. Now half of us want him out and the other half want him to change his tactics. Lets face it, not many managers would want to come to us with all what going on at the club, and what has gone on recently. We need to keep the faith and also keep Zola and Clark. It's going to be a hard season but jumping ship now isn't going to help.
Fishy It would be nice but not much experience coming in and the project is running out of time.
A draw or better a win (hope) againstthe gonners this saturday and Zola will be restored to greatness in the eyes of the doubters.
I do agree that Cole needs support upfront and he needs another strike partner – Hines, not an attacking midfielder. They are there to suppliment the attack. With most of our midfield options now back, it is time to give Noble a rest so he can refind his form in the reserves.
Let's remember we are West Ham til we die….