We should have Waited
Aussihammer Writes
I think it says a lot about the Board that they were neither willing to wait for Billic and let Keen have a deserved crack of the whip in the interim or even invest with meeting Di Canio.
I can’t believe it has anything to do with experience as Zola has hardly been around management for long, It does a lot do with getting someone meek on board that the Board can manipulate at the same time as not being a fans favourite.
Can you really see Di Canio putting up with the shit Curbs dealt with over the last 3 months. If you are not going to give a manager money and power he must have something special to motivate the players he has, and I can not see anyone more motivated and driven than Di Canio, had the Board really thought about this they would appreciate that if things go bad we would of been more tolerant of a bad west ham with Di Canio than Zola.
Long term growth??? does anyone seriously believe that Zalo is here for the long term? why should he when he has no affiliation to the club whereas Di Canio may just of been a better long term prospect under the watchful eyes, and public face of Sir Trevor Brooking as a partnership.
If we were really going to give someone there first chance in Management then for me Zola is way down the pecking order.
This post was submitted by aussihammer.
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September 10th, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Mate you must be insane. di canio was a legend but was a sulking player who sits down during a match coz he is not happy and who refuses to travel north is for games as its to cold is not going to cut it as a manager when the going gets tough. Lets be honest we love him but he is kin loon….
September 10th, 2008 at 12:39 PM
couldnt agree more… feel rather queezy at the fact he’s a chelsea legend practicing at his managerial career with us. dicano would be much higher up the picking order
September 10th, 2008 at 12:40 PM
please please please- I am fed up with reading all this typical junk on west ham sites. I am a season ticket holder of 15 yrs plus and a fan for 30 yrs plus. The blogosphere moaning is partly based on a history of being let down by the old bd and yrs of hurt, but is also part of many fans DNA.
I think we all need to shut up and get behind Zola. Look at the appt logically - Ideally you would want 3 key things from a mgr
1) exciting football ethos
2) ability to attract exciting new talent
3) premiership experience
Well it is not an ideal world as number 3 includes about 7 managers in total in the world - none of whom will leave their current jobs i.e Ferguson, Wenger, Benitez, O’neill etc. Therefore you have to think logically and not ideally and say that i will accept a manager that fulfils both number 1 and 2 and has different experience. Yes Bilic would have been ideal and we should have acted like Man Utd and been arrogant, obnoxious and rude and gone for him and blow the consequences. But we didn’t, the rest of the shortlist was all top quality in my view. The only other names that you could have thrown in would be the likes of Frank Ricard, Lippi - but they would not come - fact!
So of the rest, Zola was my fav. The others were either too expensive (Manchini and he has the least prem experience), too arrogant (laudrup saying he would do it but would not interview) or on a par with Zola.
So Bilic would have been everyones first choice but we have a very eciting new young manager and we should get behind him and see what happens. If he can add someone like Clarke as his number 2 then i think it is a real coup!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Before you go spouting your mouth off about loyalty and the importance of being a West Ham man maybe you should go google our greatest manager of all time, Ron Greenwood, and see how many games he played for West Ham.
And Zola meek? That’s just so far off I dont even know where to start, still It’s no worse than I’ve come to expect from this website. It pains me that this trash is included on Newsnow, you make real West Ham fans look like morons on a daily basis.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I dont think we are ’settling’ for Zola. I think he is a good prospect and the fact he never played for West Ham but has played for Chelsea means sweet FA to me. Thats such a redundant view point, as a manager he will be acting professionally for West Hams benefit. I agree that the board could have entertained Di Canio’s wish to be considered more seriously however he has only just completed his coaching qualifications and has even less experience than Zola at a lower level. Lets face it, Bilic - Di Canio - Zola, all passionate managers that are welcome at Upton Park. The ‘fans’ should stop expecting to hold all the cards and put faith in the process. I for one think Nani is a good professional and judge of footballing credibility with a great track record in football so I look forward to the current events unfolding.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:16 PM
How many managers actually manage the teams they used to play for? although i would have been over the moon with Bilic and di canio as asst, we need to move on, i watched Italy U21’s last night and i think you guys are going to love the passion that Zola gives the club he manages, when Italy scored he was running around in circles punching the air, kinda reminds me of how pardew used to be with his little wiggle dance.
Lets be positive and give the guy a chance.
and as for Donadoni tinking we was not right for him, i think he was right, he needs more experience before he manages a premier league club.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:51 PM
joe, bob, josh, syducket - great to hear there are some sensible fans that think with their heads rather than their hearts. the original post is just nonsense. I for one can’t wait to sing Ganfranco zola to the tune of PDC. The chelsea thing sticks only slightly but hey if we nick Clarke as well they will be more peeved than us
September 10th, 2008 at 2:02 PM
I do agree that it says a lot about the board, however I’m not quite sure that I agree on what it says.
As I see it there are two possible explanations.
Either the board is not run by professional businessmen, as was my impression, but by Nani and possible compatriots, and their lack of experience in these matters is what we see.
Or the board knows exactly what they are doing - more or less staging this selection process by choosing “variables” so it would fit only one candidate. This would mean that Zola was the choice all along, but for other reasons than the board would like to become public (e.g. Zola is the one to go along with that the way Nani has divided tasks between manager and technical director).
I think the last explanation has some merit.
And I do agree that Zola should be far down in the pecking order – ergo, it is staged!
September 10th, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Hi Aussihammer, I think I have to agree with Bob, there are a number of scenarios here, I have written a number of times about BG and his future at the club, I think that Kia Joorabchians presence within the decision process is significant, and could herald the beginnings of another foreign buy out. I fimrly believe that the board felt that AC’s transfer dealings showed a naivety which they didn’t want to repeat, there could be money available in the January transfer window. Having Slaven with 1 eye on the Croatia job, as much as I would have wanted him to come, would not be a viable proposition. I think that those that have suggested Paolo as the assistant are speaking wise words, but Zola may not want him. Personally if Zola brings back exciting football, he gets my vote, let’s try and get behind him.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Yep, I agree - give Zola a chance.No one knows if he will cut it until he is given the chance & actually gets on with the job, but then that applies to all candidates - but he’s a top bloke & was a top footballer.January window will be the crunch - will the board back him with cash to buy decent players and get rid of the s lot of the shite we have ?Or have they already said “do as we say !”Ron Greenwood - I’m old enough to remember that the Chicken run always had banners with “Greenwood out”.As Harry Redknapp said, “We had Moore, Hurst & Peters,but still used to finish third from bottom - shows how crap the rest of us were !!”
September 10th, 2008 at 2:18 PM
I agree with most of the opinions on here that it matters not one jot who he played for. He takes the job and he’ll now be a West Ham man. I want to win and that is how I will judge him first and thereafter I want to win in style and that is what I’ll be looking for after the win. Can Zola bring that, without a doubt he can. All West Ham fans who have a problem with him because he played for Chelsea, should grow up because so did Ron Greenwood and we think of him as a West Ham legend. If you can’t get behind Zola I suggest you don’t come to the matches, because I want him to succeed because if he does then so do we and that is what I want most of all.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:31 PM
I don’t see a problem in acknowledging that something is fishy with the whole thing, or disagreeing with the choice and backing whoever gets appointed!
For every game all of us have thoughts on what team should be fielded, but almost all of us get behind whatever XI is out there. Same thing here.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:33 PM
The Chelsea match will be the game i want to see more than any, its obvious he will be applauded by his admirers there, but it will be us applauding him at the end of the game when we beat them.
Zola’s claret and blue army
September 10th, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Joppe, totally agree, we all have our opinions and they are all valid. I for one wasn’t for Bilic, neither an advocate of Zola, I would have loved Harry back with PDC as assistant but neither here nor there now. We can help make our Manager sink or swim by the manner in which we engage with him and the team and the one thing I do know about Zola is that he will want to please us and show us what good attacking football is all about. He was one of those players I couldn’t help but admire greatly, not one of those pansy badge kissers but someone who played the game with passion, desire, hunger, creativity and great deal of skill and if he can bring that to the Boleyn then we are in for a treat and we will attract a class of player that will take us to where we want to be because they will want to play for us because of how we play and, hopefully, the success it will bring. Let’s give him every support and that will be one less thing he will need to worry about and he can concentrate on the team and getting some decent return from them.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:48 PM
joppe - agree with all that you say but one thing. “almost all of us get behind the team whatever 11 are out there”. I have sat in the Bobby Moore for 10 yrs and Dr martins for 5 and this is simply not true. As Curbs put it west ham fans are second to none when we get behind the team. However this insinuates that when we have reservations, concerns etc there is a “not so silent minority who start booing, shout crap” etc. We are the best and worst fans in the world, we can be loud, passionate and proud but we are also one of the quickest to turn on players and managers without giving them a chance. My concern is that the chelski bo***s and the lack of expereince rubbish will mean that the “not so silent minority” get stuck into Zola after about 4 games.
The job of the bulk of the people on this site is to shout loud and not let that happen- unless of course a yr into his tenure we are in the crap then he can have it both barrells.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:29 PM
HEre we go again - the board this the board that! At some stage we need to back people, get behind them and give them time to develop. Zola will most likely not decide on which players we bring in - but we should remember the days when Harry brought in a pot load of useless talent when he had carte blanche to do as he pleased. I believe Zola can do a job for West Ham, I believe Nani can find talent for Zola to work with - the combination of two like minded people working together will be powerful if we give them some leeway. I agree re Di Canio although I think he may be too highly strung to be a coach - could you imagine the dressing room at half time? Him and Lucas Neill rolling around on the floor!!! I say give Zola a chnce to shine - but remember nothing is forever, Bilic will be available in time, Zola may just be keeping the seat warm!
September 10th, 2008 at 3:31 PM
JMan – “Pantsy badge kissers” – love it! I’ll steal it for my blog – OK?
Ghammer – point taken!
September 10th, 2008 at 3:45 PM
We should have waited for Bilic and even looked into the idea of Slaven being a part-time manager until January. He would have been more or less ful time anyway. It’s not as if we are completely in the mire.To me, it seems as if Nani has ensured that Zola gets the role as his own position would not have been so comfortable if Bilic had taken the job.Who’s to say that Bilic looked at the set-up/role offered and said - nope not for me, I’m staying put! That in itself should tell the owner and Nani what they need to know.If the owner wants to run a club the way it’s done on the continent, I suggest he goes and buys one!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:32 PM
i’ve spoken on this topic endlessly so heres something else to chew on, matty just got loaned 300k for his gabling debt so with the loyalty shown by the board so far does anyone think he’ll be shown the door in january???
September 10th, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Joppe, you go for it my friend, I’ll claim the royalties later ;)!!
September 10th, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Good point about the late great Ron Greenwood never playing football for us. He actually played for Chelsea and went on to coach Arsenal before he came to WHU.
Let’s give Zola a chance. He is actually a good choice because FACT if we wish to keep up with the way the modern game is evolving, ‘going Italian’ is not a bad idea. Mancini was my choice however I think it would have taken him longer to settle. At least Zola has played in the prem, he is fluent in English and will obviously be able to talk to Nani in Italian, he has been working with young players, he was respected as a player by all and how the f*** do we know he is ‘meek’?
And finally, the timing is all wrong for Bilic, he ain’t coming. Get over it fellow fans. At least we know that if one day (and i believe it will happen) we know he won’t up and leave in the middle of his contract.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:07 PM
i agree with the people we need to get behind Zola the football he enjoys also we are forgetting the connections Zola has no made with him and nani we have great ties in italy, a country in my opinion that produces lots of players at the highest quality. could we see a few italian u-21’s make there way to west ham. the talent that we seem to be developing is awesome you look at the names being thrown about as poss subs. two years a go we signed marek stech. he was an unknown, but is now being mentioned as our no. 2 which to me says the long term future of my beloved club is going to be rocky but with a great and exciting future and i am backing 100% through thick and thin.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:42 AM
For me the most important thing is that Zola has an opportunity to become very confident very quickly, if you look at the next 6 fixtures we really do have a chance of getting the best part of 20 points by end of October, the next three games, in my opinion, are all winnable and as such if we do then the confidence throughout the team will be high, the press may finally start being positive and come Christmas if we are in the top 8 funds may be made available as a manageable risk to push on for a European place. With the exception of Solano and McCartney none of the other departures weaken our team. I actually think Ferdinand going will do us a favour and the centre half pairing can be picked on performance not reputation. I would like us to go all out to sign Appiah as his metal in midfield along with Parker should make us hard to break down. Davenport and Collins both offer better aerial defensive qualities than ferdinand and with Zolas help I am hoping Noble realises his potential of being a playmaker. A fit Bellamy and Ashton are as good as anyone else front outside the top 4, both Faubert and Berahmi appear useful at right half and even LBM showed a little pre season form along with Ethers. Add to that the youth of Sears, Collinson, Tomkins, Hines we have a bench that can come on with energy and enthusiasm. Left full back is now covered although we are yet to see how good they are I am reasonably confident. Dyer will be back i hope very soon. There must be a lot of Premiership teams looking at this squad with envy, pace, youth and expereince, passionate home crowd and a good start.I don’t like the Board but as I have absolutely no say in this I am not going to worry, if we get behind the players I honestly believe we can move on from 10th, perhaps not 5th but hopefully not far of and a decent cup run all culminating in a move forward. On paper WBA, Stoke, Sunderland,Blackburn,Bolton, Fulham, Boro, Newcastle, Wigan all have worse sides and will struggle. tottenham relied very heavily last year on scoring goals, I can not see Bent getting doube figures like Berbatov and keane was not replaced. if you add that lot together we will be in top 10 by default so our key games will be A Villa, Everton, Man City and we have pretty good form against most of them.big win for Keens troups Saturday, my bet Bellamy to get 2, Ashton 1 in a 3-0 win.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:43 AM
Hey Aussi, Keane was replaced with Pavlyachenko.Moving back to the Good ol’ Ammers, as most people here have stated, I’m not overly happy with the board, but thats life and we need to accept that they are the ones with the purse strings and the final say around here at the moment. Moving forward, I do believe that Zola will show his passion - lets face it if he doesn’t and he fails where else is he going to go as a manager - so he WILL provide us with the results, and we will get behind the team and the manager - come on guys !!!!! GUWERN YOU AMMERZZZZZAAAAHHHHHHHHH