His Face says it all!
Dec 2, 2008 Craig Bellamy, Gianfranco Zola, Liverpool, Mathew Upson, West Ham News
Gianfranco Zola’s smile tells the world of his delight on an evening when his team drew an away game with one of the worlds greatest clubs.
The West Ham fans have a reason to smile too, 3 games without a loss and 3 clean sheets and a team that is gelling into what Zola promised as football worth watching.
Zola had this to say after the match:
“I am very pleased with my team performances of late. It was another clean sheet and we knew that was something we had to achieve.
“We are working well as a group and we are starting to get the results.
“Our goalkeeper Robert Green was outstanding, but then so were Matthew Upson and Craig Bellamy.”
SkySports as usual get the stats all wrong and insist that West Ham only had 30% of possesion, well Setanta was right with 41% and the only real shot on goal came from Bellamy when he hit the left goal post.
Great game, and deserved score at the end. Well Done Zola and the Lads and the fantastic away supporters who we heard sing Bubbles and im West Ham till i die, you did us proud.
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Tags: Bubbles, Clean Sheets, craig bellamy, Face, Football Worth, Gianfranco Zola, Goal Post, goalkeeper, Great Game, Lads, Match, Matthew Bellamy, Matthew Upson, Nbsp, Robert Green, Score, Setanta, SkySports, Smile, Team Performances, West Ham Fans
Liverpool v West Ham United - Its a LIVE Shocker Tonight!
Dec 1, 2008 Craig Bellamy, Featured Article, Gianfranco Zola, Highlights, Liverpool, Mathew Upson, West Ham News, england
Liverpool have a chance of moving back into first place when they host West Ham United at Anfield Road tonight.
The Reds will have to do better than in their last two games though, a goalless draw with Fulham and an uninspired narrow win over Marseille.
Liverpool are without Spaniard Fernando Torres, who suffered a new injury and should again be replaced with Robbie Keane. Fabio Aurelio is out with a calf injury.
Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola has a fit squad to work with.
Bellamy will be eager to score against his old club and prove to his old boss Benitez he was wrong to let him go.
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Tags: Atmosphere, Bore, Calf Injury, chelsea, england squad, Fabio Aurelio, Fernando Torres, Fulham, Gianfranco Zola, Host West, Liverpool, Marseille, No Doubt, Reds, Robbie Keane, sears, Shocker, Sunderland, Two Games, West Ham United
A Matter of Time!
Nov 25, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, West Ham News
Back in September on the 12th to be precise, COYI predicted that Gianfranco Zola would start pillaging his old Italy under 21 team for West Ham, but back then we thought it would be to buy players and not loan. Our old post read:
The first thing Gianfranco Zola will do as West Ham manager is to find a comfy chair for his office. The second thing he’ll do is sign Italian U-21 player Francesco Bolzoni, a player whose footballing talent is so pure they actually use it to baptise babies in some parts of Naples. Bolzoni will cost around £7m.
Well lets hope that is true, i would seriously like to see quality Italian youngsters joining up with our players like Sears, Tomkins, Hines, Noble, Collison,etc..
Well that did not exactly come true and maybe none of the rumours will but like any ex manager, Zola will have his heart on bringing 1 or maybe some of his under 21’s to West ham.
Todays rumour is that Sebastian Giovinco an Italian under 21 player could be on his way to Upton Park in January if Zola gets the OK from Juventus, but with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla showing an interest Zola could have some advantage as his ex Under 21 Coach and the love and respect Giovinco has for him.
The fact is we need to get rid of players and do need some new talent, even if only on loan.
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Tags: Atletico Madrid, Babies, Coach, Comfy Chair, Heart, Juventus, Love And Respect, Matter Of Time, Naples, Old Italy, rumour, rumours, sears, Sebastian Giovinco, Sevilla, tomkins, upton park, West Ham, Youngsters, Zola
Not Enough Quality! + [Video Highlights]
Nov 23, 2008 Featured Article, Gianfranco Zola, James Collins, Prediction League, Sunderland, West Ham News
After watching the Spurs match and how they only just beat a 10 man Blackburn, West Ham for 50 minutes were sitting in 17th place until Valon Behrami saved the day.
Roy Keane was dissapointed at not at least getting a share of the points and had this to say:
“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” Keane said after the match on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s questionable if we’ve done enough to win, but we could not provide the goal at the end.
“We got the opportunities. At least test the keeper but we didn’t really test him and we gave a bad goal away.
“It’s hard to take.
“I’ve no problem with the effort, we just need a bit more quality in the attacking third.”
Gianfranco Zola on the other hand was over the moon with his team and said to SkySports:
“Football is strange - sometimes you play well and get nothing.
“In those times you have to keep faith you are going to be rewarded and today is one of them.
“Today my smile is bigger. I am pleased for the boys because they were playing well and not getting results.
“We know that it is important to defend properly and the three points proved that.
“We are going to try and build (on) that.”
Match analysis
Valon Behrami handed Zola his first Barclays Premier League victory in eight attempts as Sunderland suffered a third successive home defeat.
The Switzerland international fired West Ham ahead with 20 minutes gone and could have made what followed far more comfortable had he not shot against the crossbar from just six yards on the stroke of half-time.
But in the end, his contribution proved enough to win a game which the home side dominated for long periods, but failed to make the most of the chances they created.
Manager Roy Keane has admitted in the past that the relative lack of goals his side scores often makes life difficult for them, and that shortcoming was painfully evident once again.
Djibril Cisse in particular had a series of chances, but the Wearsiders did not work goalkeeper Robert Green anywhere near often enough and ultimately paid the price.
The Hammers had to defend for long periods, but in Matthew Upson and James Collins, had willing workhorses, while former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was at his irritating best in front of a disgruntled crowd of 35,222.
Keane has seen and done most things in football, and little surprises him any longer.
However, he headed for the dressing room at half-time having seen his side create more than enough chances to win the game, but lucky still to be in it.
With recalled midfielder Andy Reid tormenting the Hammers down the left to provide a series of inviting cross for Cisse, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead.
Cisse sent one header just over and another narrowly wide, and then drilled a right-foot shot into the side-netting.
Reid landed a curling shot on top of Green’s crossbar and Danny Collins forced a good save from the keeper four minutes before the break, and there was fury inside the Stadium of Light went Cisse went down on the edge of the box under James Collins’ challenge and referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty appeals.
But in the meantime, Zola’s men had taken the lead against the run of play.
Reid was penalised for a foul on Lucas Neill wide on the right, and although Nyron Nosworthy cleared Julien Faubert’s free-kick, Behrami picked up the rebound and drilled a low shot past Marton Fulop with the help of a deflection off Kenwyne Jones.
Chances were few for the Londoners, but they should really have been 2-0 up in first-half injury-time after former Hammer Anton Ferdinand was left red-faced.
The defender attempted to control a high ball on halfway when he should really have headed it and succeeded only in giving it to Bellamy.
The Welsh international striker sprinted into the box and although he was forced wide as he attempted to round Fulop, he managed to squad for Behrami on the edge of the six-yard box - only for the midfielder to fire against the bar.
Keane’s side returned determined to make the most of their escape, and they were appealing for a penalty again within two minutes when Cisse smashed the ball against Upson’s arm from point-blank range - although Dean turned them down
The Frenchman was finding space with ease and headed wide once again from Phil Bardsley’s 49th-minute cross, and Green was relieved not to be punished for losing out in an aerial battle with Jones five minutes later.
Having spent 10 minutes pinned back inside their own half, the Hammers eventually fought their way into enemy territory and went close to a second goal with 56 minutes gone when Lee Bowyer headed just over.
The former Magpie was in on goal again on the hour when he ran on to Behrami’s pass, but Fulop smothered his cross with the blue shirts gathering.
Cisse was unable to capitalise on James Collins’ misjudgement when he allowed Reid’s 65th-minute cross to reach the Frenchman, who totally miscued his header.
Keane’s withdrew Steed Malbranque and Reid and sent on Daryl Murphy and Carlos Edwards, the latter having been recalled from his loan spell at Wolves.
Dean Whitehead forced a smart save from Green with a glancing 84th-minute header, but Sunderland’s fightback simply dwindled away to nothing.
Sunderlands biggest mistake was taking off Andy Reid which brought a sigh of relief to West Ham players and Fans as Reid was a definite danger to the Hammers and was more likely to bring on a goal for Sunderland with his accurate crosses to the 6 yard box.
COYI MOTM goes to James Collins
A massive 50 points each goes to Bobshep53 and shahirenayet for the correct Sunderland V West Ham prediction
This post was submitted by west ham fan.
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Tags: Andy Reid, Attempts, Barclays, Barclays Premier League, Behrami, Cisse, craig bellamy, Crossbar, Djibril Cisse, Dressing Room, Gianfranco Zola, hammers, League Victory, Long Periods, Match, Matthew Upson, Midfielder, Moon, Relative Lack, Robert Green, Roy Keane, Shortcoming, Smile, Spurs, striker, Stroke, Sunday Afternoon, Valiant, video highlights, West Ham, Workhorses
Zola: Flare and Passion & a Breath of Fresh Air
Nov 22, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, West Ham News
Mick Jolly From East London Writes
I read with interest Paul Mersons comments on West Ham and Zola.
Although this so called soccer pundit is entitled to his opinion, it
does not mean that as a life long Hammers supporter for 54 years, that
I have to agree with it. I would in fact disagree very strongly with his assessment of Zola. I see him as a breath of fresh air. I see him as a
man with vision and a passion.
We have been treading water for so long
now that it has become the normality for us Hammers supporters. This is
a chance to have some flair and I am sure that if the so called sale
does go ahead and we are lucky enough to get a Chairman with a good few
quid, then Zola with his charisma is just the man to make it work, So I
urge all those great Hammers supporters out there to give the guy a fair
crack of the whip. Lets keep behind him and see what he can do given a
full squad and some time.
WEST HAM BLOGS BOBBY MOORE DONATION
This post was submitted by Mick Jolly.
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Tags: Ahead, blogs, bobby moore, Breath Of Fresh Air, Charisma, Crack, East London, Flair, Flare, Game Links, Live Links, Lucky, Normality, passion, Prediction League, Pundit, Saturdays, soccer, Table Game, Treading Water, West Ham, Whip
Merson says Zola has it all Wrong
Nov 21, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, West Ham News
Paul Merson has spoke out and said Gianfranco Zola’s style of football is what is making West Ham slide 1 point from the relegation zone.
Merson said this on SkySports:
What’s the point of playing nice passing football if it doesn’t win you anything? They won the first FA Cup final I can remember in 1975 and they won it again in 1980, but since then they haven’t won anything. They’ve clung to this way of playing since the 1960s when they had top players like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters but I don’t understand why they keep doing it if it doesn’t achieve anything.
Merson who admitted that he suffers from addictions such as cocaine, alcohol and gambling was once a manager himself but failed miserably after the team he managed Walsall slipped from Div 1 to Div 2 and in Div 2 Walsall went out of all cup competitions against lower league teams, and it was reported that Merson had had a rift with his wife, and had started drinking and gambling again.
So should Zola take advice from Paul Merson? on how to ruin your life i agree he should but as a pundit or manager then you make your own mind up, i am sure if Merson asked the West Ham supporters how we feel about Zola and his style of play, the fans would say Zola needs time, after all, Zola bases his style on the team that Merson once played for and that is Arsenal.
Loading ...Some very funny moments with Merson as a SkySports pundit.
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Tags: 1960s, Addict, Addictions, Advice From, Alcohol, Arsenal, Bobby Moore Geoff Hurst, Cocaine Alcohol, Cup Competitions, Div 2, Fa Cup Final, fans, Funny, Gambling, How To Ruin Your Life, Paul Merson, Poll Id, Pundit, Relegation Zone, SkySports, West Ham
Not Worried!
Nov 1, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, Injuries, Middlesborough, West Ham News
Zola has admitted to the Telegraph that he is not worried about 4 losses in a row, all that matters is that the players are playing well and need a win to bring back the confidence of scoring goals.
He said to the Telegraph:
“I know what the situation is and I’m not worried. I know how the team is playing and that gives me enough confidence to keep on smiling. You go through times like these where it’s not easy with four bad results. Of course I worry. I have my moments but they are overcome straight away.
“I always had the belief that results will come through playing good football, although in the last four games we have not won any points. I trust what we’re doing and we’ll be OK soon.”
I am pleased that he still has confidence in the team but as a commentor SAM H said, is the 4-3-3 system working? some key players out injured make the 4-3-3 system quite weak.
We must beat Boro today not only beat them we need a good result, we have only scored 1 goal in the last 4 games.
Zola added:
“This team are not playing as if they are going to have problems with relegation,” he said. “We’re playing well. We just need some confidence which will come through results.
Nothing will annoy fans more than watching Spurs climb the league ladder and eventually be above us, so C’Mon Zola get our team back to winning ways.
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Tags: Belief That, Commentor, Confidence, Football Links, Four Games, League Ladder, Losses, relegation, Scoring Goals, soccer, Spurs, Telegraph, Winning Ways, Zola
Zola: Everything will be Better! Will Man Utd Suffer?
Oct 29, 2008 Arsenal, Carlton Cole, Featured Article, Gianfranco Zola, Man Utd, West Ham News
Gianfranco Zola speaking about his game with Man Utd tonight is as disappointed as any West Ham fan at losing the last 3 games but is not disappointed with the performance of his players and we have to admit, against Arsenal a majority of the game, we were actually on par.
Zola believes West Ham will climb back up the table and compete for a European place in the months to come, he said to the Media about tonight’s game against Man Utd:
“It’s never a good time to play them but we have to play them. We do respect them but we don’t fear them,”
he added.
“We are going to go there and play our game and we are going to try to win the game as we always try to do that. It’s a difficult moment but at this moment I’m sure the good teams come out.”
Zola knows that West Ham United could have possibly won 2 of the last 3 games but lost to silly mistakes, but praised the excellent fast flowing passing skills of his players, he said :
“I feel really bad about this because it never happened to me that I saw a team playing that well and then not getting any points for three matches but I know that in football things can change quickly,”
he added:
“We just need a game to get it right and then everything will be better.
“It’s a good starting point to play well, results are a consequence. That’s my philosophy and I will pursue it.”
Zola will have to do without Cole in his strike force tonight, his options are limited, so this could be where we see Sears play a some part of tonight’s game.
It is possible for West Ham United to beat Man Utd, it surely will be a game Man Utd will be taking very seriously if they watched the video of West Ham v Arsenal last Sunday, I am pretty sure that Zola will want a win and prove that his tactics are paying off, but a draw will without doubt please many Hammers fans and upset many Man Utd fans.
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Tags: Arsenal, Consequence, Doubt, fans, Game Man, Games, Good Starting Point, Good Time, Last Sunday, Lost, Man Utd, Many Man, Par, Philosophy, Play Game, sears, Silly Mistakes, Strike Force, West Ham United
Zola to be Knighted
Oct 22, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, New Manager, West Ham News
A ridiculous headline we all agree, kind of reminds me of the headline Zola to be sacked!!
Sky and Kumb announced announced that Zola is 2nd in line to be sacked, well where is the logic in this? and myself like any other West Ham fan finds any logical reason given by the above sources hard to believe.
Zola now into his 6th week as manager of West Ham has the job of making what some would call 2nd rate players into stars of tomorrow, for example Carlton Cole is much better now than he ever was, even LBM is showing some promise, Neill, Parker, Noble, Ethers, all are playing a much better standard of football and players that Curbs admitted he never heard of, Di Michele and Ilunga are fast becoming hero’s of the hardened fans.
SKY as usual are useless when it comes down to predictions and the SKY TV pundits are always slagging off West Ham United, so if SKY say Zola is up for the sack, you can bet your life that Zola will be around for years and making his West Ham squad into Premier League Warriors.
Who Knows? maybe the Queen will Honourably Knight Gianfranco Zola in the future for his services to English Football.
lmfhao
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This post was submitted by Mike DiAntoni.
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Tags: blogs, bobby moore, curbs, English Football, Ethers, Football Players, Gianfranco Zola, Hero, Ilunga, Job, Logic, Logical Reason, Lol, Michele, Prediction League, premier league, Queen, Sky Tv, Stars Of Tomorrow, Tv Pundits, Warriors, West Ham United
The 6 players to go in January!
Oct 9, 2008 Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, Gianfranco Zola, Landsbanki, West Ham News, finance
A financial crisis has hit West Ham and the club will respond accordingly, we may even see a substantial rise in ticket prices next season if a massive payout is awarded to Sheffield Utd, until then like any business we have to slimline the club to balance the books.
Zola has said he prefers Quality to Quantity so the 6 players we at COYI feel that should go in January are Danny Gabbidon, Nigel Quashie, Calum Davenport, Jonathan Spector, Lee Bowyer and Luis Boa Morte.
The only other answer to our problems is that BG sells the club to another billionaire.
This post was submitted by Mike DiAntoni.
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Tags: BG, Billionaire, Boa Morte, Books, Calum Davenport, Financial Crisis, Hayden, Jonathan, Jonathan Spector, Lee Bowyer, Massive Payout, Nigel Quashie, Sheffield Utd, Substantial Rise, Ticket Prices, West Ham
