Daily WHUFC News - II 22nd September 2008

Carr's side learn lessons - WHUFC
The Under-18s may have been beaten at the weekend but the experience will be
a valuable one
22.09.2008

Tony Carr may have seen his Under-18 side lose their first game of the
season at the weekend but the youth academy director said his players would
learn much from the experience.

A youthful side, without the likes of reserve-team regulars such as Jordan
Spence, Bondz N'Gala, Junior Stanislas and even the previous week's two-goal
hero Freddie Sears, were outmuscled in a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City. "We
had our moments, but it wasn't to be," said Carr, who admitted the game
could have turned had there been better fortune for Balint Bajner when his
second-half effort hit the post.

"But we were against a very aggressive team that came at us with a very
direct style. We found it very difficult and we didn't get it down and play
any football. That was the most disappointing thing for me, not the defeat.
We didn't control the game in any way shape or form. They squeezed us and
pressed us."

Given the way the game panned out, Carr will look for his players to take
plenty from the contest which was the first defeat after five games this
campaign. "It is all part of the learning curve for us and we will pick
ourselves up and go on to the next game. They scored two avoidable goals
from free-kicks, which set the pattern and gave them the confidence. It was
disappointing but these are things we can work on in training."

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Zola hails 'new Di Canio' - SSN
Di Michele earns manager's praise
Last updated: 22nd September 2008

Gianfranco Zola hopes that David Di Michele can have the same sort of impact
for West Ham as Paolo Di Canio. Di Michele, who joined the Hammers on loan
from Torino earlier this month, scored twice in the 3-1 victory over
Newcastle on Saturday. He has impressed his new boss and Zola believes his
fellow Italian has the right style of play to become a fans' favourite. "I
hope he can do as well as Di Canio did for these supporters," Zola said in
the Daily Star. "He has got everything in his bag to be a successful player
for West Ham. "I hope he can become a cult hero because we want players to
become important for the club - and successful. "I told him he can do
unbelievable things but he needs to improve his finishing, which shows he
listens to me very carefully."
Di Michele was delighted with his performance against the Magpies and paid
tribute to the Upton Park faithful. The 32-year-old admits he is loving life
in the Premier League, although he has played down comparisons with Di
Canio. "It was an atmosphere that I am not used to," he said. "The fans
helped me to focus. It made me determined to to do my best, because even if
you make a mistake, they are not on your back. "Obviously, I am just David
Di Michele. Paolo Di Canio was a great, great player for West Ham and he has
to be respected for what he did for this club. "My hope is to do well and to
make a name for myself at such a big club."

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The full Monty - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 22nd September 2008
By: Staff Writer

Fiorentina manager Cesare Prandelli has dismissed reports linking midfielder
Riccardo Montolivo with a move to East London. Prandelli, talking to the
Italian media at the weekend was speaking in response to reports suggesting
that United were interested in securing the services of the 23-year-old.
"West Ham want Montolivo? This season he will make the leap in quality
here," he said, before adding "twelve million [the fee West Ham are rumoured
to be willing to pay] is not a great offer."
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is said to be a big admirer of Montolivio who
began his career at Atalanta in Serie B at the age of just 18, helping his
team clinch promotion to Serie A during his first season. Despite being
relegated the following year Montolivio diid enough to catch the eye of
several major clubs and ended up moving to Fiorentina where he has a been a
regular for the last three seasons. A regular in the Italian under 21 team
formerly co-managed by Zola, Montolivio won his first full international cap
in a friendly against South Africa back a year ago next month. However he
was overlooked for the Italian squad that played at Euro 2008 and played
instead for the under 21s at the Beijing Olympics.

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West Ham United 3 - KUMB
Newcastle United 1
by Gordon Thrower

That was fun wasn't it. The fixtures against Newcastle are particular
favourites of mine. In the past the Gnome playing career was partly spent
playing for a well-known financial institution in a side that consisted of
some players many of whom were winding down their own careers, with the
addition of a few youngsters (as I was back then) to do all the running
around. It was a fine group of reprobates most of whom remain firm friends
nearly 30 years later.
One of the other youngsters was Craggsy, a Watford-based Geordie who was
actually so slow I had to do his running for him as well. Craggsy brought
his young daughter Lucy with him for this one and, as ever, he was late, my
arrival at our traditional Whitechapel meeting point being interrupted by a
call pointing out that they'd only just left Watford. Lucy's summing up was
harsh but accurate –"he's a waste of space!" The despair at the absence of
Craggsy was tempered by the highly amusing sight of a police car reversing
into a bollard at the back of the Royal London Hospital. Some things are
funny just because they are.

Thankfully the rest of the Geordie gang had arrived on time and we soon
settled into our traditional discussions along the lines of "my team's worse
than yours." One of their number even suggested that relegation was on the
cards. Website tales were swapped with nufc.com's Biffa who told a hilarious
tale of having been asked to publicise an anti-Ashley march last week and,
having done so, then receiving annoyed emails from others involved, moaning
that he had given away their plans! Apparently the best way to get a lot of
people on your march is to keep it secret. Football fans do themselves no
favours do they?!

Waste of Space finally arrived and we picked up the team news. There were a
number of surprises. At the back Davenport was dropped to the racing car
seats, Neil pushed in to the middle to partner Upson and, the biggest
surprise possibly, Faubert withdrawn to right back with Behrami taking up
the right hand spot in the middle. The middle was a middle three with
Etheringon pushing up into a more advanced role and there was a start for Di
Michele leaving us with a starting line up of Green, Faubert, Ilungi, Neill,
Upson, Parker, Noble, Behrami, Etherington, Di Michele, Cole.

Yes it was a bright start as the team ran out with with kit newly sponsored
by the characters of cult sci-fi series "The Prisoner." (Look it up if
you're too young to remember). As early as the second minute a long ball in
from Faubert, caused a bit of panic with the ball falling out to Etherington
whose shot was blocked by a desperate lunge from Taylor, though Matty's
preference for his left cost him a touch that delayed the shot and would
have had my dad muttering something about "professional footballers only
having one foot" had he been present. The corner was, unusually for us this
season, fruitless.

As the game settled down our line-up had revealed itself to be a 4-3-2-1
rather than the traditional 4-3-3 with Etherington and DiMichele playing
just behind Carlton Cole. Cole was doing well making a nuisance of himself
and a promising turn looked dangerous until he hit traffic. Ilungi, who our
bit of the ground have hilariously christened "Cheri" then played DiMichele
in down the left but, Cole not being in much of a position to support the
Italian elected to shoot and Given turned the ball out at his near post.
Noble's corner failed to clear the first man.

We took the lead on 8 minutes. Faubert played a ball inside to Cole who
cleverly turned his marker to find DiMichele. The Italian cleverly lost
Coloccini and moved inside playing a shot from 20 yards that caught a
defender on its way and looped up giving Given no chance. "Own Goal" Craggsy
was heard to mutter through gritted teeth but, although he ought to know a
thing or two about such matters what with him having scored so many in his
career, it was DiMichele's goal all the way.

Newcastle seemed in disarray. The ball was given away almost immediately to
Etherington who burst into the box and saw his shot blocked by Taylor. It
may have hit the defender's arm but was never a penalty in a million years
despite the auto-reflex shouts from the Centenary end. Cole was then
up-ended on the edge of the box but Noble's free-kick bothered no-one.
Newcastle then had a shout of their own for a penalty, as Dunn's cross was
driven straight at Parker from about two feet. It also was not a penalty
despite Dunns waving of arms like some sort of crap mime artist. The
clearance reached Cole whose run looked dangerous before running into a
blind alley.

Some good work between Ilungi and DiMichele saw the Italian feed Etherington
down the left. Matty's cross just eluded Cole in the middle. Ilungi then
joined the attack and pulled the ball back for DiMichele who delayed the
shot and forced himself wide leaving himself with a cross to nobody in
particular.

The visitors had produced little though Geremi's dangerous-looking cross
forced Faubert into conceding a corner from which nothing came. Noble then
tried his luck with a curling effort from the left hand side of the box that
didn't curl anywhere near enough to trouble the 'keeper.

The lead was doubled on 36 minutes. Noble's excellent through ball found Di
Michele one on one with Given. The Italian's shot hit the 'keeper on the
head and rebounded out to the right. Taylor elected not to attack the ball
and DiMichele cleverly flicked the ball over the defender before burying a
low shot in at the near post. Fine persistence and skill from the striker
but, it has to be said, awful defending. An entertaining half came to an end
after one minute of stoppage with the hapless Coloccini receiving chants of
"are you Keegan in disguise?" Even more cruel were the "One Mike Ashley"
chants which did nothing to improve "Waste Of Space's" mood.

The purveyor of half-time confectionery being away, we endured a
Kit-Kat-less interval after which there were no changes. Faubert started
proceedings with a fine ball down the right into the path of DiMichele with
the Italian failing to win a corner or keep the ball in. Up the other end
another dangerous looking cross from Geremi had hearts in mouth for a spit
second. Green, however was confident of it's trajectory and, as usual, he
was right as the ball sailed harmlessly past his right hand post.
Cole then headed over from a Faubert cross, Faubert having done brilliantly
to get the cross in over the first place.

Neill became the first to receive a yellow for a mis-timed but hardly
malicious challenge on Owen. A smidgeon harsh perhaps. From the free-kick
the ball hit Taylor on the back and rebounded to a four-yard offside Owen
who headed straight at Green. It might have been interesting had the ball
gone in as the linesman had let his ref down badly by failing to flag the
offside. In the end it mattered naught.

Butt fouled Behrami. Faubert quickly fed Cole who turned and played a
sublime ball inside the full back for DiMichele. DiMichele played the ball
across to the far post where Etherington gleefully buried the simplest of
tap-ins to send us 3-0 up. DiMichele's effort, on a hat-trick, was probably
a shot rather than a pass but, frankly, who cares! It was a proper
footballing move and worthy of the ovation it received.

Faubert then slid in a superb ball in the direction of Cole but Taylor was
always favourite and was able to shepherd the ball clear as the "Down With
The Tottenham" chants started to rub it in even more.

Newcstle did force a corner from which Coloccini hit the bar with a header
but ref Dowd had long since blown for an infringement. DiMichele should then
have got his hat-trick. A marvellous flowing move down the left saw Parker
combine with Ilungi and Cheri's pull-back sat there and begged to be buried.
Unfortunately DiMichele suffered the proverbial "sudden rush of blood" and
got underneath the shot putting it high and wide.

Cole then got in down the right, held the ball up before playing it into the
centre. Noble's dummy fooled everyone, including, unfortunately, DiMichele
and the ball was cleared.

We were then treated to the statutory goal from Michael Owen. Seemingly fed
up with the total lack of service he was receiving from his team-mates he
received a ball on the edge of the box, shimmied inside, leaving Neill on
the floor before curling a superb effort inside Green's far post. As goals
go, it was a bit of a waste really.

Being West Ham, even under new management, the goal brought an element of
nervousness to proceedings and the visitors had a couple of chances to score
a goal that might have made the last 25 minutes a little more interesting.
The defence failed to clear a corner from N'Zogbia and the bell eventually
fell to Cacapa, whose tame effort was easily dealt with by Green. N'zogbia
then played a dangerous ball in from the left that fell out to Duff but
again the shot lacked menace and green saved well to his right.

On 71 Mullins replaced the impressive Parker who may have been suffering
from the effects of a brave block of a full-blooded shot and, shortly after,
Boa-Morte took over from Etherington. The trio of substitutions was
completed when Sears replaced Cole who had had a fine game. Sears' first
action was to go down under a sly challenge from Coloccini – very sly
indeed. It was unsurprisingly missed by Mr Dowd who had an otherwise decent
match.

DiMichele then had an infuriating couple of minutes, firstly by failing to
play in either Sears or Boa-Morte when either was well-placed. Then shortly
after the Italian then tried to play in Sears when really he ought to have
taken the ball on himself. The infuriation continued. Boa-Morte ruined a
three v three break by going for goal and putting the ball into row z. Then,
as the three minutes of injury time were running out, he missed an even
better chance when one-on-one with Given, sidefooting the ball a yard wide
when he really ought to have scored.

That was the last meaningful action of the game as an entertaining match
came to a close. It was a good performance – though I suppose it has to be
said that Zola and Clarke couldn't have wished for more accommodating
opponents to start off their first jobs at a proper club. According to my
Geordie chums, the squad they had for this match is just about it in terms
of talent and they'll need to sort out the background stuff sooner rather
than later if it is not to be a long cold winter for them.

As for us, the new formation served us well. Having two smaller guys playing
off Cole sees us playing the ball quickly and on the deck, the way we all
like to see. There were a number of decent performances, not least from
Parker and Cole, who held the ball up marvellously well. If Heskey is deemed
worthy of international honours, surely a player who can do all that he does
with the added advantage of being infinitely more mobile and stable must be
worth a look? In defence Faubert looked twice the player at right back and
Neill and Upson played well together. Yes it's the honeymoon period I know
but early signs are encouraging and I'll settle for leaving the Boleyn with
a smug grin on my face every week if I have to!

Player Ratings

Robert Green (7)
Barely tested, made two comfortable saves just after they scored but they
weren't the most testing of shots.

Julien Faubert (7)
A fine game. Not given the hardest of days but looks much better in this
position.

Herita Ilunga (7)
Continued on from where he left off at West Brom. Solid defensively and
played some fine balls down the line.

Lucas Neill (7)
Mugged by Owen for the goal but otherwise comfortable.

Matthew Upson (7)
Kept Xisco very quiet. A fairly easy afternoon really.

Scott Parker (8)
Best game in ages for the midfielder. Hopefully the knock that saw him
withdrawn is nothing serious.

Mark Noble (7)
Revelled in the extra responsibility that a 3-man midfield brought him. Some
decent passes too.

Valon Behrami (7)
A lot of hard work – much of it un-noticed by most.

Matthew Etherington (7)
Another who enjoyed a new role. It suited him and the goal was deserved.

David Di Michele (7)
A typical West Ham player in that he delights and infuriates in equal
amounts. Spot of luck for the first. Good work for the second. Should have
had a third.

Carlton Cole (8)
Held the ball up superbly and, whilst he didn't score, he worked his socks
off throughout.

Substitutes

Hayden Mullins (6)
(replaced Parker, 72) Replaced the impressive Parker but slotted in well and
even found time to play some decent passes.

Luis Boa Morte (5)
(replaced Etherington, 73) Ought to have scored but his confidence is
clearly at a low ebb at the moment.

Freddie Sears (6)
(replaced Cole, 87) Full of running and might have got a penalty had the ref
spotted Coloccini's sneaky trip.

Jan Lastuvka (0)
Did not play.

Calum Davenport (0)
Did not play.

Walter Lopez (0)
Did not play.

Kyel Reid (0)
Did not play.

Match Facts
West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Lucas Neill,
Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Valon Behrami, Matthew Etherington,
David Di Michele, Carlton Cole.
Substitutes: Hayden Mullins, Luis Boa Morte, Freddie Sears, Jan Lastuvka,
Calum Davenport.
Goals: David Di Michele 9 David Di Michele 37 Matthew Etherington 53

Booked: Lucas Neill 51
Sent Off:

Newcastle United: Given, Edgar, Taylor, N'Zogbia, Coloccini, Geremi, Cacapa,
Butt, Duff, Owen, Xisco.
Substitutes: Bassong (Edgar 59), Gonzalez (Cacapa 81).
Subs not used: Harper, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson, Ameobi.
Goals: Owen (67)
Booked: Kim (71)
Sent Off: None

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 34743
Man of the Match: Carlton Cole

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David Di Michele helps fellow Italian get off to perfect start - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 22nd September 2008
By: |Thomas Rooney

New West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola made a winning start to his
reign as two goals from David Di Michele helped his team to a 3-1 victory
over struggling Newcastle United. It was an encouraging display from the
Hammers and although there is still plenty of work to be done, I think we
can be hopeful of what the future may bring.

Let's not be fooled though. Not a lot can be judged from beating Newcastle
United right now. They are without a manager, their owner is looking to
sell, the fans are protesting every five minutes and the players must be
considering the quickest way out of the club. I don't think Zola could have
chosen more ideal opposition for his first game. Perhaps that's why he
wasn't 'officially' in charge at West Brom – he wanted to guarantee a
winning start and a home game against Newcastle is as close as he was going
to get. The football odds are leaning towards Newcastle relegation, after
all.

The win shouldn't be considered as a write off though – far from it. There
were a number of positives to take from the game. First of all - Di
Michele's home debut was superb. He took his goals very well and acted as a
perfect partner to the physical Carlton Cole. Throughout his career, he has
a decent enough scoring record so hopefully there is plenty more to come.
Presumably, as an Italian striker himself, he will admire and respect Zola.
Therefore, the new manager should be able to get the best out of his very
own Italian goal scorer.

The second big positive for me was Scott Parker. I thought he was phenomenal
and the driving force in the midfield – he ran the show against his former
club. Perhaps more significantly though, after only playing 18 Premier
League games last season, he has been an ever present so far. Not that I
want to curse things, but he looks as if he could be starting to perform to
the standards that saw him secure a move from Charlton to Chelsea back in
2004. Should this be the case, he will quickly become one of West Ham's most
important players.

As ever though, there were some slight concerns despite the decent overall
performance. The defence was far from convincing and when Michael Owen
pulled a goal back for Newcastle, there was a horrible feeling that they
could get back into it. Julien Faubert in particular – who was playing out
of position at right back – looked rather shaky and Damien Duff got the
better of him on more than one occasion. This probably highlights the injury
problems more than anything else though. I'm presuming Calum Davenport
wasn't fit enough to start the game, because I'd have preferred seeing him
alongside Matthew Upson with Lucas Neil back in his comfort zone at full
back.

Overall, Zola will be delighted with getting a win under his belt but he is
wise enough to know that there are tougher tests to come. He will also know,
having watched the game at West Brom as well as taking charge of this game,
that the defence is a little shaky. Individual errors need to be cut out. If
they are, the attacking ability West Ham have, combined with the positive
mentality of Zola can result in a very successful season with lots of goals
and attractive football.

Next up is a Carling Cup game at Watford. In my opinion, this is a much
tougher game than the one just gone. In terms of football betting, West Ham
will be favourites for this clash, but the Championship side will provide
Zola's men with tough game – I'm certain of that.

Then it is a trip to Fulham followed by a home game against Bolton. After
these three games, hopefully the positivity surrounding the new era of
management is still present because the atmosphere in and around Upton Park
on Saturday was back to what it should be. Long may it continue.

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Fiorentina boss insists West Ham target Montolivo is not going anywhere -
Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 3:44 PM on 22nd September 2008

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has insisted midfielder Riccardo Montolivo
will not be sold to West Ham or any other club in January. New Hammers
manager Gianfranco Zola is a great admirer of the Italian playmaker and
reports have linked the 23-year-old with a move to Upton Park in January in
a transfer deal worth £12million. 'West Ham wants Montolivo?" Prandelli said
when asked about the situation. 'This season he will make the leap in
quality here. £12million is not a great offer.' Montolivo is under contract
with the Florence outfit until June 2012 and has been a regular in
Prandelli's side since last season.

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Zola's West Ham Set To Be Snubbed By Fiorentina As Montolivo 'Too Important'
To Sell? - PremeirshipLatest.com
Submitted by Niraj Prabhu on Mon, 2008-09-22 14:58. West Ham United
Premiership Transfer News

West Ham United new boss Gianfranco Zola may have to look elsewhere as
Hammers' reported target Riccardo Montolivo is "too important to lose" for
Serie A side Fiorentina. Reports over the weekend suggested that Italian
tactician Zola, who has just started his career as a manager in the
Premiership, has identified the 23-year-old Azzurri midfielder as the
transfer target for January window with a bid of around £12million being
readied. However, Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli is determined to keep
Montolivo at the Viola where he has been since 2005. "Montolivo is a crucial
player for our season," he is reported as saying. "He is a champion and he
is too important for us to lose." Montolivo was part of the Italian squad at
the Beijing Olympics after having been left out of the final Italian squad
for Euro 2008.

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Cole sits out Carling Cup clash - teamTalk

West Ham will rest Carlton Cole for the Carling Cup tie at Watford on
Tuesday night as the striker has a slight foot injury. Dean Ashton (ankle)
is still sidelined, along with fellow forward Craig Bellamy
(hamstring/groin), so youngster Freddie Sears could be handed the chance to
impress. Defenders Danny Gabbidon (groin) and Jonathan Spector (thigh)
remain sidelined, while midfielder Kieron Dyer continues his rehabilitation
after a broken leg.

West Ham (from): Green, Behrami, Upson, Neill, Ilunga, Faubert, Noble,
Parker, Etherington, di Michele, Sears, Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Reid,
Mullins, Boa Morte, Collison.

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Mourinho wants success for West Ham United - Cmon Yu Irons
22 September 2008 317 views

Under the guiding eye of Steve Clarke, Jose Mourinho believes West Ham will
be successful. Jose believes that 1 day Steve Clarke should and could manage
a team in the Premier League and said that at present Clarke is probably a
better manager than most in the EPL. Jose is also pleased that close friends
Zola and Clarke have teamed up to manage West Ham and insists they are more
like brothers than friends and that Clarke will share his experience from
his days as 2nd in command to Mourinho, to Zola.
Mourinho said : "Of course, I'm not a West Ham fan, but with Steve having
this responsibility there, I want them to succeed. Steve is a really top
coach and a really top man."
The future for once looks bright for the Hammers, with our New manager Zola
and his experienced assistant Clarke that will take West Ham United to where
they rightly belong.

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Chant wars - Just how did the Hammers and Magpies bait each other at Upton
Park? - Daily Mail
By DAVE MUIR
Last updated at 12:37 PM on 22nd September 2008

As West Ham emerge from their managerial upheavals and Newcastle stay deeply
entrenched in theirs, both sets of fans enjoyed baiting each other during
Saturday's Premier League clash at Upton Park. But it was all done in the
best of spirits with the Hammers warming up pre-match and immediately after
David Di Michele's opening goal with a rousing chorus of; 'There's only one
Mike Ashley.'
With Magpies owner Ashley doing a very good impression of the invisible man
since manager Kevin Keegan quit a couple of weeks ago, it was the opening
salvo in healthy fan banter that the Toon army was more than happy to
respond to. West Ham duly walloped Newcastle 3-1 to leave the Tyneside club
second bottom of the table and better only than Tottenham. But not to be
outdone, their ever-loyal fans drew laughter from the Hammers faithful with
chants of: 'You stole my holiday', a reference to West Ham's sponsor -
travel company XL - going bust last week and leaving thousands of
holidaymakers stranded around the world.
They then basked in the applause of the home supporters when they started
singing: 'You're not flying anymore' while doing John Fashanu-type aeroplane
goal celebrations. All very ironic given Newcastle's sponsors are none other
than Northern Rock, the bank that caused financial meltdown over a year ago
by going bust and needing government help just to stay afloat. Who said
gallows humour is not dead?

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Hammers taking a big gamble with their punt on di Michele - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:58 PM on 22nd September 2008

West Ham fans may be hoping that their new Italian goalscorer David di
Michele becomes a hero to them like Paolo di Canio did, but his signing is a
stupid own goal.
The striker may have looked good against Newcastle (although who wouldn't
against that shambles) but his history is bound to cast a nasty shadow.
Gambling within the West Ham squad has been a problem in recent years when
it helped unsettle the team. Investigations into corruption in the game have
also been going on for a couple of years and despite turning up little, the
image of the game being bent remains. So the last thing either needed was a
player who was banned for three months in Italy for illegal betting on Serie
A matches last year.

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DELUDED INSTINCTS RULE THE ZOLA DAY - Daily Express
Monday September 22,2008
By Mick Dennis WEST HAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1

SIGHTINGS of Mike Ashley were reported at West Ham. If he was there then he
knows the the mess he has created at Newcastle. Their plight was summed up
by Geremi, who said of the Carling Cup clash with Spurs on Wednesday: "We
need that cup; it's a way of qualifying for Europe." Another deluded player
was David Di Michele, who scored two of West Ham's goals and made the other
for Matthew Etherington. The Italian, who was the last signing of the Alan
Curbishley era, praised the home crowd, saying: "The atmosphere was
unbelievable. I could tell that even if you make a mistake they are not on
your back." Oh dear. West Ham fans can turn quicker than a teenager with
attention deficit disorder. They think Di Michele is the new Paolo Di Canio
– and there are similarities. Di Michele has a reputation for being
difficult and has served a long ban. In Di Canio's case it was for shoving a
referee. Di Michele, 32, was suspended for three months for betting on games
with an illegal bookmaker. Gianfranco Zola's new West Ham were unpicked with
alarming ease for Michael Owen's late goal, and they are where they were
before Zola arrived. He said: "I think I can be ruthless – otherwise I can
send my boys round." After Geordie complaints about the "Cockney mafia",
that last comment was a joke from the Sardinian. I think.

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West Ham's Parker: Pleasure to play with Di Michele
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker admits he enjoys playing with David di
Michele ahead of him in attack. After Di Michele's brace against Newcastle,
Parker said: "As a midfielder it was particularly good playing with him [Di
Michele] because it was easy to find him. He can't speak a word of English,
but if he keeps banging them in like he did today he can speak whatever
language he likes."

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Blast from the past, David Di Michele lights up day one of Zola power at
West Ham - Daily Mail
WEST HAM UNITED 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
By Matt Barlow Last updated at 10:36 AM on 22nd September 2008

Almost a decade after Paolo Di Canio descended on West Ham and declared it
his spiritual home, another restless Roman with a chequered past marked his
arrival at Upton Park with a two-goal home debut. Let the comparisons begin.
David Di Michele, like Di Canio, joins the Hammers as a clubhopping
thirtysomething recently back from a lengthy suspension. He was banned for
three months in March 2007, after being found guilty of illegal betting on
Serie A matches during his time at Udinese. The Hammers are the eighth club
of his career, just as they were for Di Canio, who settled at the East End
club for more than four years and restored an image tarnished by his shove
on referee Paul Alcock during his Sheffield Wednesday days. Di Michele, 32,
is a free agent who joined West Ham just after the transfer deadline
following his release from Torino. He has yet to sign the one-year contract
on offer but expects to do so before Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Watford.
Like Di Canio, he has a reputation in Italy for technical excellence; quick
feet with plenty of tricks but also erratic, unreliable and often
frustrating. His talents have never been embraced by the big clubs and he
has just six caps for the national team - six more than Di Canio. The goals
which sank sorry Newcastle had a touch of Di Canio about them. The first, on
eight minutes, saw a shuffling run past Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini
on the edge of the box before a lucky double deflection spun his shot over
Shay Given.
For his second, he picked up a rebound after his initial effort hit Given on
the head, flicked the ball over Taylor's challenge on to his favoured left
foot and lashed a fierce drive inside the near post. It settled the
butterflies for Gianfranco Zola, who confessed to prematch nerves ahead of
his first game as a manager, and who is confident Di Michele will prove a
hit signing. 'He has everything in his bag to be a successful player for
West Ham,' said Zola. 'I wish he can do as well as Di Canio did for these
supporters. He can do unbelievable things but he needs to improve his
finishing. That's what I told him before the game. It shows he is listening
to me.'
Wayward finishing cost Di Michele a hat-trick but helped set up Matthew
Etherington for the third. The Italian's right-footer was so far off target
it proved the perfect cross for Etherington to tap in. 'I probably could
have had three goals,' admitted Di Michele, who played against the Hammers
for Palermo in the UEFA Cup. 'I missed a shot in the second half with my
left. I should have been a bit more accurate and I would have got the match
ball. Maybe next time. 'I didn't expect to start in such a nice way in front
of the home crowd. The fans helped me to focus. I could tell that even if
you make a mistake they are not on your back. It made me determined to do my
best.'
The Zola era could barely have started better. The smiling Sardinian brought
happiness back to Upton Park, even though he could not have chosen more
friendly opponents than shambolic Newcastle. With despised owner Mike Ashley
looking down from a private box, the Geordies surrendered meekly. They were
lucky not to have been further behind before Michael Owen's sweetly taken
goal sparked a slight improvement. 'The problems are not affecting us,'
claimed Geremi afterwards. 'We try not to think about things and just get on
with our jobs.' But the farce unfolding on Tyneside provides an excuse for
anyone seeking one. Caretaker manager Chris Hughton saw Tottenham's campaign
damaged last year when Martin Jol's authority was undermined by a hamfisted
hunt for Juande Ramos. The team drifted aimlessly when Jol's power vanished
and the same thing is evident at Newcastle. Chelsea's dressing room may have
been strong enough to stay focused without real leadership last season but
Newcastle, now in the bottom three, look closer to the Spurs model. The
longer it takes Ashley to find a manager, the worse their plight will
become. They have become the butt of all jokes in English football since
Kevin Keegan's exit. Now even the Italians are taking Di Michele.

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Hammers' Italian striker is letting his football do the talking - Guardian
Series
8:54am Monday 22nd September 2008

WEST Ham United's new hero David Di Michele may not be able to speak
English, but team-mate Scott Parker claimed the Italian's goals will make
perfect sense in any language. The forward, brought in on a season-long
loan from Serie A side Torino, marked his first start in an Irons' shirt by
scoring twice in Saturday's 3-1 Premier League win over Newcastle United at
Upton Park. And while Di Michele may not be able to communicate perfectly
with his new colleagues just yet, midfielder Parker insisted the entire
Hammers' squad was on the same wavelength under new manager Gianfranco Zola.
"He struggles a little bit (with his English) but if he keeps banging them
in he can speak whatever language he wants," joked the England man, who
enjoyed his finest afternoon of the season so far against his the side he
left to move to the Boleyn Ground a year ago. "He did really well on
Saturday. He is technically a brilliant player and gets into spaces. "He's
good to play with, especially as a midfield player. You can always find him.
He showed his quality today with two good finishes. "He's going to be a
vital player. If he keeps banging in the goals like he did today he'll be
brilliant."
Parker himself also impressed as the anchor-man alongside Valon Behrami and
Mark Noble in Zola's new three-man midfield. While Behrami and Noble broke
forward and found space between the Magpies' midfield and back-four, the
three-times capped midfielder excelled in a disciplined role in front of the
Irons' own defence, regularly breaking up the visitors' attacks. And the
ex-Charlton Athletic and Chelsea player clearly enjoyed his position in
Zola's offensive 4-3-3 formation. "The manager wants us to play football. He
wants to try and control the game, be patient and I think you saw that out
there," he beamed. "He obviously tinkered with the formation a little bit
and it worked well. "It was a good game. I think that's the one thing the
manager has brought in. He really emphasises the fact that you need to enjoy
it. "A lot of time when you play Premier League games you don't, I suppose,
because there's so much intensity and so much pressure on you to win games.
"But I think the manager the one thing he has emphasised with us is enjoy
the game and we certainly did that."

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Arrowing? Not for Irons' new boss Zola! - Echo
9:27am Monday 22nd September 2008
By Rob Pritchard »

GIANFRANCO Zola's home island of Sardinia lays claim to being the birthplace
of darts in the mid-15th century. On Saturday, West Ham United's new manager
hit the bull's-eye, starting his Upton Park reign with an impressive 3-1 win
over managerless Newcastle United. Having arrived in the East End with
promises of joyous and entertaining football, the Italian sent his first
Irons' team out in an adventurous 4-3-3 formation. His players responded by
producing a collective performance full of purpose, enthusiasm and, more
importantly, patient, intelligent attacking football. But Zola has spent
long enough on the oche that is Premier League football to know that he is a
long way from completing the nine-dart leg of leading the Hammers into the
promised land of the Champions League. "It was OK. For 70 miunutes it was
very good and we had to concede something because obviously we tried to play
a very offensive game," he conceded. "The players had run a lot and in the
last minutes they went down physically a bit, but I'm very pleased. "A
victory and some good football as well so I'm very proud of the players,
they did fantastically well."
Generally speaking, however, things could not have gone any better for the
former Chelsea man, who took a giant first stride in winning over even the
most sceptical of West Ham supporters. Indeed, Zola's only regret on what
was a triumphant opening afternoon was his ignorance of the home fans'
demands for a wave of appreciation. "The reception has been fantastic, but I
do apologise to them as they told me they were shouting my name but I
couldn't hear anything. My mind was completely crossed," he admitted with a
smile. But the new boss's mind clearly was not "crossed" when he decided to
name fellow countryman David Di Michele, on loan from Torino for the season,
in his starting line-up. The Italy international responded by scoring twice
and setting up a third goal for Matty Etherington, who appeared to have put
the trauma of tabloid headlines surrounding his gambling problems firmly
behind him.
Afterwards, Zola heaped praise on his forward line, claiming the third
member, Carlton Cole, could be pushing for international honours if he can
add consistency and goals to his considerable all-round talents. "Di Michele
played very well, but from my point of view he should share the fame with
the other two strikers," said Zola.
"Etherington and Carlton have been unbelievable. Sometimes Cole was playing
against two or three defenders he was keeping them busy so he's played an
unbelievable game too. "I know Carlton from Chelsea — he started playing
with me (in 1996) and I think he can become much better than he is. "He has
to improve a few things but he's got all the qualities to be playing for the
national team so it's all down to him."
Cole's performance, along with those of Di Michele, Etherington, Julien
Faubert, Mark Noble and Valon Behrami in particular, lifted the Irons,
temporarily, into the top-four. But Zola knows it is too early to start
making bold predictions about his new team, choosing instead to take a
pragmatic approach to his side's chances of securing a top-six finish this
season. "Well, we know that it is going to be very tough. The top four are
really top four," he added. "For us it is important to improve the position
we had last year. "To be honest, if the players work like they did last week
(in training) we can get a lot of satisfaction — that's the way you can
improve.
"It's all down to them, to their attitudes and the way they carry on
working. If we do that we've got a lot of chance to improve the situation."

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West Ham boss Zola targets Fiorentina star Montolivo
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is lining up a £12 million bid for Fiorentina
midfielder Riccardo Montolivo. The People says Zola and Hammers sporting
director Gianluca Nani have both identified the Italy playmaker as a target.
The duo have made an attacking midfielder their priority in the January
window - but they know Montolivo will not come cheap.

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West Ham: Zola Wants The Elegant Killer - Cmon Yu Irons
22 September 2008

Its good to see the relationship between Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Nani
is proving to be a success, we all knew that Curbs was never going to be the
best of friends with Nani or even agree to Nani's plans on making the club a
success, different cultures and different ideas on new players is why Curbs
went, Di Michelle is a proving factor in this debate that makes Nani right
and Curbs who admitted he never heard of Di Michelle and didn't want the
player along with Illunga, Curbs was more interested in buying Thatcher.

According to the People, Zola has asked Nani if he can buy Riccardo
Montolivo in January, even though the midfielder has 4 years left on his
contract with Fiorentina, the signature could cost West Ham something in the
region of £12m, without any hesitation Nani has supposedly given the green
light to Zola.

Zola has great knowledge of Riccardo Montolivo from when he was an Italian
under 21 player coached by Pierluigi Casiraghi and assisted by Zola.

Montolivo has an incredible ability in midfield with all the style of
Ronaldo and pace of Theo walcott and makes Modric look pretty lame.

There will be problems in buying Montolivo, his coach Prandelli finds that
£12m is a poor price to pay for a player of such quality.

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Zola wants striker to stay sharp - Setanta
by Alex Livie, 22 September 2008

Gianfranco Zola has backed David Di Michele to be a West Ham star, provided
he retains his focus in front of goal. The Italian made a sparkling home
debut for The Hammers as he bagged a brace of goals in the 3-1 win over
Newcastle. Di Michele could have helped himself to a hat-trick but wasted a
couple of chances, one of which he skewed so badly it found Matthew
Etherington who bundled home the third. And it is the 32-year-old's
finishing that Zola feels will determine whether his fellow countryman is
deemed a success. "I told David he can do unbelievable things but he needs
to improve his finishing - which shows he listens to me," said Zola.
"I saw him in Italy many times doing unbelievable things, then missing in
front of the keeper. "I hope he can do as well as Di Canio did for these
supporters. "He has everything in his bag to be successful for West Ham."

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Hammers boss Zola tips Cole to make his mark for England - Daily Mail
By KEN DYER
Last updated at 10:37 AM on 22nd September 2008

Gianfranco Zola believes West Ham striker Carlton Cole has the potential to
play for England if he continues to improve. Cole, who played alongside Zola
at Chelsea, could miss tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at Watford with an ankle
injury but the new West Ham manager was delighted with his performance in
the 3-1 win over crisis club Newcastle. Cole led the line with strength and
purpose in a display which must have caught the eye of England coach Fabio
Capello who was at the game principally to check on Michael Owen. It is
understood that Capello has also been impressed by Cole and would be tempted
to call-up the 24-year-old if he begins to score regularly for his club.
Cole was picked the Nigeria squad two months ago but FIFA blocked this,
insisting he was too old to switch countries. 'I know Carlton from Chelsea,'
said Zola. 'He knows that he needs to improve a few things but he has all
the qualities to play for the national team. It's all down to him. Although
Cole shone, David Di Michele was the star with two goals. Zola believes the
striker, signed on loan from Torino this month, could win over the Upton
Park crowd in the same way as fellow Italian Paolo Di Canio. The manager
said: 'I have told Di Michele that he needs to improve his finishing. This
time he listened to me! He did unbelievably well and I've seen him do
unbelievable things in Italy too. 'Compared to the other parts of his game,
maybe his finishing is lacking but he can work on that and improve. I hope
that he can do as well as Paolo Di Canio did for these supporters. 'He has
everything in his bag to be a successful player for West Ham. 'He's a quiet
boy but that doesn't matter as long as he's loud out on the pitch like he
was today.'
Michele, 32, admitted he was flattered by the comparison with Di Canio but
said: 'I am just David Di Michele. Paolo Di Canio was a great, great player
for West Ham and he has to be respected for what he did for this club. 'My
hope is to make a name for myself at such a big club. I will give my all to
do this. 'For me, it was a match atmosphere that I am not used to. It was
unbelievable and the fans helped me to focus. It made me determined to do my
best because I could tell that even if you make a mistake they are not on
your back. 'That is such a big help because it gives you the confidence to
try things.'
Zola made almost the perfect start to his managerial career in East London.
He shuffled the West Ham pack, putting Lucas Neill alongside Matthew Upson
in central defence and playing Julien Faubert at right-back with Valon
Behrami in the centre of midfield. It was a bold move and the West Ham crowd
welcomed it. 'I am sorry I didn't respond when they asked me to wave but I
didn't hear them, I was too involved in the game,' he said. 'I enjoyed it.
The hardest thing for me is not being able to play a player or having to
send him to the stands. I realise that I may have to be unpopular sometimes,
but as long as I make sure that all my choices are honest then there
shouldn't be a problem.'
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker believes the early signs are positive. 'The
manager wants us to play football, he wants to try and control the game and
be patient,' he said. 'He emphasises the fact that you need to enjoy it. A
lot of times when you play, you don't because there's so much intensity and
pressure on you to win games. The manager commands a lot of respect and the
lads have taken to him really well.'

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West Ham should cover up sponsorship hole with Bobby Moore Charity - The
Mirror
By Steve Anglesey 22/09/2008

Bemusement in the East End on Saturday as, following the collapse of airline
XL, West Ham followed last week's bizarre shirt patches by sewing on crude
squad numbers in place of the fallen sponsor's logo. If only there was a
suitable charity related to a Hammers legend that the team could reward with
some much-needed publicity... like The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research
UK, perhaps?

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Di Michele distances himself from Di Canio comparisons - Echo
10:36am Monday 22nd September 2008
By Rob Pritchard »

WEST Ham United forward David Di Michele has distanced himself from
comparisons with former Irons' hero Paolo Di Canio. The on-loan Torino man
marked his full Hammers' debut with two goals and an assist in Saturday's
3-1 Premier League win over Newcastle United at Upton Park, sparking
immediate connections with his fellow Italian. Di Canio thrilled the Boleyn
Ground faithful with his all-action displays and thrilling goals between
1999 and 2003, earning his place in Irons folklore.
And in converting a spectacular individual effort to put his new club 2-0 up
against the Magpies, it was inevitable that Di Michele would be spoken of in
the same breath. "I am just David Di Michele," the new-boy insisted through
an interpreter. Paolo Di Canio was a great, great player for West Ham and he
has to be respected for what he did for this club. "My hope is to do well
and make a name for myself at such a big club. I will give my all to do
this."
Having initially arrived on a season-long loan deal, Di Michele could earn
himself a permanent switch to the Boleyn Ground if he can re-produce his
goal-scoring form on a regular basis. And the former Udinese and Palermo man
admitted he would relish the opportunity to work under yet another Italian,
new manager Gianfranco Zola, on a long-term basis. "There is an immediate
understanding with the manager because we come from the same football
culture," Di Michele told whufc.com "This is a new adventure for the manager
and for all of us. "We are all united to go forward and do our best for him
because he is a great person."
Having experienced the Premier League, Di Michele could be handed his first
taste of English cup football tonight when West Ham travel to Championship
side Watford in the Carling Cup third round. However, at 32, Zola may choose
to rest his fellow countryman and hand a second start of the season to
teenager Freddie Sears.

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Hammers' youngsters suffer first defeat of season - Echo
10:52am Monday 22nd September 2008
By Rob Pritchard »

WEST Ham United's Under-18 side have suffered their first FA Premier Academy
League defeat of the season, going down 2-0 at Birmingham City. The Irons,
coached by Tony Carr, conceded a goal in each half in Saturday's Inter-Group
fixture at the Blues' Wast Hills training ground. Birmingham, who have now
won three of their four Group B matches this season, brushed aside the Group
A Hammers. However, one positive to arise out of the loss was the
performance of Hungarian striker Balint Bajner, who hit the post with a
well-struck shot after appearing as a half-time substitute. Benfleet-based
left-back Jordan Brown came through the full 90 minutes, as did highly-rated
captain Josh Payne.

West Ham United Under-18: Street, Brookes, Brown, McNaughton, Fry, Lee
(Bajner 46), Kearns (Barrett 60), Payne, Abdulla (Grasser 75), Edgar, Okus.

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Prandelli: Montolivo not joining Zola - Ananove

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has insisted midfielder Riccardo Montolivo
will not be sold to West Ham or any other club in January. New Hammers
manager Gianfranco Zola is a great admirer of the Italian playmaker and
reports have linked the 23-year-old with a move to Upton Park in January in
a transfer deal worth £12million. "West Ham wants Montolivo?" Prandelli said
when asked about the situation. "This season he will make the leap in
quality here. £12million is not a great offer." Montolivo is under contract
with the Florence outfit until June 2012 and has been a regular in
Prandelli's side since last season.

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Zola tips Cole to play for England
Ken Dyer, Evening Standard
22.09.08

Gianfranco Zola believes West Ham striker Carlton Cole has the potential to
play for England if he continues to improve. Cole, who played alongside Zola
at Chelsea, could miss tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at Watford with an ankle
injury but the new West Ham manager was delighted with his performance in
the 3-1 win over crisis club Newcastle. Cole led the line with strength and
purpose in a display which must have caught the eye of England coach Fabio
Capello who was at the game principally to check on Michael Owen. It is
understood that Capello has also been impressed by Cole and would be tempted
to call-up the 24-year-old if he begins to score regularly for his club. "I
know Carlton from Chelsea," said Zola. "He knows that he needs to improve a
few things but he has all the qualities to play for the national team. It's
all down to him."
Although Cole shone, David Di Michele was the star with two goals. Zola
believes the striker, signed on loan from Torino this month, could win over
the Upton Park crowd in the same way as fellow Italian Paolo Di Canio. The
manager said: "I have told Di Michele that he needs to improve his
finishing. This time he listened to me! He did unbelievably well and I've
seen him do unbelievable things in Italy too. "Compared to the other parts
of his game, maybe his finishing is lacking but he can work on that and
improve. "I hope that he can do as well as Paolo Di Canio did for these
supporters. He has everything in his bag to be a successful player for West
Ham. "He's a quiet boy but that doesn't matter as long as he's loud out on
the pitch like he was today."
Michele, 32, admitted he was flattered by the comparison with Di Canio but
said: "I am just David Di Michele. Paolo Di Canio was a great, great player
for West Ham and he has to be respected for what he did for this club. "My
hope is to make a name for myself at such a big club. I will give my all to
do this. "For me, it was a match atmosphere that I am not used to. It was
unbelievable and the fans helped me to focus. "It made me determined to do
my best because I could tell that even if you make a mistake they are not on
your back. That is such a big help because it gives you the confidence to
try things."
Zola made almost the perfect start to his managerial career in East London.
He shuffled the West Ham pack, putting Lucas Neill alongside Matthew Upson
in central defence and playing Julien Faubert at right-back with Valon
Behrami in the centre of midfield. It was a bold move and the West Ham crowd
welcomed it. "I am sorry I didn't respond when they asked me to wave but I
didn't hear them, I was too involved in the game," he said. "I enjoyed it.
The hardest thing for me is not being able to play a player or having to
send him to the stands. "I realise that I may have to be unpopular
sometimes, but as long as I make sure that all my choices are honest then
there shouldn't be a problem."
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker believes the early signs are positive. "The
manager wants us to play football, he wants to try and control the game and
be patient," he said. "He emphasises the fact that you need to enjoy it. A
lot of times when you play, you don't because there's so much intensity and
pressure on you to win games. The manager commands a lot of respect and the
lads have taken to him really well."

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West Ham linked with Italy star - metro.co.uk
Monday, September 22, 2008

West Ham have been linked with a £12million bid for emerging Italy star
Riccardo Montolivo. However, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has insisted
the 23-year-old will not be sold to the Hammers or any other club in
January. New West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is reportedly a great admirer of
the playmaker, a player he knows well from his days working with Italy's
Under-21 team, for whom Montolivo has been an important player. The former
Atalanta youngster has one full cap Italy and was a member of the Azzurri's
Olympic team. But, when asked about the rumours, Fiorentina boss Prandelli
said: 'West Ham wants Montolivo? 'This season he will make the leap in
quality here. £12million is not a great offer.' Montolivo is under contract
with the Florence outfit until June 2012 and has been a regular in
Prandelli's side since last season.

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