WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is settling in at West Ham United and is encouraged by the
prospects and potential
15.12.2008
Gianfranco Zola has restated his firm intention of being a key figure in the
long-term project to bring success to West Ham United.
It is exactly three months to the day that he took charge, and the proud
Hammers manager is working hand-in-hand with CEO Scott Duxbury and technical
director Gianluca Nani. All three are focused on the bigger picture and the
future prosperity of the club. The trio share a common goal, namely to bring
the world's finest young talent to the Boleyn Ground - and keep them - in a
squad that is constantly evolving for the better.
As well as being tasked by the CEO to put in place an improved technical and
medical infrastructure, the project for Nani and Zola is all about the
development of quality players and securing them on long-term contracts.
Since Nani's arrival from Brescia in July, the rapidly expanding scouting
network has led to the signings of Valon Behrami, Herita Ilunga and a host
of encouraging youngsters.
Zola believes the strategy of bringing in potentially world-class talent
from across the globe to complement the homegrown Hammers produced by Tony
Carr is the right one to bring about sustainable, long-term success. The
early signs of that bearing fruit were shown by the youthful midfield trio
of Behrami, Mark Noble and Jack Collison more than matching the likes of
Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Deco on Sunday at Chelsea.
The manager said: "When I came here the programme was to develop the young
players that we had and keep them to help get to the point where we could
compete with bigger Premier League clubs. There are a lot of things going on
and I'm told the plan hasn't changed. It would be fantastic if we could be
challenging the top four and our plan could work, that would be great for
the club.
He has spoken at length about his relationship with the CEO - "I have a very
good relationship with Scott and what we are trying to achieve can only
happen if everybody is together" - and is also in no doubt that Nani will
succeed. "He is doing a great job but he needs to be given time just like me
to make sure his project works," Zola explained. "He's not going to go out
there and spend £30 or £40 million. He is looking for young potentially good
players which we can develop and for this he needs some time.
"I like working with him. One of the reasons I came here is because I like
the project and that got my interest, not because I want to become the
manager of Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. I am here because I like what
they told me about developing young players in the team and that's the kind
of thing I like. We need to work and we need some time to make it work."
Zola's three months have also seen him make an impression on the West Ham
United fans, and he was grateful for their noisy support at Stamford Bridge.
"The fans have been fantastic for us," he said. "Part of the reason we are
working so hard is to make the fans pleased and we want every single game to
be enjoyable. Right now there is a very good atmosphere in the team and with
the supporters."
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Parker 'proud' of point
WHUFC.com
Scott Parker believes every member of the West Ham United team contributed
to the 1-1 draw with Chelsea
15.12.2008
While there were several notable individual performances for West Ham United
in the draw at Stamford Bridge, Scott Parker believes it was the team ethic
that shone through.
The combative West Ham United midfielder, who picked up a post-match bottle
of bubbly after being voted man of the match, believes the players' effort
meant they thoroughly deserved to leave west London with a point on Sunday.
"The manager was really pleased, the whole squad out there was great.
Everyone really put in a shift - we can all be proud to go home with a
point, to play like we did was very pleasing," he said.
"I think it was clear that we have spirit. We have something there that you
need and, with the league being so tight - that two good wins move you up or
two bad results put you in trouble - the spirit and determination is
something you need and we definitely have that."
As well as praising the mental strength of the squad, the 28-year-old Parker
singled out a few players for particular praise. Chief among those was Craig
Bellamy, whose tireless running was finally rewarded with the opening goal
of the game.
"Craig has done ever so well. He's always a threat but has not got the goals
to go with that of late, but his performances have showed what he is capable
of. Carlton Cole had a late chance at the end and put in a good shift as
well, so there's no reason why they can't go on again from this and push
on."
Despite losing James Collins to a calf injury, The Hammers' defence - led by
Calum Davenport and Matthew Upson - again demonstrated their new found
resilience by throwing themselves at anything and everything the home side
attempted. Parker said: "The central defenders were strong today, Ginge was
out injured and Calum come in today and was brilliant. Matty has been solid
all year and was again today, so a massive performance from everyone today
and very pleasing.
"Chelsea like to play balls that can give you problems, but they changed the
game after putting Drogba on and were a bit more direct in their play and
mixed it up. They are a good side, but we dealt with it all well."
United can now look forward to the busy Christmas period with renewed
optimism with home games against Aston Villa and Stoke City either side of a
Boxing Day trip to Portsmouth. "We want to push on again, we have had two
away games now against two teams from the top four and in those games we
have shown we have matched and played better at times than them. Hopefully
we can take that into the next few games."
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Carr pleased with team spirit
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr was impressed with his young side's determination in the 2-2 draw
with Chelsea
15.12.2008
Tony Carr was delighted with the fight shown by West Ham United Under-18s as
they twice came from behind to draw at high-flying Chelsea.
The hosts took the lead just after the hour mark before a frantic finale saw
the Hammers equalise with six minutes to go only for Chelsea to hit back two
minutes later. The visitors were not done though and, almost straight from
kick-off, went straight back up the other end and won a penalty which Daniel
Kearns converted for his second of the match.
United should, in truth, have been out of sight at half time but a
combination of the woodwork and a superb goal-line clearance had kept the
scores level. "I'm pleased with the result. It would have been a travesty if
we hadn't got at least at a point as we should have been three up at half
time," academy director Carr said. "We've hit the post twice and had one
miraculously cleared off the line which was an unbelievable stop.
"But certainly from the point of view of team moral it was important we got
something. We might have even won it if we'd taken our chances in the first
half but it's never over until it's over and we kept going and I'm pleased
that we got something from the game."
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Kearns the key in derby
WHUFC.com
Northern Ireland youth international Daniel Kearns helped the U18s to a
creditable draw on Friday
12.12.2008
Chelsea Under-18s 2-2 West Ham United Under-18s
West Ham United twice came from behind to secure a well deserved point on
Friday but will have left west London knowing they could have had all three.
The visitors enjoyed the better of an entertaining first half as several
excellent moves created resulted in good chances but somehow, via a
combination of good fortune and the woodwork, the scores remained level
going into the break. Chelsea were better in the second period and took the
lead just after the hour mark. The visitors continued to press and got
themselves back into the game when Daniel Kearns equalised with six minutes
to go only for Chelsea to take the lead again immediately. United hit back
again though as Kearns claimed his second from the penalty spot with just
three minutes remaining.
The Hammers had Adam Street, Nick Barrett and Balint Bajner back from
injury. Bajner was paired with Ahmed Abdulla up front, who went into the
match with two goals in his last two games. The pair demonstrated their
growing understanding as early as the fifth minute when Abdulla set up the
Hungarian youth international, but his shot with the outside of the boot
flashed wide.
Matthew Fry then became the first player to strike the frame of the Chelsea
goal. A free-kick from just inside the Chelsea half fell to Bajner and his
square pass was perfectly weighted for the centre half, who took one touch
before driving the ball across the goalkeeper only to see it come back off
the inside of the post.
Street had barely touched the ball for the first 25 minutes but showed he
was still switched on when he saved smartly from Frank Nouble, who was clean
through on goal.
The move of the match then led to Bajner being the next player in claret and
blue to strike the woodwork. Right-back Filip Modelski beat two players and
fed Abdulla. His first time lay-off sent Kearns racing down the right and
the winger's perfect cross was met with a thundering header from Bajner, who
was desperately unlucky to see it clip the post and go wide.
Then with nine minutes to go before half-time, Kearns thought he had given
West Ham United the lead, only to see his goalbound shot miraculously
cleared off the line.
After the interval, the hosts found their rhythm more and Street had to be
alert to palm a shot over the bar. But he was beaten soon after as the Blues
took the lead in the 62nd minute. A long ball into the area was not dealt
with and Joshua McEachran was on hand to rifle the ball into the top corner.
Tony Carr changed it round soon after by bringing on debutant Daniel Subuola
and Christian Montano for Bajner and Anthony Edgar. With 14 minutes left on
the clock he made his final switch by withdrawing Nick Barrett for Conor
Okus. The three could surely not have been expecting the drama that was
about to unfold.
With six minutes to go substitute Subuola played Kearns through on goal and
the No7 drew his team level with a composed finish underneath the keeper. If
the visitors thought they had done enough for a point they were quickly
corrected as Chelsea went in front again just two minutes later as a long
range shot flew past Street at the near post.
The Hammers players' heads did not drop, though, and, roared on by captain
Fry, got forward straight away and won a penalty when Subuola was dragged
down in the area. Kearns duly stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to
make it three goals in four minutes. Both teams had chances to sneak a win -
Street had to pull off an outstanding save - but in the end the enthralling
contest ended all-square.
West Ham United: Street, Modelski, Brown, McNaughton, Fry, Barrett (Okus),
Kearns, Lee, Bajner (Montano 70), Abdulla, Edgar (Subuola 70)
Subs not used: Driver, Grasser.
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Specs close to comeback
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector may figure in a reserve match against Chelsea before going
back into senior contention
16.12.2008
Jonathan Spector is hoping to take another step forward on Tuesday night as
he looks to return to the West Ham United first-team picture before the end
of the year.
The 22-year-old international defender was one of a crop of youngsters who
burst through last season to show their first-team worth before being
stopped in his tracks by a hip injury in the final month of the campaign.
After a summer of hard work back home in the United States, followed by an
intensive rehabilitation period at Chadwell Heath, Spector made his
long-awaited playing return last Thursday.
Although just a behind-closed-doors friendly at a freezing Hornchurch FC,
the match was a special one for Spector, who headed his side on their way to
a 3-2 victory against a Major League Soccer select side. Spector had been
given the skipper's armband for the meeting with his compatriots - made up
of some of the US's top young players - by reserve-team coach Alex Dyer.
"It was my first time captaining a West Ham side so it was a nice honour,
especially against an American side," said Spector, before adding with a
smile: "I think Alex Dyer just needed a translator actually so that's why he
chose me … but it was definitely nice to have that vote of confidence and I
was just excited about playing more than anything else."
Spector played in central defence and looked physically ready for the
rigours of the Premier League, although admitted he still needed to be a bit
sharper. "I need at least one more reserve game before I feel fit enough to
be in with the first team but I will certainly be pushing myself to be back
as soon as possible," he explained. That game could come on Tuesday when the
reserves welcome Chelsea to Bishop's Stortford.
As was the case last week, Gianfranco Zola could well be watching on and
Spector has relished the chance of late to show his manager the potential
and promise first identified by Sir Alex Ferguson when he was a 17-year-old
at Manchester United. "I think the manager has only seen me in training up
to now so it was nice to do that and show him a little of what I can do.
"I am certainly happy to be back after being out for such an extended period
of time and we got the result as well with a 3-2 victory. It was nice to
score. That doesn't happen too often either. It was great to get a goal but
more importantly I am just happy to be back playing. I really enjoyed it."
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Reserves face Tuesday test
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's side will look to maintain their fine home form when they face
Chelsea this evening
16.12.2008
West Ham United will maintain their perfect home Barclays Premier League
South record if they can overcome Chelsea at Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday
night.
Alex Dyer's side have already beaten West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal and
Tottenham Hotspur on home soil this term and could climb to second in the
table with victory over the Blues. With the likes of Diego Tristan and
Jonathan Spector available, Dyer is hoping to record yet another success at
Woodside Park.
"Hopefully we can get a result against Chelsea and finish the year on a high
note. We could even end up maybe second in the league with a win which is
important," said the reserve team coach.
Freddie Sears, who scored twice in last Thursday's 3-2 win over a Major
League Soccer select side, is also in Dyer's squad. Academy products Bondz
N'Gala, fresh from a successful loan spell at League One high-fliers MK
Dons, and Danny Kearns, who notched a brace in a thrilling 2-2 FA Premier
Academy League draw with the Blues last Friday, are also in contention.
Dyer, who was named in his new role earlier this season, is relishing the
opportunity to see his side in action again. The former Hull City and
Charlton Athletic defender was promoted from his former job as the club's
fitness coach in September and has not looked back since.
"I love it. It's always what I wanted to do," said the 43-year-old. "Even
though I know I've been doing the fitness work for the past five or six
years I've always been hoping that the opportunity would come around and
someone would offer me a job to do this side of things. I'm just glad I
grabbed hold of it and I'm learning every day.
"I hope the young boys who I train every day like what I'm putting into
their heads. I'm hoping that, come the end of the season, I can assess
myself and say whether I've done well enough or not. At this present time
I'm enjoying it."
Kieron Dyer and Matthew Etherington, who both came through last Thursday's
match unscathed on their respective returns, were both laid low with the flu
over the weekend, missed training on Monday and are expected to sit out.
The Hammers will end the year in second place should they beat Chelsea -
avenging the 2-0 defeat they suffered at Brentford's Griffin Park in
mid-September - and Arsenal and Portsmouth draw in the evening's other
fixture.
Chelsea will be under new management tonight following Brendan Rodgers'
departure to manage Championship side Watford. Into his place has stepped
Paul Clement, who will be attempting to end a run of three consecutive
defeats.
The Blues prepared for Tuesday's game by taking on Spartak Moscow, who are
training at the club's Cobham headquarters ahead of Thursday night's UEFA
Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Russians running out 2-0 winners.
Admission to tonight's match, which kicks-off at 7pm, is free to Hammers
season ticket holders and £5 for adults and £2 for concessions.
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Zola exposes big four frailties
Hammers boss refuses to be overawed by title challengers
By Chris Burton Last updated: 15th December 2008
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola believes the Premier League is becoming more
of an even playing field. While there may still only be a handful of teams
with realistic ambitions of taking the title, the gap between those at the
top and those leading the chasing pack is closing by the year. The so-called
'big four' are finding it increasingly difficult to grind out results on
home turf against plucky visitors who are determined to battle and scrap for
all they can get. The Hammers have certainly proven to be a case in point of
late, securing hard-fought draws at both Liverpool and Chelsea in their last
two games on the road. Zola feels this is because the lower-profile teams
are now more organised and better prepared to take on the task of
frustrating title challengers in intimidating surroundings. "I don't think
it is only at Chelsea," said Zola. "It seems to me Liverpool, Arsenal and
Manchester United are all dropping points and they all play in the Champions
League. "I would also say the smaller teams are getting more organised and
playing more tactically. This is making it more difficult for the big teams
to beat them. "This is a very competitive championship and the competition
is making everybody else better, including the smaller teams and that is
certainly another reason."
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, who starred in the club's 1-1 draw at
Stamford Bridge on Sunday, also believes that the right work ethic can
sometimes help to bridge the quality divide. "I think it was clear that we
have spirit," he said. "We have something there that you need and, with the
league being so tight - that two good wins move you up or two bad results
put you in trouble - the spirit and determination is something you need and
we definitely have that. "We want to push on again now, we have had two away
games against two teams from the top four and in those games we have shown
we have matched and played better at times than them. "Hopefully we can take
that into the next few games."
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Gianfranco Zola takes politeness too far
The Times
Matt Dickinson
Here is a new one for football: is it possible to show too much respect? It
was certainly the debate among West Ham United supporters thrown into
confusion by
Gianfranco Zola's steadfastly poker-face when Craig Bellamy gave the 'Ammers
the lead against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In a sport where revolting songs about incest and paedophilia are routinely
sung by thousands of voting adults, can we seriously take issue when a
charming sort such as Zola decides not to celebrate a goal because it comes
against the club with whom he had a long, blissful relationship?
Well, without wishing to dive in with quite the same two-footed viciousness
as some of those who have taken a hatchet to the Italian on West Ham
fansites such as Knees Up Mother Brown - don't go there if you are of
sensitive disposition - it is at least fair to ask whether Zola took
impartiality a step too far on Sunday when he declined to offer so much as a
discreet punch of celebration or a flicker of a smile as Bellamy sent the
fans into ecstasy.
There Zola is, the leader of West Ham, a team peering over the precipice
into the Coca-Cola Championship. It is not as though they have so much slack
that a result away to Chelsea is a matter for indifference. And Bellamy does
not score so often (that was only his second of the season for his club)
that one would expect the manager's first thoughts to be the sensibilities
of the Chelsea supporters, however warmly they had welcomed him back to the
Bridge.
"I had to pay some respect to these people," Zola said afterwards. But
would they not allow him a little jig of delight by the dugout? Are they so
fickle that, having chanted his name at kick-off, they would hurl abuse at
him for wanting to take delight from the success of his own team?
Zola is not the first sportsman whose thoughts have turned instantly to the
predicament of his rivals. Denis Law famously trotted back almost mournfully
after backheeling the goal for Manchester City that, he feared, had
relegated United in 1974 (as it turned out, United were down whether he
scored or not).
Cristiano Ronaldo declined to celebrate a Champions League goal against
Sporting Lisbon, his former club. There are many uplifting tales of
generosity on the sports field, such as Andrew Flintoff consoling Brett Lee
in the 2005 Ashes even at the moment of victory in the second Test.
No one wants to see sportsmanship cast aside, least of all in football. Our
national sport needs all the nice guys it can get and Zola, for playing the
game with joy and panache during his seven years at Chelsea, earned a
reputation for decency. Long may that endure, but is a West Ham fan, and
indeed a player, not entitled to turn to the bench and see their manager
lead the celebrations when they score a vital goal in the midst of a
relegation struggle at the home of one of their most bitter rivals?
West Ham have enough problems with a ludicrously inflated wage bill, a
multimillion-pound lawsuit from Sheffield United and the possibility of a
fire sale of players in January that perhaps this one should figure low on
the list of concerns. But a little smile wasn't too much to expect, was it?
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Hurst: Zola is too inexperienced to hold reins at West Ham
Zola 'not ready for the Premier League dogfight'
World Cup winner fears club will sell best players
guardian.co.uk, Monday 15 December 2008 17.42 GMT
The England and West Ham United legend Sir Geoff Hurst has questioned the
managerial credentials of Gianfranco Zola and said the Upton Park manager,
who guided his club to a 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, is not cut
out to be a success in the Premier League.
Hurst, who made more than 400 appearances for West Ham between 1959 and
1972, said he did not believe Zola had the experience necessary to manage in
the top flight. "I admire him as a fantastic player, one of the best, if not
the best that we've had in the Premier League. But my overall view is that
if you go in to the position of a manager in a major business or football
club you have to have some experience.
"[England manager Fabio] Capello managed under-16s and under-19s in Italy.
He took six years to do that, learning his trade. Now at the top end you
have people like Harry Redknapp who is over 60 years of age when you're
probably at your best. You need to have that experience in the game and for
people to come from where Gianfranco has come from, managing the Italian
under-21 side, it doesn't really equip him to be in a dogfight at the bottom
end of the Premier League."
Hurst, whose own managerial career lasted 79 games at Chelsea in the old
division two between September 1979 and April 1981 for 35 wins, 18 draws and
26 losses, said he expected Zola to find it "tough" to avoid relegation.
"We've got the January transfer window coming up and there's a big concern
on whether we're going to sell our best players."It's a hell of a prediction
before Christmas but you're looking at five clubs [in the relegation battle]
— West Brom, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Stoke City and ourselves,
any three from those five," said Hurst. "I think Sunderland will get out of
it, I think Spurs will get out of it and even though Manchester City are
down there, I think they will get out of it. It's going to be a dogfight
right to the end of the season, I don't think there's any question about
that."
Meanwhile, Zola himself has said he believes the Premier League's big four
will find it increasingly harder to have it all their own way after West Ham
became the seventh team to take points off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this
season. Chelsea have now dropped 14 points at home this season while
Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all stuttered on their own
soil.
Zola insisted better organisation among the lower-profile teams was having
an effect on the big four's supremacy. "I would say the smaller teams are
getting more organised and playing more tactically. This is making it more
difficult for the big teams to beat them. This is a very competitive
championship and the competition is making everybody else better, including
the smaller teams, and that is certainly another reason."
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Hurst: West Ham need Harry Redknapp's experience
NorthamptonChron.co.uk
Geoff Hurst has doubts about Gianfranco Zola as a manager
Published Date: 15 December 2008
Geoff Hurst has questioned whether Gianfranco Zola will be able to keep West
Ham out of a Premier League relegation dogfight - insisting Harry Redknapp
would do a better job. The Hammers legend feels that Zola does not have
enough managerial experience to handle the fight against the drop that he
feels will engulf the club.
Hurst admits that he admires the former Chelsea striker as 'a fantastic
player'. "But my overall view is that if you go in to the position of a
manager in a major business or football club you have to have some
experience," Hurst said. "(England manager Fabio] Capello managed under-16s
and under-19s in Italy. He took six years to do that, learning his trade.
"Now at the top end you have people like Harry Redknapp who is over 60 years
of age when you're probably at your best. "You need to have that experience
in the game and for people to come from where Gianfranco has come from,
managing the Italian under-21 side, it doesn't really equip him to be in a
dogfight at the bottom end of the Premier League. "We've got the January
transfer window coming up and there's a big concern on whether we're going
to sell our best players. "It's a hell of a prediction before Christmas but
you're looking at five clubs (in the relegation battle] West Brom, Blackburn
Rovers, Newcastle United, Stoke City and ourselves, any three from those
five. "I think Sunderland will get out of it, I think Spurs will get out of
it and even though Manchester City are down there, I think they will get out
of it. It's going to be a dogfight right to the end of the season, I don't
think there's any question about that."
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Clubs 'figuring out' Chelsea, Manchester, Arsenal and Liverpool, says West
Ham's Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola believes the 'big four' in the Premier League will find it
increasingly harder to have it all their own way after West Ham became the
latest team to take a point off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Last Updated: 9:59PM GMT 15 Dec 2008
Chelsea have now dropped 14 points at home this season while Liverpool,
Manchester United and Arsenal have all stuttered against lesser opposition
on their own soil. Zola, who celebrated an emotional return to Stamford
Bridge with a well-earned point, insists better organisation among the
lower-profile teams is having an effect on the big four's supremacy. "I
don't think it is only at Chelsea," Zola said. "It seems to me Liverpool,
Arsenal and Manchester United are all dropping points and they all play in
the Champions League. "I would also say the smaller teams are getting more
organised and playing more tactically. This is making it more difficult for
the big teams to beat them. "This is a very competitive championship and the
competition is making everybody else better, including the smaller teams and
that is certainly another reason."
West Ham – like Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle
and Tottenham before them – certainly had Chelsea figured out at Stamford
Bridge.
Craig Bellamy put them ahead in the 33rd minute with a fine effort and
Chelsea had to rely on a rescue act from top-scorer Nicolas Anelka five
minutes after the re-start. He scored his 16th goal of the season and his
100th in the Premier League to earn Chelsea a draw they hardly deserved.
West Ham could have sneaked all three points at the death but Petr Cech made
a superb save to deny Carlton Cole a winner. Former Chelsea midfielder Scott
Parker was justifiably named man of the match and said West Ham demonstrated
the kind of unity needed to propel them up the table. "The manager was
really pleased," Parker said. "Everyone really put in a shift, we can all be
proud. "I think it was clear that we have spirit. We have something there
that you need and, with the league being so tight – that two good wins move
you up or two bad results put you in trouble – the spirit and determination
is something you need and we definitely have that."
Parker also singled out striker Bellamy, among others, whose tireless
running was finally rewarded with the opening goal of the game. "Craig has
done ever so well," Parker said. "He's always a threat but has not got the
goals to go with that of late, but his performances have shown what he is
capable of. "Carlton Cole had a chance at the end and put in a good shift as
well, so there's no reason why they can't go on again from this and push on.
"Chelsea like to play balls that can give you problems, but they changed
their game after putting Didier Drogba on and were a bit more direct in
their play and mixed it up. They are a good side, but we dealt with it all
well,"
Parker is now looking ahead to a busy Christmas period with renewed
optimism. The Hammers have home games against Aston Villa and Stoke either
side of a Boxing Day trip to Portsmouth. And Parker added: "We want to push
on again, we have had two away games now against two teams from the top four
and in those games we have shown we have matched and played better at times
than them. "Hopefully we can take that into the next few games."
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Man knifed after birthday party for West Ham star Kyel Reid
The Mirror
16/12/2008
A man was stabbed in the neck and a policewoman hit by a car in a riot after
a Premiership footballer's birthday party. Forty thugs armed with bottles
and belts went on the rampage after the bash for West Ham's Kyel Reid. A
witness said: "Scores of men fought a running battle up the street. "The
pavement was a mess of blood and smashed glass. It's a miracle no one was
killed." Reid, 21, from South London, invited 110 guests, including his mum
and gran, to Ghost nightclub in Knightsbridge last month. Trouble started
after a gang from the East End is thought to have gatecrashed the party.
Police arrested and bailed one man.
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Hammers star Parker happy to make a point
8:37am Tuesday 16th December 2008
Guardian Series
SCOTT Parker insisted West Ham deserved a point after they held Chelsea to a
1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Luiz Felipe Scolari's team would have
gone back to the top of the Premier League with a victory after Liverpool
only drew with Hull on Saturday, but again dropped points at home. Craig
Bellamy gave the Hammers — managed by former Chelsea favourite Gianfranco
Zola — a first-half lead but Nicolas Anelka equalised six minutes after
half-time with his 100th Premier League goal. Former Chelsea midfielder
Parker said: "We went a goal up early on and we expected to be put under
pressure but we were solid and put in a good shift. I think we deserved a
point. "I think we can push on from here and climb the table."
Chelsea had a strong appeal for a late penalty turned down when Lucas Neill
appeared to foul Frank Lampard, and the Hammers defender admitted he had
caught the Blues midfielder. "Yes there was contact but I don't think I
could have got out of the way. I think the ref did really well," the Hammers
skipper said. But Neill was frustrated the visitors could not hang on to
their lead for longer. "As always we shot ourselves in the foot," he added.
Zola, meanwhile, was delighted with both his reception from the Chelsea
fans, who used to idolise him as a player, and the result. It lifted West
Ham into 16th place and Zola could not hide his satisfaction.
"It was a great result," said Zola. "It was a very good performance from my
team. Chelsea is a special place for me but my team made it a great day. I
had a fantastic reception from the Chelsea supporters. "I think it was a
fair result and very important for us especially after last week's
performance against Tottenham.
"It was a big shock for us. We lost a big game and everybody was down and
nervous in the week. "This performance will help build our confidence and
maybe at home we will have more confidence, freedom and less pressure. This
point and performance have been vital. "We made it very difficult for them
but when you play Champions League football it is very demanding and it
drains you. But it won't be easy for anybody to come here and get
something."
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Brescia's Nsereko linked with West Ham
16.12.08 | Andrew Slevison
Brescia forward Savio Nsereko is being linked with a move to West Ham. The
Ugandan-born German striker has captained his country at U19 level and is
being touted as a futre star of the game. It is believed the Hammers'
technical director, Gianluca Nani is extremely interested in Nsereko and the
players agent said a move to a bigger club was imminent. "I can confirm that
there are some teams in Italy and abroad who follow him," Patrick
Bastianelli told ilsussidiario.net.
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West Ham legend Hurst unhappy with Zola appointment
16.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
England and West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst admits he's unhappy with
Gianfranco Zola being in charge at Upton Park. The former West Ham player
made the comments on talkSPORT radio over the weekend when asked by Andy
Townsend and Mike Parry if he thought Zola had the skills to manage a club
like West Ham.
Sir Geoff replied: "Gianfranco Zola, I admire him as a fantastic player, one
of the best, if not the best player that we've had in the Premier League.
But my overall view is that if you go in to the position of a manager in a
major business or football club you have to have some experience." He went
on to compare Zola's credentials with that of fellow Italian Fabio Capello,
insisting that the now England manager had spent a great deal of time
learning the ropes. "Capello managed Under-16's and Under-19's in Italy. He
took six years to do that, learning his trade. "Now at the top end you have
people like Harry Redknapp who is over 60 years of age when you're probably
at your best. "You need to have that experience in the game and for people
to come from where Gianfranco has come from, managing the Italian Under-21
side, it doesn't really equip him to be in a dogfight at the bottom end of
the Premier League."
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Zola confident Nani will prove valuable at West Ham
16.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
Gianfranco Zola has urged West Ham United fans to give football chief
Gianluca Nani time to develop his transfer plans. "He is doing a great job
but he needs to be given time just like me to make sure his project works,"
Zola told whufc.com. "He's not going to go out there and spend £30 or £40
million. He is looking for young potentially good players which we can
develop and for this he needs some time. "I like working with him. One of
the reasons I came here is because I like the project and that got my
interest, not because I want to become the manager of Chelsea, Barcelona or
Real Madrid. I am here because I like what they told me about developing
young players in the team and that's the kind of thing I like. "We need to
work and we need some time to make it work."
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Parker praise for West Ham strikers Bellamy, Cole
16.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
Scott Parker was delighted with West Ham's attack after their 1-1 draw at
Chelsea. The midfielder told whufc.com: "Craig (Bellamy) has done ever so
well. He's always a threat but has not got the goals to go with that of
late, but his performances have showed what he is capable of. "Carlton Cole
had a late chance at the end and put in a good shift as well, so there's no
reason why they can't go on again from this and push on." Parker added: "The
manager was really pleased, the whole squad out there was great. Everyone
really put in a shift - we can all be proud to go home with a point, to play
like we did was very pleasing. "I think it was clear that we have spirit. We
have something there that you need and, with the league being so tight -
that two good wins move you up or two bad results put you in trouble - the
spirit and determination is something you need and we definitely have that."
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