WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola was pleased with his side's showing in the narrow defeat by
Manchester United
08.02.2009
Gianfranco Zola was proud of his side's performance after a Ryan Giggs goal
was all that separated them and Manchester United.
The Welshman's fine solo strike just after the hour mark gave the visiting
champions the lead and, despite plenty of pressure from the home side, the
Red Devils stood firm to take all three points. Zola was delighted with the
manner in which his players approached the game.
"For me it has been a positive match, forget about the result," Zola said.
"I know we lost but I don't just watch the result, I also make other
considerations as well. We were playing against the best team in Europe, if
not the world and we just lost by one goal in a very tight match. I am very
happy for my team, despite the fact we lost the game."
Carlton Cole again tirelessly led the line and gave Nemanja Vidic and the
returning Rio Ferdinand no end of problems. The 25-year-old striker would no
doubt have impressed the watching Fabio Capello, who has called Cole up into
his England squad for the first time, alongside Matthew Upson and Robert
Green.
Zola said: "Every time he controlled the ball in the box he had one man on
top of him straight away. That is down to their attention defensively.
Carlton is a player that is improving all of the time and getting better and
better.
"If I was Fabio Capello I would have had a very good impression of Carlton.
He kept them alert all the way through the second half. I think he is going
to be a very good player for him. I'm sure he will be a good player for him,
whether he plays him or not I don't know."
Zola felt West Ham challenged the champions in every department and the
match was a good indicator of how far West Ham United have come under his
stewardship. "I am sure it won't be easy for anyone to come here and beat
us. But they [Manchester United] did it in a very professional way.
"They punished us in the only mistake we made. Our goalkeeper hardly made
any saves, so I'm very complimentary to them as if you can win games like
this you are very strong."
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Internationals move into focus
WHUFC.com
Wednesday night will see several of Gianfranco Zola's squad in action across
three continents
09.02.2009
Several West Ham United players are on international duty this week with a
midweek round of fixtures across the globe. All of the West Ham United
internationals will be in friendly action on Wednesday with the exception of
captain Lucas Neill who has a World Cup qualifier on the same day.
England
Carlton Cole, called up alongside Robert Green and Matthew Upson, is in line
for his first England cap against Spain in Seville. Upson has been capped 12
times with one goal while Green's solitary cap came in May 2005 as a
second-half substitute in a 3-2 friendly win against Colombia.
Of Cole, Fabio Capello said: "He gets better and better every game. His
movement, his strength and his movement without the ball impress me. When he
is in front of goal he has to be calmer. Sometimes he is too fast and he
wants to shoot too quickly, but he is good at the moment. He is young, he is
interesting."
Switzerland
Valon Behrami will be hoping to win his 25th cap when Switzerland play host
to Bulgaria in Basel. The 23-year-old, who has scored two goals for his
country, is one of three English-based players in Ottmar Hitzfeld's 20-man
squad.
Czech Republic
Radoslav Kovac was an unused substitute against Manchester United but should
figure for the Czech Republic when they face Morocco in Casablanca. Kovac,
who arrived at the Boleyn Ground on loan until the end of the season from
Spartak Moscow last week, will hope to earn his 29th cap.
Australia
Lucas Neill is the only player on competitive duty with the Socceroos facing
a 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier round four match against Japan in
Yokohama. The 30-year-old captain is expected to win his 47th cap. Australia
go into the match sitting top of Asian Group A, two points ahead of their
hosts and on course to go to the finals in South Africa next year.
Wales
Jack Collison may figure for Wales against Poland, with the match to be
played in Vila Real, Portugal. Central defender James Collins, who has
scored once in 27 games for his country, was also named originally, but has
withdrawn from the party. Collison has earned three caps since making his
debut in Iceland last summer.
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Collison gaining from experience
WHUFC.com
Young midfielder Jack Collison enjoyed the challenge of coming up against
match-winner Ryan Giggs
09.02.2009
Jack Collison has vowed to learn from the experience of facing Manchester
United legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
West Ham United's Wales midfielder played a full part in the Hammers'
encouraging performance against the Premier League champions on Sunday.
However, a moment of magic from compatriot Giggs, who evaded two challenges
before scoring the game's only goal after 62 minutes, proved to be the only
difference between the two sides following a close-fought contest.
Afterwards, the 20-year-old was impressed by the displays of the 35-year-old
Giggs and 34-year-old Scholes, both of whom were at the hub of the visitors'
best moments at the Boleyn Ground.
"It was obviously a tough game. Coming up against Manchester United you know
what to expect. They hadn't conceded a goal in 12 - now 13 - [Premier
League] games so we knew it was going to be hard, but looking back on the
game we were disappointed not to come out with more than nothing.
"I think we created a few half-chances but against a team like them it takes
someone to take one of those half-chances to maybe put one over on them. It
took something special to unlock us too. Ryan Giggs scored a great goal and,
from a Welsh point of view, it's a bit of a shame he's retired [from
international football] to be honest. He and Paul Scholes were fantastic.
"Scholes is someone I also look up to as he's been at the top his whole
career. Trying to get close to him was a great experience for me. The way he
keeps it simple and keeps the ball moving is something I can learn from."
Collison will swap club for country this week as Wales travel to Portugal
for a warm-weather international friendly against Poland at the Vila Real De
Santo Antonio Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon. There, the three-times
capped midfielder is hoping to further his claims for a regular place in
John Toshack's side.
"We're off to Portugal and are playing against Poland, which is a little bit
weird, but it's another opportunity for me to cement my place in the Wales
team. I've worked hard to get here and am just really enjoying it at the
moment. It's exciting times ahead. If I can keep working hard I think there
could be good things to come for myself and the team."
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Zola backs Cole claim
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th February 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola has insisted that Carlton Cole is ready to make his
international bow in Seville on Wednesday night. Zola, speaking after
yesterday's narrow 1-0 defeat against reigning league champions Manchester
United said of his in-form striker: "Carlton is a player that is improving
all of the time and getting better and better. "If I was Fabio Capello I
would have had a very good impression. He kept them alert all the way
through the second half. "I think Carlton is going to be a very good player
for him; whether he plays him or not I don't know."
Cole, who received his first ever international call-up on Saturday night
could even start the game should Emile Heskey fail to recover from a knock
sustained in Aston Villa's 2-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday. Heskey has
joined England's training camp but is suffering with a sore achilles which
caused him to limp off midway through the second half at Ewood Park. He
missed training this morning and will be assessed by the camp's medical
staff before a decision is made. Also in international action this week are
Matthew Upson and Robert Green (England), Valon Behrami (Swutzerland v
Bulgaria), Radoslav Kovac (Morocco v Czech Republic), Lucas Neill (Japan v
Australian) and Jack Collison (Wales v Poland).
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Collins injury scare
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th February 2009
By: Staff Writer
James Collins is an injury worry for Gianfranco Zola after pulling out of
the Welsh squad to face Poland this week. Collins - who played the entire 90
minutes of yesterday's 1-0 home defeat against Manchester United - has
withdrawn from John Toshack's side after complaining of a knee problem after
the game. Initial reports suggests that Collins' ommision is likely to be no
more than a precautionary measure as Zola prepares his side for next
weekend's fifth round FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough. Should the Welsh
centre half not make it back by next Saturday his place is likely to be
taken by either James Tomkins, who has featued in both previous rounds of
the competition this season or new signing Radoslav Kovac, who, despite
making the bench yesterday, is yet to make his United debut.
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Emile Heskey injury could see Carlton Cole make England debut against Spain
Carlton Cole could earn his first England cap against Spain in Seville if
Emile Heskey's injury is not risked.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff
Last Updated: 11:50AM GMT 09 Feb 2009
Heskey was withdrawn against Blackburn on Saturday due to an Achilles
injury, and will be assessed by England's medical team before a final
decision is made on his participation. "Emile has a bit of an Achilles
problem and it was getting worse as the game went on," said Villa manager
Martin O'Neill at the weekend. England manager Fabio Capello is already
without Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Michael Owen and Theo Walcott for the
trip to Spain. And if Heskey is also sidelined, West Ham striker Cole could
be rewarded for his excellent run of form with a first international start.
"I think Carlton will be a very good player for England," said Gianfranco
Zola, whose appointment as West Ham manager has transformed Cole's career.
"I have just been in the job six months so I can't really say to Fabio 'do
this or that'. But Carlton is a player who is improving and am sure he will
get better and better. "His attitude has changed. When he was at Chelsea he
was very young and it was difficult for him to get a chance. "Now he has
realised he has a big opportunity. He needed to become more convinced about
himself and become a problem for the opposition. He is getting better and
better. "A successful player is the one that knows where he has to get and
Carlton Cole has all the attributes to be a winner."
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GREEN: HAMMERS ARE STILL CONFIDENT
By Adrian Curtis, PA Sport
Goalkeeper Robert Green insists West Ham fear no-one after their 1-0 home
defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester United. A second half goal by
veteran United winger Ryan Giggs settled the contest and put United back on
top by two points over Liverpool. It was West Ham's first defeat in seven
games and while Green watched his United counterpart, Edwin van der Sar,
notch up more goalkeeping records, Green maintains their run of form has
lifted the expectations of the fans. Green, who is part of the England squad
to face Spain in Seville on Wednesday, said: "We are on a run of form and it
would have been good to continue that but it's a step in the right
direction. "A few months ago, people would have been dreading this game
outside of the dressing room and now people are walking away rather
disappointed. Expectations have risen and no more than among ourselves. "I
didn't have a great deal to do and United didn't really get into fifth gear
at any point. "They stepped it up a bit until they scored in the second half
and then went down a bit afterwards. "They've had a lot of 1-0 wins
recently. We didn't really trouble them too much which is disappointing and
it's a disappointing goal to concede. "We've played United and Arsenal and
held our own and done okay but we've never really troubled either team too
much."
Young West Ham midfielder Jack Collison admitted they were bitterly
disappointed not to come away with at least a point. "Playing against United
you know what to expect," said Collison. "They're champions of the world at
the moment and we knew it would be a tough game but looking back at it we're
disappointed not to get anything from it. "It shows how far we've come as a
team that we're disappointed not to have won at Arsenal last week and this
time to get the points against Manchester United. "That's credit to
ourselves and how far we've come as a team. We knew we could create chances
but we just couldn't convert them into goals."
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