West Ham manager not commenting on future
Last updated: 18th April 2010
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Gianfranco Zola is in no doubt that he will emerge from this season as a
better manager. West Ham have endured a disappointing campaign and still
have a lot of work to do to secure Premier League survival. Zola has also
had to contend with an uncertain financial position at Upton Park, as well
as speculation about his own future. The Italian admits it has been a steep
learning curve but believes the experience will benefit his career. "Without
a doubt I'll be a better manager because of everything that's happened," he
said. "I'm not joking when I say this year is worth five years in terms of
coaching experience. I will be making the most of it, that's for sure."
Zola is reluctant to discuss his own situation until the summer and would
prefer to remain focused on keeping West Ham in the Premier league. "I have
an idea about the future but there's no point in me talking about anything
right now," he said. "Instead, it's important that we deal with the
situation now and talk about the future later. Now's not the time for
talking."
The Hammers are just three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of
Monday's meeting with Liverpool but Zola is convinced his men will beat the
drop. "I'm very confident we'll stay up, even before Everton two weeks ago I
said we will stay up. I won't change my mind on that," he stated. "We need
to work hard as a team. The last few games haven't been pretty but the
work-rate and desire has been top class and that's why we will get important
points. "The danger has not gone yet so we need to keep working hard.
"Absolutely everyone is pulling in the same direction - everyone really
wants this club to stay up. "The mood here has changed and that's the good
thing about football, things can change very quickly. "We have a new belief
so that even though we have not won at Liverpool since 1963, we know that we
are not beaten before we get there. We will fight until the end."
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Franco wont be Zo quick to Go
The Sun
GIANFRANCO ZOLA insists he will not hold showdown talks about his future
until he has kept West Ham in the Premier League. The manager's position is
under threat with owners David Sullivan and David Gold said to be
considering their options in the summer. But Zola, whose side are one place
above the drop zone, does not want to discuss his future until he knows West
Ham are safe. He said: "I have an idea about my future but now is not the
time for talking. "It's important we deal with our situation now and talk
later."
Zola insists his team can spring a surprise at Liverpool tonight after
picking up four points from two games. He said: "We have a new belief so
when we go to Anfield we know we are not already beaten."
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Gianfranco Zola aiming to build on recent improvement at West Ham
The Times
West Ham United discovered their fighting spirit on Merseyside a fortnight
ago and return bubbling with confidence to play Liverpool
Gary Jacob
West Ham United discovered their fighting spirit on Merseyside a fortnight
ago and return bubbling with confidence to play Liverpool tonight. Salvaging
a 2-2 draw against Everton turned around a campaign that had been plummeting
towards relegation and made a point to David Sullivan, their joint chairman,
who had criticised the team. A tense victory over Sunderland has given them
breathing space in their battle for survival and they are three points above
Hull City with a better goal difference. Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham
manager, appears to have temporarily compromised his principles of playing
stylish football in exchange for the need to dig in and win points. The
Italian can choose from four fit forwards, although none has been prolific.
Carlton Cole has gone two months without a goal and will partner Ilan, who
has scored in two successive matches. "I am spoilt for choice up front,"
Zola said. "The last few games haven't been pretty but the workrate and
desire has been top class. The mood here has changed, we have a new belief
so that even though we have not won at Liverpool since 1963, we know that we
are not beaten before we get there."
Zola has been beset by different problems since taking charge in September
2008. "I'm not joking when I say this year is worth five years in terms of
coaching experience," he said. "I will be making the most of it. I have an
idea about the future but there's no point in me talking about anything
right now." Scott Parker, the midfield player, will serve the second match
of a two-game ban for West Ham, who have not won on their travels since the
opening day of the season, against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Ilan showing his survival instinct for West Ham
Duncan Castles
The Times
His character is clear from the first phone call. Ilan agrees to the
interview immediately, asking only that we make West Ham United aware of the
meeting. Yes, he can meet the same day, inviting us to his house in Chigwell
or offering to travel into central London if it's more convenient. Choosing
his place, we ask for the address. "Oh, don't worry about that," he replies.
"I'll pick you up from the station. Which one is easiest for you?" After
ferrying us back to his red-brick, club-owned flat, the Brazilian explains
how he ended up being parachuted into West Ham's fight for Premier League
survival. He talks of the telephone call that came three days before the end
of the transfer window; the January 31 flight from the south of France to
London; the following day's conversation with West Ham manager Gianfranco
Zola that convinced him to sign; the three goals he has scored in 270
minutes of English football to lift his new employers out of the drop zone.
It's a good tale. The problem is that sometimes its protagonist is just too
self-effacing. Ilan Araujo Dall'Igna is 29. He has played for three clubs in
Brazil and two in France, representing his country three times. At Atletico
Paranaense he opened the scoring in the final of their sole Campeonato
Brasiliero victory. At Saint-Etienne there was a "bicicleta" overhead kick
against PSG that was voted France's goal of the season and some memorable
nights in Europe. But has he ever battled relegation before? "Last year I
had to in France, and I'm getting two years older each time," replies Ilan.
"There were four clubs fighting and it was decided in the last week. We
needed to win the last game at home and we won 4-0. To play in these kind of
seasons wears you down. Not just physically but mentally also."
What Ilan is too modest to mention is that he scored the opener in the
decisive victory over Valenciennes and it completed a sequence of five goals
in seven games, a strike rate that lifted the team he captained from second
bottom to safety. Nice guys don't always finish last. Imagine, then, West
Ham's surprise when Ilan appeared to follow up four League points' worth of
finishes against Everton and Sunderland with a Sunday tabloid attack on his
coach. "Ilan Blast Hits Hammers Boss Zola" read last week's headline above
quotes that the manager had "lost control of the team" by giving too much
freedom "to players who speak Italian". Aware that Zola's job has been on
the line amid suggestions from the club's ownership that he was too soft,
the player was mortified. "There was some negative news after the
[Sunderland] match, that I said that Zola did not have control," he says.
"Something was published totally incorrectly in a newspaper that is not very
serious here. But it's the opposite. I have never had any problem with him.
I've always had good, positive discussions. He's a very open person. I'd
given an interview to a Brazilian newspaper two months ago. The paper here
went after this old information and translated it incorrectly, and published
something negative right after our win when I got my goal [against
Sunderland]. It's not good for me to have this image. I called Zola and he
said, 'Don't worry, we are used to this here'. I spoke to the captain
[Matthew Upson], who said, 'Yes, I saw it, no one here thinks that. Stay
calm and just concentrate on scoring against Liverpool'."
That Ilan will start at Anfield tomorrow is testament to his patience. He
arrived at Upton Park almost as an afterthought, the least heralded of three
strikers bought by new owners to revitalise an undermanned attack. Benni
McCarthy and Mido had grander profiles in the English game; Ilan had
cancelled his contract at Saint-Etienne after coach Christophe Galtier
attempted to convert him into a holding midfielder.
Though McCarthy suffered an injury on his debut, Mido was carrying several
kilos of excess weight, and Ilan scored within four minutes of coming on as
a substitute at Burnley, his first start did not come until the middle of
March. Even then, West Ham's first Brazilian was asked to play out of
position on the wing as Zola tried to tie down Chelsea's full-backs.
"I arrived with two other strikers and knew I would have to wait [for
first-team football]," says Ilan. "I was new in England and the least known.
But I thought, 'Let's go slowly and when they put me in try to do my best'.
At first I was in a position I wasn't used to. But as I knew Zola is a very
cool guy, I had a chat with him and he said, 'Don't worry, if there is an
opportunity I will play you in your position'. And it worked out, I ended up
scoring goals. In football everyone knows that the one who comes on and
scores will end up playing."
Regardless of the competition for places, his relationship with the other
strikers is strong. He plays golf with Guillermo Franco, enjoys McCarthy's
bubbly personality and fluent Portuguese, and has productive half-time
tactics talks with Carlton Cole. "The good thing about the strikers is that
we are always together," he says. "We want the others to play, to score.
There is good battle between us, no negativity."
After a first month of depressingly grey skies and repetitive hotel food,
Ilan is enjoying life at West Ham. Showing off bruises from the day's
paintball session, he enthuses about the team "unity" and quality of a
coaching staff rounded out by Steve Clarke and Kevin Hitchcock. He likes the
Premier League's direct, less tactically complex football, laughing at how
"the fans clap for tackles, it's funny" and that, so far, he's escaped the
worst of them.
Ilan is convinced West Ham will avoid the drop, while shying away from
parallels with a past saviour. "We need four points still and there are four
games left. We have the capacity to win those points. They even compare me
to [Carlos] Tevez when he came, saving the team. If I can help that's my
job, but I don't want to get ahead of myself."
Yet, like Tevez, his tenure in the East End might be fleeting.French wife
Nelly and eight-month-old daughter Bianca remain in their home country and
his contract expires with the season. "I have an option for an extra year,
but it doesn't depend just on me, it depends on the club. I don't think too
far ahead. If they want me to stay I would be happy to talk."
It would be rude to do otherwise. And the last thing Ilan does is rude.
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Ilan: I saved St Etienne from relegation... I can do the same for West Ham
Published 23:00 18/04/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham saviour Ilan has vowed to continue his red-hot scoring form after
also inspiring his old side St Etienne to survival last term. The Brazilian
striker, 29, has become an instant hit at Upton Park with three goals since
arriving in January from the French top flight. He netted a last-gasp
equaliser at Everton earlier this month and scored the winner in West Ham's
previous game, at home to Sunderland. The star, capped three times by his
country in 2003, is looking to add to his tally tonight when Gianfranco
Zola's side visit Liverpool. With the Hammers just three points above the
relegation zone, the pressure is on the debt-ridden East End club. But Ilan
beat the drop in France when he scored the first goal as St Etienne's
captain on the final day of last season in a 4-0 win against Valenciennes.
"The club was going through relegation danger and I scored a goal on the
last day to help us survive," said Ilan, who invited Mirrorsport into his
London home. "At St Etienne I was captain for the second half of the season.
We needed to win and another result to go our way on the final day. "As a
skipper representing the club and the supporters, it felt as good as if you
win the league. That was an achievement and if I can do the same for West
Ham I would be very happy. "I hope in the next two games to get the points
to ensure we don't go through the same emotions on the last day. "West Ham
have the team to get a result at Liverpool. We know it is going to be hard
but we feel we can get a result."
Ilan always wanted to be a footballer to follow in the footsteps of his
father, William, who played up front for Sao Paulo. Ilan also played for the
same club at the start of his career, alongside future Real Madrid Galactico
Kaka. But he has since eclipsed his father's achievements by representing
Brazil and winning the title back home with Atletico Paranaense before
moving to France. Ilan remains in daily contact with his relatives in Brazil
including his dad, who has been a big influence on his career. And the star
admits his father loves the Premier League. He added: "We speak every day
over the internet – he was an attacker as well. My dad is happy with my
success but is a bit disappointed that he can't be here to watch the games.
"In Brazil they show more Premier League games than the French League though
so he can follow it better. He has told me he likes the fact I can adapt to
different types of football."
West Ham have first refusal to sign Ilan on a free transfer in the summer if
they stay up and he would like to remain at Upton Park. "In my mind I feel I
can get the goals to help the club," said Ilan. "I am happy with my
contribution considering the minutes I have played. And at 29, I feel I am
in my prime and ready to do well and stay here."
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N'GALA SET TO SIGN FOR ARGYLE
Monday, April 19, 2010, 07:00
This Is Plymouth
ON-LOAN West Ham United centre-back Bondz N'Gala (pictured right) is set to
make a permanent transfer to Plymouth Argyle this summer. Pilgrims' boss
Paul Mariner is confident of concluding a deal for the 20-year-old, with
talks at an advanced stage. N'Gala, who is being released by West Ham, has
put in some impressive performances for Argyle since signing on loan last
month. He made his debut in the 2-0 away win against Ipswich Town, following
a hip injury to Kari Arnason. That was the first of six successive starts
for N'Gala, who has already struck up a strong partnership with Reda
Johnson, 22, at centre-back. The pair face their sternest test yet tonight,
when champions-elect Newcastle United are the visitors to Home Park
(7.45pm). But Mariner said: "I think the partnership of N'Gala and Johnson,
looking through a crystal ball, is going to be a strong one for the club."
When asked how the talks were going with N'Gala, the Pilgrims' head coach
replied: "Very well." N'Gala is a graduate of West Ham's youth academy, and
has made one substitute appearance for the Premier League club. Mariner
continued: "He has obviously been taught well. His feet are good for a big
fella, and he's always on the training ground, working at his game. "He's
just a terrific young man, he really is."
N'Gala's arrival at Home Park was followed soon afterwards by Zimbabwe
international left-back Onismor Bhasera, who has started the last four
matches. Mariner said: "I think what has happened with the back four, with
Bas and Bondz coming in, is that Reda has elevated his game. "Reda has taken
on a leadership role with the group, which bodes well for the future."
N'Gala signed on loan for Argyle in the middle of last month, having trained
with them for a short spell in January. Mariner said: "When he came in
initially, he was taken back by West Ham and he wasn't available. "We kept
pursuing it and then he did become available. "To be perfectly frank, he was
cover for Arnie, but Arnie gets hurt and Bondz is thrown in at the deep end.
"When we signed him, I thought he would do well, but I didn't think he would
be asked to play so many minutes. "I must say, he has acquitted himself
extremely well. He's already a very good professional."
Meanwhile, Mariner has admitted he wants to see utility player Karl Duguid
and goalkeeper Romain Larrieu stay at Home Park. Both have contracts with
the Pilgrims which end this summer, but talks about new deals for the pair
have been taking place. The length of the contracts, and the wages on offer
to the two players, are likely to be dictated by whether Argyle are in the
Championship or League One next season. Mariner said: "Karl Duguid knows
exactly where he stands, and so does Ro. "We have got to wait, and they are
completely happy with that situation. There is no doubt I want them here.
They have both got a lot to offer. "They are great pros, and are everything
you would want in a player."
Mariner hopes new contracts with Duguid and Larrieu, who has been with
Argyle since November 2000, will be agreed before the end of the season. He
said: "I think it will be close to getting done before then." Winger Yannick
Bolasie has also been offered a new contract by Argyle, with his current
deal set to expire this summer. Bolasie recently broke into the Pilgrims'
first team, and made an instant impact. The 20-year-old has started eight
games and come off the substitutes' bench five times. Mariner said: "He
(Bolasie) has an offer on the table, but we haven't heard back from him."
Four other Pilgrims' players will be out of contract this summer. They are
goalkeeper Lloyd Saxton, defenders David McNamee and Gary Sawyer, plus
midfielder Yoann Folly.
Sawyer has already stated he will be leaving Argyle, and is currently on
loan to Bristol City with a view to a permanent move.
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It's Still All to Play For!
West Ham Till I Die
That Wigan-Arsenal result yesterday was a real shocker! I checked on the
match at one point and Arsenal were two up and cruising to an easy victory!
When I double checked later, I was amazed to see that Wigan had somehow
turned it around to win 3-2! Obviously, both the Bolton and Wigan victories
at the weekend were most unwelcome, but as I have frequently stated over
recent weeks, it's still all to play for!
We need to give it a real go tonight at Anfield and battle to at least a
point. Torres' absence is a massive bonus for us. If he were available I
would be far less optimistic about our chances. Yes, they still have
Gerrard, Benayoun and Kuyt, but we just have to get to grips with them!
Perhaps they might even rest key players ahead of the Europa League match
later in the week?
Next Saturday's home match against Wigan is 'must win,' no question about
that. We dare not drop points in that match. While I am confident that we
can get a result at Fulham. They are showing clear signs of being
distracted by the Europa League semi-finals and we should be able to take
advantage of it. Hodgson has done a magnificent job at Craven Cottage and
has welded them in to a very good unit. However, we do have the players to
beat them.
I really do not want it to go to the wire, but if that's the way it has to
be, then so be it! Man City have some outstanding forwards, but they do not
always travel well. Hopefully, they will clinch the 4th spot before the
final day and then take their foot off the gas! Even so, we cannot count on
that. We will need to be sure that we give 100% effort and counter their
quality with greater passion and commitment.
I think that it is fairly safe to say that Burnley are gone now. Hull City
will continue to drop points. The Villa, Sunderland and Liverpool matches
may be at home, but they are all going to be tough for a team lacking form
and confidence. Additionally, the fact that Wigan and Hull City have to
play each other in the run-in could also benefit us in the final shake down.
Certainly, if we beat Wigan, they will be under massive pressure to take the
three points against Hull City. After all, they are not likely to get
anything at Stamford bridge on the final day, especially if the fight for
the Premier League title goes to the final match.
Wolves and Bolton should both achieve safety with their final three
fixtures, but who knows? There are still likely to be twists and turns and
couple of dodgy results for one of them could see them pulled right back in
to the relegation zone. Far stranger things have happened in football!
This is a very tense and difficult situation for us supporters. However, we
have all been here before, it is not a new experience for us! All we can do
is keep faith with the players and give them vocal, 100% support home and
away. Hopefully they will respond by delivering the results to see us safe.
Look on the bright side, we might have needed to go to Old Trafford on the
final day to get a result to ensure that we stay up. Yeah, like we could
ever achieve a feat like that!!!!
SJ. Chandos.
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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres sidelined for the season
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will not play again this season after
undergoing a second operation in four months on torn cartilage in his
troublesome right knee in Barcelona last night.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Rory Smith
Published: 8:05PM BST 18 Apr 2010
Liverpool's Fernando Torres will not play against Atlético Madrid, his
former club. The Spain international returned to his homeland on Saturday,
travelling by road and rail to circumvent the travel chaos caused by the
Icelandic volcanic eruption, for further consultation with Dr Ramon Cugat,
who carried out the initial surgery on his damaged meniscus in January. Dr
Cugat had drained fluid from the player's knee last week – a common
side-effect of operations – but the decision was taken over the weekend to
carry out a second operation.
A spokesman for Liverpool last night confirmed Torres is likely to be out of
action for around six weeks, the same period of recovery he required earlier
this season, ruling him out of the rest of Liverpool's campaign and making
him a doubt for Spain's World Cup squad. Fernando Hierro, Spain's technical
director, has remained in constant contact with the player and his
representatives since he aggravated the injury in the second leg of
Liverpool's Europa League quarter-final against Benfica. He and manager
Vicente del Bosque will closely monitor the player's fitness before deciding
whether to include him on their 23-man list.
The news will come as a severe blow to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who
admitted last week he "did not know" if an operation would be necessary, as
well as the player, who was desperate to feature in the club's Europa League
semi-final against his former side Atlético Madrid on Thursday. Uefa will
make a decision today on whether that fixture will go ahead in light of the
problems caused by the ash cloud playing havoc with European airspace after
confirming on Sunday that Barcelona and Lyon will travel by road to enable
their Champions League fixtures this week to take place.
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Arsenal target Joe Hart and Robert Green as goalkeeper search begins
Metro.co.uk
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to make signing a new goalkeeper his
priority this summer with Manchester City's Joe Hart and West Ham's Rob
Green top of his wish-list. A number of high-profile mistakes from both
Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski this season - culminating in the young
Pole's clanger that gifted Wigan their equaliser in Sunday's 3-2 defeat -
have given Wenger food for thought in the goalkeeping department. Both Hart
and Green have had good seasons, with both pushing for a place in Fabio
Capello's England squad at this summer's World Cup, and the on-loan
Birmingham stopper has impressed the Gunners boss. At 22, Hart still has his
whole career ahead of him and already looks an assured presence between the
sticks - and Wenger looks set to use up to £8 million of his £45 million
summer kitty to bring him to the Emirates Stadium from Eastlands. Blues boss
Alex McLeish is still hopeful of keeping Hart next season however, and if
Arsenal miss out on the former Shrewsbury starlet they are set to turn their
attention to Green - one of the Hammers' top earners. New owners David
Sullivan and David Gold are keen to make cuts in the wage budget of the
side, meaning Green could be one of a few big names let go at the end of the
season.
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