David Di Michele had words of praise for the West Ham United faithful after his Boleyn Ground bow
22.09.2008
David Di Michele has thanked the West Ham United fans for getting behind him on his first appearance at the Boleyn Ground and inspiring him to a debut double.
The Italy striker, who is on a year-long loan from Torino with a view to a possible permanent transfer, had an afternoon to remember on Saturday as he scored the first two goals in a 3-1 win against Newcastle United and then made the third for Matthew Etherington. "It was a great occasion," he said. "It was a very positive experience. I didn't expect to start in such a nice way in front of the home crowd. I am so happy to have scored two goals and that we won.
"For me, it was an 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, especially when you are a forward because it gives you the confidence to try things."
Di Michele, who also got an assist for Mark Noble on his first appearance away to West Bromwich Albion last week, admitted he should perhaps have been celebrating a hat-trick. "I probably could have had three goals. I missed the shot in the second half with my left. I should have been a bit more accurate with that and I would then have got the match ball but it was not to be. Maybe next time!"
The 32-year-old's performance evoked memories of other flair players to have led the home attack such as a previous wearer of the No32 shirt in Carlos Tevez and, further back, another Italian in Paolo Di Canio. He is playing down any link though. "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. I will give my all to do this."
Helping him to achieve that aim will be his new manager Gianfranco Zola, and Di Michele acknowledges that the signs are good for the future. "There is an immediate understanding with the manager because we come from the same football culture. 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."
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Manager on Monday - WHUFC
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is already thinking about the future and keeping things going
22.09.2008
"It is just the beginning. It is the first step and we have got a long way to go. This is the right way to start."
Gianfranco Zola has slowly begun to bring his players back down to earth after a superb start to his managerial career with West Ham United. With the focus already on Tuesday's Carling Cup third-round trip to Watford, the whole squad though could be forgiven for still having the feelgood factor. The 3-1 win against Newcastle United meant the club ended the weekend riding high in sixth and looking forward to another busy week with confidence.
While his natural enthusiasm fuels optimism, the manager knows that there is plenty of hard work needed at Chadwell Heath to keep things going. As such, he only had a "nice quiet celebration" on Saturday night before he, his coaches and the first-team squad were back in on Sunday morning. There was still time for deserved praise though for the way the players had responded to his arrival.
He said: "When you have a team like that which is playing so well and is so focused and tuned in, obviously the manager's life is easier. If they can keep that attitude for a long time, we will get a lot of satisfaction." The humble Zola is still learning the management game but has relished having to look beyond his considerable achievements as a player.
He said: "I have enjoyed it very much. It is a new challenge. It is a difficult challenge ... I really like to test myself with new things and this is a new thing where I am sure that I can do well. I have also got great people around me like Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen and Antonio Pintus. They will be helping me a lot and I am sure we can do a good job."
Zola told his players his first West Ham United selection by simply pinning the team sheet to the wall and he acknowledges that leaving players out is "certainly the hardest thing about being a manager". He added: "I know how important it is for a player to play and that is something that unfortunately has to be done. I always do that with difficulty.
"I realise that sometimes now I will have to be unpopular. As long as I make sure that all my choices are honest choices there shouldn't be a problem. What explanation can you give? They have to be intelligent to understand that I can only pick eleven players and seven can go on the bench. It is a choice. It may sometimes be a wrong choice but I am in the position to make the choice and they have to respect it."
One of his first choices was to hand David Di Michele his first start in West Ham United colours and he was rewarded with an "unbelievable match" from the striker. Zola added that he had worked with the striker during training to make sure his finishing matched the undoubted creative quality that has long characterised his game
No doubt delighted by the way Di Michele had already heeded instruction, Zola said: "He has got everything in his bag to be a successful player for West Ham. He is a quiet boy. But that doesn't matter. As long as he is loud on the pitch I don't mind." Indeed, Zola is eager for his whole squad to step up and take the limelight in the weeks to come. "Obviously we want players to become important for the club and successful. We want these kinds of players."
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Ashton on the comeback trail - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 21st September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Dean Ashton is set to return to fulll training next week, according to Gianfranco Zola. The United striker suffered his third injury of the season last week in training, a knock that ruled him out of yesterday's 3-1 win over Newcastle. But according to Zola, he will be back in contention for next weekend's short trip to Fulham. "Dean will have to rest," said Zola. "I think he will start training again next week. Then we will see what his condition is. "At the moment he needs one week to recover. He already had a problem and the ankle got sore as he was training, so we had to stop him."
Zola also revealed that Craig Bellamy has suffered another setback in his return from injury - although he chould be available for selection next weekend and possibly for the trip to Watford on Tuesday night. "Bellamy has had a problem as well," he confirmed. "It's an old problem but he's still recovering." The good news is that there were no further injury concerns from yesterday's match, which was won thanks to goals from David Di Michele (x2) and Matthew Etherington.
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You've got a special one - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 21st September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has backed the appointment of Steve Clarke, calling his former number two a 'top coach'. The Portuguese manager, who now works in Italy with Milan worked alongside Clarke at Chelsea for several years during which time they won league titles and a number of cups. Talking earlier this weekend, he claimed that Clarke has the capability to be a manager in his own right, adding that he was good enough to have succeeded Mourinho at Chelsea.
"Getting the coaching structure right is the most important thing if you want success on the field," said Mourinho. "Gianfranco Zola, the new manager, needed support from a man with experience and intelligence; Steve is that man. "Steve and I worked very well together at Chelsea, won many trophies, and I think he is ready for more. In fact, this is what I think about Steve Clarke: if, at this moment, he had the chance to manage a club, even a big club like Chelsea, he would be ready for that. He is that good. "He is an intelligent guy and always looking to improve. He is very open to co-operation and learning. He has a good relationship with the players, knows how to handle them. I think he is much, much better than many managers who are in charge of teams at the moment. "So, while he has the capability to be a manager in his own right, Franco needs Steve because he does not have his experience of being on the training pitch, working with the players, with the methodology of coaching, with training organisation. With them working together they can do good things. 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."
Meanwhile Gianfranco Zola has apologised to supporters for ignoring their requests to 'give us a wave' during yesterday's match against Newcastle. "I have to say sorry to the fans for not waving at them when they sang," he said. "I did not hear it because I was so focused and my brain was thinking about what I needed to do.
"This whole week I have been nervous because obviously it is a new challenge and you don't know how people are going to react. I must thank the fans for the way they gave me a great reception and next time I promise to wave!"
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Zola's pride - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 20th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola has hailed his team's performance after they comfortably beat Newcastle 3-1 at the Boleyn this afternoon. The new manager, talking to the BBC after the win praised his side's effort - and his predecessor, Alan Curbishley - after watching his managerial reign get off to the perfect start. "I'm very happy with the performance," he said. "I'm a little bit drained to be honest - it was very tiring! "I'd like to say we done something to these guys in one week. But to be fair to them it's all down to them and to what Alan Curbishley has done so far. The attitude of the players has been incredible and everything is down to them, so it was very good.
"We knew already that in the last twenty, twenty five minutes our condition had gone a little bit down. But what was important was that even in those moments we kept our shape and maintaned good positions on the pitch. I'm very proud of them."
Zola also had special praise for forwards Carlton Cole and David Di Michele, who marked his home debut with a brace and an assist. "Di Michele has got really good qualities," added Zola. "He needs to be a little bit focused on the finishing but he can do unbelievable things - and today he scored two killer goals. "I will forgive Carlton if he doesn't score many goals if he plays the way he played today. He was unbelievable. Today it was sometimes him against two or three defenders and he was causing problems all the time; he was probably my man of the match. "I am a great fan of his. I said to him that if he improves a few things - his finishing maybe, or getting a few goals, being in the right position at the right time - he can really achieve great results. He has all the qualities there to play for England."
Zola also dismissed reports that he would be little more than a 'puppet' for the Board, adding that all at the club will need to pull their weight if United are to push on this season. "My duty is to make things work properly on the pitch - and me and all my staff will be working on that, " he said. "Then I need the support and help from Gianluca Nani and the Board, because they will need to play their part. "I trust them, they trust me and if we can work together we can do a good job over here."
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Prandelli denies Montolivo talk - SSN
Fiorentina not looking to sell reported Hammers target
By Nadia Carminati Last updated: 21st September 2008
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has dismissed reports that Riccardo Montolivo could join West Ham United. Sunday newspaper speculation claimed new Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola was plotting a £12million bid for Montolivo. The midfield playmaker is on a long-term contract at Fiorentina and is one of the brightest prospects in Italian football. Speaking after his side's win over Bologna on Sunday, Prandelli expressed his view that Montolivo is set for a big season at Fiorentina. "West Ham are interested in Montolivo?" Prandelli told Sky Italia. "It's not a big offer. "I'm convinced this season that Riccardo will have a great season. "We are asking him to take on responsibility. He came back from the Olympics a little tired, but he has recovered. "Today, when he entered the pitch, he did good things. We are asking him to take more responsibility and he's doing this."
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Zola - I'm not afraid - SSN
Italian sets his stall out as he embarks on great adventure
Last updated: 21st September 2008
New West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola knows he has tough choices ahead but is not afraid to upset people. After enjoying a fantastic career on the pitch, Zola fully understands that players want to play. But he knows he can not please everyone all the time and - as long as his decisions are made for the right reasons - he will not reproach himself. The new boss said: "The hardest thing is that you cannot play everyone, or that you have to send a player to the stands. I know how important it is for a player to play, but unfortunately it has to be done. "I know that sometimes I may have to be unpopular, but as long as I make sure all of my choices are honest ones, there should not be a problem. "I just put a team sheet up - what other explanations can you give? They have to be intelligent enough to understand I can only play 11 and have seven on the bench. "Sometimes it may be a wrong choice, but I am the one in the position to make it, so they have to respect that."
Zola got off to a winning start as the Hammers overcame Newcastle 3-1 at Upton Park on Saturday. He is relishing the challenge ahead, and acknowledges the support he will get from his experienced backroom team. He said: "I played football always relying on my qualities and now I need to think about many things. "But I like challenges, testing myself on new things and I am sure I can do well at it. "I have also got great people around me, like Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen, they will be helping me a lot and I am sure we can do a good job."
Zola now hopes that the Hammers can continue their winning run and give their supporters something to really cheer about. He added: "When you have a team which is playing so well, focused and tuned in, obviously the manager's life is easier. "If they can keep that attitude for a long time we can get a lot of satisfaction."
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Gianfranco Zola claims David Di Michele could become Upton Park's new Paulo Di Canio - Telegraph
West Ham (2) 3 v Newcastle (0) 1
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 7:50PM BST 21 Sep 2008
The Italian invasion of Upton Park is such that West Ham are depicted, in more extreme accounts, as being under mafia control. If so, Gianfranco Zola represents an unlikely godfather. The punishment his team meted out to Newcastle was brutal, but you had a hard time imagining him being as harsh on his own subordinates. The Sardinian is so popular, so essentially placid, that he admitted after his first match that his main challenge was to learn some strong-arm tactics.
Not that there were too many complaints to make of his debut, an effective demolition of rudderless opponents, or of his touchline demeanour, as dynamic as Alan Curbishley's had been dour. But the knife should have plunged into Newcastle far deeper, so abject was their resistance, and Zola at least had the courage to claim that the finishing from striker David di Michele was wayward in spite of his two goals.
"Sometimes I have to be ruthless otherwise I send in my boys," Zola said in jest. At least he has Steve Clarke, a headbanger of the highest order after 21 years at Chelsea, to execute difficult decisions from which he might shy away.
But, he explained: "As long as I make sure that all my choices are honest, then it shouldn't be a problem."
Home supporters warmed instantly to his honesty. They are growing attached to Di Michele, too, one of the club's summer acquisitions of whom Curbishley was so sceptical, but who could yet emerge as a latter-day Paolo Di Canio. "I hope that he can do as well as Di Canio, he has everything in his bag," Zola said. "He is a quiet boy, but provided he is loud on the pitch I don't mind."
Newcastle are in sore need of some local heroes. Steven Taylor might realise his full talent were he to partner a decent centre-back. Michael Owen, similarly, might look like being bothered to earn his £130,000 a week were to receive some reliable service.
But here their performance disintegrated with grim predictability. Their supporters chanted, "There's only one Kevin Keegan," and they felt no less nostalgic after seeing their team suffer again from the vacuum of leadership Keegan's resignation has left. Chris Hughton, his interim replacement, is occupying an impossible position.
"The quicker a manager is appointed the better, so we all know where we stand," he acknowledged.
A wider sense of ill-fortune stalked this occasion, as seen in the decline of the clubs' respective sponsors, XL and Northern Rock. But where West Ham, energised by Zola, could perceive a future beyond their logo-less club strips, Newcastle, for sale but never less saleable, are caught in a tailspin apparently without end.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has just had what is being describedas a "week from hell". As well as so far failing to sell the crisis-hit club for a staggering £480 million in the Middle East, the sports retail tycoon has also lost £300 million in a bet on stricken bank HBOS. Ashley gambled that the value of shares would increase and placed £50 million, which represented a 10 per cent deposit of the half a billion pounds he was staking in the spread-betting market. It is estimated that Ashley lost £100 million in just one hour as HBOS shares slumped to 88 pence each. The billionaire initially stood to lose £380 million until the share price rallied at the end of last week.
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Zola all smiles as West Ham adapt to Italian's renaissance
Guardian report Observer report Match facts
Premier League
West Ham United 3 Di Michele 8, Di Michele 37, Etherington 53
Newcastle United 1 Owen 67
David Lacey at Upton Park The Guardian, Monday September 22 2008 Article historyGianfranco Zola's priority at Upton Park is to produce not so much a winning team as a team with a winning smile to match his own. West Ham had just won two successive games 4-1 when Alan Curbishley resigned on a point of principle about managerial control of transfers but his sides tended to wear a worried frown. Curbishley's pragmatic approach served Charlton faithfully for years but did not always go down well north of the Thames.
After Zola's new charges had beaten Newcastle on Saturday Carlton Cole, who had played a few games alongside the little Italian at Chelsea, confessed to his arrival being "a bit of a culture shock." Certainly West Ham performed with a new sense of freedom although whether this was down to Zola or the generous amount of time and space they were allowed by the opposition was hard to tell; probably a bit of both.
Either way, feelings of an Italian renaissance were strengthened by the fact that David Di Michele, a striker on loan from Torino, scored West Ham's first two goals and set up the third for Matthew Etherington. Di Michele is one of those fluttering footballers who are inclined to enthral one moment and infuriate the next. West Ham know the type. They had one not so long ago. Name of Paolo Di Canio. Yet if Di Michele was apt to overdo the feints and dragovers his was an alert attacking presence in the absence of Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy.
Di Michele's opening goal, after eight minutes, was aided by deflections off David Edgar and Steven Taylor which took the ball over Shay Given in a high loop. The second, eight minutes before half-time, owed much to the speed of his reaction after Given had blocked his first shot along with dull defending. First Taylor lunged in blindly, giving Di Michele an opportunity to turn past the challenge, flicking the ball with him as he did so. Fabricio Coloccini then turned his back as the forward prepared to shoot when he could have blocked the drive which beat Given at the near post.
The low centre with which Di Michele set up Etherington to score eight minutes after half-time looked as if it might have been a miscued attempt at a shot but the Italian had done enough to earn the crowd's approval, although Cole's selfless running and willingness to take on defenders in batches were equally crucial to West Ham's victory.
Zola was careful to mention this amid his praise for the win, the team, the performance, the crowd and life in general. "Cole was occasionally up against two defenders today and he was unbelievable." he said. "He started playing with me when I was at Chelsea and I feel he can become much better. There are things he can improve on but he has all the qualities to play for the national team."
Of Di Michele he said: "I wish he can do as well as [Paolo] Di Canio did, for these supporters. He has got everything in his bag to be a successful player for West Ham. 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 after Saturday shows he listens to me."
Fabio Capello, the England coach, was watching on Saturday although the presence of his physio, Gary Lewin, alongside him suggested he was there more to check on the match fitness of Michael Owen.
The Newcastle striker obliged Capello with a well-taken goal just past the hour, side-stepping Lucas Neill before curling in a shot at the far post. Otherwise he still looked a fraction short, missing several chances that the old Owen would have taken without blinking.
It was Zola's good fortune to enter Premier League management against Newcastle in their present plight: a rudderless hulk showing an early drift towards the reef of relegation and now in the bottom three. Their owner, Mike Ashley, wants to sell up and has been hoping for a buyer from the Middle East.
On Saturday's evidence, however, it would be hard to swap Newcastle United for a set of dodgy postcards in a Cairo back street.
Man of the match David Di Michele (West Ham United)
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Fellow Italian gets Zola off to bright start - The Times
West Ham 3 Newcastle 1
Alyson Rudd at Upton Park
A cynic might say that anyone could have been in charge against Newcastle United and won, but Gianfranco Zola, making his managerial debut, won more than three points. He won over the West Ham United fans, who are notoriously hard to please, he impressed the players and wooed the media. Newcastle may be a limping zebra in full sight of all predators, but this victory belonged to the diminutive Sardinian.
"He is a calm man, when he speaks you listen, he commands respect. He was a brilliant player. He left behind an aura," Scott Parker, who arrived at Chelsea in the 2003-2004 season after Zola had left, said. Zola told the players to enjoy themselves, control the game and be patient. Crucially, he told David Di Michele to sharpen up in front of goal, which the on-loan Italian did, scoring twice and setting up a third goal.
"I told Di Michele he can do unbelievable things, but he needs to improve his finishing – which shows he listens to me very carefully," Zola said. "I have seen him in Italy many times doing unbelievable things, but then coming in front of the goalkeeper and missing. Today he did not do that, so I am very pleased."
Di Michele, on his home debut, soared from being a "Who is he, again?" sort of player to the next Paolo Di Canio. Di Michele, capped six times for Italy, has played for seven Italian clubs and at 32 seems an unlikely star in the making. His first goal was fortunate, the ball looping in over the head of Shay Given from a nasty deflection off Steven Taylor. His second owed more to his quick reactions. After the Italian's initial effort had been saved by Given's head, Di Michele scampered after the loose ball and beat Taylor to open up a second chance.
"There is an immediate understanding with the manager because we come from the same football culture," Di Michele said. "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. For me, it was an atmosphere that I am not used to. It was unbelievable and the fans helped me to focus."
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."
It was Newcastle who looked the team with a language barrier. Their fans lapped up the sunshine and sang heartily, Chris Hughton, their caretaker manager, refused to blame the ownership crisis, but the players performed as if trapped in a corny soap opera.
Hughton said that his experienced players are doing their best – "your Michael Owens, your Nicky Butts, your Shay Givens, Steve Harper, Gérémi. These are experienced players who have seen mangers go and therefore become even more important in these sorts of situations."
But if Owen is offered a package – Liverpool and Everton are keen – that could rescue him from the nightmare at St James' Park, he would surely take it.
There were plenty of glimpses of Owen's class, not least in the manner in which he took his goal, but it is unlikely that he will present Fabio Capello, the England manager, with a selection dilemma while part of such a hapless club.
And so, as happens every season, Newcastle pin their hopes on the cup competitions. On Wednesday, they are at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the Carling Cup.
Hughton acted as caretaker manager at White Hart Lane after the departure of Christian Gross in 1998 and said that he has been thanked by the Newcastle board for taking temporary charge at Newcastle. He has no idea, however, how much longer he will be running the team.
"The fans see no confidence in us," Gérémi said. "We have to show on Wednesday that that is not the case. We have to stick together. We need the fans to help us win. You can get into Europe from this competition. We need that cup."
Long-suffering Newcastle fans might be tempted to tell Gérémi not to hold his breath.
West Ham (4-3-2-1): R Green 5 - J Faubert 5 L Neill 7 M Upson 5 H Ilunga 5 - V Behrami 5 M Noble 6 S Parker 6 - D Di Michele 8 M Etherington 7 - C Cole 6 Substitutes: H Mullins (for Parker, 72), L Boa Morte (for Etherington, 73), F Sears (for Cole, 87). Not used: J Lastuvka, W Lopez, C Davenport, K Reid.
Newcastle (4-4-2): S Given 5 - D Edgar 4 S Taylor 3 F Coloccini 4 C N'Zogbia 5 Gérémi 5 N Butt 6 C Cacapa 4 D Duff 4 M Owen 7 Xisco 4 Substitutes S Bassong (for Edgar, 59 4), N González (for Cacapa, 81). Not used: S Harper, F Ameobi, B Tozer, M Doninger, R Donaldson.
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West Ham United 3 Newcastle United 1: Di Michele and Hammers quick to heed Zola message
By Steve Tongue
Monday, 22 September 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
Gianfranco Zola passed his first managerial test with ease and can look forward to the next few as West Ham continue a favourable run of fixtures that does not take a more taxing turn until Arsenal and Manchester United loom up in the space of four days at the end of next month. Of course, any club due to meet Newcastle in their current state of disarray – that means Tottenham, Blackburn, Everton, Manchester City and yes, Sunderland – must be rubbing their hands. But Zola, taking charge of a team for the first time, was spot on for tactics, team selection and man-management.
With Dean Ashton as well as Craig Bellamy missing, he adapted the formation to a 4-3-2-1 that offered solidity in the centre of the pitch, plus a threat from the two support strikers, Matthew Etherington and David Di Michele, that took Newcastle aback. Etherington's pace, Di Michele's invention and the fluid movement of both were more than the visitors could cope with. In addition, Carlton Cole at the top of the Christmas tree was far more than mere decoration this time, so much so that Zola, once his attacking partner at Chelsea, mentioned him as potential England material.
"It is a bit different," he said of his first week as a football manager. "So far I have enjoyed it very much. It is a difficult challenge but I like challenges, testing myself on new things and I am sure I can do well at it.
"The hardest thing is that you cannot play everyone," Zola added. "I know that sometimes I may have to be unpopular, but as long as I make sure all of my choices are honest ones, there should not be a problem."
Dealing with unpopularity certainly would be a novelty for the little Sardinian. Calum Davenport, culpable in a 3-2 defeat at West Bromwich the previous week, and the unloved Luis Boa Morte were among those disappointed on Saturday, but events justified both changes; above all when Boa Morte, on as a late substitute for the far superior Etherington, made a horrible hash of a one-on-one with Shay Given.
Di Michele, a Roman who has done the rounds of seven Italian clubs in his 15-year career, surprised Newcastle but not Zola, who said: "I have seen him in Italy many times doing unbelievable things, but then coming in front of the goalkeeper and missing. I told him he needs to improve his finishing. Which shows he listens to me very carefully."
The message certainly got home as his countryman scored the first two goals of the new era at Upton Park, then laid on the third for Etherington. Clipping the ball over Steven Taylor before driving it past Given was pure Paolo Di Canio.
Newcastle's Chris Hughton, who could find himself standing in as manager until somebody meets owner Mike Ashley's asking price for the club – it may be a long wait – did not fault his team's effort, although supporters have done so in recent weeks, but he was forced to admit: "We cannot defend like we did today. It goes without saying that the quicker a manager is appointed the better, so we all know where we stand." Michael Owen was the visitors' one bright spark, even if his beautifully taken goal with 23 minutes left failed to inspire his team-mates.
The two clubs may both have had managers resigning on successive days recently because of lack of control over transfer dealings, but the only other comparison between how they look this morning is in the matter of absent players. Saturday's game suggested how much better West Ham are coping, and being forced to use the talented teenage striker Freddie Sears in tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at Watford if Cole is unfit would not concern them.
Newcastle's wounds, as so often, include shootings in the foot: the midfielders Joey Barton and Danny Guthrie will be missing for a while yet because of wild disciplinary indiscretions and options remain limited for Wednesday's cup tie at home to Spurs. "It's a massive game," Hughton said of his former club's visit, "and the best way of lifting morale is to get a win."
Goals: Di Michele (8) 1-0; Di Michele (37) 2-0; Etherington (53) 3-0; Owen (67) 3-1.
West Ham United (4-3-2-1): Green; Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga; Behrami, Parker (Mullins, 71), Noble; Di Michele, Etherington (Boa Morte,
73); Cole (Sears, 87). Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Lopez, Davenport, Reid.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given; Edgar (Bassong, 59), Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia; Geremi, Cacapa (Gonzalez, 81), Butt, Duff; Owen, Xisco. Substitutes not used: Harper (gk), Ameobi, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Booked: West Ham Neill; Newcastle Taylor, N'Zogbia.
Man of the match: Di Michele.
Attendance: 34,743.
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€10m Not Enough For Montolivo, Says Prandelli - Goal.com
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has scoffed at the supposed €10 million bid from West Ham for Riccardo Montolivo. Rumours are circulating that new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is an admirer of Riccardo Montolivo and he is looking to bring the talented midfielder to Upton Park, but Cesare Prandelli has suggested it will take a lot more than €10 million. "Ten million for Montolivo from West Ham? It doesn't seem like a good offer," proposed the former Parma coach. Montolivo is touted to be one of Italy's future stars. The 23-year-old was recently a part of the Olympic national team squad and has carved a midfield role for himself at Fiorentina. "I am convinced that Riccardo will have a great championship, as we have seen a step up in his quality and personality," said Prandelli. "He has just returned from the Olympics and is proving he has the right mentality now." The former Atalanta player did not start in today's 1-0 win over Bologna, but did make a substitute appearance for La Viola. He is expected to be in the first XI on Wednesday when Fiorentina will take on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. The Tuscan side currently have four points and sit in mid-table after collecting their first Serie A win of the season on Sunday.
Adam Scime
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CLARKE IS ZO CRUCIAL - The Mirror
Stan 22/09/2008
Gianfranco Zola got his West Ham reign off to a winning start but I reckon the club's most significant appointment could be Steve Clarke. Most people are fascinated to see how Zola (left) will fare as a manager but I don't have any fears with former Chelsea assistant manager Clarke alongside him. He has served under Ruud Gullit, Jose Mourinho and now Luiz Felipe Scolari and is highly respected. And it says everything about the Scot that he took a pay cut to go to Upton Park.
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ZOLA: MICH IS DI ONE TO WATCH - The Mirror
By Martin Lipton 22/09/2008
It Took a matter of seconds for Gianfranco Zola to become an Upton Park cult hero - and the new Hammers boss thinks David Di Michele is ready to join him. Di Michele's first goals in a claret and blue shirt helped ensure the Zola era got off to a flying start. And the 32-year-old with a colourful past admitted he would love to be mentioned in the same terms as the last Italian striker to make an impression in the East End. Paolo Di Canio was never a serious contender for the job as West Ham manager, although Di Michele knows he has a special place in Upton Park folklore. While Di Michele's two goals means he has more leverage when he sits down tomorrow to finally agree the contract on his move from Torino, he hopes to emulate his fellow countryman. Di Michele said: "I'm 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. I'll give my all to do this. "For me, the atmosphere was unbelievable and the fans helped me 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, especially when you are a forward because it gives you the confidence to try things."
Zola, whose trademark smile and relentless chirpiness has already won over any fans who queried his Chelsea roots, said: "I wish for the fans he can do as well as Di Canio did. He has everything in his bag to be a successful player for West Ham. "All week I have told him he can do unbelievable things, but what he needs is to improve his finishing - which shows he listens to me very carefully. "I hope he can become a hero for the fans. He's a quiet boy, but that doesn't matter as long as on the pitchheis loud like he was."
Zola promised he will be ready to make the transition to managerial hard-man, revealing: "I just put a team sheet up, what other explanations can you give? "They have to be intelligent enough to understand I can only play 11 and have seven on the bench. The hardest thing is you can't play everyone, or that you have to send a player to the stands. "But unfortunately it's something that has to be done. I realise that sometimes I may have to be unpopular, but I can be ruthless - or otherwise I can send my boys round."
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West Ham's Di Michele: I could've netted hat-trick
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham striker David di Michele admits he could've hit a hat-trick against Newcastle on Saturday. The former Torino and Palermo star settled for a brace and said: "I probably could have had three goals. "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."
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West Ham boss Zola delighted with his backroom team
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is happy with the coaching team he has assembled. He said: "I have enjoyed it very much. It is a new challenge. It is a difficult challenge ... I really like to test myself with new things and this is a new thing where I am sure that I can do well. I have also got great people around me like Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen and Antonio Pintus. They will be helping me a lot and I am sure we can do a good job."
Zola told his players his first West Ham United selection by simply pinning the team sheet to the wall and he acknowledges that leaving players out is "certainly the hardest thing about being a manager".
He also told whufc.com: "I know how important it is for a player to play and that is something that unfortunately has to be done. I always do that with difficulty.
"I realise that sometimes now I will have to be unpopular. As long as I make sure that all my choices are honest choices there shouldn't be a problem. What explanation can you give? They have to be intelligent to understand that I can only pick eleven players and seven can go on the bench. It is a choice. It may sometimes be a wrong choice but I am in the position to make the choice and they have to respect it."
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West Ham boss Zola: Cole capable of playing for England
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola believes Carlton Cole is capable of playing for England. After victory over Newcastle, Zola said: "He started playing with me 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."
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Fiorentina coach Prandelli dismisses West Ham talk for Montolivo
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
After victory over Bologna, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has cooled talk of a move to West Ham for midfielder Riccardo Montolivo. "West Ham are interested in Montolivo?" Prandelli told Sky Italia. "It's not a big offer. "I'm convinced this season that Riccardo will have a great season. "We are asking him to take on responsibility. He came back from the Olympics a little tired, but he has recovered. "Today, when he entered the pitch, he did good things. We are asking him to take more responsibility and he's doing this."
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West Ham hope to secure Di Michele to deal this week
22.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United hope to secure striker David di Michele to a contract this week. The Daily Mail says 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.
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Zola not carried away by debut success - The Star
LONDON: Gianfranco Zola urged West Ham to stay grounded after marking the start of his "new adventure" with a 3-1 win over Newcastle. The Italian was taking charge of his first game since replacing Alan Curbishley at Upton Park and his new charges did not disappoint. A brace from another Italian, David Di Michele, and a third from Matthew Etherington secured an emphatic triumph and Zola ended the afternoon by being granted a standing ovation from the home fans. Zola was thrilled at making a winning start to his tenure €" despite admitting to a few pre-debut butterflies €" but he was determined to keep a check on the club's expectations, with sterner tests looming on the horizon. "I have been nervous €" every single moment of the week," he said. "But that is normal because this is the beginning of a new adventure for me. "In the beginning you don't know how the players will react to what you are telling them. But to be honest, they made me feel very comfortable since I arrived here. "We know that it will be a very tough season. The top four are really top teams but it's important that we improve on what we achieved last season. If the players continue working as they have been, they can achieve that."
Di Michele will hog the headlines in the wake of his bravura performance €" his first goal was deflected in via David Edgar's boot and the second dispatched with cool aplomb after his initial effort had been saved by Shay Given €" but Zola preferred to focus on the contribution of his strike partner Carlton Cole. The former Chelsea striker, who played with Zola at Stamford Bridge, was a constant menace to Newcastle's beleaguered back-line and his display prompted his new manager to trumpet his international credentials. "Carlton was excellent," he added. "He was occasionally up against two defenders but he was still unbeilevable. "He started playing with me when I was at Chelsea and he was impressive then. But he can become much better and if he makes those improvements, he will have all the qualities to play for the national team in the future."
For Newcastle, this was another dismal day, illuminated only by Michael Owen's smartly taken goal which gave them brief hope in the 67th minute. The Tynesiders are managerless, bereft of direction from their owner Mike Ashley, who is desperately attempting to sell up, and the fans are mutinous following the sudden resignation of Kevin Keegan earlier this month. Chris Hughton, the club's reluctant caretaker manager, has now overseen consecutive defeats in his two games in charge and the stakes ahead of Wednesday's League Cup game with Tottenham Hotspur are now even higher. "Newcastle supporters want to see a manager in place and their team getting results," he said. "It would be easy for me to say that all the off-field stuff has not affected the players but you just don't know." €" AFP
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Parker Heaps Praise On 'Brilliant' Di Michele - Goal.com
Scott Parker has waxed lyrical about summer recruit David Di Michele after the Italian striker's Man of the Match performance lifted West Ham to a vital victory at home to Newcastle on Saturday. A memorable brace from Di Michele helped his compatriot Gianfranco Zola celebrate his first win as manager of West Ham at the first attempt. The on-loan Torino man then even managed to put icing on the cake by providing a third for Matthew Etherington "He struggles a little bit (with his English) but if he keeps banging them in he can speak whatever language he wants," quipped Parker. "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."
The Italian clan at West Ham is said to be about to grow even bigger pretty soon. According The People, the ex-Chelsea legend has set his sights on gifted Fiorentina midfielder Montolivo.
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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I never saw Gianfranco Zola as a boss, but I hope he succeeds at West Ham - Daily Mail
By Matt Lawton Last updated at 4:26 PM on 20th September 2008
Ruud Gullit is admiring £80million worth of paintings at the Royal Hospital Chelsea when someone behind him makes an amusing admission. 'I know this makes me sound like a numpty but I thought Christopher Wren was from a children's book,' he whispers. 'Not the bloke who built this place.' Unlike the chap who appears to be confusing St Paul's Cathedral with Christopher Robin and the Hundred Acre Wood, Gullit seems to have an eye for art. An eye for talent too. Whatever problems he might have encountered during managerial spells at Chelsea and Newcastle, he lured Gianfranco Zola to Stamford Bridge back in November 1996 and his opinion on football is one we should respect. Not least when it comes to Major League Soccer and whether the standard is high enough to prolong David Beckham's international career. Gullit resigned as coach at LA Galaxy last month, citing 'personal reasons' rather than a failure to win for seven games. But in nine months he saw enough of Beckham and the U.S. league to know the 33-year-old can remain part of Fabio Capello's plans. It's only become a discussion now because of the sudden emergence of Theo Walcott,' he says. 'But Beckham can remain an international footballer while playing there. 'The football is different, and the salary cap prevents the league from attracting the very top players, but the standard is higher than people think. It's unfair to make comparisons with football in this country. 'For a start, they play in the summer and that means it can be 90 degrees and 80 per cent humidity. You just can't play high-tempo football. Certainly nothing like the Barclays Premier League, which is all about long ball and pace. 'Then there's the travelling. If you're in LA and you've got a game in New York you're talking about a six-or-seven-hour flight. 'I'd liken it more to the leagues in Holland, Belgium and Norway. The players can play. I watched the All Stars against West Ham in the summer and the All Stars outplayed them. And I think Beckham has already proved he can do it. His crossing and dead ball delivery is still important to England. Sometimes decisive.'
Certain aspects of U.S. soccer frustrate him: the failure to arrange fixtures around the international calendar; the draft system that prevents clubs from building a youth development structure; the salary cap that denied him the chance to lure European players to America. 'We could have a game the day after a round of international matches, that was ridiculous and so was the draft system. I could have players I wanted to promote from the under 21s but they were no use to me because they weren't actually mine, they could go into the draft system and end up elsewhere. It all became very frustrating and it has to change.'
'We have men here who built the bridge over the River Kwai,' explains a hospital representative. 'And one who's now 103. He's lost his sight but he still goes to the gym with a nurse every day and refuses to use a lift.' Gullit listens intently. 'You have to respect these guys,' he says. 'Everyone should be proud of them.' He says he is 'proud' to see Zola appointed the new manager of West Ham. Amazed too. 'I can't say I ever saw Franco as a manager,' he says. 'Although that's true of a lot of players. I never thought Frank Rijkaard would go into management. Or Marco van Basten. 'I was just talking to Gary Pallister and he said the same about Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Paul Ince. I never thought I'd be a manager but an opportunity suddenly presents itself and you go for it. Because you love the game. Because we all love the game. It's in our blood. 'You know what I missed most when I was in LA? Reading about football in the newspapers. Out there it's just baseball, baseball, baseball. Here I love to read the sports pages. It's part of my culture.'
Gullit agrees that, for a first job in management, West Ham is a difficult challenge for Zola. 'It is, but it was probably something he found impossible to resist. I hope he does well. He has a lot of experience at international level and in two of the best leagues in the world. The man management side of things is what he will have to learn. That can be the hard bit. And it's not so much the guys who play. It's the guys who don't play.' He reflects on those spells at Chelsea and Newcastle and the problems of modern managers dealing with interfering owners. To succeed you need stability and that can be hard to find because everyone knows better,' he says.
'You always have to watch your back. Even for Jose Mourinho that was a problem. 'When I look at the Premier League only Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger appear to be in control. And only if you have that control can you work. 'For me it was worse at Newcastle. There were some great people there, not least the fans, but the club was not together. It was in turmoil and it has been like that for a long time. I had a situation where people were talking behind my back to the local press. It's part of the culture there and it's very damaging. The strength of Milan was the fact that whatever happened in the locker room stayed in the locker room. 'It was consistent with the different managers, (Arrigo) Sacchi and Capello. If someone broke that trust they were out.'
Was it the kind of regime Fabio Capello has introduced at the Football Association? 'Even with us he was very strict,' says Gullit. 'But it was not a problem for the players because we were very serious, very focused and very professional. 'He was a great coach but the Italian players, Baresi and Ancelotti, demanded high standards.' Standards we will see when Chelsea meet Manchester United on Sunday? 'Of course,' he said. 'The culture is changing here. Players no longer spend their time down the pub.' Perhaps they now hang out at art galleries.
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West Ham Boss Zola To Target £12million Italian International In January? - PremiershipLatest.com
Submitted by Jake Briggs on Sun, 2008-09-21 11:54. West Ham United Premiership Transfer News
New West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has wasted no time in identifying his first transfer target. Italian International Riccardo Montolivo from Serie A side Fiorentina, according to The People. 23-year-old midfielder Montolivo has been at the Viola since 2005 and was part of the Italian squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Zola is a big admirer of the player, having worked closely with Montolivo during his time as coach of the Italian Under-21 side. Ironically Montolovi was left out of the final Italian squad for EURO 2008, by Roberto Donadoni, who had also been in the running for the job at the Hammers along with Zola. Zola is reportedly ready to offer Fiorentina £12million for Montolivo in the January transfer window. With the former Chelsea player keen to bring some attacking flair to Upton Park and make his mark in management on the Premier League.
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Hammers boss lines up £12m Italian ace - Echo
11:18am Sunday 21st September 2008
GIANFRANCO ZOLA is lining up Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo as his first West Ham signing, according to The People. The Hammers boss is desperate to add attacking flair to his squad and sees Italian playmaker Montolivo as the ideal solution. And, according to the source, Zola is ready with a £12 million offer for the talented 23-year-old.
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