WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola was marking exactly a year on Tuesday since he first arrived
at Chadwell Heath
15.09.2009
On 15 September 2008, Gianfranco Zola arrived at Chadwell Heath for his
first day at work as West Ham United manager. Having watched the team at
West Bromwich Albion the previous Saturday, the club's 12th manager arrived
at the training ground with technical director Gianluca Nani. His first act
was to introduce himself to the coaching staff including Kevin Keen and
Ludek Miklosko, while he was also joined by the club's new fitness coach
Antonio Pintus.
The squad then assembled in the ProZone room to meet the manager for the
first time, before he took them out on the training pitch and ran through
the ideas forged in a hugely successful playing career and then as coach in
the Italy Under-21 set-up. Meanwhile, over at the Boleyn Ground, Steve
Clarke was completing the deal with CEO Scott Duxbury to become the club's
new first-team coach.
Speaking this week, Zola has spoken about the togetherness he has found at
the club - and not just in terms of his first-team squad - and how that has
helped him to have an enjoyable first year in east London. "It's been very
good and is an achievement, but I want to share it with the club," he said.
"Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury have been brilliant. They believed in the
project and never gave up on the idea of keeping the best players and
actually trying to improve the team. "That has been really good and I
appreciate that. I was lucky because I had fantastic people on my side.
Steve Clarke has been massive in this way, and also Kevin Keen and Antonio
Pintus. They helped me a lot and we have built up a fantastic management
team."
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Hines happy with debut
WHUFC.com
Zavon Hines was unlucky to finish on the losing side on his first senior
start for the club
15.09.2009
Zavon Hines was left with a bittersweet feeling after making his full West
Ham United debut on Saturday. The 20-year-old was handed his first start in
the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic, and produced a
lively display that impressed manager Gianfranco Zola. He was one of four
homegrown Hammers in the starting eleven alongside Mark Noble, James Tomkins
and Junior Stanislas, with Josh Payne on the bench.
The striker was a constant thorn in the side of the Latics, harrying the
defenders and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland alike all afternoon, only to be left
on the losing side after Hugo Rodallega scored a scrappy second-half winner.
Hines told WHUTV he thought he had won a penalty for his side after
appearing to be brought down by Maynor Figueroa, only for referee Alan Wiley
to wave away his protests.
The Academy graduate admitted he was still pleased to have been handed his
first-team bow after an early part of his career blighted by two knee
injuries. "I can't be too upset," he told WHUTV. "At end of the day, because
not a lot of people get the opportunity that I've had. I was just happy to
make my full debut. "I've always got belief in myself. I have been injured
so I personally think that is the reason why I haven't had a chance before.
Now it's come so I've just got to be happy. "It was good. It's part of my
game, closing down defenders and that, so I just tried to play my game, even
though it was my full debut. I didn't take it as my full debut, I just took
it as another game."
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Reserves out to tame Wolves
WHUFC.com
Manuel Da Costa should make another reserve appearance as Wolverhampton
Wanderers arrive on Tuesday
14.09.2009
West Ham United reserves will be in home action again on Tuesday night as
they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Bishop's Stortford. Alex Dyer's
second string were 6-0 winners against Birmingham City a week ago, when the
squad was boosted by a number of first-teamers. The reserve-team manager
could again have the likes of Davide Ferrari, Fabio Daprela, Nigel Quashie
and Manuel Da Costa in his ranks, while further forward Frank Nouble will
look to lead the line.
The match, which gets under way at 7pm, could also see a welcome return to
action for Oliver Lee after a foot injury kept him out last week. Georg
Grasser and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson are both back after international duty
with Austria and Iceland respectively. Bondz N'Gala, who scored a
spectacular goal against Birmingham, is likely to captain the side again
while Josh Payne should get another run-out away from first-team duty.
Dyer said: "This is our third game in a row against a team from the Midlands
and we hope we can get another good performance. We'll be trying our best
again but each week the team changes depending on the schedule. Against
Aston Villa in our first game at the start of the month, we only just lost
with a very young side and last week it was very experienced against
Birmingham.
"This week will probably be a mixture of youth and experience but whatever
side we have, I am confident we will give a good account of ourselves. The
lads are hungry to play. Everyone will know their jobs and be very
professional. We want to keep the winning habit every time we play."
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Stuart walking tall
WHUFC.com
A dedicated football fan is attempting to visit every club in London in one
day for charity
14.09.2009
Stuart Cleveland is attempting the audacious feat of visiting every London
football club in one day to raise money for a hospital on Wednesday 16
September.
Stuart, who has Cystic Fibrosis, has been a regular visitor to the Rose Ward
at the Royal Brampton Hospital many times and to show his appreciation he
came up with the idea to visit every London club in the Premier League and
Championship.
Stuart, who will use public transport to move around the city, will begin
his journey at Fulham in west London and then arrive at the Boleyn Ground at
around 5pm before completing his journey at 10pm at Crystal Palace.
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Pleased to be back
WHUFc.com
Danny Gabbidon was in fine fettle on WHUTV after making his first league
start in 21 months
14.09.2009
Danny Gabbidon had mixed emotions after making his first West Ham United
start in 21 months at Wigan Athletic. The 30-year-old Wales defender has
battled back to full fitness after suffering a complex abdominal injury.
Gabbidon, whose last Barclays Premier League start came at Blackburn Rovers
on 9 December 2007, produced a calm and composed performance at left-back on
Saturday.
The Cwmbran-born player's only previous run-out this season had been in the
Carling Cup tie against Millwall last month. He told WHUTV he has been
delighted to pull on a claret and blue shirt again after so long on the
sidelines. That said, the result at the DW Stadium had dampened the mood.
"It was a bit frustrating, to be honest," he said. "It was nice to be out
there back playing, but it was a frustrating game. I thought maybe they were
there for the taking and we didn't really play great. We can play a lot
better than that. "We didn't really kick into life until they scored, then
we created some chances. Up until then, it was pretty much of a stalemate
game. It was a disappointing because I didn't think either team really
deserved to lose. A draw probably would have been a fair result. "We had
some good chances after they scored and I was disappointed that we didn't
get the equaliser."
Gabbidon, who also started Wales' 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against
Russia in Cardiff last Wednesday, was understandably pleased to have come
through the past week unscathed. "It felt good. Obviously I would have
preferred to play centre-half to left-back, as it's been a while since I've
played there. It just felt great to be out there again. It was a tough game
and I enjoyed every minute of it. "It's been a while since I've played
full-back in the Premier League, and obviously I was disappointed with the
result, but it was nice to get a game under my belt."
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Important travel information
WHUFC.com
Supporters should note that Plaistow, Upton Park and East Ham tube stations
will be shut on Saturday
14.09.2009
Supporters should take note of the following important travel information
regarding Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture with Liverpool. The
Hammersmith and City line and the District line will be shut between Barking
and Whitechapel on Saturday 19 September. This means that Plaistow, Upton
Park and East Ham tube stations will have no London Underground service
running to them.
For further information and journey planning, please visit the Transport for
London website by clicking here. whufc.com will also have further travel
information in the run-up to Saturday's Barclays Premier League match.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFc.com
Concentration is key for Gianfranco Zola as the team get ready for the visit
of Liverpool this week
14.09.2009
Gianfranco Zola will have the luxury of having a strong squad this week with
fit-again players, international returnees and new recruits all training
together fully.
The manager has plenty to ponder after a 1-0 reverse at Wigan Athletic at
the weekend that saw his team get scant reward for some sustained pressure
and notable chances including a clever late effort from the livewire
Alessandro Diamanti. Although most neutrals felt his side deserved better,
Zola said there were issues to be dealt with - especially the need for
concentration.
"That is the most difficult thing," he said, thinking back to the
second-half winner from Hugo Rodallega that saw the Wigan forward react
quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area despite the heroics of
Robert Green in goal. "It is the last bit you need to improve as a player
and the most difficult bit. We are going to work on it.
"After the first half I thought we were going to do better. This is not the
first time but we are going to work hard during the week, we need to
improve."
Reflecting as well on the home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last month that
also saw two goals conceded in sloppy fashion, Zola was determined to see
his players learn the lessons. He said: "In those moments we have to raise
our attention.
"This is the second game [this season] that we have lost for mistakes, but I
don't want to point it out now as I want to have a look again and be more
accurate in what I am saying. Certainly we have to improve as if you look at
the game we never conceded anything to them.
"We were maybe lethargic in the second half but not when we started the
match. The first half we were in control of the game and we looked good.
That is something that I have to consider carefully.
"I don't want to point out one part of the pitch - defence, midfield or
attack. When we come back from the first half into the second, the attention
should be higher."
In a week that marks the year anniversary of the day he first arrived as
West Ham United manager at Chadwell Heath, Zola said, whatever the ups and
downs of results on a match by match basis, he believed that overall things
were on track.
That was especially with homegrown Hammers continuing to come through the
ranks, with four starting on Saturday including Zavon Hines on his full
debut. The manager reiterated that the 20-year-old forward had impressed. He
added: "We are on the right line. There is a lot of work to do. We are keen
to progress and the players and I want to do that.
"There have been some very good moments and some bad, especially at the
beginning, but we have always kept our composure throughout the year and I
am pleased for the team doing that."
More help could come this week with Herita Ilunga thought to be in
contention to face Liverpool, having already returned to full training. The
left-back has not figured since the opening day with a jaw injury, while
Valon Behrami's return from six months out and Diamanti's debut off the
bench at Wigan should have increased their respective chances of starting on
Saturday evening.
It remains to be seen whether Jack Collison, a late withdrawal on Saturday,
along with Kieron Dyer and Luis Jimenez will also be able to play after
muscle problems but all are thought to have a chance of figuring. Aside from
Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Dean Ashton, who has no date set for his return
after exactly 12 months out with an ankle injury, the manager should have
extra options.
"There is a bit of work to do this week," said Zola. "We have a difficult
game against Liverpool but we should have the whole squad and that will make
a big difference to me."
A reserve encounter at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday may
also give him an opportunity to see more of his squad in action with the
likes of Fabio Daprela and Manuel Da Costa eager to stake their first-team
claims.
There could also be a new attacking recruit in the mix and while he knows
the season is still in its infancy and that three points could propel his
team into the top half in an instant, Zola is determined to see a speedy
response from his players. "We need to get things going as quick as
possible," he said.
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Collins - 'I felt unwanted'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th September 2009
By: Staff Writer
JAMES COLLINS says he felt 'unwanted' by West Ham after his £5m move to
Aston Villa. The Welsh centre-back enjoyed a winning debut on Sunday,
forming a new defensive partnership with fellow debutant Richard Dunne, as
Villa snatched a late winner to beat Birmigham City rivals 1-0 in the derby
at St. Andrews. Many West Ham fans have been dissapointed by the club's
decision to release Collins, ostensibly to pay for striking reinforcements
in Alessandro Diamanti and Guillermo Franco. Collins said: "As soon as I
found out that West Ham had accepted a bid, in the back of your mind you
think you are not wanted at your previous club if they accept a bid. "I was
disappointed to leave, because I did enjoy my time at West Ham and I didn't
ask to leave, but I have joined a fantastic club now and that's in the past
and I'm looking forward to my career at Villa."
Meanwhile, new signing and centre-back Manuel Da Costa, who arrived just
prior to Collins' departure from Fiorentina, is set for another run-out in
the reserves for Wolves at Bishops Stortford. The Portugese defender was an
unused subsitute in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Wigan.
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The spirit of Clive
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th September 2009
By: Staff Writer
Carlton Cole wasn't the first striker to be cheated of a late goal by a
referee.
West Ham and England striker Cole was stunned to discover that the goal he
thought he had scored during first half injury time at Wigan on Saturday had
been disallowed by referee Alan Wiley, who TV replays later confirmed had
blown for half time just as Cole diverted a free kick over the advancing
Chris Kirkland. It was an unusual decision by Wiley as match officials
rarely call for time on the dot these days, and even less so when a team has
a goalscoring opportunity.
However many of KUMB.com's (dare we say more senior) readers will no doubt
recall a group game between Sweden and Brazil in the 1978 World Cup Finals
when Welsh referee Clive Thomas - who was famously labelled a cheat by John
Lyall following the 1981 League Cup Final against Liverpool for allowing a
late Liverpool goal to stand despite Sammy Lee being clearly offside -
disallowed a Brazilian goal that would have given them a 2-1 win over
Sweden.
Graham Poll, the now retired referee who is perhaps best known for being the
first referee to invent his own rules by issuing three yellow cards to
Croatia's Josip Simunic during a World Cup 2006 match against Australia also
got in on the act during an Everton v Liverpool derby ten years ago. A
bizarre Everton goal was similarly disallowed for being scored after the
official had blown his whistle for full time.
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Why Green will remain England's No.1 for the World Cup
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th September 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
It is nice to think that West Ham have the No.1 goalkeeper in England as
part of their team.
Robert Green – who has been a revelation for the Hammers since signing in
August 2006 – is in possession of the No.1 shirt under Fabio Capello and he
is determined to hold onto it.
Personally, I think he will have no problem doing so. Injuries aside, he has
more than enough to hold off the challenges of David James, Paul Robinson,
Chris Kirkland or Ben Foster. Green has started the last five matches for
England, including the recent 5-1 victory which saw the Three Lions book
their place in South Africa next year.
Now all Green has to do is make sure he is on the plane. Despite being
heavily involved for his country of late, he says that he now has to 'earn
my place even more now'. This is because 'it is all based on form and has
nothing to do with reputations'.
Basically, if Green keeps performing well for West Ham, he will be in the
2010 World Cup squad in South Africa. If he has a bad patch and makes costly
mistakes, he runs the risk of being overlooked. Capello is a ruthless
manager after all, just ask Michael Owen.
Overall, Green says he is 'not taking anything for granted' in terms of his
place in the squad even though many people are 'assuming' that he will make
it. This is the correct attitude to have I suppose, he can't get too ahead
of himself even though he is in confident mood at the moment.
He has had his World Cup hopes dashed before, when he injured himself in the
build up to the 2006 tournament. This has led to him 'not counting any
chickens' in the lead up to next summer. It also probably means that he will
value the trip even more than he would have done three years ago.
There is a good chance he will go to South Africa as England's No.1 as well,
so it has certainly been a positive couple of years for the former Norwich
man.
There is a Premier League season with West Ham to concentrate on first
though and let's hope he can remain in fine form throughout. Not only will
this increase West Ham's chances of having a decent campaign, but it should
ensure that the man charged with keeping out England's opponents in the
World Cup next year is a Hammer.
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