Daily WHUFC News - II 30th March 2010

Reserves ready for Villa
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's side will host the Barclays Premier Reserve League South leaders
Aston Villa on Tuesday
30.03.2010

Cristian Montano will be aiming to score his first goal at reserve-team
level on Tuesday evening after impressing for West Ham United's Under-18s.
The Colombian-born forward, recently back in action following an ankle
injury, has plundered nine goals in 14 starts for Tony Carr's FA Premier
Academy League side this season. Now 18, Montano has been offered his first
professional contract and is highly thought of by many at the club. However,
after six scoreless appearances for Alex Dyer's reserves, the South American
will be aiming to open his account when the Hammers entertain Aston Villa in
the Barclays Premier Reserve League South on Tuesday evening. Villa arrive
at Bishop's Stortford FC's Woodside Park unbeaten all season, but Dyer's
team are in good form, having beaten Chelsea and Arsenal away from home in
their last two matches. The Villans scored a hard-fought 2-0 victory at
Villa Park in the season's opening fixture on 1 September last year, and
Dyer will be hoping the likes of Montano, Junior Stanislas and Anthony Edgar
will fire his side to success this time around. Goalkeeper Marek Stech will
be given a chance to shine, while the reserves will again be captained by
promising defender Jordan Spence. Terry Dixon and Davide Ferrari, both of
whom were on target in the 2-0 win at Arsenal last week, are also available.
Aston Villa will produce a stern test, however, with the club's youngsters
having qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they face
West Ham's conquerors Newcastle United. Former Liverpool midfielder Kevin
MacDonald's side have won eight and drawn three of their eleven reserve
league matches this term. Kick-off at Woodside Park is 7pm, with tickets
available on the night. Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children, with
season ticket holders admitted free of charge.

The club's official website will have live text updates on whufc.com from
6.45pm.

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Tuesday test for in-form Ladies
WHUFC.com
Gemma Shepherd has been in goalscoring form to help promotion-chasing West
Ham United Ladies
30.03.2010

West Ham United Ladies face a major meeting with FA Women's Premier League
Southern Division leaders Barnet on Tuesday night as they look to continue
their promotion challenge. The Hammers are on a high after an impressive 3-1
win at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. Tony Marshall's team recovered from a
goal down to secure a comfortable success courtesy of a Nina Downham goal
and two from Gemma Shepherd - the second of which was a spectacular 30-yard
volley. Becky Merritt hit the crossbar with a long-range free-kick in the
closing stages, while Downham also saw her diving header pushed aside by the
home goalkeeper. Following their victory, manager Marshall is targeting an
assault on the promotion places, with his side now just three points behind
second-placed Portsmouth. "We created a lot of chances throughout the game,
so that's what is pleasing," he said. "We've been notoriously slow starters
this season, but after we got the first goal, that set us on our way and the
belief was there that we were going to get something out of this. "We were
unlucky not to go in two or three up at half-time after that and that set us
up for the second half, and we had eight or nine chances. It was a good
all-round performance."
West Ham have lost just one of the 16 league matches they have contested
this season, but eight draws mean Marshall's team have some ground to make
up if they are to overhaul Barnet. With six fixtures remaining, the manager
still believes his players can close the nine-point gap between themselves
and the Bees. "We don't have the experience that someone like Barnet have,
but I think we could be there or thereabouts," he said.

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West Ham enter Dubai investment talks
ESPN Soccernet staff
March 30, 2010

West Ham United have opened talks with Middle East investors to become the
latest Premier League club seeking cash from overseas. Hammers co-owner
David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karen Brady are in Dubai for talks with
investors who are interested in buying the remaining 50% of West Ham United
plc, owned by Straumar. Current co-owners David Gold and Sullivan would
remain in control of the club, but the other 50% looks like falling into
foreign hands. That might not be very surprising any more, considering many
of the major clubs are foreign owned: Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea,
Manchester City, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Fulham and Sunderland.
Hammers fans, though, will be reassured that the condition of any sale will
be that club decisions remain in the hands of Gold and Sullivan. An insider
close to the talks told Soccernet on Tuesday: "I can confirm that David
Sullivan and Karen Brady are in Dubai talking to investors who are
interested in the 50% owned still by Straumar."
Clearly, the Hammers slipping deep into the relegation mire will not aid the
talks. The Dubai summit comes on the back of two successive home defeats
against Wolves and Stoke City, which has put the club's Premier League
status in jeopardy. West Ham need to stay up to attract investors, and so
any buyout of Straumar's 50% will be contingent on West Ham's survival as
the Middle East big-hitters want to invest in the Premier League. Little
wonder the pressure is so intense on manager Gianfranco Zola and his West
Ham team as the stakes couldn't be higher. Sullivan has already told
Soccernet that it would cost the Hammers in excess of £40 million in year
one alone if they went down, but it would also cost them the investment the
club urgently need. Gold and Sullivan's master plan is to use the investment
for a major overhaul of the playing staff in the summer. It could see West
Ham joining the big boys such as Manchester City and Chelsea in the hunt for
top talent, and that would be a major attraction for the manager, though
whether or not it is Zola remains to be seen. Any significant boost in
investment and the increased transfer kitty that would come with it could be
an attractive proposition for a big-name boss to take on the challenge of
the Upton Park managerial hotseat.

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West Ham prepare complaint against Fulham
ESPN Soccernet staff
March 30, 2010

Relegation-threatened West Ham United are considering lodging a complaint
against Fulham for resting some of their best players at Hull City to
prepare for their historic Europa League quarter-final with Wolfsburg on
Thursday. The Cottagers left top-scorer Bobby Zamora, captain Danny Murphy
and Ireland international Damien Duff out of the matchday squad for the
defeat at Hull, a result which put greater pressure on the Hammers'
relegation plight. West Ham have now examined the regulations as they
contemplate an official complaint against their fellow London club. The
Hammers have estimated it will cost them in excess of £40 million in the
first year alone if they go down. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, who has been
touted for Manager of the Year and as an English candidate to succeed Fabio
Capello, made six changes from the starting team which went out of the FA
Cup to Tottenham the previous week and clearly had an eye on the big prize
in Europe. Fielding a weakened side allowed the Tigers to complete a
relatively comfortable 2-0 victory at the KC Stadium on Saturday, with goals
from Jimmy Bullard and Craig Fagan. Hodgson was unrepentant in making the
decision with the Cottagers comfortably placed in 11th position in the
league and with a vital Europa League clash against Wolfsburg five days
later as the only prize left for Fulham to mark such a wonderful season. "If
you win the game making changes then you congratulate yourself on the squad
system," Hodgson told Fulham's official website. "If the team that gets a
chance doesn't win the game then of course people say, 'had the other
players played they'd have won'. "We played seven matches in 27 days in
February. We played eight in 24 days in March and we've got another seven or
eight in 25 or 26 days in April. I don't think it's fair for anyone to
suggest that we can do that with 11 players."
Formidable at Craven Cottage, the manager can argue that Fulham have been
generally woeful on the road this season with just one win and a pitiful 11
goals scored. Having secured their Premier League survival and knocked out
Juventus in the Europa League already, Hodgson has made no secret of the
fact that he was concentrating on Thursday's tie. A West Ham insider told
Soccernet: "We are checking the rules. Roy Hodgson said on Match of the Day
he rested players as they had a lot of games coming up starting with
Wolfsburg this week. Hull got very lucky with Fulham fielding a very weak
side as they play Wolfsburg on Thursday. "Let's hope they beat Wolfsburg and
stay in the competition and do the same for us when we play them."

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Fans take a dim view of plot to tackle Rory
www.WhyDelilah.co.uk | Published: Tuesday 30 Mar 2010
by Anthony Munday

A STOKE fan has complained after he was left with a restricted view of
Saturday's Premier League match at West Ham because advertising boards were
moved to hamper City's long throw expert Rory Delap. Paul Ruane says he and
at least another 80 supporters were affected by the hoardings, which were
put much closer to the Upton Park pitch than usual to impede Delap's
deliveries. The 48-year-old IT professional says he and wife Carolyn, who
had knee replacement surgery last week, were eventually moved to alternative
seats adjacent to a segregation zone behind one of the goals. A further
dozen or so City fans were also relocated, but Ruane said those who remained
in the lower section of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand had to contravene
ground regula tions by standing up to see the match. He said: "The
combination of the perimeter wall and the advertising boards meant we could
see very little of the pitch without standing up. "The first five or six
rows were affected and there were 14 of us in each row. "I spoke to one of
the stewards who said he had never seen the boards in that position before
in the 10 years he had worked at West Ham. He also confirmed the stewards
had not been briefed on why the boards were there. "It seemed West Ham were
seeking to gain an advantage by restricting the run-up for the taking of
throw-ins by Stoke City players."
Ruane has raised the issue with fellow Stoke fan Malcolm Clarke, who is
chairman of national body the Football Supporters' Federation. Clarke also
spoke at length to the stewards, but the advertising boards were still not
moved. Ruane said: "Myself, my wife and a few other Stoke fans were moved to
other seats just as the game was about to kick-off. "We had to go up and
down steps and across a busy concourse and we missed a few minutes of the
match. "The fans who were not relocated were either encouraged to break
ground regulations by standing up or could not see the game. The tickets
sold to Stoke City fans were not advertised as restricted view. "However, I
would like to thank the stewards who did their best to help in a situation
that was clearly not of their making."
Ruane, who lives at Trentham Lakes and has not missed a Stoke game, home or
away, for seven-and-a-half years, has written to complain to West Ham United
and Trading Standards. He added: "I hope for a swift response and would
expect a full apology from West Ham and compensation for the fans who were
affected." "It's not just a case of getting our money back because what
happened ruined the whole day. Supporters spend a lot of time and money to
follow football and deserve much better." Clarke added: "I will be writing
to complain to the authorities myself. "I thought it was deplorable for West
Ham to try to gain an advantage on the field to the detriment of the
supporters who pay to watch."

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Capello eases concerns
Italian not losing sleep over goalkeeping dilemma
Last updated: 30th March 2010
SSN

England manager Fabio Capello has no concerns about playing Steven Gerrard
and Frank Lampard in the same midfield, providing they are both in good
form. The pair have come in for criticism at times this season after
inconsistent displays, with the off-colour performances of Gerrard the
subject of specific scrutiny. But both impressed at the weekend when Lampard
scored four times in Chelsea's demolition of Aston Villa and Gerrard
excelled when moving into an orthodox central midfield role in Liverpool's
victory over Sunderland. If that form continues, Capello is not worried
about the duo's ability to play alongside one another for England at the
World Cup in June. The Italian told Gol Television: "I think good players
can always play together, but a lot depends on what kind of form they're in.
"In a team you have to play the players who are in the best possible form.
That said, both are important players who are very talented and that's why I
say I believe they can play together. "In fact, they've shown on many
occasions that they are the kind of players who can swing a match your way."

There has also been much made regarding Capello's goalkeeping options for
the finals in South Africa, with David James, Robert Green, Ben Foster and
Joe Hart all failing to make the position their own. But England's manager
said: "I'm fairly happy. We've got Green, James who is older and
experienced, and Hart, who is young. I don't think we have a problem when it
comes to goalkeepers."
Capello also reiterated that there is time for Manchester City left-back
Wayne Bridge to reconsider his unavailability for England selection in the
wake of the John Terry saga, which saw the Chelsea defender stripped of his
country's captaincy. He said: "The players know that I believe the armband
must go to a player who can be an example to youngsters. And what happened
with Terry was not good. "That's why I explained to him that he could not
continue as captain but would continue to be a leader on the pitch and
important player for us. "As for Bridge, he has time to change his mind.
The situation is still very raw for him."

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Green backing for Zola
Hammers keeper defends 'hamstrung' manager
Last updated: 30th March 2010
SSN

Robert Green feels Gianfranco Zola has been 'hamstrung' with selection
problems and has called on the players to continue working hard. Zola
announced on Monday that he was 'determined to carry on' as West Ham manager
after considering his future over the weekend in the wake of recent results.
The Hammers have lost six consecutive Premier League games to slip down the
standings and are currently outside the relegation zone on goal difference
alone. But Green believes it was clear in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on
Saturday that Zola was doing his utmost to revive the team's fortunes. The
England goalkeeper also thinks that Zola's job has been made more difficult
by an injury crisis this season, while it has been difficult for the club to
keep a settled squad due to the delicate financial situation. "He's a great
man and a great manager and you could see on Saturday that it's not through
want of trying," said Green. "He's been hamstrung through the season with
selection problems and players leaving and injuries and things like that and
he's just putting out the teams that seem fit for the games."
Green insists the players are right behind the Italian and has urged his
team-mates to stay calm in attacking areas to end their problems in front of
goal. He explained: "It's up to us to put in the effort that we did on
Saturday and to have the confidence to carry on playing and play more
football in and around the final-third which, hopefully, will make the
difference."

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Daily WHUFC News - 30th March 2010

Mido committed
WHUFC.com
Mido believes West Ham United can secure at least a point from Sunday's trip
to Everton
29.03.2010

Mido insists every West Ham United player will be working hard to achieve a
positive result at Everton on Sunday. Gianfranco Zola and his men will head
to Goodison Park 17th in the Barclays Premier League table following
Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City. In a game of few
chances, Mido missed one of the hosts' clearest opportunities when Thomas
Sorensen's parry bounced just too high for the Egyptian to apply the
finishing touch. While the January loan arrival was left frustrated in his
bid to open his account for his new club, the 27-year-old is determined to
help West Ham to secure at least a draw on Merseyside. "Everton are a very
good team, but we're definitely going to go there to get at least a point.
We're going to work hard. It didn't work for us on Saturday, but I hope that
it will work for us next week."
Saturday's loss may have been painful, but Mido said it was certainly not
the result of any lack of effort from the home side. Rather, West Ham simply
could not find the killer pass or finish to net an all-important goal before
Stoke's Ricardo Fuller opened the scoring with a little more than 20 minutes
remaining. "I don't think we missed any commitment. There was no lack of
commitment. We all tried hard, but it just didn't work. We're very
disappointed, of course. "We worked hard as a team. There was a lot of
pressure and I think the players handled it well. The goal we conceded was
very difficult for us, but I don't think you can ask the players anything
else. Everyone is working so hard for the manager. We're behind that man. He
is a top manager, in my opinion, and we're all behind him. "We have a very
good chance of staying up. If you look in the dressing room and you see the
faces in there, you don't see a team that is going to get relegated. By
experience, by names and by people who want to work hard for this club, I
don't think this team is going down."
While Saturday's reverse marked the Hammers' sixth league defeat in
succession, Mido said the players were grateful that the home fans stuck
with them throughout the full 90 minutes. "The fans were brilliant. They
were behind us all the way, even when we conceded the goal, they still
cheered us on. You hardly heard anyone booing. I think that the fans can see
that maybe the quality wasn't there, but that everyone was trying hard and,
I think, sometimes in football you need a goal to get confidence."

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Hall on England high
WHUFC.com
West Ham United forward Robert Hall got another international cap under his
belt on Monday
29.03.2010

Robert Hall played his part as hosts England crushed Malta 5-0 in their
second match of a UEFA European Under-17 Championship mini-tournament on
Monday night. The West Ham United man featured for the whole of the Group 7
contest, which has put them in the driving seat to qualify for the finals
this summer. The Young Lions had won 4-0 against Sweden on Saturday - with
second-half replacement Hall on target - before their latest victory. Chuks
Aneke scored twice with the other goals coming from William Keane, Benik
Afobe and Harry Kane.

Hall, who does not turn 17 until October, had been a substitute at the
weekend but his dynamic display had earned him a starting berth this time
around. He so nearly scored a wonder goal to match his effort against
Sweden, slaloming beyond three defenders before just failing to beat the
keeper. It was his quick feet that also won England a penalty on the hour
but the kick was missed.

The Hammers youngster will hope to keep his place in the group decider on
Thursday against Slovakia at the Sixfields Stadium home of Northampton Town.
A draw would be enough to see England through to the summer tournament,
which will be played in Liechtenstein between 18 and 30 May. Holders Spain,
Portugal and Greece have already qualified, with five berths left up for
grabs.

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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Everton on Sunday is firmly in sight and Gianfranco Zola has said no one
should write off his team
29.03.2010

Gianfranco Zola will return to Chadwell Heath this week determined to ensure
the club remains in the Barclays Premier League. The manager has the backing
of the joint-chairmen and his squad, and is ready to fight for every point
possible in order to keep West Ham United out of the bottom three. Although
the club suffered another setback against Stoke City at the weekend, the
manager has faith in his team - and himself - to change things. Zola
admitted when questioned on Saturday night that he would be taking time to
think things over but, having headed back to Italy for a couple of days, is
in no doubt that he is the man to lead the club in the six "cup finals" left
this season. That starts right now with Everton away on Sunday, and Zola is
up for the battle. "I am determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was
emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and we have the
ability to achieve our objectives," he said. "The owners have backed me and
I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the
Premier League and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to
make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I have had time to
think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before. I know
we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it
happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the level
we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
The manager lamented the loss before the Stoke City match of striker Guille
Franco - with a "splinter in his achilles" - while Kieron Dyer who was
"doing well" did not return after half-time on his first-team comeback.
"That is typical of our season," said Zola. "But we will not make excuses
and we will keep on going." He added: "I have a great staff and we will
work together to find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things
around and that is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I
need to do to get the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen
before that we are capable of playing at a high level."
Looking back at Stoke, the manager admitted it was a case of what might have
been on a day when Thomas Sorensen was far busier than Robert Green in goal.
Mido was especially unlucky with a close-range effort that seemed
gilt-edged. "The ball was bouncing too high and he couldn't get it under
control," Zola said. With the team having tightened up at the back - save
for a piece of Ricardo Fuller brilliance - the manager knows 'goals for'
remains key. With home dates to come against Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and
Fulham, as well as two away days at Liverpool and Fulham after Everton, he
is ready for better fortune, and form. "We will go to Everton determined to
get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match but
we will be positive. No one should write us off. Although we are in a
serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our
destiny at the end of the season. "We said before Stoke that one game would
not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have left
will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again
get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward
their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them."

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Gianfranco Zola wants to stay on as West Ham manager
BBC.co.uk

Gianfranco Zola has said he is determined to stay on as West Ham manager and
believes he can keep the club in the Premier League. Saturday's loss to
Stoke was the club's sixth in a row and prompted Zola to fly to Sardinia to
consider his future. But with the club only out of the bottom three on goal
difference, Zola has pledged to fight on. "I have had time to reflect. We
have to work harder but we can get the results we need," he told the club's
website. In the immediate aftermath of Saturday's defeat, Zola conceded
that he needed to find out "what the problem is - and if the problem is me".

That result, on the back of a 3-1 home defeat by Wolves in midweek, left the
Hammers level on points with third-from-bottom Hull, but having played a
game more. Prior to the match against Stoke, David Gold stated that Zola's
job was safe regardless of the result, although Gold's fellow owner David
Sullivan had upped the pressure following the loss to Wolves by writing a
highly critical letter asking for fans' forgiveness. Zola, though, said he
was continuing with the owners' backing. "I am determined to carry on.
Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it
around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives," he said. "The
owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. "My only thought for now
is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will
give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the
season."
Having faced Wolves and Stoke at Upton Park in their last two fixtures, West
Ham now face trips to Everton and Liverpool in their next three games,
although Zola has backed his team to cause an upset at Goodison Park on
Sunday. "We will go to Everton determined to get a result," he said. "People
might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive.
No one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have
time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the
season. "We said before Stoke that one game would not define the season but
we also know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals.. "They
will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us starting
with Everton and we will give everything to reward their support. They have
been brilliant and we owe them."
Zola, who took charge in September 2008, also appears to have the backing of
the squad, with England goalkeeper Robert Green and Egypt striker Mido
publicly praising their manager. "He's a great man and a great manager and
you could see on Saturday that it's not through want of trying," Green told
the Hammers' site. "He's been hamstrung with selection problems and players
leaving and he's just putting out teams that seem fit. It's up to us to put
in the effort that we did on Saturday. "Saturday was disappointing, but
everyone put their all in."
Mido, who missed West Ham's best chance at the weekend, heading over from
close range, added: "We're behind that man. He is a top manager, in my
opinion, and we're all behind him. "I think we have a very good chance of
staying up. If you look in the dressing room and you see the faces in there,
you don't see a team that is going to get relegated."

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Zola to battle on
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 29th March 2010
By: Another Staff Writer

Beleaguered Irons boss Gianfranco Zola has promised to battle on as West Ham
manager- for now at least. Zola had widely been expected to walk away from
his post following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke, a result which
made it six defeats in a row for the Hammers, equally a 40-year record. The
Italian told press reporters that he would consider over night whether he
still thought he was the "right-man" for the job. Sunday then passed without
comment from Zola nor joint chairman David Sullivan and Gold. However, that
silence was today broken by Zola, who spoke to the club website to confirm:
"I am determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone
but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives," he said. "The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that.
"My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that
remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen between
now and the end of the season."

Following withering criticism from David Sullivan in the wake of last week's
3-1 reverse to the relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, speculation
had been mounting that Zola would quit the Upton Park hot-seat regardless of
the result against Stoke, believing his position had been made untenable due
to his authority being undermined by Sullivan's very public dressing-downs.

However, with credible alternatives thin on the ground and with only six
games left to play, it appears a truce, however temporary, has been agreed
between Zola, Sullivan and David Gold, who has continued to publicly back
the Italian. Sacking Zola, who took the role on in September 2008, does not
appear to be an option to Sullivan and Gold. With 3 years left on an
estimated £1.8m a year deal, compensation owed to Zola and assistant Steve
Clarke, would run into millions. With relegation a heavy possibility now
regardless of manager, such an action would be akin to cutting one's nose
off to spite their face. There has also been a steady stream of reports
since the Wolves and Stokes defeats in the media of possible replacements,
either short or long-term, in the form Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle, Mark
Hughes and Slaven Bilic all distancing themselves from the position.
As such a deal between management and chairmen has been reached that the
status-quo will remain until May when the situation will be reviewed. The
suspicion, however, remains that Zola and Clarke will leave Upton Park
regardless of which division the Hammers lie. Zola takes West Ham to Everton
and traditional bogey ground Goodison Park this Easter Sunday, hoping to
prevent a seventh straight defeat.

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Zola vows to fight on
Hammers boss won't quit Upton Park hotseat
Last updated: 29th March 2010
SSN

Gianfranco Zola says he is "determined to carry on" as West Ham manager. The
Italian's future has been the subject of intense speculation for the last
few days after a disastrous run of form. The Hammers slumped to their sixth
successive loss on Saturday after going down 1-0 at home to Stoke and after
the game Zola admitted he was set to consider his future at Upton Park over
the weekend. Zola has now decided to stay on and has vowed to lead the side
to safety with the club currently above the drop-zone on goal difference "I
am determined to carry on," Zola told the club's official website. "Losing
on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and
we have the ability to achieve our objectives. "The owners have backed me
and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in
the Premier League and that remains my goal. "I will give everything I can
to make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I'd have had
time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before.
"I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making
it happen. "The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the
level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
West Ham face Everton next Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD 1, and Zola is
targeting a shock win at Goodison Park to boost his side's survival hopes.
"We will go to Everton determined to get a result," added Zola. "People
might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive.
No one should write us off. "Although we are in a serious position we have
time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the
season."
Zola admits their last six games will be like 'cup finals' as they aim to
avoid slipping into the Championship. "We said before Stoke that one game
would not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have
left will be cup finals," continued Zola. "They will be massive and I know
the fans will once again get behind us starting with Everton and we will
give everything to reward their support. "They have been brilliant and we
owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers confirm break
Squad given time off as Zola heads for Sardinia
Last updated: 29th March 2010
SSN

West Ham have confirmed that their squad has been given three days off this
week. Following a weekend defeat at home to Stoke, West Ham are now only out
of the Premier League drop-zone on goal difference. But Gianfranco Zola has
opted to give his side a break ahead of the weekend's clash with Everton.
"Mr Zola has gone to Sardinia. He's given the players three days off to
freshen up for the Everton game, they are back training on Wednesday," said
co-owner David Sullivan - who again stressed that Zola being sacked was not
an option they were looking at. The Board will be most surprised if he isn't
coaching the team this week. "We had a very amicable meeting with him after
the match on Saturday and he indicated nothing to the contrary."
Zola still very much has the support of his players, with Mido and Robert
Green both insisting they are behind their boss. "We tried hard against
Stoke but it didn't work and we are very disappointed," said Mido. "I look
at the faces of the players in the dressing room and I don't see anyone who
thinks they are in a team which will get relegated."
Green added: "West Ham have been in worse positions at this point of the
season. Now we have to dig in and fight. "We are all behind the manager. He
is a great man and great manager. "I think we have a very good chance of
staying up."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dicks blasts lazy Hammers
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

JULIAN DICKS last night branded some of struggling West Ham's stars 'lazy'.
The Hammers legend insists they must adopt the work ethic of Wayne Rooney
and Carlos Tevez if they want to get out of trouble. Only goal difference is
keeping West Ham out of the drop zone. And Dicks, who is firmly behind boss
Gianfranco Zola, said: "For me, the players do not work hard enough and some
of them are lazy. "They have to look at themselves and there are no excuses
for not trying. "I have always said it is down to the players. When they
cross that white line, it is down to them to perform and work hard. "But
some don't want to know. They need to have the same passion Rooney and Tevez
show every game. "As a footballer, you should not need lifting. If you can't
perform and play in front of 36,000 people at Upton Park, you should not be
playing football." Zola yesterday confirmed SunSport's story he wanted to
stay and save West Ham from the dreaded drop. And Dicks added: "I am glad
Zola is staying. He is the right man for the job and I'm optimistic they'll
stay up. "I think it is good for the club to have a bit of stability.
Hopefully, he can turn it around. I think he has done a good job with the
players that he has."
Zola gave his stars three days off after Saturday's desperate 1-0 home
defeat by Stoke and headed for his home in Sardinia. It was from there that
he phoned co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan to tell them he was
staying on, despite a run of six straight defeats. Zola said: "My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League. That's my goal.
"I'll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of
the season. "We will have to work harder than we have before. I know we can
get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen."
If West Ham suffer a seventh successive loss at Everton on Sunday, the axe
could still fall on the Italian. But he added: "I am determined to carry on.
The owners have backed me and I am grateful. We will go to Everton
determined to get a result."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola vows to soldier on
The Sun
Published: 29 Mar 2010

GIANFRANCO ZOLA insists he will remain at West Ham and is determined to save
them from the drop. The under-fire Italian sees his side 17th in the table
following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke, with only goal difference
keeping them above Hull in the relegation zone. And despite losing six games
on the bounce, Zola will return from a break in Sardinia on Wednesday
convinced he can keep the club in the Premier League. He said: "I am
determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I
know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives. "The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains
my goal. "I will give everything I can to make this happen between now and
the end of the season. "I have had time to think and reflect, and will have
to work harder than we have before. I know we can get the results we need
and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on
Saturday but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will,
do better as a team."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola's the main man for Mido
The Sun
Published: 29 Mar 2010

WEST HAM hitman Mido says the whole squad are behind beleaguered boss
Gianfranco Zola. Zola is in Sardinia mulling over his future as Hammers
chief following their sixth straight defeat, 1-0 at home to Stoke on
Saturday. But Egyptian striker Mido insists the former Chelsea star still
has the support of his players as they battle to beat the drop.
Mido, 27, said: "Everyone is working so hard for the manager. He is a top
manager and we're all behind him. "We have a very good chance of staying up.
If you look in the dressing-room and you see the faces in there, you don't
see a team that is going to get relegated. "By experience, by names and by
people who want to work hard for this club, I don't think this team is going
down." Zola has given the players three days off despite the Stoke defeat
and co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, are standing by the Italian for
the time being.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Sullivan and David Gold persuade Gianfranco Zola to stay at West Ham
The Times
Zola, who has guided West Ham to six successive defeats, will stay at the
club at least until the end of the season
Scott Rutherford

Gianfranco Zola has explained that the support of West Ham United's joint
owners has persuaded him to carry on as the club's manager. The Italian
returned home to Sardinia to consider his position after the 1-0 defeat by
Stoke City on Saturday that left his side seventeenth in the Barclays
Premier League, above the relegation places only on goal difference. Before
that match, David Sullivan, the joint owner, had been fiercely critical of
Zola's team and there was widespread speculation about the Italian's
position at the club. However, after a conversation with Sullivan and David
Gold, and a period of reflection in his homeland, Zola decided that he was
in no mood to quit. In an e-mail to the club's supporters, Zola said: "They
[Sullivan and Gold] have backed me and I am grateful. I am determined to
carry on. "Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can
turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives. My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains
my goal. I'll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the
end of the season. "I have had time to think and we will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it
is still not the level we should be at. But we can and will do better as a
team. I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions.
We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do.
"I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There
is no doubt about that. We have seen before we are capable of playing at a
high level."
Zola has been criticised for giving his players three days off this week
before they resume training tomorrow. But after two high-pressure matches in
five days and with the next game, away to Everton, not until Sunday, he felt
it was important for the players to be allowed to rest. "We will go to
Everton determined to get a result," Zola said. "People might not expect us
to get something from the match but we will be positive.No one should write
us off. "Although we're in a serious position we have time to sort things
out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season."
Zola, whose side have lost their last six Premier League matches, also
emphasised the importance of each of West Ham's remaining six games as they
bid for survival. "We said before Stoke that one game would not define the
season but we know each of the games left will be cup finals," he said.
"They will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us,
starting with Everton, and we will give everything to reward their support.
They have been brilliant and we owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want McClaren as new boss - Exclusive
Published 23:00 29/03/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror

West Ham want Steve McClaren to be their new boss next season - but need
Gianfranco Zola to keep them up first. Former England coach McClaren is
willing to return to the Premier League, despite taking Twente Enschede to
the brink of the Dutch title and with the prospect of Champions League
football. McClaren would return to take the Hammers job if the right
conditions were right - with them staying in the Premier League and with him
having a big budget to spend. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold will
dig deep to give the next manager a fighting chance in the transfer market,
but the battle to keep them in the big-time will be led by 'lame duck' Zola.
The Italian has gone home for a couple of days and is prepared to carry on,
despite a shocking run of results that leaves his team hovering just above
the drop zone. Zola also knows that Hammers have been sounding out potential
short-term replacements for him, but few of them want the job on that basis
- and others have yet to convince the Upton Park hierarchy that they are
ideal. Glenn Hoddle is still the likeliest candidate if there is an SOS call
for a quick fix. The former England boss has been approached but
astonishingly West Ham are not offering him a big enough deal. Mark Hughes,
Slaven Bilic and Graeme Souness have all already said 'no thanks'. The only
encouragement West Ham have had is that McClaren, the former Middlesbrough
chief, is in the mood to come back to England - but will not move until the
summer. It is a crazy scenario but one that was always likely to happen with
the new regime in charge at West Ham, desperate to avoid the drop and
meddling with Zola along the way. Ironically McClaren was interviewed by
West Ham when he first moved into the management game. He spoke to them
before choosing Middlesbrough at the time when he left Manchester United as
number two.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola: 'I'm staying at West Ham'
Published 13:20 29/03/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Gianfranco Zola has confirmed he will stay on as West Ham manager.
MirrorFootball revealed this morning that the Italian had signalled his
intention to continue in the role despite defeat to Stoke on Saturday being
the club's sixth in a row. The run of form is the club's worst for more
than 40 years and fears grew on Saturday night that Zola would not return
from a three-day break in Sardinia. But he said today: "I am determined to
carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can
turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives. "The
owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is
to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will
give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the
season. "I have had time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it
is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a
team. "I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions.
We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do.
I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There
is no doubt about that. We have seen before that we are capable of playing
at a high level."
The Hammers face a tough trip to Goodison Park to face a well-organised
Everton side this weekend. But Zola added: "We will go to Everton determined
to get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match
but we will be positive. No-one should write us off. Although we are in a
serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our
destiny at the end of the season. "We said before Stoke that one game would
not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have left
will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again
get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward
their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them."
Zola plans to return from his break on tomorrow night ready for training on
Wednesday

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola battles on with West Ham but the future remains unclear
Gianfranco Zola decided on Monday to stay and fight to keep West Ham in the
Premier League but his long-term future at the club remains unclear.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 7:00AM BST 30 Mar 2010

Gianfranco Zola is determined to lead West Ham to Premier League safety . A
run of just three wins in 18 League games has left West Ham teetering on the
edge of the relegation zone and while he has the backing of his dressing
room – a major factor in his decision to stay for now – his future looks
likely to be away from Upton Park.

Zola was torn between walking away or staying to fight and only the support
he received from the players convinced him to remain. Zola flew to Sardinia
on Sunday for a pre-planned break and will be back at Chadwell Heath on
Tuesday to begin preparations for Sunday's trip to Everton, where West Ham
will attempt to end a Premier League-worst six-game run of defeats.

Sport on television Zola issued a statement on Monday, saying: "I am
determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I
know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives." Pointedly, he added: "My only thought for now is to keep this
club in the Premier League and that remains my goal." Everton have won seven
successive home games, a club record, and after that difficult trip they
have three homes games – against Sunderland, Wigan and Manchester City,
while they must also go to Liverpool and Fulham. "I'll give everything I can
to make this happen between now and the end of the season," added Zola. "I
have had time to think and reflect and we will have to work harder than we
have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question
of making it happen." Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, voiced the
opinion of the players when he said of the manager: "He's a great man and a
great manager and you could see on Saturday it's not through want of trying.
"He's been hamstrung with selection problems and players leaving and
injuries. It's up to us to put in the effort that we did on Saturday and to
have the confidence to carry on playing and play more football in and around
the final third which, hopefully, will make the difference. "West Ham have
been in worse positions at this point of the season," added the 30 year-old.
"We've just got to dig in and fight and that's it."

And Zola added: "The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not
the level we should be at. We can, and will, do better as a team. We have a
responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do. I am here
and ready to do what I need to do to get the results. "We said before Stoke
that one game would not define the season but we also know that each of the
games we have left are cup finals."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola says he is 'determined to carry on' at West Ham
Italian had gone home to Sardinia to consider future
No one should write us off, Hammers manager says
guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 March 2010 13.17 BST

Gianfranco Zola has today made it clear he intends to stay at West Ham and
guide them to Premier League safety. Zola spoke from his family home in
Sardinia, where he returned following the 1-0 defeat by Stoke City that has
left his side on the brink of the relegation zone. After that game the
dejected Italian admitted he would consider his future over the weekend, but
today he declared: "I am determined to carry on. "Losing on Saturday was
emotional for everyone, but I know we can turn it around and we have the
ability to achieve our objectives. My only thought for now is to keep this
club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will give everything
I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I have had
time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before.
I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it
happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it is still not the
level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
Zola mentioned the injuries to Guillermo Franco – who did not play against
Stoke – and Kieron Dyer, who came off at half-time. "That is typical of our
season," he said on the West Ham website. "But we will not make excuses and
we will keep on going. "I have a great staff and we will work together to
find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things around and that
is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get
the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen before that we are
capable of playing at a high level. "No one should write us off. Although we
are in a serious position, we have time to sort things out and be in control
of our destiny at the end of the season. We said before Stoke that one game
would not define the season, but we also know that each of the games we have
left will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once
again get behind us starting with Everton [away on Sunday 4 April] and we
will give everything to reward their support. They have been brilliant and
we owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola pledges to stay on and steer West Ham to safety
Italian grateful for West Ham owners' backing
'We will have to work harder than we have before'
Dominic Fifield guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 March 2010 18.45 BST

The West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola returns to London tomorrow after
a short break in Sardinia intent upon staving off relegation having
reaffirmed his intention to see out the season at Upton Park.

The Italian had travelled home to clear his head and consider his immediate
future after his side suffered a sixth successive league defeat to Stoke
City on Saturday to leave them above the cut-off only on goal difference.
The club's co-owner, David Gold, visited the dressing room after that 1-0
loss and gave West Ham's manager of 18 months his backing.

"I am determined to carry on," said Zola. "Losing on Saturday was emotional
for everyone, but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to
achieve our objectives. The owners have backed me and I am grateful for
that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League,
and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen
between now and the end of the season.

"I have had time to think and reflect, and [we] will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it
is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a
team."

There remains the understanding that there will be a parting of the ways in
the summer, ideally with West Ham having retained their top-flight status.
While the other co-owner, David Sullivan, indicated last week that he was
"100% behind the manager", the West Ham hierarchy are expected to pursue a
new appointment at the end of the campaign. Yet the club's ability to
attract the likes of Mark Hughes hinge upon the retention of their place in
the Premier League.

The manager will address his squad when they train at Chadwell Heath on
Wednesday after the long-scheduled three-day break and attempt to revive
spirits ahead of the daunting trip to Everton on Sunday. The players retain
faith in the coaching staff. "We will work together to find the solutions,"
said Zola. "We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what
we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the
results.

"We will go to Everton determined to get a result. People might not expect
us to get something from the match but we will be positive. No one should
write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have time to sort
things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season. We
said before Stoke that one game would not define the season, but we also
know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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