WHUFC.com
The manager paid tribute to his backroom staff as he reflected on a deserved first win in seven matches
12.04.2010
Gianfranco Zola was keen to single out the efforts of his backroom staff as he reflected on a rapid reversal of fortune in the past week. A 2-2 draw at Everton and a 1-0 home win against Sunderland that lifted the club four points clear of the drop zone was not achieved without considerable effort, most obviously of course from the players with strong support from the fans. Zola though emphasised the efforts made by his coaches to hovercome a miserable March. "The inspiration came from my staff," he said. "We got together and we analysed the situation and we found a new way to get the points and results. That has been a good thing. Me, Steve, Kevin Keen, Kevin Hitchcock and Antonio Pintus have been together and we have found a new way. "Last year we found a way of playing nice football and getting results. This year, we are working more as a team more defensively to get the points. The secret is that we have stuck together with them and worked hard. "The team as a whole has found new belief and they know we can do better working together as a group. We have changed the way we do things and have looked hard at how we organise as a team. It is producing good results and credit must go to my staff. "The crazy thing about football is the situation can change quite rapidly. I don't think that many people were giving us any chance of getting a point at Everton and now after these two matches we are in a much better position. That is football. We never lost faith in ourselves, though. "I must say the support that I have had has been fantastic. It was good to go away, clear the mind and come back with more motivation and strength. It is paying off. I know we can keep that going against Liverpool and Wigan."
Zola also reiterated that he has not given his players an easy ride in recent weeks, getting tough when he has to is not something he finds difficult. "When my players do something that is not good, they get told off. Don't worry about that. When they do something wrong they get the point straight away. "The job is not done yet but we have taken a major step forward. The fan support has played a big part as we knew it would and we need more of the same until the end of the season. "The whole team has shown plenty of commitment. We have been defending from the front and when you have everyone pulling together, it gives you a real chance of getting a positive result. We have improved our position from two weeks ago but we still need to maintain the same focus and keep working hard. It is the only way to get the job done."
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Cole's sound advice
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has revealed that a half-time talk with Ilan led to the Brazilian's winner against Sunderland
12.04.2010
Carlton Cole has revealed that a half-time chat with Ilan led to the Brazilian's match-winner in Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over Sunderland. The 29-year-old netted his second goal in two games by stabbing the England striker's knock-down past Craig Gordon six minutes after the break. Cole told WHUTV how he instructed the South American to get close to him whenever a high ball was sent his way - and was rewarded almost immediately when Manuel da Costa launched a long free-kick into the Black Cats' penalty area. "At half-time I just gave Ilan some advice to play off my shoulder because, if the ball is played up to me in the air, anything can happen," said the 26-year-old. "I told him I could just knock it down and, it he was in the right place at the right time, he could notch a goal. He did it straight away. The first one that came in, he got right on to it and scored. "I'm so happy for him. I was giving him some banter, saying he's our 'Saviour' because he's done some really good work. He's scored three goals now and I'm happy that he's done that. He's scored some important goals and I'm over the moon for him. "I don't normally give him advice because he's an established player, but in that game, I thought he might get a bit more luck by playing off my shoulder and getting on to one of my flick-ons, and it happened. "Obviously his English is not the best, but he does understand. He's a very smart guy and an intelligent footballer, so that's what happens when you get a good combination like that."
While understandably pleased to help stretch the gap between West Ham and the relegation zone to four points, Cole was also delighted to get one over former team-mate and close pal Anton Ferdinand. "I'm happy that we won the game. Anton is a good friend of mine and there was always going to be a bit of banter before the game. I'm bantering him now because we won the game and I won the battle against him. He can sing better than me, but I did better on the day!"
With his personal battle with Ferdinand behind him and his partnership with Ilan growing with every game, Cole is targeting another positive result when the Hammers head for Liverpool a week on Monday. "We did all right and I think we can start building on this now. We had a good result against Everton last week and on Saturday we had an even better result at home. I think we can build on this and get more points on the table with more wins. "Hopefully [we can beat Liverpool]. We look like we can get a result out of any team at the moment, because we are playing some good football. The Everton game was a prime example - they were a very hard unit to break down. "Obviously Liverpool are a good side as well, but hopefully we can go back up to Merseyside and get another result, whether it be a draw or even more. You never know in this game. We know what we're setting out to do and what points we need, and that's what we're going to try to achieve."
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Behrami the best
WHUFC.com
Match sponsors KBC singled out Valon Behrami as the star man from the weekend win against Sunderland
11.04.2010
Valon Behrami was delighted to be voted the man of the match against Sunderland by match sponsors KBC. The Switzerland midfielder was a tireless performer from start to finish, marauding up and down the left flank and impressing all with his usual commitment. Upon receiving his commemorative champagne, Behrami said: "Thank you for this. It is very good to be singled out but it is all of the team who deserve congratulations. "Everyone worked hard to get the result and win the game," added the hugely popular midfielder. "It was a tough match but there is lots of happiness in the team that we held on. It was not easy but we never gave up. The support of the fans meant a lot and we knew they were right behind us." If you want to find out how you can become a match sponsor and enjoy exclusive hospitality, click here for more information.
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Ex-Hammer earns day in the sun
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th April 2010
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Hayden Mullins will finally realise his dream of playing in an FA Cup final after his current side Portsmouth won through this afternoon. Mullins - who was on West Ham's books between October 2003 and January 2009 - was part of the Pompey team that upset the odds to beat Tottenham 2-0 at Wembley today and secure a place in the FA Cup Final where they will play Chelsea, who beat Aston Villa yesterday in the other semi final. The result was especially sweet for the Reading-born midfielder due to him being forced to sit out West Ham United's FA Cup Final against Liverpool in 2006 through suspension, after he was sent off in the (league) game, also against Liverpool, just prior to the final. Mullins received his marching orders eight minutes from the end of the game for pushing away then-Liverpool player Luis Garcia, who had kicked and pushed the United midfielder immediately prior to the incident; Mullins left the field in tears that night as the realisation that his Cup Final dream was over sank in. A plea for common sense to the FA made no difference and Mullins' three-match ban stood ensuring he missed the final, in which West Ham drew 3-3 with Liverpool. The former Crystal Palace player, who had been Alan Pardew's first signing as manager was sold to Portsmouth 14 months ago in order to ease West Ham United's financial crisis. Now 31, Mullins will finally get the opportunity he thought had evaded him four years ago. Today's game was won by two goals in extra time after the game ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. Frederic Piquionne put Portsmouth - who were relegated yesterday as a result of West Ham's win over Sunderland - ahead in the first half of extra time before Aruna Dindane sealed the south coast club's second FA Cup Final appearance in three years from the penalty spot.
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Cole - Holiday worked wonders
Hammers striker backs his boss' decision
Last updated: 12th April 2010
SSN
Carlton Cole believes West Ham's mini-renaissance owes a lot to Gianfranco Zola's controversial decision to hand his players a holiday in the midst of a relegation battle. When the Hammers recently fell to their sixth straight league defeat at home to Stoke the under-fire boss decided rest and recuperation rather than extra training was needed. The Italian returned to his native Sardinia to consider his future but returned convinced he is the right man to lead West Ham to safety. Upon returning from their three-day break West Ham have since produced two performances packed with character and Cole is convinced they have turned the corner. Zola's men came from behind twice to claim a vital point at Goodison Park and backed that result up on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Sunderland. Cole said: "The break was good. Sometimes you need a little break to get out from the turbulence. "We had a lot of stuff thrown at us which is sometimes unfair but sometimes you need criticism to progress. "We just needed to get out of the mess we were in and we've done all right in the last two games. "We were very resilient against Sunderland and the whole team performance was quality. "I've got a lot of praise for the team the way they did their shift and I'm proud of us. I think we are on the route to doing what we set out to do."
Cole barely got a holiday as he worked with the physios on the knee injury that has plagued him this season but the squad enjoyed a team-building night out. Full-back Jonathan Spector has echoed the England man's words, claiming it was a valuable exercise. "We may have had some criticism for it but I think the results we've had since then prove it was the right decision," said Spector. "The manager put his trust in us and I think we paid him back. I think we all needed to get away and clear our heads, come back and start afresh."
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Ilan - Zola has lost control
Brazilian reveals problems at Upton Park
Last updated: 11th April 2010
SSN
Brazilian striker Ilan claims that Gianfranco Zola has 'lost control' of West Ham. In an astonishing revelation, Ilan - who has scored two in their last two games - claims that Zola is no longer in control and will not be able to win the players back. Ilan, who arrived on a short-term deal from St Etienne in January, also revealed he was not planning on staying at Upton Park beyond the end of the season. "I don't want to say bad things about Zola because he is a good person, but you know sometimes a good person working in football doesn't work," Ilan told the News of the World. "If you give your players a lot of freedom, they will not obey you anymore. "That is what is happening now at West Ham, especially with players who speak Italian. "Zola has lost control of the team and it is impossible for him to recover it." Ilan is not happy with how he is used by Zola. "Zola never uses me in my position as a centre forward," he said. "He puts me out on the flanks or even as a second forward. "He and the other coaches in the Premier League have an obsession with putting the players in positions different to the one they are used to."
He also confirmed that he was set to leave England when his deal at West Ham expires. "Whatever happens, I'm going to leave England. I have received offers from France and Spain and even from three clubs from Brazil," he continued. "If I get a good offer, like from a Brazilian team that wants to win the Copa Libertadores, then of course money will not be the only factor that matters. "I am 29 years old and still think that I can achieve a lot in football."
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Gianfranco Zola's troops adapt well to direct attack
West Ham 1 Sunderland 0
Gary Jacob
The Times
Like a colonel trapped in the carnage of a civil war, Gianfranco Zola has kept one eye on his troops and the other watching his back. But West Ham United's aerial assault on Saturday suggested for the first time that Zola's men will live to fight again in the top flight next season. David Sullivan, the West Ham joint-chairman, shot himself in the foot once too often with his sniping at his team and some fans at Upton Park have turned their ammunition on him. Amid the crossfire, Zola has stood with dignity and a degree of humour. The Italian contemplated surrender two weeks ago, but returned from a break in Sardinia with new tactics to prevent his players competing as individuals and to deliver victory at all costs. The long ball was less pleasing to the eye — "that was all West Ham had, " Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, said — but it has been a means to an end.
"Last season we played nice football to get results, but now we needed to work more defensively," Zola said. "We need to keep on top of the momentum."
Ilan's late equalising header away to Everton last weekend stopped the rot of six consecutive defeats and his toe-poke, from Carlton Cole's knockdown on Saturday has injected some belief. Plenty of work remains to build confidence. West Ham scrapped for, but could not retain, possession and chances were at a premium as Sunderland hounded and harried without capitalising on early anxiety. Darren Bent lost his footing when through and Bruce was unhappy with Mike Jones, the referee, for stopping a free kick being taken in stoppage time as West Ham celebrated a disallowed goal. Bruce warmly embraced Zola at the end and, perhaps, spoke of dealing with his joint-chairman after his spell under Sullivan at Birmingham City ended in acrimony. "I wish Gianfranco the best but I am not going to get drawn on that [boardroom talk]," Bruce said. "Unless you have done it and got the T-shirt, it's very difficult. He's handled himself with great respect."
Relief at Upton Park, but recriminations and casualties are likely come the summer.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 5 — J Faubert 6, M Da Costa 6, M Upson 6, J Spector 5 — J Stanislas 5 (sub: G Franco, 74), R Kovac 5, M Noble 6, V Behrami 6 — Ilan 6 (sub: F Daprela, 89), C Cole 5. Substitutes not used: P Kurucz, D Gabbidon, B McCarthy, A Diamanti, J Spence. Booked: Spector. Next: Liverpool (a).
Sunderland (4-4-2): C Gordon 5 — A Ferdinand 6, M Turner 6, P Da Silva 6 (sub: Benjani Mwaruwari, 88), K Richardson 6 — J Henderson 7, D Meyler 6 (sub: K Jones, 63 5), L Cattermole 7, S Malbranque 6 (sub: B Zenden, 72) — F Campbell 5, D Bent 5. Substitutes not used: T Carson, P Bardsley, A Hutton, M Kilgallon. Booked: Cattermole, Gordon, Campbell. Next: Burnley (h).
Referee: M Jones. Attendance: 34,685.
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Zola: We're not safe yet
Published 09:11 11/04/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was delighted to see his side earn a Barclays Premier League lifeline with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Upton Park. But with a trip to Liverpool next weekend followed by a home clash with fellow strugglers Wigan, the Italian has warned there is hard work still to come. The Hammers' first win in eight games, secured by a second-half goal from Brazilian striker Ilan, edged them four points above the relegation zone. Yet Zola knows there is plenty to play for. "We are very happy for this - it was such a tough game for us. I am pleased because the players gave everything," said Zola. "I am absolutely delighted for the boys because I know what they have been through all this time. The result we got last week (2-2 draw at Everton) gave everybody a big boost. This is much better but it is still too early to celebrate. We are not there yet.'' One more win would move West Ham onto 34 points and Zola believes that could be enough to secure top-flight survival - but he will not count on it. "It might be enough but we will try to get more. This is not a championship where you can say it is over. Nobody was expecting Burnley to beat Hull City," said Zola. "We will stay on our toes." Ilan is fast emerging as West Ham's unlikely saviour, having followed up his equaliser against Everton last weekend with a vital strike here. The 29-year-old, who was making only his second start for the club, latched onto Carlton Cole's downward header to earn West Ham a vital three points. "Ilan has done very well," said Zola. "Last week he came on and he scored a very important goal for us and he has made his way through to the team. That goal he scored here was unbelievable. "I am delighted. He is becoming very effective for us. He is making a big difference but I don't think we have seen the best of him because he is still adapting his football. But the understanding he has with Carlton Cole is good."
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Bruce hits out at 'shocking' ref after Sunderland denied late leveller
Published 23:00 11/04/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Steve Bruce blasted 'beach ball' ref Mike Jones for denying Sunderland a late chance of an equaliser. After West Ham sub Guillermo Franco's goal was disallowed in second-half stoppage time, Sunderland wanted to restart the game immediately in a bid to catch Hammers on the break. Jones, however, stood over the ball and refused to allow play to continue because Franco was still celebrating with most of the Hammers players. Bruce, who has not won a League game in London for three years, was incensed. He said afterwards: "We can all play badly but he had a shocker. Premier League referees have a difficult job but not to allow us to take the free-kick with two minutes to go was unbelievable. I've seen a player doing that but the referee...? "I asked him why and he said it would have been unsporting. Surely it's unsporting of him not to allow us to take it. I've never seen that in the rules. "And they must have been celebrating for three minutes but he added only 30 seconds on." Earlier this season Jones was punished after failing to disallow Darren Bent's beach-ball winner against Liverpool.
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Ilan sinks Sunderland to show West Ham the way out via South America
David Lacey at Upton Park The Guardian, Monday 12 April 2010
Once more South America could be West Ham United's salvation. For Carlos Tevez of Argentina read Ilan Araujo Dall'Igna, a Brazilian with an Italian passport. Tevez's goals kept West Ham United in the Premier League three seasons ago. Now Ilan's scoring habits could do the same.
Having come off the bench to secure a point for Gianfranco Zola's team at Everton with a hurtling header six days earlier, Ilan brought West Ham their first win in eight games on Saturday when he reacted faster than Sunderland's defenders as Carlton Cole nodded on a free-kick from Manuel Da Costa and prodded the ball past Craig Gordon.
The victory has left West Ham four points above the bottom three with a favourable goal difference. A win against Wigan in their next home match could make them all but safe. "Thirty-four points might be enough but we will try to get more," Zola said. "This is not a championship where you can say it is over."
Compared to Tevez, Ilan is less controversial and considerably less expensive. West Ham were fined £5.5m for breaking Premier League rules over signing Tevez and some felt they should have been deducted points. Ilan came to Upton Park in January on a free transfer from St Etienne and a six-month contract.
Zola's decision to start Saturday's match with the 29-year-old Brazilian partnering Cole up front owed something to Mido's virus, but Ilan's performance during his 12 minutes on the pitch at Goodison had much to do with it. "He is becoming very effective for us and is making a big difference," the West Ham manager said.
Ilan's winner six minutes into the second half redeemed a match which was boring itself to death amid a confusion of misplaced passes and half-formed ideas. Teams struggling in April are seldom a pretty sight and without the suspended Scott Parker West Ham lacked the means to find a way through Sunderland's packed midfield and get at their back four.
Mark Noble was imaginative and Valon Behrami industrious but until Ilan scored the only threat to Sunderland came from some uncharacteristic fumbles by Gordon.
During half-time Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, reminded his players that the biggest danger lay in "a Carlton Cole flick-on and somebody running through". Talk about self-fulfilling prophesies. "It was a bad goal to give away," said Bruce, "a horrible goal."
Panicky defending by West Ham kept Upton Park biting its nails until well into stoppage time, at which point Guillermo Franco, who had replaced Junior Stanislas, had the place in an uproar of relief when he deftly brought the ball down before finding the net.
Such deftness, however, included a forearm but most of the West Ham team went on celebrating, unaware that the goal had been disallowed. Sunderland thought Mike Jones should have restarted the game anyway but according to Bruce "the ref ruled it would be unsporting".
Something similar occurred when England played Argentina in the 1998 World Cup and had players dancing off the pitch following a header from Sol Campbell which had been ruled out because of a foul by Alan Shearer. In that instance play resumed immediately and the glee club had to make a hurried return.
West Ham's win, which incidentally put Portsmouth out of their misery at the bottom, has gone a long way towards keeping Premier League football at Upton Park for another season, when a bit of stability off the field should give the playing side a chance to aim for something better. On Saturday their supporters were belting out bubbles with renewed vigour while keeping fingers and toes crossed.
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JOYS FROM BRAZIL FOR BOSS ZOLA
Daily Express
Sunday April 11,2010
By Tony Stenson Have your say(0)
WEST HAM 1 SUNDERLAND 0
HE'S the boy from Brazil few had ever heard of. Yet Araujo Ilan kept West Ham holding on to Premier League survival by their well-chewed finger nails. Ilan rocketed into Hammers folklore with the headed equaliser at Everton last week. He was at it again yesterday, squeezing home a 51st-minute winner to ensure even vice-chairman Karen Brady was happy. She had written in her weekly newspaper article that Hammers were like Steve McQueen on barbed wire in the Great Escape. For long periods they were, and only Mark Noble seemed to have the inclination, skill and vision to lift a side who collapse like a cheap suitcase the moment after leaving home. Sunderland are mathematically safe from relegation, but they certainly aren't the finished article. They couldn't even hope for a beach ball goal. Referee Mike Jones was the official who allowed a goal from Sunderland's Darren Bent to stand against Liverpool after his shot had been deflected past Jose Reina by a beach ball. West Ham left the field to thunderous applause, probably helped by the fact that virtually doomed Burnley had beaten relegation rivals Hull City. And they were wondering why sub Franco had been denied a late second goal. But it was blatant handball to those who watched from other angles. The game sadly lacked quality, and if someone had just arrived from the moon they would have found it difficult to decide which club was more in trouble. There were rare moments when two or three passes went to foot. Hammers walked on eggshells for most of the opening skirmishes, knowing any mistake would prise the relegation door open once more. Sunderland fed off their fear, sneaking players into worrying positions and easily clearing any attacks.
It was clear to see why West Ham were looking for their first win in eight matches. Sunderland arrived not having won at Upton Park for five years, and with an away record of one win in 11, enough at other clubs to get a manager the sack. Thankfully, they have a chairman in Niall Quinn who has seen both the best and worst of soccer. He only panics when his horse is one stride off the lead with the winning post in sight. Like most Irishmen, he forever sees the glass half-full. For a team caught in the relegation net, West Ham didn't show too much inclination to cut the ropes. There was almost an air of end-of-season to the attacks, although Sunderland played their part by being quick into tackles and eager to get forward. Lee Cattermole was booked in the 26th minute for a foul on Valon Behrami, who went down like a sack of spuds, yet within seconds was racing back like a hare. No wonder fans and managers get agitated. They also get upset when goalkeepers deliberately handball when outside their area and then complain, like Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon in the 41st minute. Then Ilan, hero of Goodison, was at it again, touching home after Carlton Cole had touched on Manuel da Costa's free-kick from inside his own half. Cattermole went close in the 61st minute when fed by Bent, but Sunderland's finishing overall was weak. And who won the battle of the strikers? Many would claim Cole edged out fellow World Cup hopeful Bent.
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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola urges squad to concentrate in Premier League run-in
Hammers boss tells side to stay focused to secure survival…
By Danny Hart
11 Apr 2010 14:30:00
Goal.com
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has warned his players they must stay focused if they want to retain their Premier League status. A second half strike from Ilan secured a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Upton Park on Saturday which now leaves the Hammers in 16th place, four points above 18th-placed Burnley. There was speculation that Zola could lose his job after a run of six successive defeats but after Saturday's win over the Black Cats and last week's draw with Everton at Goodison Park, pressure has eased on the Italian. "The team has found new belief. We are just getting the best out of that. Yes it is a good momentum - but to make the momentum that we want we need to keep on top of that," said Zola, according to Press Association Sport. "We have two very good results we are in a better position but it is far away to say that it is done. We have Liverpool next week and then Wigan and those two games will tell us everything." One more Premier League win would see West Ham reach 34 points and Zola believes that could be enough to secure survival. "It might be enough but we will try to get more," he added. "This is not a championship where you can say it is over. Nobody was expecting Burnley to beat Hull City. We will stay on our toes."
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Ilan says Zola has 'lost control of the West Ham team'
Soccernet
April 11, 2010
Brazilian striker Ilan has criticised West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola after scoring the winner against Sunderland, claming that he has ''lost control of the team". Ilan has scored vital goals in recent games, including Saturday's winner which has lifted the Hammers four points clear of the relegation zone, however he had strong words for his manager after the game. "I don't want to say bad things about Zola because he is a good person, but you know sometimes a good person working in football doesn't work,'' he told the News of the World. ''If you give your players a lot of freedom, they will not obey you anymore. "That is what is happening now at West Ham, especially with players who speak Italian. Zola has lost control of the team and it is impossible for him to recover it." Ilan has started just one game since arriving from St Etienne in January and says he will move on in the summer. "Zola never uses me in my position as a centre forward,'' he added. "He puts me out on the flanks or even as a second forward. "He and the other coaches in the Premier League have an obsession with putting the players in positions different to the one they are used to. Whatever happens, I'm going to leave England. I have received offers from France and Spain and even from three clubs from Brazil."
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