Has Zola been visiting the same optician as Arsene Wenger, or perhaps it is just that he spent too long at Chelsea, or maybe his Italian roots are showing through? One thing is for sure, his defence of Di Michele's blatant simulation on Saturday does him, the club and football in general no credit at all. The smiling Italian is quoted as saying that Davide di Taking The Michele did not deserve to be booked for diving after missing the sort of chance 'Arry's wife is famous for tucking away.
"I don't think he looked for it," said Hammers boss Zola. "The referee booked him, but he just lost his legs and lost his balance."
Oh yes, and that made him throw his arms in the air and appeal for a penalty did it? When he felt one ankle collide with the other, yards away from Reina's legs, he genuinely thought the Liverpool keeper had tripped him did he? Come off it Gianfranco, pull the other one, it has the Bow Bells tied to it!
And before anybody leaps in with, "He is just defending one of his players", we don't want to see this in our game, and I certainly don't want the boys in Claret and Blue sinking to the level of the Drogbas and the Ronaldos. Leave the cheating to the big four lads, if we ever win something, I want us to win it honestly!
I hope it was just a mad moment from Zola, a throw away comment issued because he was caught off guard. If so, he should now put the record straight. I have drafted a simple statement for him to issue below.
"Although it appeared to be simulation, I would ask everybody to remember that Di Michele has been playing like a complete clown in recent weeks. The routine of tripping himself when through on goal, then throwing himself through the air with arms stretched wide, was simply part of the circus act. In future he will appear with Coco across the back of his shirt and in big red floppy boots stretching a yard out from his ankles. It is hoped these might enable him to get a foot on the ball inside the penalty box, even though he appears frightened to actually run into it over the course of a game!"
Or alternatively, Zola could just come out and say, "The dive and appeal were disgraceful and we do not want to see that sort of cheating at Upton Park. I apologise for Di Michele's actions and have decided not to sign him for next season as a result."
37 comments:
Slight over reaction here it's not like he does it every week is it, and you have no chance of any manager calling one of their players a cheat, yes it was stupid even comical but that's it no more no less
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn, I'm sorry did you say something hammersfan
Shame on Zola you say, because of his comments, Now I've heard it all you criticising someone of Franco's stature, can you not remember the drivel you slosh on the web daily, what makes you so righteous?
LOL Is that a picture of you in your daytime job?
I wouldn't think his dress sense is that good
Spot on 1756, as hard as I try, I only ever look like a second class clown!
Ooooh no you will always be a 1st class clown to us
You are too kind!
honesty is the best policy, something you should consider!
Who me? I am honest to a fault. Honest. Trust me Guv. By the way, whilst we are talking, how do you fancy buying a timeshare in Tenerife?
no thanks don't fancy slumming it on holiday
Top notch apartment and if you buy 2 weeks red time, we include 2 free weeks in 5 star accommodation in South Africa with a free safari, guaranteeing seeing the Big 5 or all money returned. All flights included, all for an initial down payment of just £249 per person. Finance available for the balance, repayable over a 25 year term.
Fannnoco the Clown, has a ring don't you think? As I am obviously a seeker of truth what is it that you do? I would guess that you are employed but in something that allows you a lot of time off judging by your input on here.
give me your name and address and I'll send a cheque!
Job? I sell timeshare when not engineering rockets.
Address: PO Box 274
Bournemouth
Talentless hack.
The truth of the matter is that you are caught in my web 1859, so much so that you return every day, checking out every post. You are obsessed with this blog.
your still a Talent less hack.
"his defence of Di Michele's blatant simulation on Saturday does him, the club and football in general no credit at all." Talk about pot calling the kettle black, this website does far more to soil the name of the club than Zola ever will. Story after story of complete dross, it's embarassing it really is.
Not only that, Di Michele didn't even dive. He was stumbling and his momentum took him over. It was not a penalty and it was not a dive.
Why did he appeal for a penalty then?
The man tripped over his own feet in front of a lot of people, he was embarrassed, and acted out of character. Have we seen any other dives by him? I don't recall any. Attacking Zola over this show's your understanding of football, limited.
LOL...20:35.
I'm a bit worried about hammersfan, do you think he's shot himself or something(please,please),He hasn't scrawled a new blog for at least an hour now,
DiMichele is an old nag and should be treated as one...wheres my shotgun! I've never heard such laughter in a busy pub when the football was on. He was utterly embarassing. How close did he want to get? Reina never left his 6yd box ffs! DiMichele is never worth a contract. He is over the hill and has had TWO good games for us - home to Newcastle (18th) and Home to Hull (17th). Hes second rate, pure and simple. I would agree that Zola should have said something - not called him a cheat obviously for team morale but maybe said "thats unacceptable" or even "I'l speak to the player in private".
Sigh...
I guess its just me. I like Di Michele, I like the way he plays, the moves he makes, the flicks he tries.
He gives us that tiny bit of flair we've lost since Beni left.
I know it doesn't always come off, but until we buy someone guaranteed to be better and Prem proven, I think we shouldn't give him so much stick.
It's a combination of bad luck, Zola's naievety and the boards frugalness that has resulted in him being our main striker. We've definitely had worse, Chapman, Kelly, Dowie, Abou?
As for the dive, he definitely 100% stumbled and tripped over his own legs. Sometimes when you do that, you automatically assume someone clipped you, it's difficult maintaining your full sense of proprioception in those situations.
Apache mate, you are too generous!
Hammersfan said...
Why did he appeal for a penalty then?
Maybe because he was embarassed at falling over his own feet, maybe he didn't even realise it was his own feet he was tripping over, either way I don't think he intentionally dived.
Don't get me wrong, I agree that Di Michele has only had 2 good games for us and it not worth a permanant switch. He just doesn't cut it. But there is no need for such a sh*tty little swipe at him and Zola just because we failed to be Spurs.
I'm the first to criticise for diving, I hate it, but I don't think Di Michelle was cheating.
"DiMichele is an old nag and should be treated as one..."
He's also a West Ham player at the moment, 3rd choice at that, and should be treated like one.
I'm gonna be honest here, I'm a gunner. THat's not the point, so please don't Cunt me off because i support another club. I think West Ham are a great club, one of the few proper english clubs left, no matter who the owner is.
Back to my point, Zola saying that, was completely wrong. I hate diving cunts just as much as the next true football fan, yes I know, Vieira did it, Pires a few times, Henry in the world cup, Eboue for about 3 seasons on the trot game after game, I'm not going to even try and say my team haven't done it. It has to be stamped out of football, FIFA and UEFA last season said they will ban players found guilty of diving, automatic 3 match bans or something, and they haven't. Dives should be straight reds, 5 game bans. Zola should not have said what he did, and I don't know why he did, and plus Di Michele should have buried that if he's ever to earn a new deal. Also, about what he said with Wogba the other night. Passionate? Bollocks!! That's another thing that shouldn't ever happen on a football pitch. Kick the cunts out of the champions league.
Does anyone think that either Di Michelle or Tristan are worth keeping? Or Carlton Cole? Or Freddie Sears? Or Dean (injury prone) Ashton?
Continually negativity, often associated with the manic depressed. If you're not depressed, you should be ashamed of your extremely rare approval rates. Honestly, you need to reconsider your style or you'll soon be consider a secret Yid, I already have suspicions as you clearly are incapable of defining 'support,' as in support your team!... So with this I await your inevitable "why hide behind anon..." or I might get the 'I agree so it'll seem as if I win' childish, pure childish. How you can hold an interest in posting blogs yet ignore your blatant ills is beyond me, and the extreme majority who happen to come across your current rubbish. Hurry up and meet you potential because right now, your nothing but a let down to your club and fellow SUPPORTERS.
Shame on your mother for giving birth to you.
Firstly, DDM did stumble over is own feet but once he knew he'd messed up the chance he elaborated on the fall and made it into a ridiculous looking dive. Anyone that was there or has watched it since can quite clearly see it was a dive. It was ebarassingly obvious.
Secondly, I've never commented on here before as I don't find the articles to my taste - they generally seem negative and vindictive towards something or someone. I'd much rather focus on the positives of supporting the club and the team (whoever they may be at the time).
That said, I really don't understand the level of irritation that this blogs generates with a lot of the faithful. If it bothers you that much then simply ignore it, like I have (until now).
Hammersfan - perhaps it's time to give it up as the blog seems to be destructive rather than constructive. If not, how about a bit of postive news or views every once in a while???
To the above, why not check out Noble for England, All Smiles at Upton Park, Owen & West Ham the Perfect Fit, West Ham , four expensive signings away from challenging the top 4, Stoke 0, West Ham 1, a thoroughly professional performance - Seems you only want to SEE the negative! Most of the negative stuff is actually about our rivals. Even this article is positive - about what West Ham stand for!
Are you mad Hammersfan? Posting an article that's titled 'Shame on Zola!' is not a positive way of supporting the club.
Fair enough, I can understand that you're trying to focus on maintaining the fair play ethics of our club but attacking the manager on a WH supporters blog is not the way to make a case. My six year old would even understand that concept is basically flawed.
Wake up and show some humility for once instead of being so defensive all the time! You might then get a bit more respect from your fellow fans.
yeah hammersfan, cos those articles aren't utter tripe either are they, why don't you stop being such a knob jockey and quit. you never know what you're talking about and you're no regular at upton park that's for sure. you're not a fan, and west ham fans don't want people like you commenting on our club, other fans will think we're all as clueless as you. give it up or become a norwegian referee.
MDP, go and support Chelsea, they don't mind their players taking a dive! I am Old Skool (oops!) and believe passionately that West Ham are different - we play the game the way it should be played.
Anyway, do you think the article is 100% serious? Do you think the statement about DDM being a clown is a genuine statement that I am looking for Zola to issue? That would be stupid wouldn't it?
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