Some people are still arguing Zola's corner but look at what he had to say after today's disgraceful defeat.
"I think nobody would have said anything if we would have got a point today," the Italian told Sky Sports. I would. I would have asked why we weren't able to beat a team in the bottom three who had recently lost their manager and who, prior to meeting ourselves, couldn't see where their next victory was coming from.
He continued: "I'm disappointed about the way we started, the first 20 minutes, other than that I was pleased and in the end, as I said, we could have got more that that. We should have been prepared better for them coming that way." So Zola was pleased with everything other than the first 20 minutes? He was pleased that we didn't show any fight until we were two goals down was he? He was pleased with a complete lack of penetration down the left was he? He was pleased at a yawning chasm between our front 2 and our midfield was he? He was pleased at the way Collison conceded a stupid free kick leading to the second goal was he? He was pleased that Stanislas cut inside every time because he cannot cross off his left foot was he? And pray tell me, why weren't we "better prepared for them coming that way"? Erm, whose job is it to pick and prepare the team?
I love his comment about Ilan. Apparently he "looks alive". Well that's promising but it doesn't say much about Mido and McCarthy if that is what distinguishes the Brazilian! Birmingham come to Upton Park on Wednesday. Who would bet against Bowyer scoring the winning goal?
I'm sick to death of Zola papering over the cracks. This is what he should have said:
"We got what we deserved. For the first 20 minutes we hardly touched the ball. We made Burnley look like Barcelona during that opening spell but conceded a goal that Macclesfield could have fashioned on the training field - a simple long ball that our England centre back and England keeper could not deal with between them. We had no penetration down the left because we didn't have a left footer in the team and the whole midfield looked devoid of ideas. As a result, there was no link from midfield to the two strikers. If you look at the two teams, we are far stronger on paper so there have to be questions asked about the players' attitudes and about the way we set up tactically. I take full blame for the tactical errors. I accept that I have been making the same mistakes all season and apologise to the fans for my pig headed stupidity."
48 comments:
be ready you mugs
OOOOHHH Jasper Carrot & his mates are coming to get us
I think you are talking absolute rubbish. The first 20 mins we were not that good, But after that it was a very good game AND if 2 of the goals that hit the post and a couple of other good chances had gone in not forgetting the disallowed goal YOU would have had nothing to comment on WOULD YOU.I am really begining to dislike some supposedly West Ham fans. Their negativity and stupid opinions make me wonder why they don't support one of the BIGGER teams then maybe they would be happy. Everyone knows in the mendia that we out played them. SO where were you sitting and in what stand. SORRY i usually laugh at you contribution but this one has made me cross. Go Support Chelsea.
This is gonna sound like im a stalker or something but again i agree with hammersfan, i think its very worrying at the moment and especially the fact that the davids have vowed to stand by there man. I think the football we play is uite attactive but there are too many flaws.
We really lack falir big time, thats ok if we arent going to fashion too many chances on the condition we dont go and be pathertic at the back. I think there are a few that have to be questioned in terms of wether they should be in the side at all.(if it was up to me i would have a totally different back line but thats another matter altogther. I do think right footers on left and left footers on right works, just, in a 4-5-1 and having full backs flying up (Ilunga and Faubert adding width) But in a 4-4-2 it just doesnt work, even as a diamond 4-1-2-1-2 it doesnt work really unless the left back and right back bomb on. At the moment tactically Zola is in really looking nieve and doesnt have a plan b.
AppyAmmer
2100, the offside was obviously offside, the one that hit the bar was a bit of a fluke and Mido didn't catch it right when he hit the post did he? The point is, all those fell in the last 20 minutes AFTER we were 2-0 down and AFTER Zola had changed his personnel / formation. So what does that tell us about his original tactics? Why did we wait to go 2 goals down before we started to play?
You are an absolute tnuc and have no clue about football whatsoever. I'm looking forward to you deleting this comment because then I know you've read it and appreciate how much a true West Ham 'supporter' who actually 'supports' his team (holds them in regard no matter what) hates you and the malicious ideas you are spreading. Sayonara to you and your clueless posts you ignorant motherlover! x
Apologies for having to edit your post slightly IronsMan; 8 year olds read this blog apparently!
IronsMan, I know that to win games, you have to score more than the opposition. I also know that burnley were second bottom this moring but now we are. I didn't engineer today's result, Zola did. Take your anger out on him; he deserves it!
Fair enough, I might be eight but I still understand the game better than you ever will and don't succumb to criticising the club I love to bits at the slightest hint of failure! Apologies for the language but people like you without a clue or true appreciation for football drive me crazy.
OK mate, I understand the passion, I was told off in a bar recently as my anger found expression in a few choice words as I watched Green flapping at crosses. It hurts! The difference is, you see support as backing the players and manager no matter what. I think that's what got us relegated under Roeder.
What's the big deal,west spam are a yo yo club anyway,when you go down you can even win some games again look at Newcastle,go up by the playoffs and have an open top bus again:-)All good me says, kevtheyid
Bobby no more:-)
We have got 2 points from the last 3 games. Any half-decent side could have got 9! We draw with Pompey - Man U hit them for 5. We draw with Blackburn at home, they get gubbed 3-0 at Stoke, and then today - a kick and rush championship team who collectively earn less than Kieron Dyer were in control from the 1st minute until the 80th! There is no defending that!!
going down get use to it,new manager required now to stop the drop.bring in hughes sully before its to late,this team is totally disjointed.
Referring to 21.25 "the offside was obviously offside". The offside wasn't obvious it was questionable, match of the day made it seem obvious by the angle.
Anyway unlike you I was really encouraged by the performance today, we deserved the win, and if we keep playing like that we will.
LOL Of course the offside was obvious! Cole was on the goal line and stepped backwards to get to the ball. It was the most obvious offside I have ever seen! I didn't even cheer as it put it in because I knew it would be struck off!
look i know how you all feel. im gutted that we lost 2day and have gone in the bottom 3 but if we can win on wednesday against birmingham things will be looking better again. lets get right behind the players on wednesday and make sure we get the win we badly need. we are all in this together. dont give up. theirs still 14 games to go with 8 at home against teams with got a good chance of beating lets make upton park a fortress. with done it before so lets do it again and keep this fantastic club where it belongs. come on we know we can make the difference. lets give it how best shot starting this wednesday. west ham 4ever.
C'MON YOU IRONS!!!
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high,
Nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams,
They fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding,
I've looked everywhere,
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
Wst Ham for Ever!
HF, you're comments are spot on. Zola really doesn't have a clue, why oh why do we keep in? Just listening to him makes me angry. I only hope he gets the boot monday morning!
I really enjoy reading this blog! The response from some of us Hammers cracks me up. Well done the writers of this blog, in life you always need different views and this blog gives that in spades. I watched the game live and felt very depressed the whole game, why can't Zola get them team "up for it" motivation is the most basic skill any manager needs in any walk of life. Only Cole, Parker and Faubert deserve any credit in this performance and i actually feel sorry for them. Noble's passing was some of the worst i've seen in a claret and blue shirt for some time. Mr Zola please tell me: Where is the passion?.Where are your tactics? Why do you leave an attacking Swiss under 21 left back out of the team and play players who are completely out of position? I really like you Mr Zola but i am getting a bit sick of your non stop smilling attitude and poor tactical awareness,please grow some bolloxs and get this team of over paid players back on track for F@ck sake, or the Championship awaits. COYI
We had until 20Feb to sort ourselves out. Simply because they were the 'easy' games, the very winnable games and we have pretty much blown that against nearly all the teams around us.
As of 20 Feb we play the likes of Man U (away), Chelsea (away), Everton (away), Liverpool (away) and Arsenal (away) do ANY OF YOU see us getting even a point out of those games?
We are in serious trouble now....
Hammersfan said...
LOL Of course the offside was obvious! Cole was on the goal line and stepped backwards to get to the ball. It was the most obvious offside I have ever seen! I didn't even cheer as it put it in because I knew it would be struck off!
7 February 2010 00:23
YOU CLOWN IT WAS PARKER THAT WAS OFFSIDE other than that it would have been a goal, and you know football, yeah right
We all have to remember guys there is a game on Wednesday! You all know West Ham can't manage two games in seven days, they had to take it easy Saturday so that they can give us half a performance midweek.
Its not Zola's fault, he had never been a manager before he came to the Hammer's. He admits he is learning all the time. No the fault is on the head of the idiot who employed a rookie manager to run a premiership football club. I like Zola but no matter how hard he tries, and he does try, he just has not got the tactical experience for the job, and Clarke does not seem to be able to help him with this problem either. If we drop a division I still don't think Zola would be able to get us back up again, so sadly I can't see the seven year plan including Franco
HF Talk like that in my local and you'd get a little bit more than just a telling off
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Let's show him how we think he's getting on -
Is it time for Zola to go?
Did we really look awful yesterday?
or did we have lots possession, hit the post and hit the bar, had one amazilingly cleared off the line, a disallowed offside goal and forced their keeper into making some fine saves?
Vote for HammersFan and your glass will depressingly always be half empty.
COYI
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Parker may well have been offside too, compounding the simplicity of the decision, but had he beed onside, Cole was certainly off. I was hoping the ball might cross the line without him touching it, as soon as he did so, I knew the goal would be disallowed. Maybe he was inactive when Parker was off, he became active as soon as he touched it!
As for the poll, you are an A1 plonker. As I've said, I've multiple voted, supporting the view that Hammersfan is a negative wally and is not a West Ham fan. If I can do that, how can the poll have any credibility? Grow up!
upton park has been like a grave yard this season. lets turn up the noise and make upton park intimidating 4 the last 8 home games and get behind the players. win on wednesday and we are back out of the bottom 3 and we have a better team then the likes of hull.burnley.portsmouth.bolton.wigan.and wolves and im confidant we wil get more points then them in the last 14 games. west ham 4ever.
So you went to the pub to watch the Hammers, so the nut house has started giving you pass outs? Next you will be telling us that you actually went to a game, now wouldn't that make a change. By the way your mate Nick is on a visit to Barking this afternoon.
Yes, we can all be disappointed with the result yesterday. Only 2 points from the last 4 games when we should have targeted 9. Looking at the various articles today, at least Zola still remains positive. The article above really is all doom and gloom and does nothing to help us feel any better.. Confidence can be the difference between winning and losing games and it would be much better to look for the positives.
Ok, with the home support behind them, Burnley started well. No doubt the pre- match instructions were to weather the initial storm. The reason we didn’t was due to a defensive error, and even then Nugent’s finish was excellent.
The midfield was out of sorts until the substitutions, but this was the same “diamond” that served as well last year. The two strikers were left isolated for much of the first half and we were being exposed down the left flank.
Their second goal was a well taken free kick, and when Stanislas hit the bar from a similar position it just wasn’t going to be our day.
Despite all this. the stats show we had 11 shots on target against Burnley’s 4. The figures for shots off target are similar. These include a brilliant block on the line after McCarthy had rounded the keeper, shots against the bar and post, the offside goal, some good saves etc. Not bad for the away team.
How do we get it right for the next 2 games.
Illunga was on the bench yesterday and if fit his presence as an attacking left back will make a difference. Diamanti (if fit) or Stanislas should play in front of him.
Faubert has done well lately and is probably our best option on the right side of midfield. Spector could then move to right back.
Parker is our best player and should be given the free central role. To get the balance right Kovac is the most natural in the holding role. Collison, Noble and Behrami miss out, but none of them did enough yesterday to keep their places. Based on yesterday Mido might be marginally preferred to start with Cole up front, and there will be plenty of options on the bench..
It is still very tight at the bottom. 6 points from our next 2 games can make things look much better. Chin up HF. If we win our remaining home games we will say up. Your support is needed.
1431, optimism is great but you don't stay up by thinking positively. We have won one game in the last 11 (against Portsmouth!) and have just 4 wins all season. Yes IF we win the next two, things will look better but we have to win them first. We needed at least 5 points from the last 3 games, we got 2! And remember, it is Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea away very soon!
By the way, I would start Ilan - he looks a natural finisher who could play off the shoulder of Cole.
"looks like a natural finisher"? hahaha wow! you're so insightful - I reckon we should replace Zola with you - you're a prize plonker of the highest order
"As I've said, I've multiple voted, supporting the view that Hammersfan is a negative wally and is not a West Ham fan"
Why would you vote against yourself? anyway rest assured the SurveyMonkey website doesn't allow multiple votes from the same IP
and I have to say the voting is looking pretty dire for you at the moment.... anyway for those who haven't voted - here's those important links again
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14:52 Positive thoughts might not win games but negatives help to lose them!
Up front I thought Mido looked a handful when he came on. If he is in the mood then he is the sort you need on the battle field. Ilan also looked promising and has good positional awareness so it is a tough call. McCarthy might be a bit of a luxury when "all hands to the pump" are needed.
LOL Oh yes it does allow multiple votes from the same IP! Why did I vote against myself? To show how absurd your poll is! I've voted that I'm not a West Ham fan even though I've supported the club for 43 years! It's like the boys in Lord of the Flies voting on whether or not there is a Beast. A vote either way doesn't alter thhe facts! If you want to platform a vote via here, why not ask if readers think Zola should be sacked. I will carry the result, albeit it can't be trusted because of the multiple vote flaw. And how do we know you will declare the true result exactly?
LOL Oh yes it does allow multiple votes from the same IP! Why did I vote against myself? To show how absurd your poll is! I've voted that I'm not a West Ham fan even though I've supported the club for 43 years! It's like the boys in Lord of the Flies voting on whether or not there is a Beast. A vote either way doesn't alter thhe facts! If you want to platform a vote via here, why not ask if readers think Zola should be sacked. I will carry the result, albeit it can't be trusted because of the multiple vote flaw. And how do we know you will declare the true result exactly?
can confirm you can multiple vote ive done it
HF, why so many anon post (including mine)?
Have to say I like you posts as they always bring a smile to my face.
I went to the game yesterday. I think we were shocking. Mido we turn out to be a steal. Upson should be dropped and we should have sold him last month.
Can't see how we will stay up.
1856, If you type in a name after selecting the name URL button, you can post as a person! Thanks for your support. Did you travel up from London?
HF
I traveled down from Maidenhead to Essex on Friday night, Saturday Essex to burnley via Liverpool street and brick lane on the way back
Bloody hell. I hope the curry was better than our performance!
HF
no curry. Salt beef bagels
and it was better then the football. Would do a 9 hour return trip fro a salt beef bagel over west ham any day.
Salt beef bagel? Sounds dreadful! Is that Asian food or traditional Jewish nosh?
Jewish food
ive voted 29 times lets screw the unct
You don't know what a Salt beef bagel is??????????? are you sure?????? - well one thing is for sure - you're not a cockney - because if you were, you'd know the bagel bakery in Brick Lane - open 24hrs a day 365 days a year..... and often packed after a home game!
I'm a pie and chips or fish and chips man when I go to a game.
It's in the East End, Brick Lane FFS - it's been there since forever and it is an institution......
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