The Dust Settles - All Quiet On The West Ham Front

It is the morning after the day before, the morning after another hammering. In the end, the score was probably "par for the course" with a net negative impact of three goals on our goal difference and three points predictably thrown in the skip. Ten points needed, according to Zola, from only 9 games now - but only the Lee Vitouts expected anything from yesterday's game anyway, so we move on.

Some are happy because we went 5 rounds before Chelsea repeatedly knocked us to the canvass. Those who understand the game, however, knew that the writing was on the judges' cards at half time, that Chelsea were well ahead on points half way through the contest and that, without a lot of luck and a fundamental change in strategy, we were going to come unstuck in the second half. Superficially, we were on level terms because of a freak haymaker punch, but, apart from that, we were never in the contest. At half time, I was able to predict exactly how Chelsea would score their second goal - and Lampard should have tucked away another from the same Malouda source - so I do not understand why Zola and Clarke were unable to see it coming and make the necessary adjustments to the way we were set up at half time.

Zola said the second goal "killed us", so why didn't he offer the team some protection to prevent it happening? Malouda had his "best ever game for Chelsea yesterday". Why? Because we let him! If it was Messi tearing us apart, fair enough. But it wasn't, it was Malouda. If it had been Ronaldo ripping us apart at Old Trafford, fair enough. But it wasn't, it was Valencia. If it had been Bruce Lee giving us a pummelling last week at Upton Park, fair enough. But it wasn't, it was Chow Mein Lee.

But I dealt with all that yesterday. What I want to explore today is the muddle that yesterday's team selection suggests. Why was Ilan preferred against Chelsea (out of position) but ignored for the Bolton game? Why was Franco selected in a must win game against Bolton but didn't even merit a place on the bench yesterday? Why was Cole left out in favour of Mido? Why was Zola unable to find a place for the Man of the Match in the Bolton game, Diamanti? And why was Daprela not considered good enough for Bolton but was asked to play against the might of Chelsea?

The Zola apologists might argue that the team selection was based on current form - that Tomkins, Cole and Franco deserved to be dropped after their performances against Bolton. Fair enough, but if the selection was based on current form, where was Diamanti yesterday and why were Franco and Spector selected against Bolton after having shockers at Old Trafford? And what does Stanislas have to do to get a start?Didn't he strike the bar against Bolton? Wouldn't he have been a more logical choice to play wide right (or left) in a 4-3-3 formation than Ilan? And what has Mido done to merit selection ahead of Cole? Has he scored? Has he even looked like scoring?

Okay then, Zola was resting key players for the more important games that lay ahead. If so, why was Parker playing yesterday? He is the engine of the team and is just one booking away from suspension. He gave the referee three opportunities to pull out the yellow and, with the deliberate hand ball on the half way line, was a very lucky boy not to collect his tenth yellow card of the season. And why was Diamanti sent on when the game was well and truly lost instead of giving Collison a run?

But the biggest evidence of muddled thinking is Daprela. The kid has played two games now - against Arsenal and Chelsea of all teams - and acquitted himself well. Most would say that, after Parker, he was probably our best player yesterday. So where was he last week against Bolton? After Spector had been torn apart at Old Trafford I warned that every manager would be looking to exploit this obvious Achilles Heel, so what did Zola do, he said to Lee, "Go on lad, have a field day in a relegation six pointer"!

I am sorry but Zola has, yet again, demonstrated that he is not up to the job. Cole must be wondering about him now, and Cole was his biggest fan. But what message did Zola give to Capello yesterday by leaving Cole out in favour of "How many kebabs can I buy for a grand?" Mido? Capello knows about Terry, Upson, Green and Lampard and clearly does not fancy Parker. He was there to see Cole and Cole was left out. So Zola may just have buggered Carlton's chances of making the plane to South Africa. Brilliant! And I know it is not Zola's job to help players get into the England team but it is his job to motivate the team and to manage the egos. Carlton is a confidence player and being dropped may have a devastating effect on him. If Capello now leaves him out, who would blame Carlton for holding Zola responsible?

This is one almighty mess. Burnley are going down because they have a crap team and a crap manager. Hull are fighting to survive with a crap team but a motivational manager. Bolton are virtually safe with an ordinary team and a very good manager. Wolves may survive with a crap team and a crap manager. Given we have the strongest team of those down at the bottom, how crap must Zola be for us to be so deep in trouble in these circumstances?

In Zola we trust? Try telling that to Diamanti and Cole this morning. Try telling that to Daprela's agent who must be wondering what Zola is trying to do to his kid by picking him against Arsenal and Chelsea in his first two games. Try telling it to Spector who has been hung out to dry for three consecutive games now. Try telling it to Parker who was reduced to running with the ball every time he received it in the second half because there was nobody to pass to. Try telling it to Green who had a ringside seat as Chelsea came in waves down our right flank in the first half then saw Zola leave things exactly as they were for the second half. Try telling it to Ilan who wasn't considered good enough to play in his correct position against Bolton, but was expected to play out of position against the might of Chelsea. And try telling it to Sullivan and Gold who have put their hardcore earned money where their mouths are!

The dust has settled on yesterday's performance. And I can hear, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" whilst Zola claims we were unlucky. The ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is pointing to a Premiership gravestone and on it are etched the words, "In Zola we trust"!