Players came under Zola and players went under Zola, and look at the net effect! Collins scored a crucial goal for Villa on Sunday and would walk into our present team. Etherington helped knock us out of the Cup and will wear Stoke's colours at Wembley at the weekend. How we could do with him on the left of our midfield at the moment, taking on the full back and whipping in crosses. Neill is too old now but would have been useful last season. Neill, Faubert or Spector at right back? It may be Hobson's choice but I know who Hobson would opt for!
Let's go on. Bowyer scored again at the weekend and is a League Cup winner for Birmingham. His goal against us at St Andrews turned the tie and his goal at Blackburn may be vital in keeping Birmingham in the Prem. Wouldn't he be a better squad option than Boa or Kovac? If you spend more than 5 seconds puzzling out the answer to that one then you know sweet FA about football!
Bellamy? Replaced by Savio? And eventually by McCarthy? Not really worthy of discussion is it? But I accept that one was forced on Zola. My issue is that he didn't fight, he didn't complain, he didn't stand up to Duxbury, he didn't fight for the fans and the rest of the players in his squad. He accepted. And that act of betrayal and the selling of Collins destroyed the squad's self belief.
Davenport is another interesting one. Obviously we have to put to one side what happened with the stabbing but Davenport's fate at West Ham was sealed anyway. And why? Because he spoke out when dropped. Well Cole wouldn't have started a game since October on that basis would he? The petulance of Zola here was incredible, even to the point of being slow to express support for Downpipe as he lay in hospital in danger of losing a leg. The fact is, Davenport was unlucky to be dropped at the time - not that I ever rated him - and showed desire when he complained. Zola over reacted, dropped him and sent him out on loan.
Then there is the catalogue of in outs, in outs, shake them all abouts. Daprela, Diamanti, Di Michele, Tristan, Franco, Jimenez, Mido, Ilan, Lastpickever, Savio and Lopez. I accept that Nani is accountable more than Zola, but who was supposed to be manager? Why wasn't there more foot stamping?
McCarthy is absolutely down to Zola, a monument to the Follies of Zola. Sullivan didn't want to sign him but Zola pleaded. Yes Zola pleaded for McBenni. He didn't plead to keep Bellamy. He didn't plead to keep Collins. He didn't even bother to phone Lucas to try to persuade him to stay. He made it clear to Etherington and Bowyer that they didn't figure in his plans. He decimated a decent squad and we are where we are now because of 18 months of the Folies Zolaire!
9 comments:
As everyone and their dog said, Zola nice guy, shite at being a football manager, i know its a cliche but what west ham need is a home grown or ex player who loves the club as a manager, we are never going to attract a big name, so dicanio/brooking/dicks/bilic, sooner the better.No more follies.
I know he wasn't good enough for West Ham but I never liked the treatment Quashie got from Zola.
Why humiliate him by forcing him to train with the youths? Yes he was a bad buy but it wasn't Quashie's fault that Curbs wanted him. He would have been silly to turn down the move. Leave him out of the side fine but why humiliate him, at least he wanted to fight for a place in the side.
A well thought through and provocative piece. Largely I would say bang on the money. I would only take issue over Bellamy. It would have been pointless...it was very clear that he would rather sulk than play for us once man city came in. other than that the article starkly portrays a litany of poor decisions. I guess Zola would argue that he was in a financial hole and he did his best but Savio & Benni are in a class of their own when it comes to Folly. In fact its amazing we have stayed up as long as we have when you read in this article the roll call of the fat, the lame and the incapable that have made up our squad. Grant has his critics but I totally agree with leaving out Faubert, illunga, Kovac and others. I'll leave you with one last controversial thought...I actually think Boa can play...I admit he can't finish and passing can be variable but he is strong, committed and skilful...there I've said it...I don't expect too much support for that view by the way .
Very true Masty, I forgot Quashi - not difficult though!
LOL Lexicon, a guy called OSP reckons Boa is destined to have a stand named after him, after scoring the goal that keeps us up! He was fabulous in the cup game against the Mancs and if we went 4 in midfield, Boa would be my choice wide left with O'Neil on the right. THAT would have been the best formation at Bolton without question!
Sp we're doing crap despite there being hardly any of 'Zola's' players?
As I said on the other post, get over this fascination of Zola parting with all these players. You talk as if he done it of his own choice. That simply not true HF and you know it. The club was in financial shite after Curbishley. I criticise Zola for not fighting the stripping of the squad but he was in a difficult situation as a young manager in his first job. He had no power. In fact, go back to the time around our manager interview process and you will see that it is the whole reason they went for Zola because he would have been the only on to work under these conditions. Donadoni and Mancini were the other two mentioned if I can remember correctly.
Are you serious HF?
How about this:
Boa (Obinna)-Hitz-Parker-Collison (Dyer, ONeil if Collison unfit)
This situation needs effort players. Boa will give it 100%
The signing of Bennie and Mido were both down to Sullivan panic buys at the end of the January window last year. I'm not a Zola fan but this was not down to him directly. I agree he should of spoken up but it was clear from the off that the old witch and the double D's were after him.
Ilan and Mido down to Sullivan mate - they cost nothing! McBenni down to Clarke and Zola. Check back on internet history. Even Zola is quoted. Sullivan was washing his hands of McBenni even as he signed!
Why did we sell Diamanti for a loss? Nothing to do with Zola.
Zola did play him out of position however so we didn't get the best out of him.
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