The one big feather in Zola's managerial cap was supposedly the way he transformed Cole from a useless tosser into an England striker. Look at what he's done with Cole, the Zola fans insisted, ignoring the fact that Cole was a regular under Curbishley because of Ashton's injury woes. Am I remembering wrong, or were Inter linked with Cole BEFORE Zola became manager?
How appropriate that, on the day Zola was sacked, Cole was left out of Capello's squad of 30. Heskey, Zamora (ruled out by injury) and Bent are all considered better options. Now, if you want to talk transformations, then look at what Bruce has done with Bent, who whilst at Tottenham was behind 'Arry's wife in the queue for the number 9 shirt, and what Woy has done with Zamora - shipped out by Turds because he saw Cole as the better option! How many goals have Zammo and Bent netted this season? Both make Cole's 10 seem rather pathetic.
But I'm not having a go at Cole here. I rate the guy and, prior to his injury, I thought he was a banker for a place in the World Cup. So what happened? Well Zola happened. With no shape to the team and nobody providing anything like decent service, Cole found himself feeding off scraps and playing whilst not fully fit into the bargain. Suddenly he looked lumbering. Suddenly he looked one paced. Suddenly it looked like every ball he received was a hand-grenade minus the pin. His confidence was dented and, like Zamora and Bent, Cole is a confidence player.
So what happened to Zola's legendary coaching skills then? It's a bit of a mystery really, although I suspect Freddie Sears might be able to help here. After all, Zola did a brilliant job coaching him didn't he?
Sadly, by staying loyal to West Ham, Cole has lost his place in the World Cup squad. Had he demanded a transfer in January, aka Bellyache, I suspect he would have made it onto the plane. How big a debt of gratitude does Carlton owe to Zola? It's a case of thanks for nothing I fear.
26 comments:
Can't blame Zola for this one. Cole isn't and never has been quite good enough for England. That goes for Heskey as well. How the hell has Carragher got back in? Remember how Hines took him apart, as will any nippy forward
I disagree on both Cole and Heskey but with regard to Carragher, wtf?
Never mind his ability, the guy is a traitor who walked out on his country and then refused to return for the Croatia game when we had an injury crisis. We exited the Euros because of McClaren's selection of a shite keeper and because Carragher's ego came before his nation's need. Fcuk him! I will hate it, really hate it, if he plays!
Is HF better than Julian Dicks?
"It's sad to see him go, most of the players and fans liked him,"
said Dicks
I agree with Dicks ; ) and Cole & Heskey are not England quality, though I think both do a job at club level they just haven't got the extra spark you need up front internationally.
Cadburys fucked it up himself. He had his chance but lost form when it mattered at the end of the season. Anyway Cadburys needs a knee op so he wouldnt have gone anyway to te world cup.
The fact that this is one of your predictions on super dooper Cole that has gone out of the window is neither here nor there. Cole is cack, always has been and always will be. That he was ever in an England shirt shows the dearth of quality in the England squad, more than ever than shows Coles ability as an England International.
Why cadburys how did he get that nickname????
HF,
Zola is gone, you should at least now show some class.
is it cause he's flakey?
It isn't a nickname, it is crude racism from somebody who loaths Cole because of his colour. Sadly, there are too many amongst our fan base who refuse to recognise the ability of Cole and Ilunga because of the colour of their skin. It remains a fact that Cole has scored at a rate of one goal every 2.5 games in the Prem this season, which given how poorly we have performed, is pretty impressive. For 12 months, from Christmas to Christmas, he was knocking them in at a goal every two games, a superb return that compares with all but the very, very best - the Rooneys qand Drogbas of this world. And, as good as they are, I bet they wouldn't score 20+ goals at the front of a midfield consisting of Kovac, Behrami, Noble and Parker!
To the question, am I better than Julian Dicks? He was a better footballer than me, unquestionably, but if it came to an intellectual competition, I would back myself to win!
Stani, if Zola had shown some class by resigning, fair enough. Even Brown read the writing on the wall! If Zola is the honourable man his supporters would have us believe, he would have quit. He has done a shit job, end of. His resignation should have been tendered, leaving it up to S&G whether or not they chose to accept it. He has been paid the best part of £2m for ballsing up already, now he is seeking compensation for unfair dismissal!
I hear he's very good at chess. You could have that intellectual competition with him. If it was a 'measure of the man' competition I think you'd lose. I'm sure you'd excel at arrogance and win the empty vessel race but probably fall down in humility and ability.
Possibly! He would beat me at chess, golf, head butting, breaking legs and blasting home goals - oh and bringing down Luton players needlessly in the penalty box in League Cup semifinals! Cottee is upset about the way Zola was treated too. He is a popular guy, everybody loves him! Look at the way every rival manager hugged him before kick off. They loved the man, they loved his tactics and they loved the three points he was handing them on a plate!
HF,
You have repeated this idea that the noble/right thing for Zola to do would have been to resign, but that is simply not something which is true. Which kind of man gives up HF? Exactly. Zola did not give up and leave us in it. You need to give him credit for that and not try and twist it into something which it quite clearly is not. Zola did not quit and leave us in trouble. He wanted to do the admirable thing and keep us up, which is what he did with 7 points from the last 3 home games. He could have easily walked nearer the end, around the time of that 3-day break when many fans were calling for him to. Had he done so, we would have been finished because the players, who were behind him, would have been demoralised. Dowie is proof it wouldn't have worked.
In addition to this argument, had Zola quit and walked away you would have still criticised him for doing just that, quitting and giving up. I just don't think Zola could ever get you to say something meaningfully nice about him. I'm not sure why you dislike nice guys...you'll have to start hating me soon then.
Why should he resign especially after the way he has been treated by Sullivan the chav? Are you kidding? He should take him to the cleaners and he does so with my blessing. We should stand up for what is morally correct HF, not for that which only suits us. The world would cease to go round if we all did that.
he porn baron didn't even have the decency to tell Zola he is being dismissed! This is the guy that owns our club! Are you not worried? I am.
And Brown went because he was dodgy. Zola was not dodgy. The guy has shown a lot of class and taught a lot of people a lesson in how to conduct themselves. By the number of Sullivan supporters, it is clear that this lesson has gone unheeded. Maybe that is the sign of the times; devils on podiums, angels on death row. But worry not, if they think Sullivan cares about them as customers...sorry, fans, then they're in for a shock.
In Sullivan we trust! (God help us)
HF...you hit the nail on the head in your criticism of the guy, AND bruised your own thumb in the process!
There is no doubting that Cole, by his own admission, has improved greatly under Zola...GZ was a world-class striker after all, with very few peers!...so his omission is nothing to do with Zola, and I'm sure Cole would be the first to attest to that!
It's already been mentioned that CC STILL has knee trouble and has been playing whilst under continuous rehabilitation for the problem. He may well need an op, and I'm sure Capello is aware of this. That said, he has named the injured Gareth Barry and Ledley King!
But I'm amazed at how Heskey is preferred to Cole! It smacks of nepotism on Capello's part! If you compare the two in the last 2 seasons, Heskey only has 7 goals for Villa in 56 appearances, and coincidentally that's about his meagre return for England...7 in 57! Cole has 22 goals in 64 games for West Ham under Zola over the same period! No comparison!
Cole is 26, while EH is 32...another clue as to his inclusion as it's definitely Heskey's last chance in a major tournament!
Carlton Cole's time will come again!!
....and do remember, you have previously criticised Zola for not resigning for Steve Clarke. Clarke is still there HF.
Stani, the honourable thing is to walk away from a job if you are not up to doing it, not cling on because you have a contract. The bankers had contracts, and look at the nation's anger when they walked away with huge payoffs despite taking the nation to the brink of financial meltdown. Zola has taken us to the brink of oblivion by nearly, so nearly, getting us relegated.
7 points from the last 3 games you say? A lucky win over a Sunderland team that had won one away game all season (as bad as us), a scrappy victory over a Wigan team that were safe and nearly lost at home to Hull next match and then went down 8-0 away to Chelsea and a draw against A Man City team that couldn't give a toss. We stayed up because of Hull, Burnely and Pompey, not because of our pathetic efforts, as you well know!
[url]http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052010/58/premier-league-sacked-zola-hits-west-ham-owners.html[/url]
More popular that you mate - not a bad word against him - you were in a minority of one! CNTU!
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052010/58/premier-league-sacked-zola-hits-west-ham-owners.html
More popular that you mate - not a bad word against him - you were in a minority of one! CNTU!
22:40 you are an ignoramus sir! the question is "is HF better than Julian Dicks?" - this is after all supposed to be footballing blog, so use your "intellect" and work out that this is a footballing question - so we'll try again do you know more about football than Julian Dicks - who's specialist subject is West Ham United.
He said "It's sad to see him go, most of the players and fans liked him,"
You say different - I for one know who knows more, and a clue is..... it's not YOU!
Do you? How long has Dicks been a manager? What are his qualifications? What is his record of success? I have been a manager for nearly 30 years and have professional qualifications. In my industry, my record stands comparison with the best. Unlike Dicks, I am a life long West Ham fan and, unlike Dicks, I have watched almost every minute of the team's performances both this season and last. Just because Dicks wore the shirt does not make him an expert. Tell me, where did Grays Finish this season? I'll tell you, 23rd out of 23 in the Blue Square! No wonder Dicks thought Zola should stay in a job - finishing 4th from bottom is an incredible achievement when set alongside being rock bottom!
Saying our many of our fans don't rate Cole and Ilunga due to colour is a crock of shit, you've been a mini season ticket holder for a matter of months and have the cheek to act as if you know the score.
You don't know jack son, so for once stop painting all the lads, be it playing staff, gaffas or fans in dreary shit trodden light you grumpy old twatstick.
No no no HF, he wasn't clinging on to his contract and you know that. He is a man of honour and principle, he stayed to complete his task.
Saying he was not "up to doing it" is just your opinion.
As for the bankers; you are comparing those disgraceful human beings to Zola? Your not doing your argument any favours there or with your poor reasons for why we earned 7 points from our last 3 home games. Where did Sunderland finish? Where did City finish? And we got a win and draw respectively.
so you know more than Julian? hahahaha I think not! muppet!
What is Sunderland's away record? Hoew many first teamers were missing from the Man City team? Disengenuous Stani and you know it. Who says Zola wasn't up to the job? His record! The worst win ratio of ANY West Ham manager EVER!
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