Good on GianFredo. He had the opportunity to criticise Gold and Sullivan and gloat about our subsequent relegation under Avram Grant, but he resisted, confessing that he lacked the experience necessary and therefore that the decision to remove him was right.
Of course, some West Ham fans will still argue that Zola could have gained that experience whilst still managing the club - and let's face it, he couldn't have done worse than finish bottom in the following season aka Grant. Meanwhile, Stevie Bibs and Cones has done pretty well in his first season at West Brom, adding fuel to the fire stoked by those opposed to the pair's sacking.
The trouble is, we deserved to go down the season before under Zola and Clarke. Our points total that season was a pathetic 35, just two more than Grant's team achieved, and the lowest points total any team has stayed up with in the Prem. Zola and Clarke inherited a top half of the table team and in two seasons turned that team into a shambles.
And that must be a concern for Watford and West Brom fans. Will the pair suffer second season syndrome next year? Some managers - like Pardew it seems - are great when the wind is in a team's sails, but they are found wanting when conditions turn against them.
Zola thinks he is a better manager because of his sabbatical, but it may well be that the lend lease strategy employed by the Pozzos has simply given him a much better hand than has been dealt to any other manager in the division; in which case, third place may actually be an underachievement.
Should Udinese Calcio win the Play Off final, nobody will judge Zola too harshly if the Calabroni come straight back down, but should Holloway's charges triumph, the lovable Italian will be under huge pressure next year and it will be interesting then to see how he copes.
12 comments:
Spot on Hammersfan, couldn't agree with you more regarding your post!
Your truly going to be bored this summer, no football for couple months, no more teams you can 'Troll', writing absolute rubbish about various teams…
…it's the cricket season, wonder if you can talk BS about the Ashes.
If they go up they'll do more than just stay up, it's Giampolo Pozzo that owns them not some Chicken Farmer, Oil Merchant or a Betting Syndicate.
Little Udinese are Euro qualifiers again I see, while Roma, Lazio and Inter all miss out. And tiny club Granada still playing in La Liga.
You think Granada would even beat league 1 sides here 16.24 ?
Quality wise Granada would piss over most Championship clubs let alone league one. Perhaps not on a wet November night in Yorkshire with a crap lower league ref. but on their patch certainly.
When a then mid table Zaragosa played at the Vic in a preseason a few years back they were clearly the better side in a tight game. Watford had Ashley Young in that team and went on to win promotion.
Don't believe all the hype about British football being best ... it's rubbish.
16:23 you sir are a real card.......
Eeerrrrr, How can West Brom suffer second season syndrome when next year will be their 4th season in the prem? Doh!
how about an article on the stats of over 30 yard passes percentage? nice style of football to watch you cock.
1939, are you always this stupid? It's not Watford's second season either is it? I'm talking about the managers. Doh!
Back to the argument. I understand you saying with Pozzo's resources we might have done as well with a different 'team coach' but to have us sorted and running on all cylinders by November was a huge feat. Like any other manager/coach/team trainer he's got it wrong occasionally (I associate this mostly with him trying to over integrate the Watford players as part of his rotation strategy) but overall he's done well and I can honestly say that Watford have been the better side in virtually all fixtures since October, including the few losses. As crazy as this season has been it is the bottom feeders that have coped with us the best.
The West Ham job was simply too big an ask for Zola or anyone to start a managerial career so if you really want a scapegoat try blaming the owners that appointed him (and badly undermined him too).
100% right HF. Not only that, I was hoping Watford would not be promoted. Everything around that club at the moment stinks. Some very dodgy stuff going on there and I think it might come back to bite them on the arse.
00.13 totally agree, the Icelandic that employed Zola in the first place were to blame! But Zola has underachieved with a squad that had alot more resources than others. Next season will be tough, transfer embargo and no manipulating the league with so many loans. Time will tell.
Neville you've been a naughty boy , you're not the messiah
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