What WAS Carlton Cole Thinking Of?

I have zero tolerance towards drink driving, and it’s not just because I don’t drink myself. For Carlton Cole to be found over the limit at 4.30am, driving through Westminster is a disgrace, and he needs to be made an example of, both by the courts and by his new manager. Zola will be horrified and see it as a personal insult. Cole is an athlete and should behave like one.

More HERE.

Olympic Stadium Talks Back On

BBC Sports Editor reveals that West Ham are about to enter preliminary discussions about taking over the Olympic Stadium in 2012. Earlier talks between the club and Ken Livingstone, when he was, had foundered despite the club offering £100 million to take it over. That, apparently, wasn’t enough for Red Ken. The other stumbling block was the plan to scale back its capacity to 25,000. The new idea is to have a 50,000 capacity.

Anyway, read the full article HERE and leave a comment with your views. I have an open mind. I love Upton Park, but I do think if we have ambitions to enter the big time we need a bigger capacity for the big games.

Martin Samuel: Hero to Hammers Everywhere

THIS article by Martin Samuel in The Times today is one of the finest pieces of sports journalism I have read in a long while. It single handedly demolishes the kangaroo court which found us guilty yesterday.

The Watford Aftermath

Not really a great day for the Hammers, yesterday, was it? And when you think I had to drive to Watford from Manchester listening to Gordon Brown most of the way down the M6, you’ll realise why I was in a pretty foul mood by the time I left Vicarage Road. Best not to blog, I thought.

On the face it, we put out a reasonably strong team last night, even if we were without three of our first choice strikers. And it was really the non performance of Di Michele and Freddie Sears that meant we never looked likely to score. They were both a huge disappointment, Sears in particular. It is difficult to remember either of them getting anywhere near an on target shot on goal.

I was very impressed by our new goalkeeper. Well, I was until he flapped at the cross which Mullins then steered into the net. The back line was also very shaky against a very nimble Watford attack force. Neill looked good for half an hour and then went to pieces. Evem Upson had some dodgy moments. Walter Lopez, however, was everywhere and I would make him man of the match – if indeed, you could justify having a man of the match. He’s not a particularly tough tackler, and he started off quite nervously, but as the game wore on he got better, although I think it was his handball that led to the cross which led to their goal.

Boa Morte as as useless as ever, although he did actually manage a shot on target. Which was nice.

The highlight of the evening was the Watford directors’ box seats, which were so padded, there was little room left for legroom. Actually the real highlight of the evening was having dinner before the match with Ray Clemence. Naturally I spent the whole meal pushing the case for Robert Green. Unfortunately Clemence was at the West Brom game, where it seems Mr Green had a bit of a nightmare.

Also in the director’s box was one Terry Brown. He sat with Duxbury, Mike Lee etc at the pre match meal and to all intents and purposes looked as if he was still part of the club. It was a bit weird really. I was going to talk to him, but in the end decided discretion was the better part of valour.

However, I did have a chat with a couple of other people and I think you can rest assured they are not taking the Sheffield United thing lying down. I won’t betray private conversations but the language used was fairly robust.

The Nightmare Begins

So, the nightmare is coming true. It looks as if we will be fined £30 million over the Sheffield United/Tevez saga. It’s difficult to take in the implications of this. Will the fine have to be paid in one go? Has it been properly budgeted for? Has the lack of transfer activity this year been entirely due to money being put aside, just in case? Certainly, we seem to have had a net balance of about £11 million over the summer.

I’m slightly in shock over this so haven’t quite got into rant and rave mode yet. But give me time.

I’m now about to head down to Watford. I say, down, as I am driving down from Manchester where I have been spending a day at the Labour Party Conference. For the first time in my life I will be sitting in the director’s box (note to self: change out of usual jeans) courtesy of the lead investor in my company, who just happens to own 42% of Watford. Not quite sure of directors’ box etiquette if we score though…

Spurs Go Top

Bring Back Jeremy Nicholas!

The only negative from today’s game was yet again the awfulness of the pre match announcer. Can you believe that he actually forgot to welcome Gianfranco Zola to the club and allow us to applaud our new hero? Unbelievably crass.

And he keeps playing Bubbles at completely the wrong time. There is an art to whipping up an Upton Park crowd, and this guy, who ever he is, hasn’t got a clue. Jeremy Nicholas lives and breathes West Ham. he is one of us. And he’s an entertainer who can feel the pulse of the crowd.

Bring him back!

Parker Shines as West Ham Rediscover Flair

Well he didn’t disappoint, did he? Ninety minutes of absolutely pulsating football, a game brimming over with excitement, three great goals, a team performance to savour, two players putting in their best ever performances for the club, a formation which was almost unfathomable, and a position where Lucas Neill looks comfortable. What more could a humble fan ask for?

The first thirty minutes was the best opening half an hour I can remember from a West Ham team. The tempo and fluidity of passing was astonishing. The tackling was first class and Newcastle looked as if they had wondered why they had bothered to turn up. Indeed, there was no period in the game when we really weakened. Although Newcastle found their feet a little more in the second half, especially after the Owen goal, we still didn’t really ever look as if we were under the cosh. And that was due in large part to the efforts of four players in particular – Scott Parker, Julien Faubert, Matt Etherington and Valon Behrami.

Parker was absolutley awesome today. He, Noble and Behrami controlled midfield. I had assumed Behrami would play on the wide right, but he had clearly been told to tuck in next to Parker, so we had a central midfield threesome which dominated the opposition. Faubert was immense at right back and looked completely at home, but as the game went on he got more space and bombed forward. He put in several very dangerous crosses and his tackling was hard.

Behrami got better as the game went on. He is slightly ungainly and awkward, yet his tenacity in chasing the ball often reaped great rewards. The watching Fabio Capello (who seems to have taken up residence at Upton Park) can only have been impressed by Parker. But I suspect he was also making copious notes about Matthew Etherington and Carlton Cole. Etherington was all over the place. For a lot of the game he drifted into the centre leaving the effervescent Di Michele wide left. I lost count of the times Matty ran at their defence and caused havoc. His goal was his just reward for one of his best games.

Carlton Cole also had his best ever game for the Hammers. He didn’t get a goal, but his efforts were worth one. His control was better and his running with the ball had Newcastle reeling on several occasions. He combined well with Di Michele too.

Di Michele. Well, where to start? He’s like a terrier which never gives up. There’s also a touch of the Di Canios about him. He controls the ball well and tackles as if his life depends on it. He took both his goals superbly and made the third for Etherington. What a debut, yet I still wouldn’t give him Man of the Match. That goes to Scott Parker.

I also like the look of Ilunga. He’s a tremendous athlete and very quick for a big guy. His passing was a little astray at times, but he’s better at going forward than McCartney was, and seems solid defensively too. Looks like a good buy.

Anyway, here are the scores on the doors…

Green 7
Neill 7
Upson 7
Ilunga 8
Faubert 9
Parker 9
Noble 7
Etherington 9
Behrami 8
Cole 9
Di Michele 9

Zola can be justifiably proud of himself. I cannot coneive of a performance like this under Alan Curbishley. On the evidence of his first game, Zola has put the flair back into West Ham. We can look forward with confidence, I think.

I’m So Excited

And I just can’t hide it… No doubt I shall be let down by one of the most boring West Ham performances in living memory, but who cares? I’m looking forward to hearing new Zola related chants, attacking play, lots of goals and an animated manager.

With no Ashton and no Bellamy I’d have thought the front two pick themselves. The more interesting dilemma for Zola is what to do about our right side. As I said a few days ago, I would play Neill in the centre, although it would be unfair on Davenport to drop him. Faubert at right back and Behrami on the right wing will be an interesting experiment. Will he play Boa Morte or Etherington? I imagine Boa Morte will get the nod. For once, I won’t mind, because I think it might just be the spur that he needs to show us what he can do. In fact, I’m going to predict that he will score today.

Roll on 3 o’clock.

Here We Go Again

So Dean Ashton is out for a month and Craig Bellamy has a groin and a hamstring injury. Unbelievable. So we now only have two fit strikers in Carlton Cole and Freddie Sears. Not exactly a strike force to frighten most Premiership defences, is it? It wouldn’t surprise me if Zola started with Boa Morte up front tomorrow, alongside Cole. Indeed, it may not be such a bad idea. Boa Morte may have a point to prove. No, let’s reword that. He DOES have a point to prove.

I’ve also read that Zola intends to play Lucas Neill alongside Upson in central defence. I think that is a good move. He wants Faubert at right back with Behrami on the wing. Again, I think that’s worth a try.

Can’t wait for 3pm tomorrow!

UPDATE: I have egg dripping from my face, having forgotten that we have a certain David di Michele to choose from too. I’ll just get my coat.

Get Your Bids In

The New West Ham Chant

Sing loud, song clear…

From Stamford Bridge to Upton Park .. We’ve nicked your Zola and your Clarke …

Welcome Steve Clarke

Sorry for the radio silence over the last forty eight hours. Have been at the LibDem conference and the hotel couldn’t get the internet connection to work. The things a boy has to do…

Anyway, the new team is now confirmed with Steve Clarke’s arrival from Chelsea. I am delighted Kevin Keen will be staying. I am looking forward to Saturday more than I have looked forward to a game for ages. On the face of it, it’s a great time to be playing Newcastle – unless of course they re-appoint Keegan before then, but that looks unlikely.

I haven’t seen any of the highlights from the West Ham game, but from what I have heard Di Michele looked very lively and Ilunga had a solid debut at left back. It’s also said (whisper it) that Boa Morte didn’t do too badly. But all that apart, it is a game we should never have lost. Careless play costs points.

I suspect Zola will not have been very impressed by the defending. Upson in particular, I gather, had a shocker. Although having said that, what does Zola know about defending? 🙂

West Brom Preview

It certainly looks like Steve Clarke is on his way to Upton Park, doesn’t it? I suspect we all take some enjoyment out of the fact that the traffic is from Stramford Bridge to us, rather than the other way around for a change.

Today’s game at West Bronwich Albion has taken on a new significance. We have had some good results there in the recent past, if my memory serves me correctly. I hope Bellamy and Ashton can make a rare start together. Will Di Michele get a start in place of Mark Noble? I suspect not, and he will start on the bench with Mullins or Behrami coming in to central midfield. The other quandary for Kevin Keen is whether Walter Lopez is ready for a debut at left back. If so, does Lucas Neill revert to right back or replace Calum Davenport in the centre, which is certainly the place I would like to see him occupy in the back four.

The good news is that James Tomkins is fit again, and will no doubt figure on the bench. Persoanlly, I would play him ahead of Neill or Davenport, but maybe it is best to ease him in from the bench.

We have a run of games now against some of the lower sides. We need to get a good haul of points over the next six weeks. If we do, who knows what might happen?!

The best of luck to Kevin Keen.

Hard Times Ahead for West Ham Sponsors

Looks like XL are in for a hard time. I am not quite sure of the financial implications of this for our chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. Perhaps greater financial minds than me might enlighten us.

Live Chat From 8.30pm

Live Chat is now active (from 8.20pm)

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It’s Official: Zola Is New Manager

Although there’s nothing on the club website yet, Sky Sports News has just broken the news that Gianfranco Zola has indeed been confirmed as our new manager. I’m about to go on Setanta News to greet the appointment!

I cannot understand all this rubbish from some people about not wanting him because he played for Chelsea. Get a grip. So did Ron Greenwood.

So, use the comments to outline the hopes you have for the new regime. I hope you’re all as positive and excited as me!

And the Number Two Is…

I must admit I am getting quite excited by the prospect of Signor Zola. I just have this slight worry that Dennis Wise might manage to poach him at the last minute. let’s hope we get a confirming announcement sooner rather than later.

If Zola does come, the question of his Number Two will be crucial. The top three candidates are Casiraghi, Steve Clarke and possibly Paolo di Canio. The choice should be Zola’s but I don’t mind admitting that I woukd love it if he picked di Canio. I suspect he won’t though. I also hope he keeps Kevin Keen involved in some way. It may be a new broom, but there should still be a degree of continuity.

The New Manager: Where Are We Now?

OK, I’ll put my cards on the table. I’d like to see Trevor Brooking as manager with Paolo di Canio as his assistant. Ian Rush was on Sky this morning extolling PDC’s coaching abilitiy, which he has seen at first hamnd as they are both playing in the Charity Match tonight at Wembley (6pm ITV).

However, it ain’t gonna happen. The Sunday papers are full of stories about where things are, with many conflicting accounts. The most accurate article so far is ont he Fifa.com website which quotes Mike Lee, a Director at Upton Park, in an interview with 5 Live.

“There’s no favourite at the moment, we have set up a proper selection process. We have been surprised and pleased by the number of applications we have had and we are moving towards a short shortlist, and will ideally have a manager in place in time for the West Brom match next week. Slaven Bilic could potentially be on that shortlist but it depends very much upon his availability. If for whatever reason he was not available until January in terms of working with us, I’m afraid that will rule him out. We have a very strong shortlist and it’s going to be a tough decision with some exciting candidates. From the meetings that have taken place so far the two that have really shone have been Donadoni and Zola.”

Let’s assume this is the real shortlist – Bilic, Donadoni, Zola, Collins, Laudrup. Personally, I would go for Zola with PDC as his nmber two. The two of them were good friends in London and PDC would provide the man motivation skills which Curbishley and Day seemed to lack. However, Bilic is clearly the number one choice. I suspect there may be a compromise in which he continues to manage Croatia for their October qualifiers as well as managing West Ham.

The whole process seems to be bening handled very professionally, although perhaps a little too publicly for my liking. It seems clear that an appointment will be made this week.

UPDATE: The Mirror is reporting that David Moyes and Frank Rijkard are on the shortlist.

Di Canio Makes His Pitch

In today’s Sun. HERE. He really wants it, doesn’t he?