Despite recent financial turmoil surrounding the club, Zola's penned a new contract for himself at West Ham.
Was that really a smart thing to do?
First off, let the record show that he's done well in his first season, steering the aesthetically-challenged club to a Top 10 finish (not certain, but highly likely) while the bulk of the league struggles and flirts with relegation disaster. They weathered the storm of the January window, retaining most of their stars while any bigger club was looking to pillage the squad, and in this day and age, it's a feat akin to miracle.
However, now, the club is in administration; with their Icelandic owner unable to repay his loans in a timely manner, the banks have swooped in to take control, and the name of the game now becomes "Protect Our Remaining Assets." You can bet what that translates to in the real world -- bye bye, expensive players who could command a fair bit of scratch on the open market.
Farewell, Carlton Cole.
Adieu, Matthew Upson (Gooner nation salivates!).
Ta-ta, Scott Parker and Mark Noble.
Hit the road, Robert Green.
The continuity of Zola in charge should have a galvanizing effect, when it comes to keeping players focused on football while their paychecks bounce, but when it comes to personnel decisions, the banks will surely have the final say on which players are shed for quick cash in order to keep the entire operation afloat. He's also looking at a rather lean summer, having already been told that there's no money to spend on bringing in new players.
Hammers fans can expect a lengthy spell of loan wheeling-dealing in July, which will only add to the mounting frustration at the uncertainty surrounding the club's future.
Zola's plans for West Ham are admirable: "It would be something fantastic for the club. It's going to be very difficult to be a monster like Manchester United, but we want to build something different. Maybe it's going to be a longer-term project, but we would like one day to be competing with those teams."
Is it really feasible?
With Shearer carefully manning the HMS Magpie as it slowly sinks into the North Sea, grumpy Gareth Southgate waiting for Relegation Rapture, and the already-failed Paul Ince Experiment, it is clear that Zola is smarter than most retired players who've been mad enough to get into the managing business instead of sipping cocktails on the Costa del Sol (let's not mention Roy Keane's seething walkout amid this lot).
Predictions for Zola's future in the comments, please.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Zola signs a new 4-year deal?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The glory of the Champions League draw
Cheer up, John, you just won something, AND it's Champions League time again!
Amid the ridiculous farce that was UEFA Player of the Year presentations (in which Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard won Goalie, Defender and Midfielder of the year respectively), we had a nice little CL draw. For my lot, we are fortunate to even be in it at all, and now that we've secured ourselves a piece of the money pie, it's only fair that we end up with the roughest draw.
So how did everyone do? Let's handicap a bit, shall we?
Group A
Chelsea, AS Roma, Girondins Bordeaux, CFR Cluj
Unbelievable! Group A is as simple as it gets, and Roman's Roubled Army should have little trouble here. AS Roma are game for a fight but they're not what they used to be, La Ligue isn't producing much of quality these days that isn't named "Lyon", and CFR Cluj are the ceremonial lambs being prepared for slaughter. Their home stadium will perhaps make life a little difficult, but aside from that, there's nothing to fear. A cakewalk to the knockout rounds, barring monumental collapse.
PREDICTION: same order as presented above. Bordeaux and Cluj, adieu and la revedere.
Group B
Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis
By far the most interesting aspect to this group is the pairing of Cypriot champions Anorthosis Famagusta and the Greek side Panathanaikos. If nothing else, their meetings both home and away will provide the fireworks that the rest of the group will fail to muster. Werder Bremen is a limp candidate, and Jose Mourinho will be able to crawl through this lot without much difficulty. He will have to face former Chelsea assistant and new Panathinaikos manager Hank Ten Cate, but the two were at Stamford Bridge at different times, thus neutering any potential storyline. Ten Cate's managerial pedigree should help them advance along with Inter, although it won't be simple. Bremen surprised many with their 2nd-placed Bundesliga finish last season, so it's anyone's guess.
PREDICTION: Inter, Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Anorthosis Famagusta
Group C
FC Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
Ugh, another ridiculously simple group. Barca dodge all the major bullets, and get the Swiss champs and Ukrainian champs at the bottom of the draw. Yawn-inducing rubbish.
PREDICTION: Same order as above. Crikey, where are the tough groups?
Group D
Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Olympique Marseille, Atletico Madrid
Ah that's right, here's one. PSV are tricky (as Spurs found out last season... ouch), but I don't see them being so threatening. It's a paper group, one that looks good when written down, but is it really so bad? Liverpool dealt with Marseille reasonably well last season (1-0 loss away, 2-0 win at Anfield), and Atletico Madrid are a completely different team now that their best striker is practicing his craft for Rafa Benitez. The real intrigue here, as far as I can tell, is the fight for second. PSV should do it, Marseille haven't got a hope of making it, and the first shake-up of the pot system will come in Atletico getting it over the other two. Sergio Aguero and ex-Man U flop/Villareal savior Diego Forlan will prove too much for an Eredivisie defense and a French team that hasn't been much good since the days of Jean-Pierre Papin.
PREDICTION: Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille
Group E
Manchester United, Villarreal CF, Celtic, Aalborg BK
Another one rather devoid of drama. Man U and Villareal have tangoed before in CL groups, with two scoreless draws to show for it in 2005/06, and now they'll resume that "rivalry" around encounters with the Scottish Champions and the Danish champs. Those two will do nothing; it's all England and Spain for this one.
PREDICTION: same as above
Group F
Olympique Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina
Some intrigue here, as Fiorentina come in woefully under-ranked, although will it be enough to trouble Lyon, a team who's won La Ligue every year since 2002, or the mighty Bayern? Ze Germans are simply too strong for most thanks to their deep squad, although we've seen in recent months just how problematic it can be to have Luca Toni in front of goal. Fiorentina might have a shout, but there's a reason the teams rank out this way, and this one will probably go the same way.
PREDICTION: Bayern Munich, OM Lyon, Fiorentina, Steaua Bucharest
Group G
Arsenal, FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Kiev
Plenty of teams for Arsenal to beat 1-0! Actually, a group that's a lot tougher than it looks. Fenerbahce play a stifling, scrappy brand of football that can provide an upset, and Porto (if they're allowed to participate, which is still up in the air apparently) can beat anyone on their day. Still, expect a lot of goalless draws from this, the cagiest group. I reckon the Turkish side has it in 'em for the long haul.
PREDICTION: Arsenal, Fenerbahce, FC Porto, Dinamo Kiev
Group H
Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg, Bate
Expect 0-0s from the two matches between Real and Juve as neither will want to give an inch. The rest of the group is sad and lifeless, and I feel bad. Zenit will roll over, despite their UEFA Cup successes last season, mainly because they're going to give up their two flagship players to Spurs soon, if we believe all the rubbish in the press about it. FC BATE Borisov is a fun one, the team where Alexander Hleb's career began. According to some research, BATE in their name stands for Borisov Automobile and Tractor Electrical. Fun stuff!
PREDICTION: as above. Christ, I'm not very bold, am I? Must be because it's not happy hour yet.
Monday, January 14, 2008
African Cup of Nations Group B Preview
While home fans will be focused on the exploits of the Black Stars in Group A, this is probably the "Group of Death." You have Nigeria, the traditional giants of African football who have fallen on hard times lately, and Ivory Coast, the pretenders to the the throne, along with a respectable Mali side and Benin. So lets get on with part II of our endless ANC preview, mostly thieved from elsewhere on the interwebs, and full of uninformed speculation.
Nigeria
Key players: Obafemi Martins, John Obi Mikel, Kanu, John Utaka, Yakubo
The Super Eagles are stacked in attack, but perhaps a bit suspect in the back. Danny Shittu, anyone? And apparently Berti Vogts is going to go with a midfield that may not actually contain any, you know, midfielders. Given the amount of, um, strong personalities on this team, and the unbalanced selection, it wouldn't be surprising to see Nigeria bounced early, but the smart money says they at least get out of the group.
Ivory Coast
Key players: Drogba, Drogba, Drogba, Drogba, Drogba, Drogba
The Elephants were one of the most impressive teams at the last World Cup, even though they failed to make it out of the group stage. Didier Drogba, if he is actually healthy, is perhaps the best striker in the world, and that is coming from an Arsenal fan who regards him as a cheating shitbag most times. But he is fun to watch when he is on form. Ivory Coast is solid in the back with half of Wenger's preferred defenders in Kolo Toure and Emannuel Eboue, as well as Meite from Bolton. Like Nigeria, they are perhaps a bit short on traditional midfielders, but look for Aruna Dindane, currently at Lens, to have a big tournament and attract some transfer speculation. My pick to upset the hosts and hoist the trophy.
Mali
Key players: Momo Sissoko, Mahamadou Diarra, Fredick Kanoute
With some solid talent playing in Spain, this is a team that could surprise a few people. Keita, who has been instrumental in Sevilla's season so far is a player to watch, while Kanoute should supply the firepower up front. I have literally never even heard of any of the defenders, so I can't really comment, but they mostly play in France so I'm sure they are at least decent. P.S. - FSC should totally get French soccer back, even if just for the Lyon games.
Benin
Key players: Some dude who plays for the best named team in English football, Acrrington Stanley.
This team is definitely the minnow of the group, with only (by my idiot count) four players who ply their trade in Europe. They also have a guy from Etoile Sahel, the Tunisian side that Christopher Sullivan couldn't stop slobbering over during the World Club Championships in December.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Serie A returns this weekend
Due to lack of fan support and bad TV contracts, Italy's glamor clubs have been purchased by oil sheiks and forced to compete in elimination matches to win back their freedom.
In terms of actual action you didn't miss much, because the fucking Italians even out-French the French in terms of not working. The Serie A has been off since December 22, and doesn't resume until the weekend. While the EPL's finest have been playing a marathon schedule in freezing cold weather on terrible pitches in front of less than enthusiastic support, Italian footballers have been enjoying a bit of R&R in Dubai.
To remind those who haven't been paying attention, Inter are currently running away with the league, sitting on 43 points, seven up on nearest rivals Roma. Juve are third, despite slumming it in Serie B last year. The only real shock has been the terrible play of the newly crowned World Club Champions, AC Milan, who currently sit in 12th place, 25 points behind their cross-town rivals. Inter underlined the point on the last weekend of play in December, when they beat the Rossoneri 2-1 and pretty much ended any wild thoughts that Silvio Berlusconi had about a miracle second half run to claim the Scudetto.
The story of the season so far has been the play of Inter Milan, who have only lost one game. And yet the casual observer/EPL fan probably can't even name two players in the starting eleven. In fact, most Italians probably can't either, given the lack of Italian players on the team. Everyone knows about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but then the mind draws a blank? Cambiasso, Julio Cruz, Zannetti, Emerson, Vieira, Figo. The latter two have been hurt and not really contributed much to the team's success. An injury to Walter Samuel means that Marco Materazzi (check out this video of his finer work) will get to show off some of his diabolical tackles to worldwide audiences. Perhaps Inter can put together a decent run in the Champions League, which they haven't won in 42 years. They play Liverpool next month, and Scousers should start sweating already.
With the league pretty much decided, the rest of the Serie A lacks a bit of sizzle. Sure, its nice to see Totti leading Roma to strong second place. But the real intrigue surrounds AC Milan, who will unveil over hyped wunder-Brazilian Alexander "the duck" Pato to the world this weekend. Milan have been mostly terrible this year, and if the poor form continues, the rumors that a certain J. Mourinho could be taking over the manager's job will only intensify.
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