Posts Tagged ‘Likeable’
Zola’s battlers should secure safety
I’m sure many people feel a tinge of sympathy for Gianfranco Zola at the moment. The likeable Italian has endured a horror season with West Ham which has seen the club hovering perilously close to the drop zone for much of the season.
Behind the scenes a few years of financial madness a couple of seasons ago, which saw the mass recruitment of highly paid players on long-term contracts, means Zola had to operate with one hand behind his back in the transfer market, while the pressure to stay in the money-rich Premier League became even greater.
Things haven’t been helped by the transfer policy of former director of football Gianluca Nani. It left the squad looking lopsided, with an array of underperforming attacking players and a distinct lack of solid defenders.
The outbursts of new co-owner David Sullivan haven’t helped matters either. He repeatedly reminded anyone who would listen of the club’s perilous financial state and also wrote an open letter to the fans, criticising the players for their performances during a recent six-game losing streak. Zola responded by banning Sullivan from a recent team meeting as he sought to galvanise the team for the final run-in. And so he should, surely Sullivan deals with matters in the boardroom not the dressing room? However, when 18th placed Hull’s win over Fulham last week brought them level on points with the Hammers, things looked even more desperate.
Cue a brave and battling performance at Everton last Sunday, where the club came from behind twice to grab a vital point. With Hull returning to type and crashing away at Stoke, the result and performance should signal the start of a successful safety bid. This is something that’s reflected in the Premier League football betting.
It may not be enough to save his job - it is becoming increasingly apparent the new owners don’t see Zola as their long-term choice. However their performance at Goodison suggests they can secure enough points to stay up, meaning he will be able to leave the job with his head held high.
Meanwhile, the likes of Matthew Upson will have to up their game if they are to help England to justify their World Cup 2010 online odds in South Africa this summer.
Tags: Boardroom, Co Owner, Cue, David Sullivan, Director Of Football, Distinct Lack, Dressing Room, Drop Zone, Fulham, Game Losing Streak, Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca, Last Sunday, Likeable, Madness, Premier League Football, Recruitment, Term Contracts, Tinge, West Ham