Giggi Zola did very well at West ham actually, he got them playing some great football, but the politics at the club didn't allow time for it to blossom, he was treated very badly by the hammers in my opinion, he's a real down to earth honest chap, and I was one of those that wanted him in before Rodgers!...........
Gianfranco Zola steered West Ham into a promising position despite the club's financial worries. "We are playing good football at the moment and the players are determined to continue," Zola says. "We will certainly try to win because I never play to draw. Even away to Arsenal last week we went to win and we only ended up defending so much because Arsenal forced us backwards." West Ham's resilience in emerging with a 0-0 draw at the Emirates came as no surprise to Ars̬ne Wenger, who had already hailed Zola's team as "probably the best in the Premier League right now". Pep-talks can only achieve so much. Zola has also presided over a tactical turnaround. At first he tinkered heavily with the team, causing many to wonder whether his lack of managerial experience meant he was unsuited to guiding the club through turbulent times. However, once he settled on his preferred line-up, results improved and, what is more, the slick play with which he has always been synonymous followed. Zola's commitment to cerebral, on-the-deck football has clearly found favour with his players. The manager gives them licence to indulge their talent and instincts without diluting the emphasis on solidity. With David Di Michele flitting around Cole in a free role, West Ham's movement often confounds opponents, while their work ethic means they rarely leave gaps. "I can't really compare with what has gone on here before, but I think we're now training more with the ball," Zola says. "We have it for at least 80% of our sessions and I think the players enjoy that." Integral to that training is the former Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke, whom Zola insisted on hiring as his No2. Just as West Ham's results have improved since Clarke's arrival, Chelsea's have deteriorated since he left Stamford Bridge and Zola is happy to give credit to the Scot. "I've always considered him one of the most important parts in what I'm doing," Zola says. "That's why I said I was only going to take the job if I had somebody like Steve by my side." Their differing playing careers meant the assumption has been that Clarke takes charge of the defence while Zola looks after the attacking side of things, but the manager claims that the opposite is true. "The defenders and attackers all train together because it is all about cooperation," Zola says. "Only one day a week do we separate them and Рyou won't believe me now Рbut on that day I take the defence and Steve works with the attackers." Decidedly, the little Italian keeps on showing that there is more to them than meets the eye. - Paul Doyle The Guardian, Saturday 7 February 2009 WE can but dream!
Zola could be good. Management issues apart, I took a look at Michael Laudrup, the player, on You Tube just to refresh my memories of him. I'd forgotten just what an utterly FANTASTIC player he was. Some of the passes, touches and vision he was showing were just unbelievable!! How can a guy have that much talent? Have a butcher's, you won't be disappointed. I watched the first 15 minutes of a compilation that lasts 1 hour 23 minutes or so. It was sheer magic to watch. If a guy like that can't improve our team out of sight, the world's not round. Bear in mind that the guy does have decent management credentials as well as being a sublime player.
Ivor I'll check that Video out! as a side issue anyone understand the odds as Michael Laudrup has gone to 209/100 just behind Jones at 127/100? anyone explain!..............
My wife says I sad, as I've been watching the odds all night. Very happy with Laudrup, some money went on AVB earlier. All good fun!!
If you are looking for a "name",then they don't come much bigger than Brian Laudrup. What a pedigree he had as a player;Juventus;Barcelona;Real Madrid. Would he be tempted to come to Swansea? My heart beat increases at the prospect,but my head tells me it's not going to happen.
It will be someone who is a yes man and cheap, i would love to go against the grain for once and get one of these continental managers, but i cant see jinks doing that somehow......we have been lucky so far with unfashionable managers so i hope it will continue...its bound to come unstuck one day as we cant keep gambling on low profile managers......It wont surprise me if he did not ask el-pasco to be honest and that would be disastrous...
Low profile manager who know a bit about us , which is why I prefer Jones , for me please ... A high profile guy who doesn't know the scoop will want to change things more & make it about " Wheres my transfer money " . Took 5 or years to solidify the team we have , lets not get someone in to sell the farm , onlyto make us worse because of an ego problem .
Karl Robinson ticks many boxes, young up and coming manager at MK Dons, likes to play in a similar way to us which is what Jenkins will insist upon.
Zola would be great lads but we all know what our chairman is like with money.but if he realy wants us to stay in the prem, hes going to have to cough up some good money for the right guy.Im in Aussie lads and I was guted to hear Rogers was going, hope siggie signs for us . once a jack allways a jack.
i must be a jinx, buy something on ebay and they leave, de vries signed glove, rodgers signed trophy winning promotion picture, who shall i go for next - litas sock?
who ever fancies to make a name for himself and become a house hold name should apply. Ok you wont last more than a couple of seasons before you will be hot property and you will be off to a bigger club.....if you want that then contact jinks c/o the liberty stadium, swansea....you wont be disappointed... A good stepping stone to a high profile job....
Looks like my dark horse is giving me a decent run for my money! Joint favourite with some bookies as I write and in the top three or four with most of the others. If he does get appointed, I wonder if he might sway Siggy back to us. Siggy is a midfielder and Laudrup is thought to be the finest midfielder in the history of football by many legends of the game. Siggy might feel that he could learn something from him - and then there is the "Scandie" (ish) connection. Mind you, I wouldn't put it past Huw to hire somebody that never crossed our minds! Don't mind that so long as the man is experienced and high quality with it. Poyet easily my second choice though.
Just browsing through old threads out of sheer boredom and stumbled across this little gem. Well done Ivor
