Big game for Zola's season

The FA Cup replay at Middlesbrough is a huge game for West Ham's season.
You'd have to say that after all the financial turmoil and talk of fire sales - and considering it is his first 'proper' manager's job - a mid-table finish would go down as a success to all but the most delusional Hammers fan.
BUT a nice run in the cup would make a huge difference.
A win at Middlesbrough followed by a tough trip to an Arteta-less Everton and vefore you know it you're in the Semi-Finals - then ANYTHING's possible.
I think if West Ham can get past 'Boro then they are in good shape.
They would prefer to be away to Everton - it suits the way they play - and Everton without Arteta are not the same side.
Fingers crossed for a result at the Riverside.

Luis Boo-a-Morte

I can't remember ever booing a West Ham player.

I don't know if that is something to be proud of or whether it marks me out as 'too scared' to show my real feelings.

I've booed players who've left the club and I taught my three-year-old son to boo the opposition when their team is being announced.

But for me there is something self-defeating in booing one of your own - surely it just makes them play worse and in turn makes it more likely the team will not win.

So, Luis Boa Morte.

My dad says he would rather see West Ham play with ten men than bring the Portuguese on.

At times he is comic - but when the game is tight - or when you are losing like on Saturday against Middlesbrough - it's no laughing matter.

I sit there willing him to do well. Each time he misses an easy chance or falls over the ball or makes a bad decision - i feel pain.

But i have to say that given the amount of time he's been there and the amount of money we paid - he is a huge disappointment.

You can see he is trying - giving it everything - but i don't think it's good enough.

Surely it would be better to play someone else - or like my dad says - no-one else.

Which makes Gianfranco Zola's comments after the game even stranger.

"He's one of the players that every manager would like to have," said Zola.

"I don't think he deserves it that the supporters are picking on him, it makes it more difficult for him to perform.

"For me, honestly, he has been fantastic." Okay.

I'm not going to argue with Zola.

it does make me wonder if Boa Morte is great in training and crumbles under the pressure of Upton Park - you could argue he has been marginally better away from home.

But i would say to Zola, don't worry too much about the boo-boys. West Ham fans love to have a love-hate figure.

And even thought the team are doing well at the moment - it's not the West Ham Way to be completely happy.

What would we do if there was nothing to moan about on a Saturday, eh?

30 games in 3 years - will Dean Ashton ever play again?

Dean Ashton - West Ham's best centre-forward for years and a man with the ability to play at the very highest level - says he will not be adding to his FIVE appearances for the club this season.

Ashton made 24 appearances for the Hammers in the 2007/08 season and missed the entire 2006/07 season through injury.

Meaning the England international has played less than 30 games for the club in three years.

Ashton says following his recent ankle surgery he is going to focus on getting ready for pre-season.

You've got to feel for a guy whose body is clearly letting him down.

Ashton said: "I think realistically pre-season is my target.

"I've just had an operation and the surgeons are pleased but obviously it's a setback I didn't really want.
I need to get over this operation, get myself properly fit and I don't want to rush back before I'm ready.
"It happened at a time when I just thought I was back, especially after scoring twice in the first game - but then I came down with another complaint with my ankle.
"If you ask players who have had ankle injuries, they'll know what I'm talking about when I say it's a difficult injury to get back from."

That's key - it is a difficult injury to get back from and there is clearly something wrong. I hope i'm wrong here but i just can't imagine the day when a fully-fit Ashton is tearing around Upton Park again slamming in pile-drivers from outside the box.

Anyone who saw his 24 appearances last season knows he was playing at half pace at best.

He looked slow, almost uninterested, worried about getting injured, and at times he looked sad.

Despite all that he still scored 11 times in 24 games - even at half pace - showing how devastating he could be if fully fit.

He also scored twice on his return to the team this term.

He is a class act - i just hope we can see him flying, firing and happy again.

Hands of Zola Chelsea

Chelsea have today sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Not unbelievable but slightly odd timing.

My worry now is that they will come for Zola and Steve Clarke - i would've been more scared if they had sacked Scolari at the end of the season rather than now but i just think it would be good to hear Zola and Clarke rule themselves out NOW.

Carlton Cole for England - you heard it here first...ish.

I don't know who first suggested it.
It's one of those things that everyone is now claiming, but if you scroll down the page you will see that i said Carlton Cole was a serious contender for an England cap as far bnack as January the 11th.
I also said that you might end up in trouble for suggesting something so ridiculous but it just goes to show you how strange football is.Carlton 'the goal' Cole now looks set for AN ENGLAND START on Wednesday in Spain.
An injury to Emile Heskey might force Capello's hand.
And to be honest it would be nothing more than Cole deserves.Here is a player who shows what can be achieved with effort.
New focus and extra training have really paid off for Cole who gave Nemanja Vidic a real tough time yesterday - so much so that Vidic resorted to hauling him down at one point having been beaten for strength, skill and pace.
Good luck Carlton, nice to see West Ham with three players in the squad. Anyone seen a Spurs player in there??

Faubert to Real Madrid...no, really.

Julien Faubert, French international, has to go down as one of the most disappointing signings West Ham have ever made.

He must rank alongside Joey Beauchamp who signed for £1million and then gave up before playing a game because of the traffic!

Or Florin Răducioiu who went shopping with his wife in the West End rather than turn out for the first team.

This week Faubert joined Real Madrid - yep - that Real Madrid.

The player himself has even admitted he thought it was a joke when his agent called to tell him.

When Faubert joined West Ham France coach Raymond Domenech 'slammed' the player for joining a club which was so far beneath his obvious talents and ability.

Here's Domenech at the time: "I can't understand Faubert's decision. When my players phone me to tell me they are moving clubs, I tell them it is OK if they are joining one of the top four in England, Germany, Italy or Spain."

"But it is unspeakably stupid to join a club outside of those few, apart from the financial point of view."

"It is a great pity when you are on the brink of the French national team. I struggle to understand why he has done it."

This only increased my excitement at the possibility of seeing this fantastic new star turning out for the Hammers.

As was the West Ham way at the time Faubert - by all means impressive in his debut in a pre-season tour of the Czech Republic - ruptured an achilies - ruling him out of a first team start for months.

When he finally did make his debut he loooked fast, could cross a ball from very, very deep with a wicked swerve but obviously didn't go past people cos he was nursing his achilies, right?

Wrong, he didn't go past people because... well, he just didn't.

Instead he crossed the ball from somewhere on the right of midfield everytime he got it. Or he gave it away.

In the end he played at right-back - from where he still crossed the ball - but through no fault of his own he was not comfortable defending.

So, he coudln't defend, or attack, in fact his own goal at Arsenal aside i don't think he did much at all for West Ham.

Over the last few weeks he has looked like a man so short on confidence that i actually saw him pointing to a team mate when Lucas Neill advanced out of defence and shaped to pass the ball to Faubert.

He didn't want it.

His confidence was so low he - quite rightly in my view - thought Real's interest was a joke - he's not the only one.

I hope it works out for him at Real Madrid but somehow i just can't see it.

Still at least Domenech will be happy eh.

I've never seen West ham work so hard

West Ham's 0-0 draw at the Emirates on Saturday was their third clean sheet in a row - following Hartlepool and Hull.
The effort which went in to Saturday's stalemate at Arsenal was incredible.
West Ham's players closed down Arsenal as if their lives depended on it and they did it with structure.
Steve Clarke and Gianfranco Zola have clearly been working on the defensive side of the game and the players have bought into it.
They hunted in packs, going fromplayer to player as Arsenal passed the ball looking for a way in.
I don't know what Arsene Wenger's training is like - and i have a lot of time for the way Arsenal play - but you could see some of their players were almost offended at the amount of effort the Hammers put in.
Like it wasn't fair somehow to try so hard to stop your opponents.
Awesome stuff and probably just as important in West Ham's resurgence as their return to slick passing football.
it really is a great time to be a West Ham fan at the moment - after years of what can only be described as a kind if shame - i'm rpoiud to be a Hammer again and i thank Zola, Clarke and the players for that.
Man U up next but in a way the pressure is off. Let's enjoy it and try and give them a game.