Football: Zola backs West Ham to rebound from Everton agony
| DATE: 2009-11-09 | PRINT | Share
Louis Saha and Dan Gosling struck either side of the break on Sunday to give David Moyes’s side a two-goal cushion and while an own-goal from Tony Hibbert gave hope of a West Ham fight-back, they were unable to find the equaliser that would have extended their unbeaten run to four games.
Zola and his players must now wait until after the international break before they get the chance to improve their position when travel to face Hull, who sit fourth bottom, one place above the Hammers.
"It feels bad," Zola said. "You can imagine, it's not very pleasant but we are there. The team is fighting. Of course we are making mistakes but we are fighting and we want to change things, that is the most important thing.
"I'm not worried because I think we can certainly improve the situation. I'm disappointed but it's too early.
"I'm concerned as is everybody around West Ham. But we're going to fight until the end and we will find the solutions and we will find them as quickly as possible.
"Hull is a big game. They have won and will have a lot of confidence. We know it's going to be a tough match but we will prepare for that.
"All of us, including myself, are going to have to look for solutions to these problems. A team that plays as well as us has to get more points. There are a lot of things to work on and we are going to be doing that."
West Ham were once again without striker Carlton Cole, who is struggling with a hamstring injury, and Zola believes the forward's injury will rule him out of Fabio Capello's plans for England's friendly with Brazil in Doha next weekend.
He said: "I wouldn't think he will go. I believe Capello wants to have players who were selected to play the last game. I don't know. If he didn't play for us then it's going to be very difficult for him to play for England."
Everton manager Moyes conceded his side had been fortunate but after a worrying run of injuries, he was relieved to have taken three points, particularly after the disappointing Europa League defeat to Benfica in midweek.
"We have not played that well, so we cannot ask for any more," Moyes said.
"It has been a tough month, probably too many games for the same group of players to be playing in.
"Nevertheless, I thought they should great character to hang in there at the end of what has been a difficult period for them."
Moyes admitted he was forced to withdraw Saha because of a calf strain but he claims Everton's injury problems at least has the beneficial effect of helping Gosling and fellow teenager Jack Rodwell gain valuable experience.
He added: "We are coming to West Ham and having to win with guys like Jack Rodwell, who is 18, and Dan Gosling, 19. It is not just one game, we are having to do that in three or four games. It is a lot to ask of the young players.
"They are delighted to get the games, but realistically you know there are the right moments for those boys to play, and at the moment we are probably having to play them at the wrong times.
"Here you would have to say both of them are maturing. Sometimes when you get through this, it makes you stronger, you look at them then not as just young players, you look at them as players."
| DATE: 2009-11-09 | PRINT | Share
LONDON, Nov 9, 2009 (AFP) - Gianfranco Zola remains confident his West Ham side can turn their season around despite falling back into the Premier League relegation zone following the 2-1 home defeat to Everton.
Louis Saha and Dan Gosling struck either side of the break on Sunday to give David Moyes’s side a two-goal cushion and while an own-goal from Tony Hibbert gave hope of a West Ham fight-back, they were unable to find the equaliser that would have extended their unbeaten run to four games.
Zola and his players must now wait until after the international break before they get the chance to improve their position when travel to face Hull, who sit fourth bottom, one place above the Hammers.
"It feels bad," Zola said. "You can imagine, it's not very pleasant but we are there. The team is fighting. Of course we are making mistakes but we are fighting and we want to change things, that is the most important thing.
"I'm not worried because I think we can certainly improve the situation. I'm disappointed but it's too early.
"I'm concerned as is everybody around West Ham. But we're going to fight until the end and we will find the solutions and we will find them as quickly as possible.
"Hull is a big game. They have won and will have a lot of confidence. We know it's going to be a tough match but we will prepare for that.
"All of us, including myself, are going to have to look for solutions to these problems. A team that plays as well as us has to get more points. There are a lot of things to work on and we are going to be doing that."
West Ham were once again without striker Carlton Cole, who is struggling with a hamstring injury, and Zola believes the forward's injury will rule him out of Fabio Capello's plans for England's friendly with Brazil in Doha next weekend.
He said: "I wouldn't think he will go. I believe Capello wants to have players who were selected to play the last game. I don't know. If he didn't play for us then it's going to be very difficult for him to play for England."
Everton manager Moyes conceded his side had been fortunate but after a worrying run of injuries, he was relieved to have taken three points, particularly after the disappointing Europa League defeat to Benfica in midweek.
"We have not played that well, so we cannot ask for any more," Moyes said.
"It has been a tough month, probably too many games for the same group of players to be playing in.
"Nevertheless, I thought they should great character to hang in there at the end of what has been a difficult period for them."
Moyes admitted he was forced to withdraw Saha because of a calf strain but he claims Everton's injury problems at least has the beneficial effect of helping Gosling and fellow teenager Jack Rodwell gain valuable experience.
He added: "We are coming to West Ham and having to win with guys like Jack Rodwell, who is 18, and Dan Gosling, 19. It is not just one game, we are having to do that in three or four games. It is a lot to ask of the young players.
"They are delighted to get the games, but realistically you know there are the right moments for those boys to play, and at the moment we are probably having to play them at the wrong times.
"Here you would have to say both of them are maturing. Sometimes when you get through this, it makes you stronger, you look at them then not as just young players, you look at them as players."
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