Summer 2008 (after his signing) Herita Ilunga (26) on loan from Toulouse (A left back sparingly used as a bit part player after Zola's termination, ended up as part of Doncasters farcical 'shop window team') David Di Michele (32) on loan from Torino (A striker who scored four goals all season, and was on his decline, still playing at Lecce) Walter Lopez (22) on a free from River Plate (Played five games for them before going again, has had 5 different clubs since and is back in Uruguay) Diego Tristan (32) on a free from Livorno (Another striker, only scored 3 then left, went back to Spain and retired after a final average season) January 2009 Savio from Brescia for £9M (the shining light of Zola's scouting system, bigged upto be one of the worlds talents, was a complete flop, Fiorentina now can't get rid of him and have loaned him out repeatedly, currently at a second rate Romanian club and he is still yet to score a competitive goal) Summer 2009 Luis Jimenez on loan from Inter (Highly rated as a kid, didn't perform that great for West Ham and was very inconsistent, went out on more loans following WHU and is now money grabbing in the middle east) Frank Nouble from Chelsea for a fee (went out on loan just about everywhere, possibly known as the original "football fake") Fabio Deprela from Grasshopper Zurich for a fee (played a handful of games before being released and joining Brescia) Radoslav Kovac on a free from Spartak Moscow (this one was a good signing, a no nonsense defender/midfielder who gave a good shift for WHU, now playing CL football for Basel) Alessandro Diamanti from Livorno for a fee (had an inconsistent time at West Ham, scored a few but not as much as expected, since has gone on to build a solid career in Italy and has featured in their EURO2012 squad, where the commentators have repeatedly expressed surprise at seeing him before them, as he was "rubbish at West Ham") Manuel de Costa from Fiorentina in straight swap for Savio (Portugueezer defender, relatively unheard of when joining WHU, played well from what I remember and was a regular fixture, has gone on to better things with Lokomotiv Moscow) Guilermo Franco from Villarreal for a fee (old, striker, didn't score much, left and didn't score much elsewhere then returned home, where he is still, not scoring much) January 2010 Benni McCarthy from Blackburn for a fee (a good signing at the time, joined after a fantastic period at Ewood, scored 0 at West Ham, was on huge wages and centre of controversy, left with a huge payoff and buggered back off to South Africa) Mido on loan from Middlesbrough (played sparingly, scored never, generally a crap striker and laughing stock of British football. also couldn't play for Zamalek for 6 months because he forgot to sign something, so apparently a moron.) Ilan on a free from St Etienne (another crap old striker, scored a few in the little games he played, has also, done bugger all since) There appears to be a general theme in this. Considering our striker options at the moment, doesn't bode well if Gianfranco is to join.
To be fair to Zola, I don't think he signed/found any of those, I think it was Nani (who is obviously still going to be part of the set up by the looks of things!)
Good article..thanks for posting. I think the crux here is how much input Zola had in the transfers as opposed to Nani. I'm told that Zola loves to coach and if he is our new manager, that's what he'd do while Nani would be responsible for the transfers. Nani's record certainly at West Ham was very debatable. But imagine what Zola could do on a coaching field with the likes of Scott Murray! There will be those too who would point out that Dyche's transfer record hasn't been that hot either..Mirfin, Yeates, ****inson, Garner, Iwelumo etc.
West Ham has never struck me as a particularly great place to thrive in as a player. It shows with Diamanti that the guy has ability but it never worked at West Ham. Could have been any number of things. I would expect anyone stepping in, or Dyche to be given a season before they are judged on these matters. Let us also not forget that Zola took West Ham to 9th, while Alan Pardew ha a nightmare time there but then, with an amazing scouting system at Newcastle, took them relegation fodder with mercenaries in the squad to the verge of the Champions League and one of the most exciting teams in the Prem.
Great research, but I wouldn't get too bogged down with the set up, until it's all officially announced. Watford will still have their own identity but will have massive resources now in which to tap into. Gone are the days of us having to get out of contract players no one else really fancies, or having to take a punt on some kid from Scotland. We are now united with Udinese and Granada. What's to stop us from signing 5 or 6 fringe players from these teams on a permanent deal for no fee? We are clearly going to be doing trades like this and it will be a very unique situation to be in. I think there will be a great emphasis on who we buy and play in the team from high above. This may be seen as interference, but like anything new there will be hand holding in the first season or so. Once the formula beds in, you will see success on the pitch. This is why we have to have a management team that buys into this unique system. Dyche could still be part of this venture, and I would say for existing players and staff, to be at the club right now is a wonderful opportunity for them. One they must grasp. Just look at the kids in the academy. They will have opportunities to play in Italy or Spain. This will make us one of the best academies in the country. I think we will be able to compete for talent on a level with ALL the big clubs in England, and I don't feel that's an over exaggeration. Make no mistake, fans will have to buy into this new concept, and there will be unpopular decisions along the way, but the end result will be worth it I'm sure.
Yes lets hope we dont go down the 'twighlight' of their careers road for strikers, we've been there done that and it never really comes off. I'd prefer as probably most others would too the younger hungry guys coming in either on loan or as permanent fixtures, this sprinkled with very decent pedigree players could bode well as long as they too are under 30. We need to get the balance right and not just flood the squad with blokes who are at the end of their careers with nothing to prove. Hopefully if Zola is bought in he will have learnt that this is a tough division to get out of and by doing what he did at West Ham is not the way to go. Firstly I think we should be clear as to what style of football we are aiming to play them bring in the appropriate personel not the other way round. As we all know you cant batter your way out of this league you need to play a system and get the ball on the deck!
We are either going to be the envy of so many clubs in the Championship next season...or a laughing stock..and only time will tell which one. But it'll be fun finding out
I see Forest are being linked with Paladini according to the guardian - they might be in for an interesting season (also Leeds!) http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/30/football-championship-nottingham-forest-peterborough?
By the way...I just hope our transfer policy is going to a MIXTURE of the best of British and some exciting foreign talent. The article that Prentice has posted consists almost entirely of overseas players coming in to West Ham and for most it was their first taste of English football. Huge generalisation I know..but take our first summer signing of 2012. A decent keeper with plenty of Championship experience..and by common consent here, likely to be a decent addition for us. Will he prove to be a better signing for Watford than had we loaned in Udinese's 4th choice keeper? Most probably. I hope those in charge of our transfers will look at our leagues here too, in addition to taking advantage of the Pozzos excellent world scouting system. This is real football, not fantasy football.
It could go wrong of course, but because of the Granada project I feel a lot less apprehensive. These guys have experience in what they do, and they seem to do it very well. There maybe question marks over the choices of Duxbury & Nani being part of the set up, but I think at this stage, the Pozzo's have to be given credit for knowing better than us fans. I just look at our academy and feel this will become the best set up in the country, with the best resources. This is key to everything. If Watford produce the best talent, then they will become a richer club financially and player wise. This can only ever propel the club forward to better things.
Dyche's transfer record is not bad considering the little time & cash he had to work with (plus Manky pinching many of our targets). There's been a few duds, but all managers have some, GT & Fergie included. Dont forget he also signed Hogg & The Nose, & got loan deals with Kightly & Katchanutlick. All excellent.
Yes, I'm not anti Dyche..was just trying to balance the Zola list by saying exactly what you have..that all managers make good and bad signings in their careers, it's still a relatively inexact science. And in Dyche's favour, his signings got better and better as he made more of them..and it's the recent past that is the most relevant in any discussion. Two or three of his early signings will probable depart this summer and will be history anyway.
The commentators claiming Diamanti was a flop is still winning my 'worst comment by a commentator at the Euros' competition, truly incredible, I remember being stunned they let him go, and it's proved a woeful decision, aren't Udinese after him NOW?! And they let him go wish years ago? Wow.
Looking at Zola's transfer record (or even Nani's) is a bit of a waste of time. When they were at West Ham, they weren't working with the Pozzo's scouting network. That's going to be a huge difference. If you haven't read anything about how the Pozzos have their scouting set up, you really should. It's jaw dropping to think we'll now have access to that!
Arakel stole my thunder! I was just about to point out that Nani/Zola's record at West Ham is irrelevant. The Pozzo scouting network will dictate most of our purchases now
I think the only downside to this takeover is Nani/Duxburry. However, it's not something I'm particularly worried about, plainly because the Pozzo's seem to be in this for the long term. If Nani/Duxburry fail, which I hope they do not, they would be replaced. If Zola comes in (which actually I wouldn't mind one bit) and fails, he would be replaced. You don't spend this amount of money with the view of jumping ship if it doesn't all go to plan from the off. Udinese have had many different set ups and managers down the years and they came 3rd in Serie A last year. So I wouldn't worry if this year we sign a few stinkers and he replaces certain people as I think it would only be a matter of time until someone gets it right.
Indeed Rous and for the first time in a long time, we have time for it to be right. No pending admin, no threats of money being called for etc etc.
What with Moog being all serious the other day and now Hornetboy being optimistic, it is like waking up in some crazy mirror world
