ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - West Ham United

Posted by Billy Blagg on 02/25/2010

Hey-ho whadda I tell ya? The inevitable happened today as Technical Director Gianluca Nani left West Ham by 'mutual consent'.

This announcement, following the departure of Scott Duxbury some weeks ago, was safely predicted by me on the day Gold and Sullivan took over at Upton Park and I can only assume that Gianfranco Zola may well now be considering his future at the club; Nani was largely responsible for Zola coming to the club and there must be little doubt the Italian's power base has now shifted.

Gianluca Nani had been at the Boleyn Ground for the past two years since joining from Brescia Calcio in his native Italy. Nani, along with Duxbury, had big visions for the club and backed by the Icelandic owners before the banking collapse that plunged the Hammers into the mire, the Italian set-up changing the fortunes of the East End club by trying to run things along more european lines. With Nani's vision of 'the project', the club set about ensuring that future of the club by developing further West Ham's already impressive youth policy and aligning it by bringing in players scouted from abroad to provide a more professional platform on which to build success.

Most of Nani's plans seemed to be working well - the purchase of Valon Berhami perhaps the highlight - but the world banking crisis saw the club brought to its knees as the owners became virtually bankrupt. The sale of the club to David's Gold and Sullivan - who have 'projects' of their own - was bound to bring the new owners into conflict with Nani. Sadly, as is the way with these things, Nani's legacy would seem to be the purchase of the virtually unknown Savio Nseresko with some of the money obtained from selling Craig Bellamy to Manchester City during the transfer window of 2008/09.

West Ham were well-placed for a Europa League spot at the time and, though the Bellamy sale was seen as good business, the purchase of Savio proved a costly mistake; the young player 'earmarked for the future' rarely featured for the Hammers and was sold to Fiorentina in embarrasing circumstances after appearing in only ten games - only one of which he started! With the loss of Bellamy and no effective replacement, West Ham's end of season fell away allowing Fulham to grap the Euro spot. What actually happened with Savio is still a puzzling mystery.

After the announcement, West Ham United chairman David Sullivan was quoted as saying: "I would like to thank Gianluca for his contribution to the club and we all wish him well. With the club heading in a new direction (sic) since David Gold and I took charge last month, it was felt the time was right for all parties to move on in an amicable way."

Nani said: "Today, in agreement with the owners of the club, I have resolved my contract with West Ham United. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who worked alongside me in this wonderful adventure - the staff, Gianfranco Zola and the players.

"A special thank you also to the fans who have always supported us and whose warmth and dedication gave me a passion for this club which will forever remain with me. Finally, I wish the owners the best possible success in the future."

For those wondering where the 'Project' is going now, I think we can all be assured that it has been swept away to be replaced with the new vision of Gold and Sullivan. Expect Neil Warnock to manage the club next season while the hotel is turned into a brothel and the matchday programme introduces tits on page 3 and a swingers section at the back.

Comments

Posted by kennyhammer on 02/25/2010

Good piece but your last paragraph is a bit harsh. The project has hardly provided the array of talent that was envisaged, 3 or 4 good permanent signings,Savio a total disaster along with some poor loan signings.
The bigger picture is that the club will survive with G&S and if Zola is the commited man that he appears he will grow with the G&S regime after a baptism of fire in premiership management.

Blagg: Granted Kenny but I would have to argue that the whole idea of a Project is that it will take years to come to fruition. I wasn't expecting to see any major results for at least 3 -4 years.

Posted by Anne Bish on 02/25/2010

Why have you come out with these stupid statements?, EVERY Fan knew Nani would be leaving. WE do not need a Technical Director, we have always managed with just a Manager. Why is inevitiable that Zola goes?. We are trying to fight relegation and i as i Fan are sick of tired of the Negativity written about our club. Nani ony did 4 good things for West Ham and they are Behrami, Kovac and Diamod Geezer, and the last is of course LEAVING.Just stop writing about us if this all you can do winding up Go the Fans.

Blagg: I'd argue the club generate their own negativity. It doesn't come from me, I expect WHU to win every game they play. I don't really understand your opening statement. EVERY fan would only have known Nani was leaving because G&S took over. Prior to that I thought the Project was an idea worth carrying on with.

Posted by Jay on 02/26/2010

I was so happy when we were bought because it ended the months of speculation about a buyer, but seeing the writing on the wall the end of Zola may well be the end of some of our star players too.

Blagg: That some star players will leave is as certain as the sun comes up but that's, ironically, not down to G&S but the way that football is in the 21st Century. There will be new stars though and I would rather they were handled by Zola and Nani.

Posted by Michael Barbadonis on 03/01/2010

From a long time WHU supporter from Australia - I hope Zola stays as he seems committed. But if he goes, we need some one who's passion and heart for the club is unquestioned - and that is PAOLO DI CANIO.

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