Zola to give youth a chance

Hammers boss has high hopes for club's up and coming stars

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 7th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Zola to give youth a chance

Zola: High hopes for youngsters

Related links

Teams

Also see

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has vowed to continue the club's tradition of blooding youngsters for the first team.

Zola has backed up his claim by getting teenage striker Freddie Sears to sign a new long-term deal with academy graduate Jack Collison set to follow suit.

West Ham entertain Tottenham on Monday, meaning a return to Upton Park for Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, someone who regularly gave young players their chance with the Hammers.

During his time with the club Redknapp brought through the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe and Zola has high hopes for the current crop.

He said: "This is what we are trying to do and we already have young players in the team like Freddie Sears, Jack Collison and Mark Noble.

Future

"They are the future of the club and that is the philosophy we want to have. That is why Jack is going to sign an extension to his contract and Sears has already signed.

"We're looking to build a team like that, where there is always a possibility of young players coming through and youth to have a chance. That is my ideal situation."

Zola believes that Redknapp will receive a decent reception from the Hammers fans despite the rivalry between the two clubs.

"I think they will give him a good reception, He will get what he deserves. It's a very important game for this club but people have to respect what others have done for the club before. I'm sure our fans will do that," the Hammers boss explained.

The 42-year-old Italian has seen his side go three games unbeaten in the Premier League, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Despite Zola's promise to play attacking free flowing football he admits that every team needs a solid defence.

Outstanding

He added: "The way the defence were moving and working as a unit is impressive. Against Liverpool last week that was outstanding.

"But that does not change my philosophy. I know to make my philosophy work I have to see how the game is going.

"We were conceding too much and we tried to improve it from the back and make us better defensively.

"When that part of the game is working well we have to improve offensively. It's down to (assistant) Steve Clarke, certainly, and all the other staff.

"But it is not only about the defence. If you are not conceding goals it is because the whole team is defending better.

"Against Liverpool the midfield worked very hard, Mullins, Parker and Faubert were outstanding defensively. I like to share the credit with all the team."