Nani: Di Michele is great
Filed: Thursday, 11th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United Technical Director Gianluca Nani has claimed that on loan striker David Di Michele is a 'great player'.
Nani was responsible for bring the 32-year-old striker to West Ham in the summer since when he has scored just two goals - both against Newcastle back in September. In United's most recent fixture - the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham - the former Torino man angered home fans by ignoring a dangerous free-kick in the closing stages, preferring instead to tie his shoelaces as play went on around him.
However Nani clearly has faith in the striker who has played just a bit part this season; talking about the forthcoming transfer window and possible player movements he said:
"Di Michele will stay with us. We have the option to sign him and we are not thinking of letting him go as he is showing he is the great player we all admired in Italy."
Nani - who is approaching the end of his first year with West Ham - also confirmed that the club are not looking to introduce fresh faces to the squad. Despite having won only one game in the last ten, Nani insisted that Gianfranco Zola has enough quality in his squad to compete in the Premier League.
"We are happy with our squad," he added. "We have more than 35 players available for the first team, so it is not necessary to intervene in the transfer market."
Nani also gave his backing to the under-fire Zola, who has won just three of the 13 games in which he has been in charge of thus far.
"Zola was one of the greatest players in the history of Italian football," said Nani. "We hope he is appreciated just as much as a coach; he is conducting himself very well so far."
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by Babooshka
10:27PM 11th Dec 2008
''Rabid Ukelele?
Oh dear, the man can't pass, run with the ball, has no awareness and looks like his legs have gone. (Ba)Nani is looking through his Pizza specs, or must be on some sort of bung (allegedly). I despair if this is really attributable to him.
Give me a Freddie Sears or a Jack Collison any day!''
by moorehurst
08:15PM 11th Dec 2008
''"Di Michele will stay with us.....as he is showing he is the great player we all admired in Italy."
Two problems with that statement:
1) he isn't showing us as he's a great player;
2) if he was admired in Italy, he wouldnt be at West Ham.
BTW, I have a very bad feeling about the future of West Ham ...''
by CanadianHammer
07:33PM 11th Dec 2008
''Di Michele is a good player no doubt, but how can he possibly showcase his talent when he only gets to play 5-10 minutes a game? I don't get Zola's starting line-ups and substitutions at all. He keeps putting players on the pitch that have no business being there, yet talented players are warming the bench in order to right the wrong after his starting line up goes for a cr*p.''
by Alan
04:45PM 11th Dec 2008
''Di Michele has the technical ability, no doubt about that. He proved that in his first game for us and for the years I've watched him play in Serie A. It's harsh to judge players unless they are starting games regularly. At the moment the team needs pace and creativity - Di Michele at least brings some creativity and will look to make things happen.''
by Goronzola
04:19PM 11th Dec 2008
''He just needs to be played. At least he can play the game unlike the majority of our squad who can't run with, control or pass the ball.''
by Gianluca's talking cobblers
04:17PM 11th Dec 2008
''So Di Michele is a great player? Well, you learn something new every day!
Mr Nani isn't exactly going to endear himself to Hammers fans with stupid bloody comments like that, is he - especially when all the evidence points to the contrary. Howsabout getting your finger out and signing these great young talents you were hired to find Luca, instead of making comments that are only going to make you look foolish.''
