Zola’s Unrequited Love of the 4-3-3

As I see it we presently have 4 distinctly different sets of players in the squad right now

1. Very experienced relatively long-serving back bone, our Claret and Blue Pennines: straight out from back is Green to Cole, Edale to the Cheviots – “The Middle Pennine Gap” filled quite admirably at the back by our tower of strength Upson and our mid-field terriers Parker, ably buttressed by that most faithful of Hammers Mark C&B Noble

2. We have our academy ‘starlets’ our ‘kids’ like: Hines, Stanislas, Tomkins and Collison – ‘rookie Tommies’ thrust into the fray a little too early in their careers on a needs must basis, so desperate are we to field a competent side on a shoe-string budget
3. Then there is the established foreign contingent, who have been here for a bit but have struggled to find their real form this season and cohere with a “newly formed” side. Players like: Ilunga, Faubert, Behrami (out injured for a while I know, but still struggling a little to fit back in) and Spector – although he does seem to be getting there now, even Kovac is trying. Wenger once said that it can take some very good players two years (yes TWO YEARS) to get used to the English Premiership.
4. Last and by no means least there is the newly recruited members of our Foreign Legion, the cavalry rising up over the hillside and charging into the skirmish to help us make a concerted stand against relegation, the likes of: – Diamanti, Jimenez, Da Costa and Franco all frantic to gel and play as a coherent unit

If I am correct in the above it’s not hard to see why Zola is so adamant to make “the project”, his project work – youngsters from our own world renowned academy or those from abroad, blended with just the right balance of a fine seasoned vintage Bourgogne Rouge, playing fast attacking football.

The Danger of Running before walking, although the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step

There is already talk in some circles, (to which I do not concur) after just one game, that there will be such a significant resurgence from West Ham, following the home defeat of The Villains Wednesday night, that we could now push on for that potentially promised 2010 Europa League place.

Is it at all possible, given that Zola had a reasonable first season in charge, lifted and exalted by the fans admiration and last season’s residual euphoria, Gianfranco was trying to run before he could walk?

Could it be that when the ingredients at 1, 2, 3 and 4 above have had time to cohered into a consistent unit so that all the separate parts fit together and add up to a harmonious or credible whole; it will be then that we will see Zola’s vision for the future of a fast, sexy, slick and attacking style of play that is his dream. A dream of that elusive conquering 4-3-3 formation which will unfold for West Ham’s mighty Hammers instead of just skipping out of reach?

Is it only just a question of the vivid imagination of Gianfranco Zola being correct, but that the timing of the diminutive genius' mind's-eye is a little askew?