Source: Team_Talk
Hammers complaint surprises Zola
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola believes Fulham boss Roy Hodgson did "the right thing" by fielding a weakened team against Hull.[LNB] The Premier League confirmed on Friday that they have received an official complaint from the relegation-threatened Hammers about Hodgson's decision to rest five key players for a match which Hull won 2-0.[LNB]But Zola was not aware that the complaint would be lodged, and his verdict on Hodgson's team selection appears to conflict with the viewpoint expressed by West Ham owners David Gold and David Sullivan.[LNB]Gold and Sullivan are claiming Hodgson broke Premier League rules by resting Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, Damien Duff, Aaron Hughes and Dickson Etuhu for the match at the KC Stadium last week.[LNB]Hull's victory allowed Iain Dowie's team to draw level with West Ham on 27 points, leaving Zola's side outside the relegation zone only by virtue of goal difference.[LNB]Should the Premier League uphold the complaint, Fulham could find themselves being hit with a similar penalty to the suspended £25,000 fine handed to Wolves after Mick McCarthy rested nine players for his side's match at Manchester United.[LNB]Zola, who takes his side to Everton on Sunday, believes Hodgson was only thinking about the interests of his club when he rested the key quintet.[LNB]When asked for his reaction to the complaint being lodged, Zola said: "I just heard about that. I didn't know it was happening.[LNB]"As far as I'm concerned, a manager can play his best team.[LNB]"I have no doubts that Roy Hodgson is doing the best for his team.[LNB]"He's a person I respect for his loyalty and I have no complaints with that.[LNB]"He decided to do that and I'm sure he has done the right thing for his club. Plus from what I read in the reports Fulham weren't that bad, so I have no problems with that."[LNB]Premier League rules state that all teams must field their strongest side available for all games.[LNB]Hodgson insisted on Thursday night that he had done nothing wrong and was adamant that he would continue his rotation policy for this weekend's match against Wigan.[LNB]"Firstly I don't think West Ham should be picking our team and I think that is a fairly obvious statement," said 62-year-old Hodgson.[LNB]"If there is a complaint my conscience is perfectly clear on the subject and as far as I'm concerned we don't have a case to answer."[LNB]Last weekend's 1-0 home loss to Stoke left West Ham's hopes of top flight survival hanging by a thread.[LNB]Zola's position at the club looked in jeopardy when Sullivan decided to write an open letter to the Hammers fans urging them to stick with the team despite their "pathetic" performance against Wolves the previous week.[LNB]The former Chelsea striker flew back to his native Sardinia to consider his future following the defeat, but decided to carry on as manager despite his side losing six games in a row.[LNB]Zola admitted his decision to stay on was a tough one, but he insists he has the backing of his player, and that he is the right man to save the club from relegation.[LNB]"I was delighted to get back," said the diminutive Italian.[LNB]"For me it was tough and very emotional then but that is it now. "It's a situation where you have to be strong and that's what I'm going to be.[LNB]"It was another painful defeat for us last week and I had to think about how to improve the situation but it feels good to have the support I have behind me.[LNB]"I think I have the players' backing. They want to react and I know that I can do something for this club, the club that gave me a very good opportunity and i want to try my best to help them and I think I can help them by being here."[LNB]Zola concedes his side will have to improve significantly to beat an in-form Everton side, but insists his side can pull off a shock result.[LNB]"It will be tough but sometime in football a surprise can happen," said the 43-year-old.[LNB]"The players are working hard, they are focused and we just need to stay strong. We have had a lot of adversity to come around but we are stronger than that.[LNB]"We will do our best because I'm sure there will be a lot of supporters travelling there and we want to do it for them. They deserve a good break."
