Eurosport - Fri, 05 Dec 10:45:00 2008
Herita Ilunga admits he plans to use West Ham as a stepping-stone to a bigger team after admitting the Hammers are "second rate".
Ilunga, who is on a season-long loan from Toulouse, has impressed at Upton Park after establishing himself as a regular in Gianfranco Zola's side.
The left-back has described West Ham as a 'second-rate' club and that he has ambitions of playing at a higher level.
"Without being derogatory, West Ham are a second-rate club," Ilunga was quoted as saying in The Sun.
"Let's not kid ourselves - we are not an Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea.
"Once I have proved myself in a team such this, I can hope to make the step up to another club.
"I am keen to continue my adventure in England."
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| 19:45 | Stockport County v Swindon Town |
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Comment 6 - 25 of 25
spuds stop moaning as usual and sell off you rbest players to the bigs boys cos you ain't no big club you deluded twats
Herita Ilunga admits he plans to use West Ham as a stepping-stone to a bigger team after admitting the Hammers are "second rate. Carlton Cole admits that he hasn't been trying but will try harder now he has a new contract. Dean Ashton as fat as Gazza used to be and always injured, Bellamy and Bowyer are thugs, So perhapsMr Ilunga has a point.
For anyone interested in what Ilunga actually said and not the nonsense Setanta mis-translated, see the full interview below. The only bits I haven't translated are the paragraph at the beginning where he explains his wife and friend do his blog and the final paragraph which is full of slang and him laughing about trying to drive on the wrong side of the road.
Key points:
a) He does NOT call us second "rate" - there are several French terms to indicate something like that, he says (in English) "second zone" that I take to mean "second tier" or "medium sized"
b) He uses the exact words, "I really hope that I stay at the club because I am very happy there." But he also states that if he doesn't stay at West Ham he wants to go to another English club.
c) He says Zola is good enough to still play and could help out West Ham up-front.
Interview:
Q. You have not been forgotten, even if you left France rather quickly on the last day of the transfer window...
A... England was already a dream in my time at Saint-Etienne. I would have liked to come earlier. West Ham has opened the doors for me to the Premier League this season.
Q. You've played in Spain (Espanyol Barcelona) and France. English football, is it really something else?
A. Another world! This is the football you love to see and play with great commitment. It's enormously different to the football I have always played. When you have tasted the English championship is very difficult to look at the others. And I say this without disrespect to the French championship which is of a very high level. But the English championship is above it. And it is not the same culture. The Premier League is really something else.
There is more, but no space left. The guy has been totally misinterpreted by the press.
As a season ticket holder, i cant wait to see the reaction from the rest of the fans! hes a good player and does deserve his place in the team, however i dont think the fans will appreciate his view of the club!
He wont get anywhere if he keeps handling the ball
When interviewed by a French Journalist (speaking in French!) Ilunga said "West Ham est un club de seconde zone. Il ne faut pas se leurrer, nous ne sommes ni Arsenal, Manchester United ou Chelsea." which translates (more or less) as "West Ham is a mid-table club. We can't delude ourselves; we're not Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea." Get your facts right.
Norris, you boys are the joke going back to the days of playing hide and seek with you over at your place, could never find any of you when we came over! No conviction! Ha ha. Your glory days are way in the past chap!
Steve, calm down fella. I feel sorry for West Ham more than anything, you a just a nothing club. you'll never finish anywhere near the top of the league and havent won a cup since...was it the 70s? best thing you could do is get relegated so you may win the playoff final again. glory glory west ham.... Tottenham are a top club who are consistantly in Europe. Hopefully silverwear again this year... It must be so depressing and just feel like a waste of time blowing bubbles at upton park.
Michael Norris, you are such a nerd, you Spuds think you are some sort of elite force, to be honest your nothing but a joke,you are the epitome of the Cinderella club, @#$%e C*rt Lane is falling down is about right!
Neil M, your not a sheffield utd supporter by any chance are you, stop crying over getting relegated. the fact of the matter is that west ham don't manage the premier league and were told that it was alright to play the argentinians by the leagues's managers, the fact that their checks were not thorough enough is not west hams' fault, personnally i think the both clubs west ham and sheffield utd have a case against the premier league, now get get on with the rest of your life.
hey neil home of cheats eh,you must be from sheffield utd or you support them
I think this Llunga fella has a point. West Ham are a second rate team, more commonly known as Tottenham's feeder club. Anything half decent they have we'll take off their hands once they realise the club is a championship outfit above their station. Hammers are likely to go down this year and I can honestly see Spurs sticking 3 or 4 past them on Monday. I bet Woodgate and King are shaking in their boots at the prospect of facing.....Carlton Cole!!! ha ha ha COYS
Mike
I think this Llunga fella has a point. West Ham are a second rate team, more commonly known as Tottenham's feeder club. Anything half decent they have we'll take off their hands once they realise the club is a championship outfit above their station. Hammers are likely to go down this year and I can honestly see Spurs sticking 3 or 4 past them on Monday. I bet Woodgate and King are shaking in their boots at the prospect of facing.....Carlton Cole!!! ha ha ha COYS
Maybe you prefer attempted manslaughter Neil M. Take a look in the mirror next time.
At last there is some spoken truth coming out of West Ham, 'The home of cheats'
See the article on KUMB no. 123772
He was misinterpreted. If you are genuine WH fans you should know to question everything put out by the Scum, The Daily Slapper, The Daily Fascist and the rest of the oily rags.
He's a hammer, not leaving and is a contender for HOTY.
Ignore this and move on. Nothing to see here.
Hopefully this idiot will get dropped.
Typical bloody Frenchmen sod off to the arse-nal better still back to France !! from gibbohammer
....or it could just be the usual rubbish you get from The Sun. Can't see Ilunga getting Evra worried about his spot any time soon, whether it's true or not.
Exactlty I agree with westhamwaynelineker, its those types of comments that got Gallas in trouble, I suggest the lad keeps his mouth shut, and do what he's suppose to, help his team!
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