Gianfranco Zola believes Benni McCarthy will provide the firepower West Ham need following a goalless draw against Blackburn.
Hammers boss says co-owners will give club stability
Gianfranco Zola believes Benni McCarthy will provide the firepower West Ham need following a goalless draw against Blackburn.
The 32-year-old striker is on the verge of a £2.5million move from Blackburn to the Hammers, who left Upton Park on Saturday frustrated at having not taken all three points.
The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold at home for the first time since their successful takeover - had plenty of possession but lacked a finishing touch despite a second-half introduction of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole.
Zola hopes the imminent arrival of the McCarthy can add the cutting edge upfront which was lacking in his side's latest Premier League fixture.
"It looks like it is done and next week he (McCarthy) should be coming to train with us," the Hammers boss said.
"I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal is done.
"He should be available for the next game. Benni will be a threat in the last third.
"He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very good help for us."
Stability
The Italian also said Hammers fans Sullivan and Gold will provide the club with the stability they need to stay in the Premier League.
"They have given us stability and maybe some more players to strengthen the team, and that is a good thing," said Zola.
West Ham failed to get out of first gear against Rovers and on another day could have lost.
Just before the break, Morten Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.
Zola said: "I was expecting us to create a bit more quality, but we were not able to do that.
"The tension caught us a little bit, everybody was nervous and we could not express the quality we needed to break them down.
"But I take it as a good day, because this point means we step up the table."
