Below is from tonight's (Wed) London Evening Standard, including latest team news on the oppo. Let's hope the lads take out their Wembley frustration by banging in a sackful...

by Ken Dyer Harry Redknapp is usually a shrewd judge of sporting talent, whether it has two legs and an attitude, or four hooves and a jockey on its back. As a race horse owner, Redknapp is also aware that thoroughbreds can be difficult at times. It is how you handle their peccadillos, how you indulge their idiosyncrasies, which decides whether you have a winner on your hands, or just another unfulfilled talent.

Anyone who saw Paolo Di Canio's incredible goal against Wimbledon will understand it takes a special talent even to attempt something so audacious, let alone succeed. Redknapp, his players and the club's fans, almost to a man, love the volatile Italian who will be back from injury against Newcastle tonight, and the supporters will certainly vote for him as their player of this year.

The West Ham manager, in fact, would go further. "People might think I'm talking silly, being a bit biased," he says, "but I believe Paolo should be in the running for the top player award in English football.

"I'm not surprised he's up there at the top of the Carling Opta Index. Have you seen anyone to compare with his skill? The goal against Wimbledon was fantastic but he does that nearly every day in training.

"We were out on the training pitch today. The ball came over, Paolo goes to shoot with his left peg, the defenders come flying in, he pulls the ball back onto his right and bends it into the top corner. One defender's gone this way, one's gone that way and the ball is up there in the net. I've never seen anything like it, I can promise you, since Jimmy Greaves. He used to do something similar, make as if to shoot, tempt the defenders in and then go the other way.

"I don't understand why he's never played for Italy. Marcello Lippi has said Paolo's the most talented player he's ever worked with.

"I know one club who would give #5 million for him but he's staying here.

"We know he has his tantrums but you don't have to row with him. You let him get on with it and he calms back down. If you want to have a ruck with him, start shouting and screaming at him, then it all gets silly.

"You just have to understand the man. He's a great trainer - he gets frustrated occasionally when people around him don't do things as well as him - but his attitude in training has been great and has rubbed off on the other players.

"People are now talking about limiting the amount of foreign players in the Premiership and that wouldn't be a problem for us but it's great for our fans to be able to watch special talent like Paolo, Zola, Ginola and the rest.

"Ask our fans if they would rather watch Paolo Di Canio or some of the stuff dished up by all-English teams a few years ago in the First Division? There's only one answer."

Di Canio, himself, still nurtures hopes of playing for his country one day. "I would love to pull on the blue shirt of Italy just once even if it is just to sit on the substitutes' bench," he says.

"I played at Under-21 level but never for the senior team. I don't know why not but perhaps it was because I speak my mind too often, ruffle too many feathers, upset too many people.

"That's why I love it in England. You can say what you think, what you believe, and people do not hold it against you.

"I would say that, after West Ham's match against Wimbledon, all the media in Italy, newspapers and TV stations were saying I should be picked for the Italian side.

"A few years ago everyone used to watch the Italian senior side on TV but now a lot don't bother. I am told the viewing figures for the most recent international were down to around four million.

"I still have hope that I will be picked one day but it doesn't worry me too much. Now I want to give my best to West Ham, to the manager, the directors, the supporters.

"These are the people who believed in me when everyone else was turning away and telling West Ham: 'Don't touch Di Canio, he's trouble.' Now I want to repay them for that."

Di Canio missed West Ham's last game, the 7-1 debacle at Manchester United, with a groin injury.

Redknapp has other injury problems tonight, however, most significantly in the goalkeeping position. First choice Shaka Hislop is recovering from a broken leg while Canadian international Craig Forrest is struggling with a groin injury.

"I can't take the goal-kicks," admitted Forrest today. "And I can't train between matches, but I am prepared to play if needed."

Redknapp is optimistic that Forrest will be fit to face Newcastle but, should he fail a late test, American Ian Feuer will come in.

West Ham, though, will be without captain Steve Lomas, who has a broken toe, while John Moncur is doubtful because of a groin strain. Redknapp is also optimistic that veteran defender Stuart Pearce will make a return, following his second broken leg of the season.

"Stuart will take it one step at a time," says Redknapp. "But I think he will come back. In fact I believe he could play for another two years."

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Answers

Seems like the best way to play tonight would be for one of our Defenders to give Di Canio a good kicking, He'll know doubt loose his head, get sent off, and we can go on to bag a net full past there dodgy keeper

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000