Gianfranco Zola's West Ham in Fine Fettle

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola needs a huge pat on the back for his work at Upton Park this season.

The former Italy Under-21 coach took up the reins in the east end in September 2008 and has come through a rocky patch with the capital club to find them sitting in the eighth spot in the Premier League with plenty of optimism for the future.

Zola took over from Alan Curbishley and his reign started in superb style with two wins in his first two games. However, things went pear-shaped with the Hammers, who then went seven games without a win.

It was a tough spell for the former Chelsea star and a time when pundits and fans alike were calling for the head of the diminutive Italian, but Zola's character saw him through it and he has since thanked the Hammers for their patience.

"It took me a long time and maybe I would have been sacked at a different club after two months, so you definitely need time," Zola said.

Zola's men have lost just once since their slump, falling to Premier and UEFA champions Manchester United last week.

However, before that the Hammers played seven top-flight games with their success due to a strong backbone and a nice blend of youthful exuberance and experience.

In Robert Green, the Hammers have a goalkeeper who, unlike his England colleague David James, is rock-solid and rarely makes a mistake.

England defender Matt Upson is also reliable alongside Welsh star James Collins, but it's Zola's midfield quartet of Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Valon Behrami, and Mark Noble that have been eye-catching.

Parker, 28, and Noble, 21, must be the hardest working midfield pair in the Premier League, while 23-year-old Behrami and 20-year-old Collison provide the flair.

Swiss international Behrami looks a snip of £5 million, while Wales dynamo Collison looks like the pick of the bunch. The youngster looks to have all the qualities of a modern-day midfielder with energy, determination, and an eye for the goal, and Zola might have a job keeping the starlet, who has made the step up to senior international football with Wales.

The Hammers have the in-form Carlton Cole leading the line and it will be interesting to see how new £9 million-signing Savio performs after his arrival in the transfer window.

Zola also has youngsters Freddie Sears and James Tomkins waiting in the wings as the Hammers push for a top-six spot.

That might just prove out of their reach this term, but they face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup this weekend, and at football odds of 15.5 they might be worth a punt to go one better than they did in May 2006 when they were beaten in the showpiece on penalties by Liverpool.

By Phil Tomlinson, an online sports writer for Betfair. Check them out for Cheltenham betting odds.