Post by m on Sept 28, 2006 15:01:49 GMT
West Ham United are in fact based in East London which is a ridiculously confusing state of affairs.
Their fans still harp on about the fact that three of their players (Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and the late, great Bobby Moore) were in the 1966 World Cup winning England side.
Fact is if the club hadn't been so short sighted then previous manager Harry Redknapp had assembled a potential side to rival even that prestigious bunch. Unfortunately he left under a cloud, the club were relegated and the players sold to the highest bidders.
Goalkeeper David James left for Manchester City and has now rejoined Redknapp at Portsmouth. Young full-back Glen Johnson went to Chelsea though he too has joined Redknapp at Portsmouth on a season long loan deal. Centre back Rio Ferdinand left for Leeds and has now moved on to Manchester United. Midfielders Frank Lampard and Joe Cole are now both regulars for Chelsea. Their compatriot Michael Carrick left for rivals Spurs but has now gone to Manchester United and striker Jermaine Defoe is also now at Spurs.
A collection of such incredible young English talent is unlikely to be nurtured at one club ever again and that is a sad fact. However, current manager Alan Pardew pulled the club up by it's bootlaces and got them back into the Premiership and in their first season back in the top flight qualified for European competition. Rio's brother Anton Ferdinand is the cornerstone of the current side's defence along with Welsh internationals Danny Gabbidon and James Collins. Paul Konchesky has become a full England international since joining the club from Charlton and young club captain Nigel Reo-Coker was on stand by for the World Cup Finals squad despite having just one season's experience in the Premiership. Veteran striker Teddy Sheringham keeps defying the odds and putting in sterling performances and unsung strike partners Bobby Zamora and Marlon Harewood have pace to spare. Matthew Etherington is a rare commodity in an English footballer in that he is a left footed midfielder and this season despite starting slowly the addition of two genuinely world class players in midfielder Javier Mascherano and striker Carlos Tevez of Argentina should see them at least consolidate on last season's finish...
Their fans still harp on about the fact that three of their players (Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and the late, great Bobby Moore) were in the 1966 World Cup winning England side.
Fact is if the club hadn't been so short sighted then previous manager Harry Redknapp had assembled a potential side to rival even that prestigious bunch. Unfortunately he left under a cloud, the club were relegated and the players sold to the highest bidders.
Goalkeeper David James left for Manchester City and has now rejoined Redknapp at Portsmouth. Young full-back Glen Johnson went to Chelsea though he too has joined Redknapp at Portsmouth on a season long loan deal. Centre back Rio Ferdinand left for Leeds and has now moved on to Manchester United. Midfielders Frank Lampard and Joe Cole are now both regulars for Chelsea. Their compatriot Michael Carrick left for rivals Spurs but has now gone to Manchester United and striker Jermaine Defoe is also now at Spurs.
A collection of such incredible young English talent is unlikely to be nurtured at one club ever again and that is a sad fact. However, current manager Alan Pardew pulled the club up by it's bootlaces and got them back into the Premiership and in their first season back in the top flight qualified for European competition. Rio's brother Anton Ferdinand is the cornerstone of the current side's defence along with Welsh internationals Danny Gabbidon and James Collins. Paul Konchesky has become a full England international since joining the club from Charlton and young club captain Nigel Reo-Coker was on stand by for the World Cup Finals squad despite having just one season's experience in the Premiership. Veteran striker Teddy Sheringham keeps defying the odds and putting in sterling performances and unsung strike partners Bobby Zamora and Marlon Harewood have pace to spare. Matthew Etherington is a rare commodity in an English footballer in that he is a left footed midfielder and this season despite starting slowly the addition of two genuinely world class players in midfielder Javier Mascherano and striker Carlos Tevez of Argentina should see them at least consolidate on last season's finish...
nuts hair cut though...