A Rivalry Steeped In History

The ship which sits proudly above the red devil on Manchester United’s crest often goes unnoticed, such is our familiarity with the global brand that the logo has become.

The ship represents the Manchester Ship Canal; it was completed in 1894 and meant goods were able to bypass Liverpool’s ports and be transported straight to Manchester, resulting in substantial job losses on Merseyside and great resentment from the Liverpudlian population.

This is popularly cited as the root of a bitter rivalry which exists between the two industrial cities; a rivalry which is always evident when Liverpool F.C. meet Manchester United F.C. and has led many experts to label it the biggest game of football in the world.

Liverpool dominated English football for the 20 years between 1970 and 1990, a period in which they won eleven league championships and four European cups. However, from that moment up until the current day, Manchester United have responded under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

They have now overtaken Liverpool’s famed 18 league titles and, although they are still two trophies behind them in terms of the Champions League, they remain England’s biggest football club despite surges of success from Arsenal, Chelsea and, most recently, another vicious rival in the form of Manchester City.

Manchester also retaliated culturally. Liverpool’s famous music scene, led by ‘The Beatles’ who took the world by storm in the 1960s, was replicated in Manchester with the emergence of ‘The Stone Roses’, ‘The Smiths’ and ‘Oasis’ to solidify their position as the leading city of the pair.

The rivalry has become so bitter that when the sides met last Sunday, there was a fear that Manchester United fans would disrupt Liverpool’s tributes to the 96 supporters who died in the infamous 1989 ‘Hillsborough disaster’.

The case relating to the scandal was finally closed this month when an independent panel concluded that multiple failures by emergency services should be held responsible for the deaths. Sunday’s game was the first time Liverpool had played at their home, Anfield, since the ‘justice for the 96’ campaign was granted its wish, allowing those who suffered to rest in peace.

It seems extraordinary that football would lead any fellow human beings to dishonour the practices which would take place in Liverpool on Sunday, but United boss Ferguson still felt the need to distribute letters to the travelling fans, encouraging them to respect the remembrance service.

Of course there were still an idiotic few who jeered as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was emotionally bellowed out by 40,000 sympathisers; the minds of some fans are so polluted by rivalry that their loyalty clouds their judgement of what is simply right and wrong.

Similarly in the past, a few Liverpool supporters have crudely taunted Mancunians about the Munich air disaster which killed 23 people, including much of the team nicknamed ‘The Busby Babes’ alongside journalists and supporters.

However, crucially, a memorial bouquet of flowers was placed outside the stadium, signed ‘The silent majority at M.U.F.C.’; it was certainly a humbling and truthful image which reflected the many who were able to lay their bitterness to one side in favour of humanity.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez rightfully accepted the hand of United captain Patrice Evra before the game, despite allegations of racism between the pair.

The match didn’t continue as smoothly, it maintained the rivalry between the clubs by featuring a sending off and a late goal from Robin Van Persie which gave the visitors the victory and epitomised their ability to go one better than their rivals in recent years.

However, the rivalry on the pitch is something that no football fan wants to lose. The united front between the majority of both sets of fans as well as staff and players of the clubs was a truly proud moment for English football and both cities.

The feud will remain, but Sunday showed that, in the face of adversity, thousands are able to put the most intense of differences aside in order to respect justice.

Liverpool could break Hammers' hearts

‘Big Sam Allardyce’ has made a great start to the Premiership era of his reign at West Ham. But he is not the only man who has already made a ‘big’ impact at Upton Park this season. Unfortunately, I have made the mistake of falling in love with Andy Carroll.

If any of you had the misfortune of tuning in to Sky Sports ‘Goals on Sunday’ featuring Allardyce himself, you would’ve heard the regretful confirmation that it is a distinct possibility that Carroll can be recalled by Liverpool in January.

We must applaud David Sullivan and David Gold for their ambition and determination to bring Andy to the club, but it appears that the deal is not as ‘watertight’ as it was first described. Insiders had previously claimed that Carroll could be ours for a figure of around £18 million at any point during the year, and also suggested that the transfer of Carroll was an offer exclusively available to West Ham United; however it has become clear that we could lose the player far quicker than the time it took to bring him to the club.

This clarity on the issue is just one example of what will become a repetitive battle of our owners’ claret and blue tinted eyes and desperation to please the fans, versus Allardyce’s cynical, frank realism.

Whilst Gold and Sullivan would have you believe that Carroll was in awe of West Ham United as soon as he opened the door of his customised Range Rover and looked up at the castle-like exterior of the Boleyn Ground, Allardyce has admitted that Carroll was reluctant to leave Liverpool and is only really here in an effort to get some first-team football and capture Brendan Rodgers’ attention.

As supporters we must not judge Carroll too harshly for this attitude. We’re all huge fans of West Ham and believe all our players should love the club as much as we do, but what we must remember is that he moved from his boyhood team Newcastle to join Liverpool, in a deal which made him the most expensive British footballer in history.

Even the most biased amongst us can accept that Liverpool is a great football club with a massive fan base who are dedicated to their club in a similar way to we are. They may not be experiencing their most successful period at the moment, but Carroll would obviously love to become a part of Liverpool’s illustrious history and, understandably, does not wanted to be judged as a failure.

Liverpool are currently struggling just outside the relegation zone whilst we are enjoying life back in the Premier League in 8th position. Whilst this could be seen as a reason for Carroll to want to stay at West Ham, I think it is vital that Liverpool overtake us soon or the pressure will mount on Rodgers and he, or his replacement, will quickly give in to pressure to call for Carroll to return to Anfield in a blaze of glory.

Rodgers’ football ideology could not be more different from Allardyce’s practicality; his idealistic playing style evidently has no room for what is perceived to be a 6ft 3” powerhouse. And that’s exactly why we need Rodgers’ homage to Barcelona to work and convince everyone, including Liverpool’s owners, that the old-fashioned centre forward is becoming extinct in the modern game, paving the way for Carroll to join permanently.

The appointment of Rodgers suggests that Fenway Sports Group subscribe to his ‘project’ and will give him the time necessary to transform Liverpool into a vibrant, free-flowing, attacking side. However they have far less commitment to Rodgers than they did to Kenny Dalglish in terms of risking alienating the fans, and so the fact that they sacked Dalglish may worry Rodgers.

Carroll could easily be brought back as a stop-gap plan to pick up some points before Rodgers’ next major transfer window. If Rodgers is fired then it is likely a more results-based manager will replace him, such as Harry Redknapp, and they would be certain to bring Carroll back in a heartbeat.

A brilliant forward is something that West Ham have not been particularly blessed with in recent years. Paolo Di Canio and Carlos Tevez are the only two amazing players who spring to mind; for the rest of the time we have had to settle for decent strikers who are confined to rare moments of quality such as Bobby Zamora, Dean Ashton and, in the current day, Carlton Cole.

Although Cole is certainly a likeable figure, undoubtedly committed to West Ham United and is not as useless as some would have you believe, the gulf in class between him and Carroll was shocking against Fulham.

Carroll controlled absolutely everything in the advanced positions of the pitch; he won almost everything in the air with ease, against a strong competitor in the form of Brede Hangeland, and showed an awareness when placing the ball which suggested he had been nurtured in that team for years when, in fact, he had minimal training time and was thrown into his debut in a reckless attempt to reconcile an embarrassing defeat at Swansea.

Anyone who tries to suggest that Carroll is a one-dimensional lump is talking absolute nonsense. I honestly believe he is one of the best players we have had in our squad for many years. Allardyce’s determination to force a deal through must be commended and I’m sure we are all relishing the thought of Matt Jarvis’ much-talked about cross completion statistics coming to fruition with Carroll providing the target.

He may not emit the same exoticism as the likes of Tevez did, and his towering frame and scruffy image complete with greasy pony tail does him absolutely no favours in terms of fitting in with the popular sleek, fashionable footballer stereotype of the moment (Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres etc.) but Carroll is a special player.

He may be unavailable today but we are still extremely lucky to have him considering we are in our infancy during this spell as a Premiership club. He completes what is one of the most competitive squads we have had in recent years and we could be in store for a solid campaign back in the top flight, especially if we maintain our 100% home record today against Sunderland.

Let’s hope Liverpool can also kick-start a successful season against Manchester United on Sunday as it could help us to hold on to a 23 year-old who is integral to fulfilling our dreams, as opposed to, predictably, seeing them fade and die.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

West Ham fans must accept Allardyce and stop trying to run the club

After another frustrating game at Upton Park, the fans are yet again reaching for the throat of Sam Allardyce and calls for his head are relentless. David Gold and David Sullivan must maintain their support of Allardyce until the end of the season and beyond if we are ever to gain promotion; bowing to fan-power will achieve nothing for West Ham United.

Hammers fans continue to label our contract with Allardyce as a Faustian pact, suggesting we have sold our soul to Allardyce and the long-ball, deeming him incompatible with the mystical ‘West Ham way’ which is constantly referenced. As much as he denies it, there is no doubt that Allardyce’s style is unattractive, but if it gets us promotion, it’s success will speak for itself. If it doesn’t, West Ham are in a very precarious situation.

Paolo Di Canio’s romantic relationship with West Ham means he will be continually linked with the manager’s job until the day he dies. As a huge admirer of Di Canio, his image is still plastered across my bedroom wall, I would love to see him manage us successfully in the future. But he must prove himself in management first or his spell could end in disaster; and six months at Swindon is not sufficient.

A successful season for Di Canio and one that sees us remain in the Championship under Allardyce will see the board under more pressure than ever to appoint him as our manager. We must hope that they do not give in to this pressure in an effort to support their image as supporters of the club who are ‘in touch with the fans’.

This situation has arisen at many clubs before, Newcastle United are one in particular who are often compared to us in terms of the loyalty of their vocal fans. Newcastle fans took issue with Allardyce’s style of play and forced him out after ferociously protesting to chairman Mike Ashley. Ashley eventually submitted and, by popular demand, appointed club legend Kevin Keegan as Allardyce’s replacement.

Keegan’s return saw the club go without a win for his first eight games and he eventually survived three games less than Allardyce with an inferior record. Keegan’s rapport with the fans meant that his resignation created further tensions between the fans and Ashley in an already strained relationship.

Keegan’s departure sparked turmoil at the club and a lack of managerial stability saw them in the depths of a relegation battle. Ashley yet again looked to appease the fans by appointing Newcastle hero, but completely inexperienced manager, Alan Shearer to the club. The script was written for Shearer to drag the magpies to safety in a blaze of glory, however realism intervened and Newcastle were subsequently relegated with Shearer winning only one of his eight-game stint.

Of course the relationship between Newcastle and Shearer remains mostly intact, but his short managerial period is certainly an embarrassing tarnish on his story with the club. There is nothing to say something similar wouldn’t happen to Di Canio; it would certainly be a depressing picture to see the supporters who had previously worshipped him, reluctantly wishing for him to leave.

Since Shearer, Ashley has asserted his authority at Newcastle and they are now reaping the rewards. After backing Chris Hughton for the entirety of their campaign in the Championship, Newcastle were promoted as champions. Following promotion, Ashley ruthlessly disposed of Hughton and surprisingly replaced him with Alan Pardew, a familiar face at Upton Park.

Pardew’s appointment was met with howls of protest from whining supporters, but this time Ashley remained faithful to his decision and Pardew has remained in charge ever since. Newcastle currently sit fifth in the Premier League and are challenging for a Champions League spot with a minute budget compared to those around them.

Who’s to say that if Newcastle hadn’t decided to stick with Allardyce in the first place, they wouldn’t have met this stage much sooner? Admittedly, we can all agree that Pardew’s team was far more exciting to watch, but Allardyce’s record at the likes of Bolton Wanderers suggests that he could’ve been successful at Newcastle, and he can be successful at West Ham.

As much as we reflect on Pardew’s reign at West Ham with nostalgia, we must remember that in his first year with us he failed to gain promotion, and in his second we scraped into the play-offs with a win at Watford on the final day of the season. His team never really threatened automatic promotion, and so Allardyce has surpassed him in that department.

If we don’t finish in the top two spots, we fall back into the play-offs and have a better chance of winning it now than the last time we did. So as supporters of West Ham, surely we must stick with Allardyce until the end of the season at the very least.

This is not to say that Allardyce is completely innocent, if he is to ever be fully accepted at West Ham he must learn to treat the supporters with a little more respect and take responsibility for poor performances. At the end of a disappointing game we don’t want to be bombarded with statistics of how much possession we had in the opposition’s half and we certainly don’t want to be told that we’re “talking b***ocks”.

The relationship between Allardyce and the fans is certainly going to have to take some compromise from both parties but if we can do this there is no reason as to why a successful era is not in store for West Ham. I have no doubt that a run of form will silence many of the more fickle critics, but those resolute anti-Allardycians will have to accept that he is our manager and, to be honest, is doing a decent job.

Our dire home record in comparison to our fantastic away form is no coincidence; Upton Park can become very hostile as soon as a fruitless long-ball is cannoned towards Carlton Cole. Perhaps a little more acceptance of Allardyce could change this and transform the Boleyn Ground into the fortress it should be.

These tactics are not forever, Allardyce is not forever; Swansea are the exception to the style of play which gets teams promoted from the Championship, those who want to do it quickly generally play a direct style. Once we return to becoming a secure Premiership side we can consider attractive football.

You are probably laughing at the expense of Liverpool at the moment. An undeniably great club, who appointed club legend ‘King Kenny’ Dalglish, spent a great deal of money and are now sitting in eighth position, one space below their arch-rivals Everton who have stuck by their manager for ten years. Don’t laugh too loudly, as the more you try to run the club, the more likely it is that West Ham United will suffer a similar plight.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

5 signings West Ham should make if they get promoted

Promotion may perhaps seems like more of a struggle now than it ever has this season, but there must be someone at the helm of West Ham United who is mentally planning for a campaign in the Premier League next year in order for us to be fully prepared. Although our squad has proved to be sufficient to keep us in contention for the automatic promotion spots, there is no doubt that some strengthening must be done if we are to survive comfortably in the top of league of English football and allow Sam Allardyce to continue his progress with us in 2013. Here are five suggestions who he should consider enquiring about in the summer transfer window if we are to be promoted:

1. Nathaniel Clyne


Most young talented English players are linked to the likes of Manchester United, and Clyne is not exempt, however, if a big side doesn’t approach him in the summer, he could be tempted by a move to West Ham. Our reputation of providing opportunities for young footballers, the prospect of first-team Premiership games and staying in London are likely to be big selling points for Clyne who is yet to experience the top-flight and may be getting itchy feet at remaining in the Championship as he moves into his twenties. The right-back position has been rather inconsistent at West Ham this season due to Guy Demel’s injury troubles and so it has been occupied by the likes of Winston Reid, Julien Faubert and mainly, Joey O’Brien. Clyne is an exciting prospect and is also consistent, having played every single game of last season’s campaign. He’s a good player now, but he’s certainly one for the future as well; hopefully that future can be at Upton Park.

2. Robert Snodgrass


It was rumoured that we looked into this possibility in January but that ultimately turned out to be fruitless; I’m sure that Premier League status would give us far more power to push this transfer through. Although just 24 years of age, the Scottish international has made 158 appearances for Leeds and although Neil Warnock’s reign has started well, if Leeds remain in the Championship, it’s possible that Snodgrass would seek a move which would elevate him to the Premiership. Snodgrass is one of the most creative players in the Championship, having provided the assist for 11 goals, but has also managed to notch 12 himself, that’s more than any of our players and that’s from midfield! We’ve lacked creativity from midfield this year so he would be an extremely valuable addition.

3. Matt Jarvis


This one’s for the opposite side of the field to Snodgrass; Jarvis has played on the left-wing for Wolves in the Premier League for a number of seasons now and his form has even led to a call-up for England, the first Wolves player to do so since 1990! West Ham’s team has really lacked quality from out wide this year with Matt Taylor the only player seemingly capable of delivering a quality cross, these two would really add a different dimension to our team and would be certain to provide goals and chip in with a few themselves. If Wolves are relegated, which it looks like they are going to be, Jarvis could be a real option. If we’re not able to sign him we could look into the possibility of Peter Whittingham at Cardiff.

4. Victor Moses


There was a time when Moses was being linked with Barcelona, seriously. Of course this was probably courtesy of media-hype and a very, very good agent but there is no doubt that Moses has quality and would be a good addition to our side. Although we have already mentioned two wingers, Snodgrass can operate in the centre and Moses offers the raw speed, which the previous two are not so renowned for, that we have arguably lacked this year. Moses has also featured up front on various occasions and could therefore be perfect for Sam Allardyce’s regular switches from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 throughout a game. Apparently Moses has suggested that he will not be sticking around if Wigan drop to the Championship so this could be a realistic addition.

5. Steven Fletcher


It’s never very pleasant to raid a relegated club, but if Wolves were to go down, a double-deal for Fletcher and Jarvis would mean good business. It’s been frustratingly long since we’ve had a really good finisher of chances at West Ham, and although perhaps not given great recognition, Fletcher is one of these. He has scored 20 Premiership goals in 49 games for Wolves, but his chance conversion rate is even more impressive. Wolves have never created a lot of chances, and one of the reasons they have managed to survive thus far is due to Fletcher’s efficiency; stats taken in February show that Demba Ba’s chance conversion rate was 63%, Robin Van Persie’s was 49% and incredibly, Steven Fletcher’s was 79%! We haven’t created a lot of chances this year, but those that we have, we’ve often been unable to finish; replacing Carlton Cole with Fletcher would’ve put us top of the league, and that is with Cole’s statistics being taken from the Championship and Fletcher’s from the Premier League. We know Allardyce is a fan of statistics so it is unlikely that Fletcher has gone unnoticed by him.

We have certainly paved a tough road to the Premier League, but a victory against Reading at the weekend could completely turn that around and give us back the momentum which we need to penetrate the automatic promotion spots. Each of these players would certainly be exciting additions to a decent squad who have certainly lacked the energy, speed, flair and confidence, which these players could offer, on far too many occasions.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

10 things to ask Big Sam Allardyce

You’re at the pub one evening and as you stroll up to the bar, you notice the unmistakeable figure of Sam Allardyce himself sitting on a stool with his sixth pint in hand. Now’s your chance to ask him some real questions off the record, with which he can be completely open without the fear of it covering the back-page of The Sun the following day. Here are ten suggestions…

1. What do you really make of the West Ham fans?

There is still very much a strong group of vocal fans who reject Allardyce as our boss because of his ‘long-ball’, physical tactics and incompatibility with playing ‘the West Ham way’, so it would be interesting to hear if the fact that he has not been fully accepted affects Allardyce. Additionally, his team have performed better away from home and have been subject to boos at Upton Park on more than one occasion; so does Allardyce see the fans as a ‘claret and blue army’, or a thorn in his side who continually criticise him and create a hostile atmosphere for his team?

2. Was it a difficult decision to join West Ham?

There’s no doubt that the Hammers are a sizeable club and provided a great opportunity for Allardyce, but was he concerned about the pressure which would be placed on him to catapult them back into the Premier League at the first time of asking? Also, was he a little bitter about not being chosen to replace Avram Grant in January of last year, having been overlooked whilst Martin O’Neill was available?

3. How is it working with David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady?

We’re sure that Allardyce would’ve been a little sceptical about working with these three after their regular media outbursts prior to his arrival, however it seems that they have toned things down since he joined, suggesting that this was a request when he signed his contract. So how has it been ever since? Are they good to deal with in terms of transfers and have there been any disagreements?

4. Who’s our best player?

It would be interesting to hear from Allardyce, who has been a manager since 1991 and watches the players in training every day, who he genuinely believes is our best player. There is certainly a strong affinity between him and Kevin Nolan but it’s probable that he would go for someone else; perhaps Abdoulaye Faye, James Tomkins or Mark Noble? Or could it be a shock candidate?

5. Did you think Carlton Cole would be better than he is?

When Allardyce signed for West Ham, he was probably rubbing his hands together at the prospect of a 6’ 3”, 12st 3lb, England international striker at his disposal in the second tier of English football who would seemingly fit in perfectly with Allardyce’s system which regularly features a target-man. However, although he has scored a few goals, he has failed to set the world alight, so do you think Allardyce is a little disappointed by him?

6. What do you see in Jack Collison?

Collison started his West Ham career with a string of impressive performances which suggested he had great potential. However, since a long-term injury, he has had a tendency to appear rather ineffectual in games and often pulls out of challenges. Despite seemingly offering little to nothing, Allardyce consistently chooses him, so what do you see in him Sam and how far do you realistically think he can go?

7. Do you have concerns about Ravel Morrison’s personality?

It seems that Morrison is a highly-regarded young player with enormous potential, and that is certainly why Allardyce decided to sign him. But it would be interesting to hear if this was a difficult decision due to concerns about his previous convictions and whether Allardyce feared he could unsettle the camp. Also, how long until we see him in the first-team?

8. How far can Mark Noble go?

We have all been impressed with Noble this season and he definitely holds a place in our hearts with regards to his commitment to West Ham United, but it would be interesting to listen to someone who has been involved in the game for as long as Allardyce talk about how good he really thinks Noble is. The England national team is a long way off as it currently stands, but could it ever happen for Noble?

9. Have you had any disappointing transfer failings since your time at West Ham?

We’re all aware that West Ham made enquiries about Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres in January; however I think it’s fair to say that these were always cheeky, unrealistic ventures which were never expected to come off. But has there been anyone who Allardyce hasn’t managed to get who he expected to and wanted to improve our squad? El-Hadji Diouf may have been frustratingly blocked due to fan-power, but is there anyone else he has missed out on and who does he blame for the move not coming to fruition?

10. How far do you believe you can take West Ham?

Allardyce has always been confident in his own ability, previously declaring “I would be suited to Inter or Real Madrid”, so how far does he really think he can take West Ham and how long does he plan to stay? We know that he is ambitious and we saw him take Bolton into Europe, so does he see that as the aim at West Ham, and is he excited about our future under him? Could this be the job which makes him a managerial icon?

It would certainly make for an interesting chat, but it’s unlikely that we will ever know the answers to these questions whilst he remains at the helm of the club. But keep them in mind just in case you bump into the big man after a few too many one night. His answers could lead him to develop a much better connection with the West Ham faithful, or alternatively alienate him further in an already strained relationship.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

Rickie Lambert is not the answer for West Ham

The result against Watford was certainly a disappointing one although the performance was rather typical of how we have played throughout the season. We look solid at 0-0 and if we are to get a goal then you fancy that we will go on and win it; but we never look fierce enough to come back and win from a goal down. Against Doncaster, even our ability to hold on to the 1-0 lead faltered.

Sam Allardyce not only suggested that someone like Southampton’s Rickie Lambert would’ve won us the game, but would’ve won us the Championship already! Although there is no doubt that Lambert has been vital to Southampton this season and is a top player, this comment is an unfair insult to our strikers.

“Sticking the ball in the back of the net”, as Allardyce eloquently puts it, has been the main problem of late, but this is more due to the lack of clear-cut chances we are creating than poor strikers. Reflecting on both games, I can think of very few chances which I would’ve genuinely expected one of our strikers to finish.

Whatever you think of Carlton Cole, although he is not the greatest finisher, he has earned seven England caps and scored 40 goals for us over his time here, and so it is clear that Cole does have the ability, even if he does not always show it.

It has become quite a cliché that Cole is a ‘confidence player’ who thrives on encouragement, so Allardyce’s praise of his striking counterparts for other teams is unlikely to have a positive impact on his performances.

Similarly, Nicky Maynard obviously has the ability to score goals and is someone who I have wanted us to sign for a number of years. His first goal for the club against Blackpool exemplified the kind of close-range, instinctive finishes that we purchased him for. Since that goal, with the exception of a couple of chances at Cardiff, Maynard has rarely had the opportunity to score this kind of goal.

Playing Cole and Maynard up front together on Wednesday night looked like an exciting combination however the duo never really managed to show their capabilities. There was a clear lack of chemistry between the pair which can only be created over more time playing together; however, if the results with two strikers continue to be as fruitless as that, the ruthless nature of football means we will swiftly revert back to one up top.

With Maynard such a new addition, it is rather thoughtless of Allardyce to publicly commend Lambert, perhaps suggesting a hint of regret that he had to settle for Maynard instead. I would’ve encouraged Allardyce to give Maynard another chance to play alongside Cole against Doncaster as he needs to net a home goal to boost his confidence.

Sam Baldock, previously the forgotten man, has looked very lively when he has been brought on recently, however I don’t hesitate to suggest that when both are at their best, Maynard is the better player and the one more likely to adjust to the Premier League. However he needs time to become successful at West Ham in the Championship if he is to be able to make the step-up next year (assuming we gain promotion) and for success he needs goals, and for goals he needs chances.

This begs the question as to whether Allardyce should be looking to criticise his midfielders rather than his strikers. The reality is that Southampton have five players who have achieved more assists than West Ham’s highest entry, Matty Taylor with five.

There is no doubt that Allardyce has identified this and looked to sign Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass in January, who has created ten goals this season; but as his efforts have proved futile, he has shifted the blame to the attack.

Allardyce himself admits that Kevin Nolan is “not a midfield player-maker”, and with Mark Noble holding a very deep role in midfield, there is little to no creativity coming from the middle of the park. In terms of wingers, Julien Faubert has had a better season but still only delivers one in twenty of his crosses to a satisfactory standard and the new addition Ricardo Vaz Te is evidently more comfortable with a central role.

Our finest creative player is obviously Matt Taylor whose quality of delivery is unsurpassed by anyone else in our squad. However this is just as obvious to the opposition who look to close him down quickly and keep him as far away from the by-line as possible, meaning that his possession of the ball often climaxes with a shot from distance rather than a chance for the strikers.

You may have forgotten about Ravel Morrison, who signed for us in January from Manchester United upon a wave of excitement, as he has yet to get anywhere near the first team. However, despite concerns about his attitude, it could be time to draft him in to the starting eleven. It’s not possible that he could’ve offered anything less than Jack Collison did on Saturday.

Morrison has been labelled one of the best prospects to have been in Manchester United’s illustrious youth academy in recent years, and has been compared to Paul Scholes by those who have watched him. Having seen the effect that the return of Scholes has had on United’s performances, perhaps we should be looking to bring in Morrison in an effort to improve our own. After being abandoned by Sir Alex Ferguson, it is likely that Morrison’s fiery attitude will push him to prove Ferguson’s assessment that he is not worth the hassle to be wrong.

Additionally, we have players like Henri Lansbury who could operate in a more creative midfield role but have been forced into makeshift roles all over the field including right-wing, right-back and goalkeeper! Surely it is obvious as to why we are failing to create as many chances as we should be.

I’m no critic of Allardyce but I certainly feel that he should consider different things he could do with his own squad before complimenting the players of others. All his statement about Lambert is likely to do is give the Southampton striker added belief that he is better than our players and to score more goals to keep the Saints at the top of the league, and thus leave us trailing in second place.

Carlton Cole obviously didn’t react particularly well against Doncaster as his performance left much to be desired. Let’s hope we create more chances against Leeds and “stick the ball in the back of the net” as many times as possible, otherwise another winless game could give Reading the momentum to jump ahead of us in the automatic promotion spots.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

West Ham fans should appreciate Kevin Nolan

It was a fantastic victory at the notoriously tough Cardiff City stadium on Sunday. Admittedly whilst their legs were seizing up in fits of cramp on the hallowed turf of Wembley a week previously, ours were resting peacefully on a beach in Dubai whilst watching them cry, but we don’t want to undermine our team of a vital win.

We’ve all been guilty of disparaging the ability of Kevin Nolan this season but stick a TV camera in front of him and he’s bound to score. We were all expecting a world-beater following the abundance of broadcasted goals when he signed in the summer, but now, probably like Bolton and Newcastle fans, we understand the true limitations of Kevin Nolan whereas the average football fan may still be scratching his head as to why Nolan has never earned an England cap whilst the likes of Francis Jeffers, Michael Ricketts and David Nugent have. To be fair they’re probably entitled to that question.

It was interesting that at the end of the game, Sam Allardyce wanted to highlight the point that “Kevin Nolan is a midfielder goal-scorer; he's not a midfielder playmaker”, and I personally think that if he had done so sooner that we would all have a far more positive perception of Nolan.

Being billed as the replacement for Scott Parker did not put Nolan in an easy position when he first joined, especially because he is a completely different player. Nolan was promoted as the new talisman, instantaneously given the captain’s armband and took over Parker’s role as the model for every West Ham advertising campaign; obviously an effective marketing strategy considering the amount of fans regretfully lumbering around the Boleyn with ‘NOLAN’ slapped on their backs.

But as soon as the anticipation was over and he finally stepped onto the pitch, the feeling has been much of disappointment and frustration despite an impressive amount of goals. This is mainly because he isn’t there to dramatically save the day and break up every move by diving in front of a thundering strike, nor does he emphatically dribble through the middle of the pitch or pivot in a circle; he isn’t Scott Parker.

Whilst we have all recognized that Mark Noble has taken on somewhat of a ‘Parker-role’ this season, we have also expected Nolan to climb into his skin, but Nolan is a completely different animal to what we have ever had before.

As Allardyce says, “he puts himself in very dangerous positions in the box and finds the quality and the finish that's basically only afforded to the top centre-forwards”. It’s refreshing as a West Ham fan to hear Allardyce admit that Nolan is not the most technically gifted of players and outline what he truly offers.

I’m sure David Sullivan and David Gold felt that Nolan would swiftly assume a place in the fans’ hearts but unfortunately this hasn’t happened at all. He has been billed a failure by most fans, but this is because he has failed to be Parker; in reality he has succeeded in achieving what Sam Allardyce employed him for and has been a very shrewd acquisition.

We were all very proud of Parker captaining England last week, and he truly does deserve it, but even phone-in show hosts had to remind many sycophantic Hammers that Parker has now moved on to our rivals. Although it is nice that our special relationship with Parker remains intact, we desperately need to allow Nolan the room to climb out of his shadow so we can appreciate him for what he is.

I have very much been one of Nolan’s harshest critics this season but I think I now understand that he must be judged on a completely different criterion to what he has been. In the manner that you can forgive a striker for not being particularly inspiring throughout a game if he nets the winner, we must forgive Nolan.

When he was punished with a three-match ban following his dismissal in the Millwall game, I was somewhat looking forward to seeing the team without Nolan, but it is easy to see that we are a far more efficient machine with him in the side.

He may not be as obviously effective as Parker was last season, and as Mark Noble has been this year, but his leadership keeps us very disciplined and it is difficult to see the team losing a lead due to a lack of concentration with him continually encouraging them to maintain their performance until the final whistle.

His presence evidently made a difference at the weekend and may have spurred us on to get the equalizer against Watford. So before you descend into an angry rage following a wayward pass from Nolan against Doncaster (there will be at least one), remember that there was ‘only one Scotty Parker’, but equally Nolan is an important and unique player himself.

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

Worst West Ham XI since the Premier League began

GK – Stephen Bywater

You never did feel comfortable with Bywater in goal. Remarkably, West Ham signed Bywater from Rochdale as a 16 year-old, for a fee that could rise to 1.75 million! Big things were expected from Stephen but it was only in 2000 after Shaka Hislop suffered a broken leg that he could make his debut, and Bradford managed to knock 4 past him! Once we were relegated in 2003, the door finally opened for Bywater to make the number one spot his own, but his terrible kicking and uncertain handling meant he was replaced by Jimmy Walker, and then Roy Carroll, and then Shaka Hislop once more and so, expectedly; his Hammers career fizzled out from there. He seemed like a nice guy but he was never good enough to be our goalkeeper.

LB – Wayne Quinn

Remember him? I’ll admit that I thought he looked decent on his debut but it all went down-hill from there. Quinn was signed on loan from Newcastle with the club desperately needing a left-back, but it soon became clear that we may have as well plucked someone from the local park instead of him, literally, because that’s where Quinn’s been ever since. Quinn hasn’t played professional football since he left West Ham in 2004 at the age of 28! Unable to find a club, Quinn now manages and plays for the famous Penzance A.F.C. in Cornwall.

CB – Christian Dailly

We called him a footballing genius, we admired the curly hair and he was allowed access to the wife of every singing Hammers fan, but he was truly terrible. It’s quite remarkable that Christian Dailly was, at one time, our captain and also had the armband for Scotland; that shows you how bad our last Championship team was compared to this one. The main reason Dailly makes the team is due to his vital role in the third relegation of his career when we went down in 2003 and his shaky performances in the Championship the following season. Again there’s no hard feeling but he’s a certain selection.

RB – Gary Breen

On the back of a pretty successful World Cup with Ireland, Glenn Roeder signed Breen on a free; in fact, it was later revealed he agreed to join Inter Milan at this time but failed a medical (although it was Breen who claimed that). It looked like an astute piece of business but soon proved to be a destructive addition. He made 18 appearances for the club in each of which he looked equally terrible and made a major contribution to our relegation. He has become somewhat of a scapegoat for that relegation, of course the other players were obviously at fault but Breen deserves all the criticism he gets for that campaign.

RM – Yaniv Katan

Katan only made 6 appearances for West Ham, in each of which he looked somewhat lost. Signed by Alan Pardew on a recommendation from fellow Israeli Yossi Benayoun, Katan didn’t stand much of a chance playing any more games than he did with Marlon Harewood, Teddy Sheringham, Dean Ashton and Bobby Zamora all vying for places, but he certainly didn’t seem to try particuarly hard. Katan’s Hammers career ended with a whimper as he returned to Maccabi Haifa at the end of season, having little more impact than a £100,000 loss on our balance sheet.

LM – Luis Boa Morte

Boa Morte makes the team due to how much of a disappointment he was. Luis was one of Alan Curbishley’s many expensive and ‘proven’ Premiership buys, and most of us thought we had signed a technically gifted, goal scoring winger. How wrong we were. We realised that all of those times we had admired Boa Morte on ‘Match of the Day’ were very much in the past after he sluggishly waddled down the wing and mistimed tackle after tackle during games for the Hammers. I seriously find it difficult to believe that it was the same player at Fulham and that he has 28 Portugal caps! Surprisingly, Boa Morte actually made 91 appearances for West Ham; he was eventually transformed into a defensive midfielder such was his complete absence of flair. Glad to get that one off the wage bill.

CM – Nigel Quashie

With West Ham in the midst of a relegation dogfight, in January, Curbishley decided to sign someone who was experienced in these situations, and so opted for Quashie. The thing is, Southampton and Portsmouth had both the same thing in the 2 previous years, and had both ended up relegated. If it wasn’t for a fortunate persistent foot-injury, I believe we would’ve gone the same way. Quite simply the worst player I have ever seen in a West Ham shirt. Quashie has become the personification of ‘relegation’ and the reason as to why we signed him is beyond me.

CM – Richard Garcia

I’m still in shock that Garcia is 30 years-old! Being the main goal-scorer for the famed youth team of 1999, big things were expected from the Australian; however he never managed to live up to the hype. Garcia was pushed into first-team action on a few occasions when we were in the Premier League, but failed to make an impact; once we were relegated it was thought that he could really start to make a mark in first-team football, but even in an attacking crisis, Garcia was useless. He failed to hit the net for West Ham and has since played for Leyton Orient, Colchester and Hull where he is still surprisingly enjoying a decent spell. However, 8 goals in 108 appearances still don’t suggest fulfilled potential.

ST – Titi Camara

Upon signing for Harry Redknapp, Camara defiantly announced that he had come to “to play, play, play - and score, score, score”; how ironic that statement now seems considering he only managed 11 games and did not once hit the net. He became somewhat of a cult hero at Liverpool due to pure pity for his inadequacy and as he chipped in with the odd goal, but the West Ham fans were not so sympathetic to him. Camara is quoted as one of the reasons for Harry Redknapp’s departure due to the board losing trust in his ability in the transfer market; he’s made his name as ‘a bit of a wheeler dealer’ in recent times (don’t tell him that though!), but he definitely made a mistake with this one.

ST – Marco Boogers

You saw this one coming and you’ve heard the story a million times but he has to be in there. Boogers was another of Redknapp’s collection of West Ham mistakes; signed for £1 million, Boogers was sent off in his second appearance for the Hammers after a ‘horror tackle’ on Gary Neville which suggested he didn’t even know the laws of the game. After this, Boogers went AWOL and pleaded to return to his home country on the basis of mental illness, whilst simultaneously protesting “I’m not mental!”, I think that says it all. The depressed Boogers was swiftly drafted back to his native Holland.

ST – Benni McCarthy

The third striker of the attack is a difficult decision. Neil Mellor was awful, and as was Mido, but the spot is going to go to McCarthy. This signing really did undermine the managerial talent of Gianfranco Zola after it was revealed he begged for McCarthy to be signed as the ‘saviour’ of our season. The Hammers had come close to signing McCarthy before after a successful Champions League spell with Porto, however eventually opted for Dean Ashton. Instead McCarthy joined Blackburn and looked like a good player until he was frozen out of first-team duties for ‘fitness reasons’. When McCarthy rolled onto the field for his Hammers debut it was easy to see why. McCarthy didn’t even make it into South Africa’s world cup squad was fined almost £200,000 by West Ham for being ‘too fat’. His contract was eventually terminated after 11 goalless games and he can only be remembered as a large waste of money, in every sense of the word.

Manager – Glenn Roeder,

This was honestly the hardest decision of the lot; the choice between Glenn Roeder and Avram Grant to manage this bunch of outcasts. In the end we’ve given the nod to Roeder, and that says a lot about him as a manager. Although Grant’s team was good, admittedly they weren’t world-beaters under Gianfranco Zola in the previous season. On the other hand, the team that Roeder had taken over had finished 7th in the Premier League before they plummeted to the old division one in spectacular fashion, with a side sporting many England international regulars over the last few years. Roeder returned to manage the Hammers after illness, citing ‘unfinished business’ as the reason; however it looked like he simply wanted to take them further down the leagues. Eventually, much to the relief of the supporters, Roeder was sacked following a defeat to Rotherham. It was definitely for the best.

Promotions, relegations and unstable management have meant various squad reshufflings over the years, and although this has meant we’ve had some fantastic players, we’ve certainly had our share of terrible ones. This eleven is not one to be proud of.

West Ham's Premiership XI

Since the Premier League’s inception in 1993, it’s fair to say that West Ham United have had a rather turbulent time; the era has been packed with relegations, promotions and controversies, but also some of the Premiership’s greatest footballers. This is a Hammers dream-team which has been accumulated over the years and would certainly be a force right at the very top of the table.

GK – 17. Shaka Hislop

There’s more competition than you might think for the goalkeeper’s spot, but I’ve gone for Shaka. Ludek Miklosko was coming towards the end of his career when the Premiership was formed so Hislop has been given the nod to take the gloves from here. He played over 100 times in his first spell at Upton Park but will be most remembered for his first season, 1998-99, when he collected the ‘Hammer of the Year’ award. With the club facing a goalkeeping crisis, Hislop was signed and instantly installed as ‘the number one’. He was eventually replaced by another contender, David James, and moved on. However he returned for a short spell in 2006 to play a vital role and protect the goal in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool and this gives him an excellent shout to be involved in this team.

RB – 23. Glen Johnson

We didn’t see him in the claret and blue for long enough but if he had been able to stay I’m sure he would’ve been remembered as one of our greatest right-backs to date. He proved his maturity when he was thrown into the first-team when the side were on the brink of relegation and was invaluable to our admirable attempt at escaping the fall to the second flight. He has since played for Portsmouth, Chelsea and Liverpool and represented England 35 times. He really adds a modern and attacking edge to the right side of defence.

LB – 3. Julian Dicks

It’s always a bonus to have goals coming from random areas of the field and having Julian Dicks at left-back would certainly offer that. Not only was Dicks an unforgiving, tough defender, he also managed to score 50 goals for the Hammers over his two spells there. His formidable reputation as ‘The Terminator’ made him an intimidating player for any right-winger to come up against but also a threatening enemy for opposing right-backs. He’s one of the first names on the team sheet.

CB – 5. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand definitely makes the team, and arguably makes the cut for a dream team of the Premier League’s entire history. Ferdinand has absolutely everything you could want in a defender; he’s comfortable on the ball, can be physical when called upon, extremely quick and has footballing intelligence like few others. Ferdinand won ‘Hammer of The Year’ at just 19 years of age and has gone on to win the Premiership five times and the Champions League with Manchester United, who shelled out £30 million for him from Leeds way back in 2002, a price that is still baulked at, considering it is for a defender, till this day. However there is no question he has been worth it and is a definite starter for this team.

CB – 6. Steve Potts

It was a difficult choice as to who Ferdinand should be paired with but in the end, Steve Pott’s hard-work paid off. It would’ve been nice to have Potts on the bench due to his versatility, but his work ethic, loyalty and dedication to the cause meant he was able to sneak into the starting line-up. Not the biggest of defenders, and certainly no goal-scorer, but Potts was notoriously underrated and one of the most loyal players in West Ham’s history. He made 399 appearances for the Hammers and therefore more than deserves his place in this team. Steve Potts is the most trustworthy of the back four.

CM – 21. Michael Carrick

Carrick is another one of Tony Carr’s graduates who gets a place in the first team. He provides great vision and a superb long-ball from midfield as well as being able to do the simple things with excellence whilst not forgetting his defensive duties. Some people may not rate Carrick but Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t spend £18 million on a man and put him in his team 167 times if he is not good enough for Manchester United. Perhaps surprisingly, Carrick also played for West Ham 137 times. The fact that he won ‘Young Hammer of the Year’ two years in a row in a side dominated by the famous FA Youth Cup Champions such as Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe is testament to his ability and how well he played for West Ham whilst he was there.

CM – 8. Scott Parker

Parker partners Carrick in a solid centre-midfield which helps to give the more attacking players the freedom to show their flair. Parker is the one of the more recent entries and certainly deserves his place after his phenomenal individual performances have dragged a terrible West Ham side out of so many desperate situations. Parker is incredibly calm on the ball and utilises his famous swivel to great effect in order to control the pace of the game, but his rugged determination and commitment is what really solidifies his place here. If the team needed someone to lift them during periods of difficulty, Parker is the man. He will soak up pressure from deep and bring the ball forward to either lay it off to the more advanced players or take it upon himself to put the ball in the back of the net.

RM – 7. Trevor Sinclair

Tricky Trevor Sinclair has been able to force his way past the competition to take the right hand side of midfield. On his day, Sinclair was one of the best wingers West Ham has had in the last 30 years and this is something we have often missed in recent times. Sinclair was quick and had an outstanding delivery and is also just one of the many in this team who was capable of producing truly magical goals. Paolo Di Canio’s Wimbledon goal will be remembered as the Hammers’ greatest goal in living memory but a few of Sinclair’s are worth a shout, particularly one against Derby County. Sinclair played more games for West Ham than any other club in his career and therefore certainly deserves his place.

LM – 26. Joe Cole

Cole is on the other side of the field to Sinclair. He may not be such a conventional winger, but his skill really enhances this front four’s fantastic style. It’s a shame as to how Cole’s career has panned out, he promised to be the more special of all those from ‘The Academy of Football’ but it hasn’t quite worked out for him, largely because of the ambiguity of what his position is. The role behind the strikers would be good for him but, in a 4-4-2 formation, it’s been decided he should be given the left side of midfield to make his own. He’ll take on defenders and look to cross, or alternatively cut inside and weave his way into the box; an invaluable asset.

ST – 10. Paolo Di Canio

Of course Di Canio is up front, he’s unlikely to get his head on the end of Sinclair’s crosses but if Cole fails to work his way into the area, Di Canio will succeed. He has unbelievable ability on the ball and is also a great goal-scorer, as well as a scorer of spectacular goals. If he was given a chance at a more successful team I have no doubts that he would’ve won more honours and become a Premier League legend, but Di Canio’s loyalty to West Ham meant he never accepted any offers until he was literally forced out of the club. The fiery Italian had as much skill as he did passion and has become a true West Ham legend.

ST – 32. Carlos Tevez

Admittedly it doesn’t make for the tallest striking partnership, even Sam Allardyce would need to change things around for these two, but the ability of the team means they can handle it. Tevez was fantastic for West Ham in his short time there and has been fantastic ever since, despite his string of controversies. Tevez will run all day long, harrying defenders and forging chances for himself, and when he gets them, he will take them. But Tevez is not just feisty; he is one of the most talented players seen at Upton Park in the Premier League and therefore earns the place as the 11th man in this team.

Subs

GK – 1. Robert Green

Regretfully, Green is the only player out of the lot who we still have with us today. He leaves David James and his error prone ways in the reserves and is often overlooked as one of our best players in recent years. Green has salvaged so many points for us over his time at West Ham and I’m sure that I’m not the only one who prays that he gets a new contract.

DEF – 4. Danny Gabbidon

It’s a random one but Gabbidon gets a place on the bench through the merit of our first season back in the Premier League. It was a very memorable team yet not many players would get into this 11, so it’s probably best to have the ‘Hammer of the Year’ waiting to take over from Potts or Ferdinand at any time.

MID – 12. Matthew Etherington

Etherington was a really good, old-fashioned winger who could really win you a game when he was at West Ham. Etherington could replace Cole if we needed to add width and make a more balanced midfield. He deserves a place on the bench.

MID – 18. Frank Lampard

You might not like him but Lampard has been the most consistent goal-scorer from midfield in Premiership history. Alternatively to the Etherington plan, you could bring him on for Sinclair and push Cole behind the strikers to make a 4-3-1-2 team which Barcelona would be proud of.

ST – 21. Jermain Defoe

It’s coming towards the end of the game, you need a goal and the opposing defenders are looking tired, who do you bring on? Jermain Defoe would be a great option a quick player and lethal finisher. Similarly to Lampard he’s certainly not a Hammers favourite, but you can’t deny his ability.

ST – 9. Dean Ashton

It’s always nice to have a little bit of a different option on the bench in terms of strikers, someone a little bit more physical who will get on the end of a cross and put it away. Pre-injury Dean Ashton shrugs off Demba Ba and Iain Dowie to become this option from the bench.

Manager – Harry Redknapp

Alan Pardew was taken into consideration but who better to appoint than Harry Redknapp. West Ham was Redknapp’s first major job and it was he who drafted many of the academy players in this side into the first-team. He also led us to eighth and fifth place finishes in the Premiership and a European trophy. Some Hammers may feel like Harry has betrayed them in recent times by joining Spurs but we have to accept it was a fantastic career move which has taken him to become number one contender for the England job. I’ll never forgive Terence Brown for this one.

So, overall, this has been a rather depressing exercise and has shown what an unbelievable force we could’ve been in the Premier League throughout its existence. However, we can certainly be proud of the players we have had and the ones we have nurtured into the celebrated names they are today.

A Valentine's Day Massacre?

What an occasion it was last time we were here at Upton Park. With 10-men in the first 10 minutes it was possible to envisage us embarrassing ourselves and sinking without a trace; but the players really stepped up to prove that they are completely committed to West Ham United. And we can be equally proud of the behaviour of our fans, it was admittedly a tense atmosphere but there was an absence of trouble from start to finish.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more crime as a result of this fixture; domestic violence on men is likely to rocket. There’s obviously an old, grumpy, single man at the helm of the nPower Championship who chose the date for this game, so thanks a lot for that one mate, you created an awkward conversation for many of us.

For those of you lucky enough to have escaped Valentine’s Day duties to be here tonight, at least you have a romantic fixture on your hands. Finally we get the chance to take on Southampton, who have accompanied us in the automatic promotion spots for the majority of the season, in our home stadium, and can further stretch the gap which divides us.

If it wasn’t for Peterborough’s absolute inadequacy to compete at this level of football we could be in a much better situation. Because of their poor facilities, last weekend’s game was postponed which means we were unable to maintain our 4 point safety net over the Saints. Fortunately for Southampton, their game was in their hands rather than that of an incompetent club, and so they now have the momentum and the opportunity to overtake us. But I’m confident we can handle the pressure.

Despite arguably being the Championship’s biggest game thus far, media attention has been greatly reduced due to the relentless coverage of the England manager’s vacancy. As an Englishman I’m delighted that Fabio Capello has resigned. It still baffles me as to why, in a world where two billion people can speak English, we chose someone who couldn’t to manage England’s national football team.

Hopefully the FA can make a better choice this time as, with Capello out of the picture, I am far more excited for the European Championships in the summer. It is almost inconceivable to imagine anyone other than Harry Redknapp taking over now as it seems inevitable that he will be offered the job.

I think Redknapp would be a good England manager but the main thing for us Hammers is that none of the job changes affect Sam Allardyce’s position. If Redknapp takes the England job, David Moyes could be appointed at Spurs and you might have Everton knocking on our door for ‘Big Sam’, what a disaster that would be.

I know there is still a minority of cynical West Ham fans who would still, ludicrously, welcome Sam’s departure, but if we emerge victorious today it must surely convince the remaining doubters that he has been an outstanding success. If we lose today, our fortunes could reverse as drastically as Redknapp’s did last Wednesday, when he was on his way to prison in the morning and on his way to managing his country in the evening; that is how important today’s game is.

The ideal outcome for West Ham would probably be the simple scenario of Jose Mourinho getting the national job, thereby avoiding the managerial merry-go-round which a Premier League appointment would entail; I can’t see Real Madrid looking to Allardyce as a replacement. This situation is not completely out of the question as I wouldn’t blame Harry for rejecting the job and remaining at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp has built the best squad he has had in his entire career at Tottenham and they are at the perfect age to continue to flourish if they remain loyal. It would be a great shame to throw that away. And looking at the manner in which the media have pounced on Stuart Pearce already, chastising him for something he said 18 years ago and his brother’s political views, why would you swap a job which you are doing fantastically in, for one with such intense pressure?

However, I personally think Redknapp will take the job, he seems to be one of the last old-fashioned, English managers to whom the national job probably still means more than a Premiership one. It wouldn’t surprise me if Spurs declared an interest in Allardyce, just in an effort to unsettle him; they love being a thorn in our side. But they may have already identified his replacement; did anyone see the photo of Avram Grant at the Tottenham training ground on Thursday? Now that would be funny!

With all of this speculation aside, our main concern is today’s game. I’m glad it’s come in the form of an evening game, even if it has fallen on an awkward date. A top of the table clash under the floodlights at Upton Park is something we haven’t experienced enough in recent years. It would be nice to get a glimpse of Ravel Morrison who has already been labelled a ‘homophobe’ by the media. For anyone who didn’t see it, the story was probably written by the same desperate journalist who called Stuart Pearce racist; needless criticism.

It will also be exciting to see our other signings who will probably feature sooner than Morrison. I hope we start with Nicky Maynard up front tonight, supported Ricardo Vaz Te on the wing so we can really attack Southampton in a Valentine’s Day massacre. Come on you Irons!

Follow me on Twitter @RichMaher93

10 West Ham Icons

West Ham has always been a frustrating club to support because it has so little to show in terms of silverware for its great reputation and heritage. This begs the questions as to why it ever gained such a respectful reputation in the first place. One of the reasons is because West Ham United’s story has featured some of football’s most famous figures and this has led to a number of icons emerging in claret and blue.

1. Ron Greenwood


Many supporters and media pundits referenced ‘playing the West Ham way’ when Sam Allardyce was appointed as manager, and that phenomenon is down to Greenwood. Hammers fans often take pride in the reputation of playing ‘football the right way’ and this can be credited to Greenwood as he introduced a whole philosophy which has influenced the club ever since. Greenwood morphed the Hammers into pioneers of skilful football in a similar fashion to Pep Guardiola’s revolution at Barcelona. As manager, Greenwood led the Hammers to two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup for their most successful spell in history. Greenwood can draw many parallels with Arsene Wenger, he was an idealist and a perfectionist in the way that he styled his team, but he had nowhere near the same resources as Wenger has had. Greenwood tutored John Lyall into being his successor and his legacy influenced the club, as well as the England national team, to their greatest ever successes.

2. Bobby Moore


There is no doubt that Bobby Moore is West Ham’s, if not English football’s, greatest icon. The image of Moore lofted above the rest of England’s 1966 world-cup winning team at Wembley with the trophy in hand is possibly the most recognisable photo in football history. Moore captained West Ham for more than 10 years and is widely regarded as the best defender who ever lived. Moore gained 108 caps for England and played 544 times for West Ham United and is certainly their most successful player ever having also achieved numerous personal awards such as BBC Sports Personality Of The Year and an O.B.E. You may go as far to say that never again will a West Ham player captain the club to three major trophies, including one in Europe, and lead England to World Cup victory. If you thought David Beckham’s status couldn’t get any greater, imagine if he had led England to a World Cup victory in 2002; that was Bobby Moore, and he did it all with the Hammers on his heart.

3. Trevor Brooking


Many good things emerged from West Ham’s golden age in the 1960’s, and Trevor Brooking was certainly one of them. Having graduated through Greenwood’s regime, Brooking was ready to continue the legacy of beautiful football when the stars of the previous era began to leave and retire. Brooking stepped up to become West Ham’s most important player in a similar way to how Cesc Fabregas did when the likes of Patrick Viera, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry departed. It is impossible to tell as to whether Brooking’s skill can be compared to the likes of Lionel Messi’s, but his majestic nature was so evident on a playing surface far rougher and muddier than the smooth ground we see today, that it is definitley worth arguing. When the Hammers were relegated, Brooking showed indescribable loyalty by pledging to stay with the team, and he did so for the rest of his career. He has even made a brief comeback as manager on 2 occasions in times of trouble, and only lost 1 game. Brooking is certainly the Hammers’ second greatest icon.

4. Billy Bonds


After signing from Charlton as a young full-back, Bonds went on to make a record 793 appearances for the Hammers in a spell at the club stretching over 20 years. Grit and determination is something West Ham supporters have always been fond of, and it is possible that this derives from Bonds. After Bobby Moore left for Fulham, Bonds’ natural leadership made him the obvious successor to the captain’s armband, and this was an honour he held down for many years to come. His strong and tough nature in midfield enabled the team to cater for the flamboyance of Brooking to provide the creativity which made the dynamics of this West Ham team so effective. Bonds can be compared to the likes of Michael Essien in the modern-day, whose defensive ability is the key to his game and allows the more creative players to flourish. However Bonds, like Essien, did not operate without the surging runs he became equally famous for and which led to him scoring almost 50 times for West Ham. To cement his legendary status, Bonds was the club’s manager between 1990 and 1994. He truly resembles the kind of defensive midfielder which has become so popular today.

5. Tony Cottee


Here is yet another local boy who came through the academy to play an integral role in West Ham’s history. Cottee burst onto the scene in a similar fashion to how Wayne Rooney did at Everton; as a 17 year-old debutant he hit the net against West Ham’s rivals Tottenham, not a bad way to introduce yourself. Cottee continued to score goals and amassed 92 in his first spell at West Ham. His goals were vital to West Ham’s third place finish in 1986, their highest ever, and he won the PFA Young Player of the Year in the same season, think how much he would’ve been worth in today’s game. Cottee did move to Everton for a British record transfer fee but he eventually returned when he was signed by Harry Redknapp in 1994. Cottee hadn’t lost his shooting boots and managed to net another 24 for the Hammers, making him one of West Ham’s highest goalscorers to date. Any West Ham striker less than 5ft8 will continue to be compared to Cottee long into the future.

6. Julian Dicks


It’s quite rare for a left-back to be thrown into a list of iconic players but ‘The Terminator’ cannot be excluded. Dicks combined the unforgiving, tough tackling that fans love to see with an undeniably wicked left-foot in a way which few have since Roberto Carlos. Dicks’ hard-man reputation often clouded the fact that he was actually an excellent footballer and managed to score 50 goals for West Ham. Dicks was able to power down the left wing in a manner as threatening as Gareth Bale does for Tottenham today, and if he was given enough space on the edge of the area, he would not be afraid to release a thunderous drive at goal. It’s also debatable as to whether West Ham have had a better penalty taker since Dicks as his explosive shot was effectively replicated from 12 yards. However, Dicks’ attacking talents were not to compensate for his defensive ability as he defended in a formidable manner which was certain to strike fear into any winger who considered a few step-overs; the best left-back ever to play for the club.

7. Tony Carr


It is difficult to select one of the magnificent players that ‘The Academy of Football’ has produced as firstly, many are good enough to be in this list, but secondly because none of them were loyal enough to West Ham United to be considered for selection. However, the emergence of these players is widely credited to Tony Carr and so, although he has never made a professional appearance for the club, he is a worthy icon. Carr resembles West Ham’s proudest institution, their youth academy, which has produced the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Glen Johnson, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and more. If Carr’s class had remained at West Ham then it is certain that they would’ve been far more successful in recent times than they have been and would’ve probably been regular Champions League spot, if not Premier League title, contenders. Although this is somewhat of a regret, Carr’s brilliance has not gone to waste as he has generated extortionate amounts of money through player sales which have saved the club financially on more than one occasion.

8. Paolo Di Canio


Di Canio is West Ham’s greatest contemporary icon, resembling the style and skill which has been seen throughout football’s modern age of the Premier League and foreign imports. The Italian was a controversial signing as his eccentric nature, which had previously led to him toppling a referee, made him somewhat of a cult figure in the English game. However, his skill was undeniable and had been showcased during spells at footballing giants such as Lazio, Juventus and AC Milan. Di Canio’s career at West Ham was a huge success; the passion and emotion which he brought to the team made him a fans’ favourite instantaneously and it appeared he fell in love with the fans just as quickly. Highlights of Di Canio’s West Ham career include a winner at Old Trafford, the greatest Premier League goal to date and an emotional winner against Chelsea in his last game at Upton Park. There was never a dull moment with Di Canio and many hope that one day he can return as manager.

9. Carlos Tevez


It may be debatable as to whether Tevez is worthy of a place on this list given that he featured just 26 times for West Ham, but his character and ability certainly made him a true West Ham icon. A move to the biggest clubs in Europe was mooted for the Argentinian international before he was surprisingly transferred to West Ham in one of the most controversial deals of all time. Upon a wave of excitement, Tevez struggled to settle at first, but as the Hammers looked to be sinking into the second tier of English football, his brilliance prevailed. Tevez scored 7 goals in the last few games of the season to achieve one of the greatest escapes football has ever seen, including a stunning free-kick against Tottenham and a winning goal at Old Trafford on the final day. Although his attitude has been a matter of dispute in recent times, his commitment to West Ham on the pitch was unquestionable.

10. Scott Parker


Parker is the most recent player who can be considered a true icon; his face was stapled to every West Ham marketing campaign until he was regretfully sold earlier this season. Parker arrived amongst a number of high-profile, proven Premiership players during the free-spending Icelandic period. Like many of these recruits, his breakthrough was heavily delayed due to injury; however he stood out as the only one who could really reach iconic status. Parker’s gritty determination and commitment meant he carried one of the poorest West Ham teams ever through some very difficult times and almost single-handedly saved them from relegation in 2010. Parker also provided some vital goals in his time and his ability was finally recognised by Fabio Capello when he was recently drafted into the England squad. Following the inevitable relegation in 2011, Parker was sold to Tottenham in order to aid him with his international aspirations. It is testament to Parker that only a small minority begrudge him of the move and it is even possible that he could receive the England captaincy in the near future.

West Ham have had the privilege of being involved with a number of iconic figures throughout history. However, few of these individuals were of this status before their association with West Ham and so it is clear that, although we are not the most successful team in the world, we are truly great at creating genuine football icons.

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