Polling Booths Close. Hammer of the Year Contenders!

The voting for Hammer of the Year has closed, and West Ham fans are on tenterhoooks, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the poll. With the nation gripped by the closest General Election for a generation, Hammers supporters have been wrestling over a far more problematic dilemma: who, from this team of heroes, should be singled out to be immortalised for the consistency of his performances over a long and memorable season? Without wishing to second guess the result, and how could anybody predict a winner from such a team of heroes, it might be interesting to outline the candidates:

John "The Wank" Spector: With Ilunga ruled out for most of the season and Faubert's early season form indifferent, Spector has started 23 times and made a further 5 appearances as substitute. Need hard evidence to illustrate the capabilities of Zola as a manager? Then surely the way the Italian has chosen to utilise Spector so often this season, is all the evidence you need. Who else would have left himself with only Spector as cover for both the right back and left back berths? Who else would have had the vision to play the right footed Spector at left back against the likes of Valencia and Lennon (after Ilunga had limped off inside the first 25 minutes). Who can forget Spector's performance against Bolton's Lee at Upton Park? What about his defending at Everton? How about the way he coped after Eagles was moved onto his flank when Burnley drilled home three goals at the Boleyn? And then there was his goal in the Wigan game! Spector is sure to have his supporters and may be a dark horse contender.

If not The Wank, then what about Behrami? The Swiss David Beckham has featured in one less game than Spector and, starting in midfield, has returned a very healthy one goal all season. A popular choice amongst the huff and puff brigade, Behrami is a leading contender because of the amount of ground he covers in every game. He seeks the ball here, he seeks the ball there, our Claret and Blue Pimpernel covers every blade of grass, and every now and then actually happens to coincide his positioning with the actual location of the ball! I can't remember a goal coming from a Behrami cross all season and I'm struggling to remember a single defence splitting pass, but what the hell, how can criticise a guy who runs around all match? You have to love the guy don't you? And his wife is bloody fit! Did your vote go to Behrami?

Then what about Markie Noble? He has made 25 starts (with 2 more as sub) himself - that's almost as many starts as Parker made last season when he won the award. Noble has outscored Behrami and has collected one more red card, evidence of his commitment to the Claret and Blue cause. Noble kick started the season brilliantly with that fabulous goal at Wolves and, like the true Brit he is, has beaten back the foreign challenge, forcing Jimenez to return to Italy in January, with Diamanti due to follow in the close season. Noble is West Ham through and through and his wife has had a baby, two factors which will surely have secured a significant proportion of the votes!

And then, of course, there is Scott Parker.