Wednesday 14 March 2012

West Ham Also Rans Explain Our Struggles

Interestingly, every manager says, after they play us, that West Ham will win promotion, yet when these very same experts were asked to nominate the best 10 players in the division, only Tomkins and Nolan from West Ham made it into the list.

The runaway winner was Southampton's Lambert, and quite rightly too because his goals have fired Southampton to the top of the table. Lambert gives Southampton what we so desperately need, a goal scorer who can lead the line. In number three, unsurprisingly, is Lallana: he looks to be one of the best midfielders in the division to me too.

Green doesn't make the list, nor does Noble, nor Cole, nor Faye, nor Vaz Te, despite his performances in a Barnsley shirt. In fact, our highest rated player is Tomkins in fifth place. So for all the money spent and the high wages played, none of our players figure in the top five!

To win a World Cup they say you need three world class players and the same probably holds true for the Championship - with "World Class" adjusted down to Premiership class. Southampton only have two but their two are better than our two, and no other side gets more than one player into the top 10 -which explains why no team is dominating. Interestingly, no Reading players feature which speaks volumes for the management of McDermott.

The other players who feature are relatively uncontroversial. Whittingham, Rodriguez and Zaha would certainly be in my top ten. The fact that Kevin Phillips features at the age of 96 says everything that needs to be said about the pathetic lack of genuine quality in the division. Rhys Williams wouldn't have sprung to my lips if asked and neither would Chris Burke but they feature at 8 and 10 respectively.

So, we may have the best squad on paper but the managers of Championship clubs are rightfully not in awe of the individuals in that squad. Which is why they're not as scared as we would like when they bring a team to Upton Park.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Houghton should be our manager

Anonymous said...

Anony-mouse says,

18.35- Do you mean Ray Houghton, Bobby Houghton, Roy Hodgson or Chris Hughton?

Anonymous said...

If anything, Kevin Phillips has the most 'quality' in our division. To still be doing what he is doing at his age, doens't make the league he is in rubbish, it just means he is amazing. He'd still score a few goals in the prem.

Anonymous said...

no one is in awe of west ham anymore, the biggest mistake was employing fat sam you used to to play football win, draw or lose, not anymore COYR FOP!

Anonymous said...

When exactly was anyone in awe of Westham??
I wouldnt swap your squad for Southamptons

Anonymous said...

in the championship they were

Anonymous said...

How Nolan made this over Greeno and Noble is beyond me. Ridiculousness

Anonymous said...

Best on paper - don't think so. This squad is way too slow. Slow to pass, very slow to think what to do next. There are really o0nly two players who would cut it in the bottom half of the PL, Green and Tomkins. Faye is ok, but will be too OLD next year. Apart from that, the rest of them are crap. Ravle Morrison may become something better, but I'm not hoilding my breath. He seems a bit too stupid, in terms of his footballing career.