With West Ham’s Premier League status all but secured for next season, I am now able to relax, enjoy our remaining fixtures and begin to get excited about the up and coming World Cup.
It always disappoints me, that, in recent seasons us Hammers haven’t had too many representatives in the England squad – I mean, we won the Three Lions the World Cup all those years ago.
It is scant consolation that the likes of Glen Johnson, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe et al have all passed through those Boleyn gates, in claret and blue, and gone on to be England regulars but while plying their trade at other Premier League clubs.
I maybe getting carried away but I reckon (and hope) us Hammers will have one or two representatives turning out in Brazil in the new Three Lions kit.
Call me delusional but I’d not only take Andy Carroll but I’d start him. Yeah, Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge has been in frightening form but so would I if I was playing alongside Luis Suarez.
International football is a different ball game and our big Geordie is certainly suited to leading the line for Roy Hodgson’s side – I always think back to that Sweden game during the group stages of Euro 2012, Andy’s performance was outstanding.
Now, most people outside of Upton Park will ridicule this next suggestion, but that’s because they haven’t watched us all season. For me, Stewart Downing rivals Adrian as Hammer of the Year.
The winger’s £6million move from Anfield was deemed a waste of money by many – well, just by those horrendous Football Lad Banter Twitter accounts – however, Downing has proved to be a useful outlet.
He has been exciting on the ball, delivered some superb crosses – seeing as we haven’t had AC for most of the season, he was never going to rack up the assists – but, for me, his most important attribute, is his forward thinking nature, he looks to drive at the opposition defences, something that a lot of our team seem scared to do.
With Theo Walcott’s space up for grabs in the England squad, Downing certainly makes a case to be considered with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling for the Arsenal forward’s spot.
However, whether we have representatives in Rio or not, make sure you’re supporting the boys this summer: http://www.jdsports.co.uk/page/england-football/
Andy Carroll 100% mate without a doubt but id have him as an impact sub and as a plan B. But Stewart Downing you’re off ya head mate there is plenty better than him in his position! He’s not even as good as Adam Johnson and he wont even get a look in! Honestly there is zero chance of Downing going to the world cup!
Carroll only as a plan B. No way he should start. You say anyone can score well when Suarez is around but Carroll failed himself at that so to suggest he should start ahead of Sturridge is mind boggling.
As for Downing, I second what Adam says. Downing has worked tirelessly for us yes but he hasn’t got any results in the attacking third of the pitch and international wingers need to get results in that area. This year, we won’t have many, if any at all, English players at the World Cup. Not just because we are West Ham but because we are West Ham playing Sam Allardyce football.