I find it really difficult watching England, and it’s not down to the staccato and bland style of footy that Capello’s men produce, it’s more to do with the amount of ex-Hammers who are consistently in the squad. One can’t help but think of what could’ve been had the club shown more ambition and determination to keep hold of the likes of Carrick, Cole, Lampard, Ferdinand, Defoe and Johnson. One suspects if the aforementioned were still at the club we may still be sitting 2nd…but not in the N Power Championship.
There really aren’t enough superlatives to describe what a truly wonderful job has been done by the legendary Tony Carr; his consistency in finding these raw talents and polishing them into gems is second to none in English football in my humble opinion. One only has to take a glance at the current crop for inspiration: Rob Hall tearing up League 2 just like Defoe did all those years ago at Bournemouth, James Tomkins looking every inch a future England international and Jack Collison’s lovely finish against Hull; proof that he’s gradually getting back to the level he was at under Zola.
It’s only natural as fans we look on wistfully at what could’ve been…the embodiment of the ‘West Ham way’ the utopia of glorious football being tottered out by our own academy graduates leading to titles, trophies and Champions League Football. Whilst it’s a depressing reality the fact is we could’ve been top dogs in London town had we resisted the 18 million offered by Leeds for Rio…the domino effect soon ensued with Lampard leaving soon after and then relegation in 2003 ensured our golden generation became our lost generation.
Remember the all English Champions league final in 2008? Chelsea V Manchester United…Cole and Lampard against Carrick and Ferdinand. Facing each other just as they had done many times at Chadwell Heath under watchful glare, tutelage and guidance of Tony Carr; only that day it was for biggest prize in club football…one can only imagine how Tony felt watching that game; a mesh of pride and regret would be my guess.
The reason I find it so hard to watch England is because seeing our old academy charges makes me think to myself ‘look at all this talent, how did we let them all slip through our fingers? And what could we have achieved with a bit more ambition and foresight?’ I find it hard to watch England because of one man…that man is Tony Carr.
There are some that fear under Sam Allardyce the ‘West Ham way’ will be lost amidst percentage football and winning ugly. As long as Tony Carr is academy director the utopian vision of the ‘West Ham way’ will always be intact.
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