Anyone and everyone outside of West Ham United has had their say on Sam Allardyce this season, whether it be slating his tactics or blaming him for ruining ‘the West Ham way’ but we all know that is nonsense right? A disappointing performance and result against Crystal Palace on Saturday was followed by a disappointing reaction from a minority that call themselves West Ham fans at Upton Park.
Hopefully a break abroad will help the players this week after a tough month, playing plenty of minutes with a man less than their opposition and moving top of the tree in the Championship. Southampton took full advantage to overtake the Hammers in the race for the title last weekend but that crucial game in hand still keeps the ball in West Ham’s court even though the month of March is looking even more dangerous as February.
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One main positive that I have taken from the past few weeks has been the form of the physical Hammers centre backs that have stood up to the test of some athletic, powerful and pacey strikers and ensured vital points on the board for Allardyce’s team. One man in particular has dominated the West Ham half on more than once occasion this season and that is Abdoulaye Faye. The international team mate of former Hammer Demba Ba didn’t need much convincing to join up once again with Allardyce this summer after spells at Newcastle and Bolton Wanderers with the gaffer which he clearly enjoyed.
A shrewd piece of business from the owners and manager alike enabled the free signing to surely become one of the best defenders in the division and one that would certainly not look out of place in the top flight next season. The brutal centre half celebrated his birthday this week with a squad that Mr Allardyce said has the best team spirit he has ever seen as a manager, something that must bode well for the coming months.
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James Tomkins has adapted well to his central midfield role since the turn of the year but should return to his natural defensive position this weekend after Winston Reid suffered a minor injury on international duty yesterday. The partnership of Tomkins and Faye is definitely the best in the Championship and would be head and shoulders above some very dodgy looking defences in the Premier League this season.
With Faye, his aerial ability and commitment stand out of the crowd at Upton Park and defensively he looks so much more solid than the likes of Matthew Upson who left the club for ‘bigger’ things in the summer. If he stays fit, along with Reid and Tomkins, then I am sure Rob Green will sleep easier at night along with Big Sam ahead of big games. The rest of the squad may need strengthening slightly in the summer in preparation for Premier League football, but the quality in the centre of defensive in unquestionable.
Could Faye be the West Ham signing of the season? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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Yep, agreed that the man mountain has been fantastic, but in defensive terms, the lad we signed from the USA, George John looks like he could be the best of the bunch, and im desperately hoping he gets a chance this weekend against Cardiff City to show us what he can do. Much of the YouTube footage ive seen reveals a player with incredible pace, tenacity, explosive power and real body strength, and even making allowances for the standard over there, hes been considered the best defender in USA top flight football for some time now. He could return home in two weeks without ever getting his chance, so fingers crossed hes in contention as a result of reid’s recent head injury. COYI