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Top TEN West Ham Midfielders

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10) Frank Lampard: Frank followed in his fathers footsteps by signing for the West Ham youth set up in 1994, but had to wait until 1997 to make his first team debut. His defining season came in the 1998-1999 campaign where Frank was ever present in the side that finished 5th and entered the Inter-Toto cup, and the following year finished the clubs 3rd highest goal scorer with 14 goals. After the sacking of manager and uncle Harry Redknapp, Lampard’s transfer to rivals Chelsea still leaves a bitter taste, but you cannot deny him being one of West Ham’s greatest midfielders.

9) Michael Carrick: A part of West Ham’s famous FA Youth Cup winning team, Carrick made his debut for West Ham in a Inter-Toto match in 1999, but Carrick’s breakthrough would come in the 2000/2001 season where he made 41 appearances in all competitions scoring one goal, however his range of passing and midfield control is why Carrick was the first name on the team sheet for West Ham. Like many West Ham players though, 2003 was a year to forget, Carrick suffered a groin injury which kept him out of the team and he watched on as West Ham were relegated. Carrick stayed with West Ham whilst they were in the First Division, but the Hammers lost to Crystal Palace in the play-off final, and moved to Tottenham in that summer.

8) Mark Noble: The latest West Ham midfielder to come through the ranks, Noble signed for West Ham’s academy in 2000, spending 4 years there before signing a first team deal after making his debut aged just 17, Noble won young Hammer of the year and finished runner up for Hammer of the year despite making his debut just four months earlier. Noble would spend the next two seasons on loan, but returned the first team in 2007, Noble’s speciality from dead balls made him a vital cog in the West Ham machine and his partnership with Scott Parker was one that had earned a lot of plaudits. Despite being just 24 years old, Noble is currently the longest serving player at West Ham, and has a very bright future ahead of him, hopefully at West Ham. 7) Joe Cole: Another product of West Ham’s academy, Joe’s skill and pace made him an instant fans favourite at the club. In 2003, Cole was given the captains armband aged just 21. However West Ham were relegated that season and Cole moved on to local rivals Chelsea for just £6.6 million despite West Ham being offered £10 million for Cole when he was just 19 years old from Manchester United. 6) Trevor Sinclair: In January 1998 Sinclair moved to West Ham United for a combined fee of £2.7 million; He scored 7 goals in the remaining 14 games to help West Ham achieve an 8th place finish in the Premier League. A regular over the next two seasons a serious knee injury ruled him out of the final 4 months of the 1999/2000 season. His absence coincided with a loss of form for the team, and by the end of the season Harry Redknapp had been sacked, and both Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard had been sold. 002/03 was Sinclair’s final season with West Ham. Despite several strong displays from himself, the team struggled with the absence of Paolo Di Canio and Frederic Kanoute and was relegated at the end of the decision. Forced to cut costs West Ham accepted a £3.3m bid for the player from Manchester City. Sinclair will be most famously remembered for this goal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcNF1WgKk0g 5) Billy Bonds: Signed by Ron Greenwood for West Ham United for a fee of £50,000 in May 1967 Greenwood switched him to midfield in the 1970–71 season where he counterbalanced the skills of Trevor Brooking. Bonds was at his peak in the early 1970s, helping West Ham to the semi-final of the Football League Cup in the 1971–72 season, where they lost to Stoke City after a second replay, and topping the scorers list at West Ham in the 1973–74 season with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against Chelsea. After the departure of Bobby Moore in March 1974, Bonds was appointed to the captaincy and led the club to an FA Cup final victory over Fulham in 1975 and to the final of the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup despite a groin injury that interrupted the latter half of the 1974–75 season and part of the 1975–76 season. Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion, when they finished as runner-up to Oldham Athletic in 1990–91. He was awarded a second testimonial in the same season. West Ham were relegated in 1991–92 but Bonds again led them to promotion in 1992–93, when they finished as runner-up to Newcastle United, and took West Ham to a mid-table finish in 1993–94. He resigned in August 1994 when he was replaced by Harry Redknapp. 

4) Alan Devonshire: He collected an FA Cup winner’s medal in 1980, when the Hammers (then a Second Division club) beat favourites Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley. He collected a Second Division title medal the following year as the Hammers won promotion, and was still a very integral part of the side when they finished third in the league in 1986, just two places and four points short of what would have been the club’s first ever top division title – an accolade that the club has yet to achieve 25 years later. He remained at Upton Park until 1990, a year after the Hammers were relegated to the Second Division, He had played a total of 446 competitive games for the Hammers over 14 years, scoring 32 goals.

3) Trevor Brooking: Brooking had a remarkable 17 year West Ham career between 1967 and 1984, making 636 appearances and scoring 103 times. He won the FA Cup twice, in 1975 and 1980; in the latter, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Arsenal with a header and has the Sir Trevor Brooking stand in his honour.

2) Martin Peters: A product of West Ham’s famous academy, With pace, industry, creativity and exquisite timing on the run in addition to being a free kick specialist, Peters was described by England manager Sir Alf Ramsey as being “ten years ahead of his time”. His versatility was such that while he was at West Ham he played in every position in the team, including goalkeeper. Peters made 302 appearances for the Hammers in an 11 year spell, winning the world cup in the progress.

1) Scott Parker: Signed in July 2007 for 7 million, Parker’s career was on a down turn after failing to impress at Chelsea and Newcastle, Parker was voted Hammer of the Year for the 2008-2009 season and became the first player since Julian Dicks to retain the award, thanks to his performances which helped keep West Ham in the premiership for another season. His next season would define the rebirth of Scott Parker, playing in the holding midfield role Parker earned an  England call up, however West Ham were to be relegated and 4 games into the season Tottenham signed the captain for just £5 million pounds.

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19 comments

  • Devo says:

    Scott Parker is a good player, but better than Brooking, Peters, Devonshire and Bonds? You must be crazy.

    • GR says:

      Agreed. And i would argue that with the years still left in front of him, Nobes could over take him. I would say 6th is a fitting position. Lastly, am i the only one that remembers the likes of Mark Ward and Geoff Pike etc?

      • Jamie says:

        Noble better than Parker …. Stupid statement. Nobles good just too slow on and off the ball.

  • punkrockhammer says:

    ‘Noble’s speciality from dead balls’?!?

    Are you serious? Hits a decent penalty but that’s about it. His set piece delivery is usually chronic

    He is nowhere near the top ten, and certainly not better than Ward, Berkovic, or Foe for instance

  • craig (Tottenhan) says:

    Not sure if you’ll be able to help me with this query. But here goes anyway.

    A couple of seasons ago West Ham signed an ex Tottenham youth player. He had been at Spurs for a while but his knees kept dislocating and regretfully we let him go.

    Now, after a time out he trialed at your place and received a contract with your youth set up.Your medical staff sorted the problem, which left us with egg on our face to say the least. For the life of me though I can’t recall his name, only that he was a forward in the mold of Rooney and was a very very exciting talent.

    I just wondered if you knew how he was doing. Thanks for any help you can give to me.It’s just been bugging me for a while.

    • punkrockhammer says:

      You mean Terry Dixon

      We let him go a couple of years ago and I think he is currently drifting through non-league

      Never even made our bench as far as I can remember

      • craig (Tottenhan) says:

        Cheers pal that sounds about right. Shame he was supposed to be a real promising talent. All the best for the rest of the season, looking forward to the derbies again.

  • cb says:

    Brooking not being number 1 makes this ridiculous

    Devonshire should definately be higher too

  • jim whu says:

    some good choices BUT what about alan dickens alan curbishley stewart robson ian bishop martin allen paul allen graham paddon pat holland and ray houghton who only played 20 mins for us at arsenal in 81/2 i think one or two of them would get in a team before noble or carrick and i agree with devo your first choice parker better than brooking or devonshire never

  • Pete says:

    Parker number 1??? Is this a joke. Brooking is our number 1 end of…this is an insult! I would also include Berkovic in that list…ahead of Lampard who was never a great player for West Ham!

  • Biggy says:

    er..How about Berkovic,bennyoun,Brady,Stewart Robson – Rather have them then Noble, Carrick or Cole. Anyone agree ?

  • chris Wheeler says:

    Dean Mears i presume you have never seen Devonshire, Brooking or Billy Bonds play for West Ham. You insult the club you are suppose to supprt by putting this **** online. I think you are a Tottscum van as you have no knowledge of West Ham. Also Fat Frank in the top ten, you never saw him trying to run around upton park with that big fat asrse. Do me a favour and all true West Ham vans stop writing about West Ham you know nothing about the club.

  • Jeffers says:

    Like Chris Wheeler I can only assume that you’ve never actually seen any of our truly GREAT midfielders play. Scott Parker was a very, very good player for us for about 4 years. Alan Devonshire was a great player for us for about 14 years, Brooking for about 17 years, and Bonds for about 21 years – although admittedly a lot of that time he would have played in defence.

    Martin Peters was a little bit before my time, but he gave us his best 11 years, and I will bow to those a little older than me as to where he sits in terms of “legendary midfielder” status compared to Bonds, Brooking & Devonshire.

    Parker was a great player, no question, but the other four are legends – big difference. I would be very surprised if anybody that lived through the Brooking & Bonds era would rate Parker higher than them. Maybe if he’d done it over 10-15 years then you could make an arguement for it, but in my opinion, not after only four years.

    But then again, I guess you are as entitled to your opinion as the rest of us are…..

  • James says:

    Ward should be there instead of Sinclair. Lampard and Carrick had great careers but weren’t at peak level whilst at our club. Noble still has a long way too go, he is a loyal servant but not a great….yet. Parker should be on the list but way down the line. I don’t know who compiled this list but they are way off. I have a book “West Ham’s greatestest 11” and it is pretty spot on. Compiled by fans votes, has the top 3 picks for each position, inc managers and subs. well worth a read.

  • beer tester says:

    scott parker? you are joking aint you, how can you rate him over legend like bonds and brooking

  • Eddie says:

    Brooking, Devonshire equal no.1, then Bonds, Peters, Boyce, Joe Cole, Carrick,Paul Allen,Alan Dickens,dare I say Paul Ince as well Berkovic, Bishop, Bovington even Holland,Keen and Brian Dear come before the likes of Sinclair. Agreed if Parker had stayed loyal for a couple of more years he would be in the top 5. Noble still has time to become a great.

  • jim whu says:

    it was a good post seems to have got a lot of people talking if we all agreed we would be boring
    you can see by your ten players you must be quiet young still i dont think your tottenham lol but in fairness trever brooking played his last game for us in 1984 so unless your over 40 now you would never have seen him play but he was as good as most of the other people have replied theres a video of brookings carear you should try and get it and you might see just how good he was and he retired too soon keep putting your posts up i for one like them and it brings back memorys well done

  • Peter Howard says:

    Bonds is number one, then Brooking & Devonshire.
    This is not all about talent, commitment & loyalty must be considered, which knocks Lump a lard & Carrick out, otherwise you’d include Ince.
    Paddon & Dickens should be considered.

  • Legends says:

    not sure about this list. many players on this list didnt have a long enough run to warrant top 10 status.

Comments are closed.