Just over a year ago, at the end of the summer transfer window, Sam Allardyce pulled off what many ‘experts’ thought was a transfer coup with the signing of Ivorian right back Guy Demel. This was a player with top flight experience and had played in both Champions and Europa League. The blow of signing David Bentley was softened with this news. Demel could apparently play anywhere across the back as well as a holding midfield role or a wide right role. He’d represented his country on numerous occasions and came highly recommended by Arsene Wenger, who, despite never playing him, signed him as a youngster.
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Fast forward to November 29. Away to Middlesborough very rarely fills our hearts with excitement, but this was to see the debut of Guy Demel. Hampered by injury, it took three months for Demel to finally pull on the claret and blue. It proved to be a successful debut with Guy being part of the defensive unit that kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win.
In all Demel went on to play 10 games for us last season, not managing a goal and looking at best assured. That was until the play-off final. Demel’s performance was rather worryingly, worse than a car crash. It was a train wreck of a showing. Failing to instill confidence in fans, and I imagine players, alike, Demel consistently made mistakes that left us in trouble. It was a horrible performance. One that possibly had us fans rushing to the panic button a bit prematurely.
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I say that because throughout the summer, whilst signing the likes of Andy Carroll, Yossi Benayoun, Matt Jarvis et al, the majority of us fans were crying out for a new right-back to be signed. However, three clean sheets in the opening four league games is certainly an impressive statistic that each and every one of the defensive unit deserves credit for. Demel has proved that with a pre season behind him and fitness he is a better prospect than the one who only showed glimpses last season. Against Villa he had Charles N’Zogbia in his pocket which is no mean feat in itself, especially when you consider the fans’ biggest concern was Guy’s pace against a better class of wide man. He also managed a clean sheet against a Fulham side that had worried Manchester United in their previous game. More impressive though is the fact that as a right back with Premiership wingers bombing down at him, and linking up impressively with Vaz Te on the flank in attacking areas, he has conceded just TWO fouls in four games. To me that is outstanding, and is a testament to the hard work he clearly put in over pre-season.
I may be getting carried away (as I blow the dust off my passport!) but early indications suggest that Demel has taken huge strides to becoming a permanent West Ham fixture. Good luck for the rest of the season Guy, you’ve proven this doubter wrong so far this season.
People were going absolutely nuts because we didn’t sign Championship potential in Clyne (now at the saints).
Just goes to show what some people know and understand about the game and the value of quality and experience!