I’m going to start this article by firstly stating that I live in Bournemouth, and sadly don’t get to as many West Ham games as I’d like to. So when I was set the challenge of remembering the best individual performance I’d seen from one of our players, I didn’t have a massive selection to choose from!
I’ve decided to go for a hero and zero approach, as both players I’m talking about have switched between the two statuses in a claret and blue shirt.
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1. Ricardo Vaz Te against Brighton & Hove Albion: As Vaz Te is firmly in the zero pile at this moment in time, I thought I’d remind people why we used to love him and his dinosaur inspired haircut.
Vaz got to take home the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against the Seagulls, with a variety of goal styles. His first came after just 3 minutes, with a header following 5 minutes after. But it was his third goal that really impressed – an acrobatic bicycle kick that left Brighton hit for six. Sorry, couldn’t resist that one!
Games like this gave us huge confidence going into the Playoffs, and Vaz Te was at it again in the final, scoring the goal that sent us back to the Premier League. Sadly, he seems to have left his scoring boots in the Championship…
2. Tomas Repka against Preston North End: So this performance had to make it here, but it’s more for the sheer incredulity of it when I saw it unfold in front of me from the Dr. Marten’s stand!
Repka decided to headbutt Brian O’Neil in the dying stages of the first half. It was absolutely ridiculous, and although I remember it with a smile now, it definitely gave him zero status that day! But, Tomas left the club a hero for sure.
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What is the best individual performance you’ve seen by a Hammer? Let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting me at @alwaysintune.
Di Canio against arsenal when we beat them 2-1 in 1999.
Julian against the spuds in 1996 when we best them 4-3.
The only reason Vaz has gone from hero to zero is because of Big Sam not giving him a chance up front this season. Scored over 20 goals last season only to be played in midfield this year and unfortunately a lot of fans refuse to look at it from that point of view.