Best West Ham Defenders Of The Premier League Era

West Ham United have had some very bad defenders over the years, Rigobert Song, Gary Charles, Clive Clarke & Ragnvald Soma spring to mind. However, we have also had our fair share of good defenders grace the turf of Upton Park during the Premier League era.

 

1. 1.   Steve Potts – West Ham United legend, and all round Mr Reliable. Potts joined the club in the 80’s and in a rare event in football these days, stayed with us until he left in 2002 for a season with Dagenham & Redbridge.

Potts could play at either full back, but his best position was at centre back. It was well known that Potts was a bit ‘shorter’ than the normal, conventional centre back, but he made up for this by his reading of the game and his positioning. He only scored 1 goal for us, a 30 yarder against Hull City in 1991/92 season, and even that went through the keepers legs!

‘Pottsy’ is a legend at the club, and it’s pleasing to see his son making his way in the game, to keep the Potts association continuing.

 

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1. 2.   Slaven Bilic – signed from German side Karlsruhue in January 1996 for £1.3m. Bilic was a cultured player, good on the ball, great at defending, and had the leadership qualities needed for a centre back. His performances lead to his selection in the Croatian squad in Euro 96. His performances continued to impress Premier League managers, and in March 1997, Joe Royle paid us £4.5m for his services.

Bilic left under a bit of a cloud, saying that he went to Everton to win trophies, something that didn’t happen. He has been touted as a potential West Ham manager in future.

 

1. 3.   Lucas Neill – this may surprise a few, and when ‘Lu-cash’ joined the club in January 2007, the media claimed that he turned down a move to Liverpool to move to West Ham for money.

 

I felt he was one of the best right full backs we’ve had in a long time. He was solid, a good leader, and an all-round good defender. He made up for his lack of pace with his reading of the game. He was a key player in out fight for survival in the 2006/07 season‘The Great Escape’.

He left in 2009 as he rejected a new contract, and went on to play for Everton and Galatasaray, before moving to his final pay day in United Arab Emirates.

 

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1. 4.   Rio Ferdinand – Rio had incredible pressure on his shoulders when he broke into the West Ham United squad. A local lad, who come through the ranks of the academy.

Rio started off as a centre midfielder, but Tony Carr saw his potential as a ball playing defender, and this is where Rio has stayed up until this day. West Ham had not seen such a good ball playing defender since the days of Bobby Moore. Rio could dribble, he could win aerial battles, he could read the game, and he could pass. He was the new type of English defender, which is why in 2002, Leeds United paid a record £18m for him.

I was devastated when he went, it was the start of our downfall in recent years. The £18m was squandered on 3 or 4 squad players, and we never recovered. Rio is now playing for the biggest team in the World, Manchester United, and has had a successful career as an England International, even Captaining them. It’s fair to say that Rio had the successful career that was anticipated for him.

 

1. 5.   Julian Dicks – Saving the best till last, ‘The Terminator’ is another West Ham legend. The best left full that I’ve seen for West Ham. He was well known for his tough tackling style and his thunderous left foot. He was sometimes tagged as a thug, but for me, didn’t do anything to warrant it. He was very much like Stuart Pearce in his style of play, however, because Dicks had a shaven head, this added to the ‘thug’ claims in the media.

Dicks didn’t take any rubbish, from the opposition or his team mates. He gave 100% every week, and that is why we love him. He could also take a penalty. I’ll never forget the penalties against Manchester United in 1996 that left Peter Schmeichel helpless, and the one against Spurs where we won 4-3 and Dicks fired past Ian Walker. Even if the keeper guessed the right way, he would’ve probably ended up in the net with the ball! We could do with his leadership and passion in the side now.

 

Now I know there will be others who are missing, and I’m sure you will tell us who you think should have been on there, but these are my 5 best defenders for West Ham United in the Premier League era. I hope think so too.

COME ON YOU IRONS!!

By ChelmoHammer

 

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