When I was set the task of choosing 5 West Ham players that I rate above any other, I was faced with quite the predicament. Who deserves to be in that top 5? You could of course go for the best out there. The legends are the obvious choice but for me, they are in a category of their own, and don’t need to be ranked. So I looked at some of my personal favorites who I really enjoyed seeing play in a West Ham shirt.
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1. Christian Dailly
That big Scottish centre back and his crafted curly was a big part to my upbringing into the system as a West Ham fan. I loved and held Dailly close to affectionate support as a Hammer for his committed and no nonsense tackling.
Dailly was a big part of our success in 2001 to 2002 season where he was a much a part of the team than anyone else. Daily played every single minute of that Premier League season, which is quite a feat. Also to add in that season the 7th place finish we gained. Although Dailly was part of the squad that saw our relegation with the highest number of points, Christian was a cult hero and I still enjoy singing, ‘I want curly hair too’ to the tune of Frankie Vialli’s ‘Can’t take my eyes off of you’. A terrace classic for 6 years as Dailly was surplus in 2007. Dailly enjoyed a successful career as a West Ham player, even appearing as a substitute in the FA cup final.
2. Trevor Sinclair
Sinclair was a special winger, fast creative and could cause mayhem in any defenses box. I took great affection to Sinclair because he was an idol of mine, being just a mere school boy and at that time a tricky winger, I liked trying to replicate his pace and skill on the wing as I played for Tonbridge Juniors under 7’s team.
Sinclair was called up to the national squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Sinclair was sold to Manchester City after our relegation in an attempt to curb costs and cut spending in the second division. Trevor was most definitely a player I admired and a player I happily include him in my top 5 players.
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3. Shaka Hislop
Oh Shaka, how I do miss the days of seeing this Caribbean delight guarding the goal in front of the Bobby Moore Lower.
A signing made during Harry Redknapp’s era after the departure of Ludek Miklosko. I never saw Shaka under Redknapp’s management but I remember seeing him as a big part of the squad in his return to the club in 2005. West Ham United signed Hislop as cover to Jimmy Walker and Roy Carroll, if you cannot remember, Walker picked up a very nasty injury in the Play-Off final back in 2005, and so a return of Hislop was very much a welcome return. Hislop featured in Cardiff in the cup final in 2006.
4. Steve Lomas
Northern Irish, gritty, strong and committed would be the words I would use to describe this powerful former club captain at Upton Park. Lomas spent 8 years at the club seeing the high and low points of the time of being a West Ham United player.
Lomas epitomized everything about West Ham and what a cult hero at the club is, strong and fearless, but massively loyal. I remember seeing the enforcer dominate the middle of the park and this is the qualities that has proved well in turning St Johnstone from SPL minnows to a relatively successful club at this period in time.
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5. Dean Ashton
I still to this day ask the question of where we would be with a fit and in form Dean Ashton. A promising and potential international career stripped from him in a very harsh and devastating style. Dean was signed from Norwich City for a then club record £7 million pounds and his success was well noted in a short period of time.
I can’t believe you haven’t included Di Canio in your top 5. If you’ve put Sinclair in, surely Di Canio has to go in because they played every season together as west ham players bar 1.
Going by what you’ve written, it’s obvious you’re a younger lad. But I have to strongly disagree with Dailly! Don’t know why everyone loved him so much…. He was useless!!!
Your on drugs dailly was a pile of shit lomas was avarage do canio all the way was the best by far
Don’t want to criticise too much but have to disagree with Dailly. A really poor player. Only a cult figure because of the song about him. What about: Moore, Bonds, Brooking, Martin, Cottee, Devonshire etc?
The author has stated he is young in the sinclair part. He wouldn’t of seen those legends mentioned. He’s gone for 5 that wouldn’t be on everyones list. Id go for moncur, martin allen, bilic, morley, and michael hughes
Here’s mine – Dicks, Brady, Miklosko, McAvennie and Di Canio. I have seen them all play and all have played important parts of my West Ham life
My 5 would be Moore,Bonds,Devonshire,Brooking and Cottee!
Di Canio. Dicks. Bilic. Cottee. Cole. I started going early 90s as a 16 year old in the south bank, excellent times.
Remember getting tonked at Oldham 6-0 in a cup semi then i think we beat them 3-0 at home.
Dailly was awful. Him and Repka/Breen when we were relegated were pants.