FIVE former Hammers to fill West Ham’s void

With West Ham’s hunt for a back-up striker this summer being less than successful so far this window, here is a list of 5 previous West Ham strikers who I would like to fill the void.

1. The first is a man who quite possibly could have still been playing for West Ham if it wasn’t for a career ending injury. Of course it’s Dean Ashton, who was a tremendous goalscorer and is exactly what we could do with to this day. We will never know how many goals he would have bagged for the club, and that’s what was so frustrating for West Ham.

2. I would also take Marlon Harewood in his prime with us circa 2005. He is still playing however nowhere near Premier League quality. Once upon a time though he was an excellent player and would be a great back-up if it were possible to have his old self in our current squad. He was a strong handful type centre forward, who would suit our playing style under Big Sam.

3. There is a man who would be a realistic possibility to come back and that player is, Jermain Defoe. He had a relatively short stint at West Ham after coming through the academy. He was arguably our best forward export and he has only got more deadly since moving on. If there was ever 2 up top with Big Sam, Defoe and Carroll together would be fantastically deadly. I don’t personally call for Big Sam to change his way though, just to make that clear.

4. Current Premier League manager Paolo di Canio would be many fans favourite player ever and of course he would put in 100% and give the upmost passion which epitomises the player West Ham fans love. Although this passion would never allow him to play second fiddle to Andy Carroll.

5. I will use spot 5 to explain why I wouldn’t like Carlton Cole back after leaving earlier this summer. He left on a free after not agreeing personal terms. He left the club to find a club who will pay him what he thinks he is worth when he has never been a very successful goalscorer. He clearly rated himself higher than any club would and now he reportedly wants to come running back to West Ham. I for one say no thank you. I would have preferred for him to stay and for Maiga to have gone but that wasn’t the case. I would suggest we don’t need him and we should try a different player as that risk could turn out a better goalscorer/more hard working striker than Carlton. Thanks for all your service Carlton but lets move on.

What do you think about my 4/5? I haven’t included strikers before my time so I guess that would vary to some of yours.