I like many people love to go on holiday. Some people love to go sit on a beach all day, get drunk, get a tan and generally do very little. That to me sounds like hell, I can’t sit still, I like to achieve lots in my day and I hate to “just relax. Basically I love adventure, madness and to do things people have never done before.
I am very lucky my wife is the same way, she is just as mad as me; only she has to be organised. The same in my personal life, I love not knowing what I am doing on the weekend, and then just doing something completely random. In short I love the unpredictable and madness.
So when I had to choose my favourite West Ham player, there was always a few that came to mind. Rio Ferdinand came to mind, as a kid I played as a central defender and was quite good. I used to think as a young kid that I was Ferdinand, when I was playing. But he doesn’t make it.
Scott Parker was next; when I was 16 till I stopped playing I played as a holding midfielder. I wanted to play like him, to run and tackle as hard as him. But something is missing; he is too much like an accountant, too boring.
The best is Paolo Di Canio. The man would ooze passion for the team and the club. He could do the incredible and the amazing as well as play in the spirit of the game. He was colourful, he was brilliant and he was unique. I believe most of the Upton Park faithful would hold him in the highest regard still.
I am only 28; I never saw some of the greats like Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst play. Because I never saw them play, I can’t comment on them. There is a twist to this story, there is a man named Ravel Morrison, who is giving Di Canio a run for his money. He is climbing the ladder of great players in my mind. And I hope he does play for many years to come and give us some memories, similar to the ones Paolo gave us.
COYI
Alan Devonshire for me.
I’ll go for Ian Dowie, the excitement was which goal he would put the ball in. Not sure now how many own goals he scored but in my memory it seems like loads. Seriously though, I’d go for Alan Devonshire, the man ran at people constantly and always seemed to keep the ball no matter what. I remember everyone craning their necks to see whenever he got the ball.
Its Billy Bonds for me Mr West Ham
For me,its brooking,with devonshire a very close second,di canio a very close third.
I always prefer the flair players that have a hard work ethic. Devonshire dicannio tevez. Alessandro diamanté anyone?
Brooking Devonshire and bonds are my favourites from childhood. Bobby Moore was before my time but I still love the man through association
Devonshire was like Thierry Henry. He had another gear and he used it to breeze past the opposition who never knew when he was going to either pass or turn them again. He was exciting, but Paolo!!. He could conjure up anything especially in the box. Dunno. a dead heat really with Devo a whisker in front.
Di Canio oozed passsion??? What about the cold wet away days up North that he didnt fancy playing in?? Those who ooze passion play anywhere anytime any conditions
No brainer, Paolo all the way. Just brought a smile to my face thinking about how he played and what he could do. Great footaller and proper entertainer.