Looking back to that late August day in 2006, I am still not sure who was more surprised at the unfolding scene; the fans, the manager, or the players themselves! Who can forget the pictures showing a fixed-smile Alan Pardew standing in front of the Upton Park tunnel with his arms around two foreign players no one had heard of.
There was Carlos Tevez, 22 years of age, holding a No.32 Hammers shirt and Javier Mascherano holding a No.16 Hammers shirt and a bemused looking boss who looked as though he’d been forced to accept two Accrington Stanley reserves rather than two young world class players, who would later go on to grace some of the planets biggest clubs. If the players hadn’t kindly posed with their new kit and thoughtfully given us all a clue as to their names, we would have been none the wiser. But, not only did the Hammers faithful get to know the young striker, they grew to love him during his short but explosive stay in East London.
His debut was against Aston Villa in September 2006, and a 1-1 draw gave us no real indication as to the diamond we had been given (well, loaned in bizarre and, ultimately VERY costly circumstances), but greater things were in store, as any self-respecting cockney boy/girl will remember forever!
His finest hour in the claret & blue came on 13th May 2007. After an incredible run right at the season’s death, West Ham needed a win at – of all places – Old Trafford to avoid relegation. Some hope. No hope.
The lads played the game of their lives, and the gutsy performance that afternoon will live long in the memory. Bobby Zamora wins a header, the ball drops to Carlos, a quick one two with Bobby, and as the ball drops from height, and wide of the goal, a great burst of acceleration sees our Argentinian wizard reach the ball before the keeper and squeeze it home as the Hammers amazing travelling support goes mental. Relegation worries over!
Carlos Tevez seemed at home in the east end. He realised he was part of a team founded on honest working class principles and probably felt a kinship with his poor but loving upbringing in a suburb of Buenos Aries in a tough and uncompromising illegal settlement re-development scheme known as Fort Apache. His severe scalding water injury as a kid left him on a life support machine, but true to form, he battled back to fitness and refused cosmetic surgery as he felt the huge and vivid scars were an integral part of his character – and what a character.
Though clearly a quality player and world star, his none-stop endeavours in the Hammers shirt endeared him greatly to the fans. Here was one foreign player who was not here just for the ride or the pay cheque. He would run, chase, close down, pester and run himself into the ground for the cause, and his seven goals in 26 appearances were vital in helping West Ham stay in the big time. That No.32 shirt was the nearest thing to perpetual motion when he was inside it.
A great blend of pace, power and work rate, Carlos Tevez was a god send for the club and its hard for me to look at an away fixture against Manchester United these days without recalling that magic moment in high definition clarity.
Thanks for dropping in mate…and thanks for that goal!
