Aaron Cresswell joined West Ham United on the third of July 2014. It is reported that the fee was in the region of over £2million with that to rise depending on appearances etc. Big Sam had done his homework on Cresswell over a considerable length of time and Sam chatted regularly with Mick McCarthy the manager of Ipswich. Sam knew well that McCarthy (a hard-nosed no nonsense defender in his own playing days) had Cresswell well versed in the art of defending.
Aaron Cresswell was born in Liverpool in 1989. He was with the Liverpool youth sides from 2003-2005 and at the tender age of fifteen they released him. However, Tranmere spotted the potential in him and brought him to their youth set-up. It paid off for them because in 2008 Aaron made his senior debut in league one against MK Dons. He would go on to make 70 appearances for Tranmere and once again bigger leagues clubs were checking him out. In 2011 Ipswich made a bid for him and Cresswell moved to Portman Road. He went on to make 132 appearances for Ipswich with six goals thrown in for good measure.
The one great asset that Cresswell has had throughout his career to date is his ever present consistency. He goes about his work quietly, professionally and to the highest quality. Would it be fair to compare him to one of the West Ham greats of yesteryear Noel Cantwell? He was the captain who brought West Ham back to the top tier of football in the 1957/58 season. The comparison might be unfair at this early stage but as throughout his career Cresswell is Mr. Consistency and I will go out on a limb a bit here maybe future captain of West Ham.
So, yes, I think Aaron Cresswell has been Sam’s best buy. There has been some outstanding performances from the likes of Sakho, Valencia, Song and Amalifitano but maybe think of it this way. When you go to build a house the most important part is your foundations. Once you have a solid foundation you can build and create a masterpiece. Aaron Cresswell is West Hams solid foundation who lets the artists preform further up the field. Roy Hodgson could do with looking in East London for some quality foundation materials.
