Let’s have a debate about who should captain West Ham next season? It’s up in the air as to whether Lucas Neill will be with us. Let’s assume not. Who would you choose to replace him?
My vote goes to Scott Parker. He’s in an ideal position to direct play, he is a born leader and leads by example.
Give your vote HERE.
Lasse i do see what you are sayign with LBM, and if Zola did for some miraculous reason pick him I would support it but seriously believe that it should be Noble, Parker or Upson to chose from.
Cheers Dominic – appreciate that. you make some good points but I’m always optimistic! I think this season could be the best we have seen at Upton Park for some time. Interesting post re Boa Morte. I’ve actually been thinking we should convert Boa Morte to a holding midfielder – he is very strong and puts himself about and I think could play well in that position as long as he keeps it simple – definietly worth considering. re Neill I hope we don’t sign him because I don’t think he is a player who could play for a top 6 team which is where we want to be so why sign him? Spector could be given a go and let’s sign a decent prospect – that Fanny guy seemed like a viable option at one point. Neill is a liability and will give away penalties because he is too slow to get in the right positions.
I think in terms of a captain to have a team where we have the choice of three or four strong players just shows how far we have come as a club. Which ever player Zola decides we can all be safe in the knowledge it will be a good choice and hopefully with the standard Zola has set within the team the new captain will know he needs to perform to warrent their selection.
Strange how Neill’s agent is now saying that West Ham is in his heart and how he wants to discuss a revised contract.
In my humble opinion that means, nobody wants him, and his inflated ego of what he’s worth, his agent has done a pants job in not finding a new club, and please can I come back with my tail between my legs.
Only trouble with Parker is his injury record. I would like to see Neill stay if he stasys, if not then Noble.
Pre season has started when are we going to hear about our next significant signing—if any????
Overall excited for this season. 6th place finish?
For all of those who are touting Upson for the armband lets see how he reacts to his contract negotiations before we get all misty eyed about the guy.
Personally I think he is an average player and if it were not for Zola he wouldnt get anywhere near an England team. He has a seriously over inflated opinion of himself yet after he was flogged by Arsenal there was nothing more heard of him till Curbs and the Egg went on footballs answer to a Supermarket Sweep trolly dash.
Cappello rates Zola and therefor WestHam, if they all stay fit you will probably see, Green, Upson, Tomkins, Parker, Noble, Ashton and Cole involved in the England squad over the season.
Upson should realise that he is simply one of our players who can or will be called an “England International”. His back up status to JT and Rio doesnt really give him the sort of stroke he seems to think it does.
I will be interested to see if the people who have attacked Neill for stalling on his contract will be so quick to jump on Upson should he not delay on a new contract. Put yourself in Neill’s position, say your boss came round and said “We are very pleased with your work and you have been a great asset and we wish to extend your current contract…………..but we are gonna pay you less!” Do you really expect us to believe you would be reaching for the pen without checking your options!
On Dean Ashton, he got married a couple of weeks ago and went away on honeymoon so he has probably been given a little extra break by the club before joining up with the squad.
Obviosly I can’t put myself in Neil’s position. I realise he has a business head on him and he’s trying to squeeze every last bit of financial gain from his remainding year/s. The point I was making, CelticHammer, Neil is the captain (inspirational onfield leader) of a sporting club (a club which is finacially hamstrung and surviving by the skin of its teeth). He received a massive overblown contract which he surely cannot expect to be continued. It’s not like he’s now twenty six and coming into his best years.
It’s his choice not to sign the contact offered and look around but personally I would not have him back as the leader of our club. West Ham cannot dream about winning silverwear unless we have a unified and loyal team. We are not a ManCity who are buying players loyalty and personally I am very thankful for that. Players must earn the right to play for the Hammers just as the club must prove to them it’s loyalty and professionalism. If Upson for example wants to move on then I certainly don’t want him as captain. The captain is there for the team, the club, a stalwart if you like – I grant you Neil has many virues but this isn’t one of them.
And CelticHammer thanks for the tip on Ashton. I wouldn’t be suprised if Zola etc are waiting to see how he, Dixon, Dyer, Gabbidon, and even kids like Spence, Fry and the like, get on in their first few weeks of training before making any more moves. It’s risky to rely on recovering players and kids but for the next year or two we may not have much of a choice and you never know it just may be a blessing in disguise.
CH – re your analogy of Neill, can I put it another way?
You’re 55 years old working in a manual job and your boss says, “We’re going to offer you another year’s extension on very good money, but in view of your age & performance, it will be less than last year.”
Of course he is within his rights to look elsewhere, but he knows he was overpaid when he signed and that this would happen. He rejected the contract (his right) to seek the money he believes he deserves (no on else does, evidently). So, tail between his legs he now says that he doesn’t really want to leave West Ham. It is now West Ham’s right to say we offered you a fair contract and you refused it. Good luck with your future.
I agree with you that Tomkins outplayed him for the last 10 games – this was reflected in the player votes on here that had Tomkins MOM 4 times and 2nd 3 times in those last games.
However, he is a decent player and has probably been part of the reason Tomkins has progressed so well.
Upson is keen to play European football. Nothing wrong with that and I think he will stay another season to try and fulfill that ambition. If we qualify I don’t see him leaving. If he does, I don’t have a problem with that, he is 29 after all.
In my opinion, this time next year players will be queuing up to join West Ham.
Just read on the OS news about another youth sigining, a young lad called Jack Lampe from Harlow Town. Played in a youth ganme for us last year against Fulham, by all accounts did well.
However it also says that Balint Bajner has gone back to Bulgaria after the club decided not to take it further. I’m suprised by that as I thought he was doing well in the youths?
I saw that too Bas Bob, about Bajner, I too am surprised he has gone back after what I thought was a successful spell in the reserves last season, though he did pick up a couple of injuries- can anyone shed light on this as I thought he was progressing in the right direction? I also thought we had signed him not loaned him??
Choice 1: Parker
Choice 2: Parker
Choice 3: Parker
And if they don’t give it to Parker, my vote goes to Parker
… or Parker
graybo, i think your jumping in too quickly. I bet you haven’t even considered Parker as captain
It would have to be Parker for me too. With Green or Noble as vice captain. I really find it hard to believe that some of us are stil suggesting Neill should be captain, he is a mercenary through and through with no loyalty, who, if he does re sign and let’s face it it may be his only option, will only be with us for one more season. Yes he had every right to tout himself out there on the open market, but the silence says it all.
ESPN are covering 3 of our early games live. Is this free or PPV?
just a quick one to everyone that was commenting about ashton not being in the pre-season photos etc. Apparently he is included in the squad to face grays athletic along with jimenez and a few other first teamers like parker and dyer, so maybe he isn’t that bad!!
On the player loyalty question, according to the Graun, kelvin Davis has turned us down now that Southampton look to have found a new owner. Fair play to him, too.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/09/kelvin-davis-southampton-west-ham
DevoDevo,
I read somewhere that ESPN will be a subscription service. Something like £9 per month for Sky Sports subscribers otherwise slightly more expensive (can’t recall amount for non-Sky Sports subscribers).
Parker for me, always has been. I think Neill did a good job in keeping us up, and he definately sorted our defence out when we desperately needed a leader, and I thank him for that. Fair play, there were other factors that kept us up, but he was a key player, and I don’t begrudge him a penny of what he’s earned, for that reason alone. A season later and he became very hit and miss, slow at times and losing the attacker. Sometimes I questioned whether he was up for it or not.
Parker settled in straight away and impressed me with his vision and tackling.
Point taken, Upson has a very good shout as well, he has been a rock for us, but Parker edges it IMHO
A fair analysis Bazhammer.
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