This Sunday the league in which I manage, my youngest son’s U14 football team, honoured the memory of 14 year old Luca Campanaro, who played in goal for Bedgrove Dynamos, who sadly passed away following a collision in a challenge during a match at Harefield United. All teams, in all age groups, in the Wycombe and South Bucks Minor Football League, in which Luca played in division 2 at U15, held a minute’s applause for him which we were proud to have been a part of in our match against Bedgrove’s neighbours Aylesbury United. You may have seen, or read about, the story of Luca’s sad accident reported on national news bulletins and in the newspapers. One thing that struck me was the dignity of Luca’s parents in what must be one of the most awful events that a human could ever experience. Luca’s father, when interviewed, commented on how he felt for the other boy involved in the collision. Says everything about the man doesn’t it? By all accounts, including those who knew him in the match that we played, Luca was a generous, fun, popular and happy soul who spread much joy and affection to the lives that he touched. In death he touched many further lives by donating organs to those in desperate need of them. My thoughts and kindest wishes are with his nearest and dearest – peaceful journey Luca.
Back to West Ham and following a recent exchange of views about Javier Hernandez I got to thinking about player perception. As a generalisation West Ham fans enjoy attacking, free flowing, quick passing football but, as this very site proves with boundless frequency, we don’t always agree about the things we see. Opinions differ so often, about a number of aspects of our club, but, perhaps, one of the most common topics of debate is that of the merits of individual players.
Where Chicharito is concerned we can’t even agree what to call the fella. Chicha, Chico, who I always associate with an X Factor contestant who released one of the naffest songs you’ll ever hear, or any of the number of other variations on JH’s nickname are all referred to on WHTID. Whatever the debate over what we should call him it’s clear we’re divided on the value of the player to the team. Personally I think he’s a tremendous asset to the squad. West Ham have not had an out and out goal-scorer of his quality for many years – perhaps since we sold Tony Cottee to Everton. I believe that the club should do everything in their power to retain the services of the player. What does annoy me, however, about his play is that he’s happy to watch others close down and challenge when we don’t have the ball. I’ll qualify that last sentence further by stating that it has verged on the criminal how he’s stood still and watched opposition players stroll out of defence with the ball when he was less than two yards away at the start of those defenders’ runs with nobody else in a West Ham shirt anywhere near play. When Chicha joined I was excited but my enthusiasm was dampened by a Manchester United supporting mate of mine warning me that the Mexican striker would not contribute anything outside of the penalty box when attacking. This opinion was backed up by several more people I spoke to as well as articles I read.
Interestingly the thought behind this article was further developed by my intrigue as to what Manuel Pellegrini’s opinion of Domingos Quina was. It would appear that the Portuguese youth player is starting to flourish after joining Watford from West Ham in the Summer. So was it that the gaffer didn’t fancy him, thought that he wasn’t ready or that he didn’t see any position for him in the system that’s been implemented since his arrival? Quina’s terrific strike, proving to be the winner, against Cardiff this weekend would suggest that his sale to the Hertfordshire club may well turn out to be the right move for him. But will it prove to be a bad deal for West Ham? Not an easy question to answer as a team’s chemistry needs to be considered, as well as the individual’s subsequent achievements, when looking back at those who were viewed as having ‘slipped through the net’. Who’s to say that Junior Stanislas would have become as valuable a player if he’d have stayed at West Ham? The wisest summary to reach is that there is no point ruing such decisions as you’ll never know how things would have turned out.
Another fascinating discussion, around these observationally driven opinions about players, was that regarding Fellipe Anderson at the start of this season. Many were convinced of his quality and could see the player’s talents, and how they would develop, at a very early stage. Others were convinced that the Brazilian attacker was never going to make it in the Premier League. Some even stated that he had nothing to offer West Ham and dismissed him as useless. Point being we all viewed the player through different eyes and saw different things. Given time to adapt he’s starting to impress. He’s creating and scoring goals which is great but, for me, he’s a joy to watch and plays in ‘The West Ham Way’.
Things would be pretty boring if we all agreed about everything all the time. I love the exchange of opinions on this site. In the main those exchanges take place in a mature and civilised manner. Sometimes the banter that comes out of the differences aired is witty and has me fully belly laughing. Long may it continue.
I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone on WHTID, their families and their friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Joyful New Year as this is my last post before Christmas day. Have a great one, with bags full of fun, warmth and points for West Ham, all.
COYI! West Ham 4 The Cup!
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