West Ham Academy: Picking a World-Beating Team of Former Hammers
West Ham United, the Academy.
Or, if you will, the Academy of Football. Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst all came up through the West Ham system, as did Trevor Brooking, Alvin Martin, Tony Cottee and Judas, excuse me, Paul Ince.
More than any other team in the league, West Ham keeps the dream of a halfway decent England national squad alive.
In 2011, enough top flight, world class former West Ham lads populate Europe’s top leagues to make a starting 11 good enough to take on the top teams in the world.
Here is the West Ham Academy’s top XI in 2011.
David James: Goalkeeper
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Current Club: Bristol City
Years with West Ham: 2001 – 2004
The Skinny: Admittedly, Rob Green is far and away the best West Ham goalkeeper currently playing. However, he’s also the current West Ham goalkeeper, which defeats the purpose of this article.
Interestingly, or even somewhat ironically, former West Ham keeper David James replaced Green after his World Cup 2010 howler as England’s go-to man in goal.
Throughout his very long career, James made a number of starts for top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Though he currently plays in a diminished capacity, James showed his ability to still perform at the top level during the 2010 World Cup.
England's Brave John Terry: Central Defense
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Current Team: Chelsea
Years with West Ham: 1991 – 1995
The Skinny: England’s Brave John Terry never actually made it to West Ham’s first team; he was taken by Chelsea as a teenager.
Since joining the Blues first team, Terry has become the team’s captain and made 339 Premier League appearances.
Terry has captained Chelsea to three EPL titles, four FA cup titles, two Football League cups and second place finish in the Champion’s League in 2008. He also captained the England national team.
Say what you will about Terry and his antics, he’s a natural born leader and no slouch on the pitch.
Rio Ferdinand: Central Defense
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Current Team: Manchester United
Years with West Ham: 1993 – 2000
The Skinny: Rio Ferdinand began playing for West Ham’s youth system at the age of 15 and broke through to the first team at 18. He made a total of 127 appearances for the Hammers.
Since leaving Upton Park, Ferdinand has played for Leeds United and, more notably and most recently, Manchester United.
An integral part of United’s Herculean defense, Ferdinand plays Robin to Nemanja Vidic’s Batman. Together they form one of the most formidable duos in European football.
Lucas Neill: Right Back
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Current Team: Galatasaray
Years with West Ham: 2007 – 2009
The Skinny: Former West Ham captain and Australian national team regular Lucas Neill actually began his professionally footballing career with They Who Must Not Be Named (starts with a “Mill” ends with a “Wall”).
Neill rectified that egregious error in judgment by joining the Hammers after a lengthy spell with Blackburn. The Aussie turned down an offer from Liverpool because the team didn’t make him feel wanted and went instead to West Ham.
Though Neill is hardly a household name, he’s a hardworking presence on the pitch who does his part.
Glen Johnson: Left Back
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Current Team: Liverpool
Years with West Ham: 2000 – 2003
The Skinny: Glen Johnson came through the West Ham youth system and played for just one year on the Hammers’ first team before nipping off to Chelsea and winning the EPL title.
He was the Blues' first purchase of the Roman Abramovich era.
Johnson’s play as a left back combines a good deal of creativity and forward movement on the wings as well as solid defense work.
Though his form suffered slightly at Liverpool, Johnson has experienced a renaissance coinciding with the return of Kenny Dalglish.
Javier Mascherano: Midfield
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Current Team: Barcelona
Years with West Ham: 2006 – 2007
The Skinny: Argentinean defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano came to West Ham United along with countryman Carlos Tevez during the summer 2006 transfer window.
Mascherano played just one season with the Hammers but went on to do great things at Liverpool, whose fans loved him enough to give him his own song, set to the tune of Seven Nation Army by White Stripes.
The Argentine international has had difficulty since arriving at Barca and may be transferring out during summer 2011.
Matthew Etherington: Midfield
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Current Team: Stoke City
Years with West Ham: 2003 – 2009
The Skinny: Matthew Etherington has been Stoke City’s guardian angel for the past few seasons. Every time the side finds itself in dire straights, Etherington digs up an inspiring performance and saves the day.
He once did the same thing for West Ham. Etherington’s creative and diligent play on the left wing and the left side of central midfield creates spaces and chances for whichever squad he is on and proves a constant threat to opponents.
Frank Lampard: Midfield
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Current Team: Chelsea
Years with West Ham: 1994 – 2001
The Skinny: Frank Lampard, or Fat Lumpolard, if you will, has claret and blue in his blood.
His father, Frank Lampard Sr, played for the club, and his maternal uncle, Harry Redknapp, played for and coached the Hammers. He began his career with West Ham’s youth system.
Lampard scored 24 goals in 147 appearances for West Ham and has gone on to become on of the great English and EPL players of all time.
Frankie is Chelsea’s third all-time highest scorer and the highest scoring midfielder in EPL history. Lampard is second on the all-time assists table and completed more than 1,400 passes and 10 assists in every season he’s played.
Joe Cole: Midfield
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Current Team: Liverpool
Years with West Ham: 1994 – 2003
The Skinny: Joe Cole started playing for the West Ham youth system at the ripe old age of 13. The team developed his talents until Cole reached the age of 21, at which time he was picked up by Chelsea.
Cole was a prodigiously talented youngster often considered to never have quite reached his full potential, despite having won the EPL title three times with Chelsea, a team for which he contributed a number of great performances.
Admittedly, Cole has failed thoroughly at Liverpool, but good things still my lie in his future.
Jermain Defoe: Striker
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Current Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Years with West Ham: 1999 – 2004
The Skinny: Jermain Defoe is just a small Paul Ince.
The minute striker scored 29 league goals in 93 appearances with West Ham and has gone on to marked success with Tottenham Hotspur. He also provided a measure of relief from the fantastically annoying presence on Emile Hesky on England’s 2010 World Cup squad.
All told, Defoe has scored 177 goals in 428 appearances across all competitions. He’s not Pele, but he puts up good numbers year after year.
Carlos Tevez: Striker
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Current Club: Manchester City
Years with West Ham: 2006 – 2007
The Skinny: Carlos Tevez is one of the top strikers in the world.
Tevez came to top flight European football in 2006, and though he only played one year for the Hammers, the wild midget helped save the Irons’ season.
Since leaving West Ham, Tevez has done great things at both City and United. He has 51 goals in 80 appearances across all competitions for City in the past two seasons and a respectable number of assists to boot
The Bench
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Nigel Reo-Coker
Michael Carrick
Paul Koncesky
George McCartney
Craig Bellamy
