The West Ham European Cup final
May. 22nd, 2008 10:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
undyingking... that might have been, and probably the closest we're ever likely to come to such a thing. Out of the nine British-developed players who started, four were products of the West Ham system -- more than those of Man Utd and Chelsea added together.
- We sold Ferdinand because we were offered what at the time (2000) seemed like crazy money (£18M) -- the then British transfer record, and the most expesive defender ever. The club was financially shaky and basically used the money to build a new stand. Leeds very shortly sold him on for what still seems like crazy money (£30M), and look what happened to them.
- Lampard left after the club fired his uncle and father in 2001. He was never popular at West Ham -- the fans thought him fat and lazy, and that he only got in the team because of nepotism. Of course he turned into quite a decent player once he got to Chelsea. Maybe he never would have at West Ham, in his comfort zone.
- Joe Cole left when we got relegated in 2003. He was worshipped at West Ham, and to be honest still is to some extent, five years on. You might have noticed that when he scored for Chelsea at Upton Park the other week, he refused to celebrate the goal. (Unlike Lampard, who celebrated with mad enthusiasm.)
- Carrick stayed for a year after relegation, before moving to Spurs who rapidly made a big profit selling him on. I guess it's fair to say he was quietly appreciated at West Ham, but there weren't exactly riots in the streets when he left. More of a manager's player than a fan's.
- Then there's Tevez, who first learnt English football at Upton Park, and who must be our best-loved player of the last few years despite his brief stay.
