Hammers hero Dave Cross was – like Andy Carroll – not what one might describe as a traditional west Ham United player.
But in six years at the club between 1977 – 1982 he scored 99 goals from 234 appearances to win a special place in the hearts of Hammers.
All these years on – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh – he declared: “It’s still my club, the first result I look for even though I am working for Blackburn Rovers on opposition analysis.
Big fella ‘Crossie’ is perfectly placed to assess the impact that Andy Carroll may have now he is ready to return to the Hammers team under Slaven Bilic and declared: “Any manager in the word would be happy to have Andy in their team.”
That immediately ‘dissed’ the view of some that the Croat’s more ‘cultured’ approach to the game may not suit the blockbuster style of the former Newcastle and Liverpool man.
But Big Dave – talking exclusively to ClaretandHugh – said: “I think he’s a top player. I wasn’t seen as a traditional Hammers player but I did ok in a team which had a lot of very creative types in it .
“Andy has been desperately unlucky with injuries but of he comes back and stays fit he can be a real presence in the team.
“He’s obviously great in the air but he has good feet and can bring players in from the left side really well. I like him and although a passing team is being developed down there he still has a big role to play I think.”
Theres been much talk that AC’s international years may not be behind them but Crossie has a firm view on that one declaring: “It won’t be on his mind. All he will be concerned about is getting the performances in for West Ham and that’s how it should be.
“Any manager in the Premier League would want him in their team and I hope he stays fit and has a big impact for us.”
In his role as an analyst of opposition teams in the Championship Dave has seen a lot of Michail Antonio and said: “He has tremendous pace and that’s scary. He is big and powerful. I think he was a terrific buy and could be a major player for us.”
I think there are similarities between Carroll playing alongside Players like Payet,and Antonio to when David Cross was playing alongside Brooking and Devonshire.
You don’t need 11 identical players. It is much better to have players that complement each other. COYI
Quite agree Eug, I remember when Crossie scored 4 against the Spuds in a 4 – 0 win, that and the 8 – 1 are two of my favourite victories of all time, probably the best I can remember is the FA cup final in 80 but I was only 8 for that so I had a less developed view of the ups and downs of being a WHU supporter and thought we were just the best team in the World at 8 ;).
Crossie is the ideal man to ask about Carrol. He too had the reoutation of being a harde skulled, good in the air, elbow in the face, knee up the backside, old fashioned center forward.
That is until he came to west ham, and John Lyall got hold of him. He saw him training and realised he had more to offer than other people thought. He had him running with the ball and playing one-touch with all the other hammers. It had our crowd ironically cheering when he did something more refined which Crossie loved to hear, and responded to. He had a great relation ship with the fans.
It’s more about what the coaching staff was prepared to get out of the player than what the player could do. If Carrol is encouraged to do more on the floor than ever before, then he would probably respond the same way as Crossie did.
David Cross daughter Kate plays for the England Ladies cricket team,which im sure many know & is a totally useless bit of trivia 😀
lol well it made my day lol
Haha,yeah i watched her in the Womens Ashes,she has a conk a bit like her dads,just not quite so bent 😀
you better look out, he reads this site. They didn’t call him pshyco for nothing lol
Only difference is crosstie could walk through brick walls our Andy can’t walk through wet paper,but maybe that’s a thing of the past,
But I agree their will be sides that won’t be able to cope with Carroll,
Leicester and Bournemouth for 2,
We will need talent and skill to undo the top 8 teams but against the bottom teams we are going to need some hard fighting as well and even more direct play,
But with Moses and Valatino our wide and Carroll or Jelavic Central and Payet pulling the strings just behind we will take the lower sides to bits,
Proper old school hardman Cross.I wouldnt mess with him even now 😀
Nice as pie off the pitch though. He drank after matches in our local with Ray Stewert, and was very polite and mild mannered. Very inoffensive.
Lol,well i ment i still wouldnt mess with him on the pitch.I have no intention of walking into a pub & asking him to put his dukes up,lol 😉
lucky coz he’ll probably poo himself lol
Yep if you compare him with the Savages,Bartons ect of the world they were like Cinderella
Great times when we had limited players at our club but great heart,
Good times, good memories still miss standing in the ground,
That’s why this season is so important to all the faithful