CandH Exclusive
Billy Bonds has named the current Irons squad as the strongest he can remember in his West Ham history.
The club’s greatest living legend – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh – said: “We may have had better individual players like Mooro, Brooking, Dev, Hurst, Peters and all the rest but I don’t believe there has been a better and stronger squad.
“Take any of the players I’ve mentioned out of the Hammers team and we struggled but not these days. This is a fabulous squad.
“People talk about the team of ’86 but that one suffered very few injuries whereas the manager has had to cope with any amount of them this season and they have all come through. Make no mistake this is a great squad. The best I can remember.”
‘Bonzo’ explained that he could have had no idea how good this season would become at the outset because he knew nothing about Dimi Payet, or Manu Lanzini for example.
And he believes their contribution has been quite amazing although adds quickly: “Every other member of the squad has stepped up brilliantly. Look at James Collins. I love that bloke. You get what it says on the tin. He defends his box, tackles with no compromise and clears into Row Z if he needs to. I love the way he plays.”
He added: “I genuinely believe we can now finish in the top four. We are good enough with this terrific squad and I see no reason not to believe we can’t reach the Champions League places. You have to congratulate the manager and owners on where they have taken us this season.”
He is also pleased we are moving on to the Olympic Stadium and the incredible demand for tickets declaring: “Our fans are utterly incredible. There’s none like them anywhere – very very special.
“That we should have taken 9,000 to Old Trafford shows what they are all about -West Ham fans are the best in the world for me.
“Those who have a problem with the move need to remember the game is entirely different now and we have to get the best facilities and best players as a result that we can.
“I am entirely unemotional about leaving the Boleyn. It’s been wonderful and I’ve had fabulous times there but we move on to bigger and better things. The club is going places -.”
“Six foot two
Eyes are blue
Billy bonds is after you”
Billy bonds my all time west ham favourite player.
Copy that! He may not have been our ‘best’ player, but he was my favourite.
“He’s here, he’s there, he’s every ****ing where, la la la laaa, la la laaa, la laaaa”!
Same as,he gave me so many good time as a kid,
The biggest heart in the world,never for give Harry and Frankie for stabbing him in the back
He deserves the fans feelings as they are mutual
Agreed, agreed, agreed, one of my all time favourites if not favourite! Eyes are blue……………
Agreed with you all, I loved Bobby, but Billy was and is still my all time favorite hammer, and I have done over 62 years, claret and blue bloody,
This is my favorite season so far, some of the emotions this year have been of the scale.
Roll on the Olympic stadium,
Love what he says about Ginge, a player after his own heart
COYI !!