CandH blogger Allen Cummngs rolling back the years to find that best ever squad

Mark Noble made a bold statement in his London Evening Standard column last Friday – ironically just 24 hours before our disappointing defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Commenting on Martin ‘Mad Dog’ Allen’s claim that the current team is the best he’s seen, Nobes said: “That’s quite a statement. The best team? Only time will tell.” But he was keen to add: “This, as an overall squad, is definitely the best since I started out in the first team 15 years ago.”

There’s no doubt the skipper is in the best place to judge. It’s likely he’s talking about not just what we see on the pitch, but the wider picture including what we don’t see off it. The atmosphere behind the scenes. The camaraderie – the experience in the dressing room – the togetherness between the players – the ability of players to get on.

All vital ingredients of a strong, happy and successful squad. Of course the players’ ability is paramount to any success, but good players at odds with each other, which isn’t unknown, doesn’t make for an effective squad.

There is no doubt Manuel Pellegrini’s first 11 features top quality players from front to back. These days of course supplementing the first 11 there are no fewer than seven others sat on the bench, plus a few others, usually promising youngsters, on the periphery, so any talk about a ‘squad’ covers a lot of people.

The strength and depth has to go a lot further than ever before. It’s certainly the most expensive squad any West Ham manager has had at his disposal. Snodgrass, Masuaku, Balbuena, Ajeti, Fornals and Wilshere are all players who would surely be welcomed in at least half the teams in the Premier League.

Then we have Antonio and Reid currently out with injury, whilst exciting youngsters in the shape of Holland, Cardosa and Coventry are waiting in the wings.

Since making his debut as a 17 year old in the 2004-05 season Noble has been a member of numerous West Ham squads – but probably the most recent and obvious one to compare with would be the 2015-16 squad.

Payet was clearly the stand-out player, Kouyate, Reid, Antonio and Cresswell featured highly, plus Mark himself, of course – but as a complete squad it had gaps filled by what many considered average players.

So what about before Nobes? The squad that featured future stars like Defoe, Carrick, Cole and Johnson was full of ‘potential’ but as Mark pointed out: “Agreed they were all fantastic players who came through the acadamy…but we got relegated and they were sold.”

The boys of 86 also spring to mind. The McAvennie/Cottee partnership was phenomenal. Parksy was a rock in goal, Stewart, Martin and Gale were excellent in defence while Alan Devonshire, maybe not as effective as in his heyday, was still a fine player.

A formidable team that got lucky with no fewer than nine players making 38 or more appearances in the season, which meant the true depth of the squad wasn’t really tested. The FA Cup winning side of the 80’s picked up silverware, but that team were a Division Two side – more effective and efficient rather than outstanding. The same can be said about the 1975 cup winners. Lampard, Bonds and Brooking the stand-out members, supplemented by good, solid performers, but probably not out of the top draw.

Going back even further to the wonderful 60’s – the Moore, Hurst and Peters era. A world class trio in their own right, ably assisted by the great Johnny Byrne and emerging youngster like Sissons, Burkett and Boyce, and topped up by solid pros in the shape of Brabrook, Bovington and Standen. Subs not introduced until the 65/66 season – and even then only rarely used. So really not a ‘squad’ to compare in the sense of the word today.

So personally I think Nobes has got a fair point. For sheer ‘depth’ I believe the players Pellegrini has at his disposal at the moment goes beyond what any previous West Ham manager has enjoyed! Just how good it is will be, as the skipper says, only judged in time!