Today we reach the 20s in the Hammers Numbers game as we look at the players those who have worn them for us and decide which of them were the best.
Counting down from number 29 , we have the one season wonder Emmanuel Emenike. Then at 28 , our favourite potato salad eater, Tomas Soucek and the first of Manuel Lanzini‘s numbers at West Ham.
Tricky, bit I think Manu’s first season might have given him the most electric giving him the win.
Number 27 is filled with the current Nayef Aguerd, and the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Tony Cottee, and Lucas Perez but clearly the best to ever wear 27 at West Ham was and is Dimitri Payet, no questions asked.
At 26, the battle was between Arthur Masuaku, Zavon Hines, and a young Joe Cole and it is of course Joe Cole.
No 25 has been worn by David Martin, Bobby Zamora, Anton Ferdinand, and Jermain Defoe. However, Zamora wore it the longest and is the pick.
Number 24 was worn a lot but never for long. Club legends like Noble and Carton Cole wore it as well as Ryan Fredericks The current incumbent is of course Thilo Kehrer.
Number 23 was worn by a lot of solid West Ham players. From Diop to Downing and Johnson to Potts and now Alphonse Areola. I think it should go to Stevie Potts. At 22 we have Craig Forrest (remember him?) and Marmite man himself, Said Benrahma . Benny gets the nod..
At 21 it has to be Angelo Ogbonna who has been such a rock at the back and without him, the club surely wouldn’t be where they are. Oggy beats out Michael Carrick for number 21 and moving on to 20… we have Nigel Reo-Coker and our wonderful Jarrod Bowen, no contest there.
To be continued tomorrow
Love your two back row picks of Potts and Ogbonna!! I have enjoyed both of them in their respective eras, and love both of their ‘presence’ on the pitch. They are both the type of player you want to applaud during the game, for reading the game and doing something simple, effective and intelligent. Happy days!!!