Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa USA/Alamy Live News
By Hughie Southon
There was a time when it looked as though Angelo Ogbonna’s time at the club was heading towards its end.
A big injury last season earned him a year’s extension on his contract more as a reward for his service than anything else.
It was the club perhaps doing what they considered the right thing.
However, the ill luck suffered to the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma has seen him become a key figure at the back and as his minutes have increased he has begun to look as good as ever with suggestions that he could even earn himself a new deal despite him rising 35 this season.
He looks certain to be involved again against Spurs this weekend in a London derby he loves – along with us fans
And he has been discussing what he is looking for in an interview with www.whufc.com saying: “Every time when we play against them it is a huge game, for us, for the fans. It is a massive game.
“We create our own pressure in this game because we know how important it is, so we are focused for Sunday.”
Oggy insists the team are desperate to rectify their slow starts in this weekend’s fixture.
Despite recovering 1-1 draws in their last two league matches against Newcastle and Chelsea, the Irons have done so after conceding early in both games. It is a task the team is determined to avoid this weekend.
While comeback results are embedded in West Ham’s history with Tottenham Hotspur, Ogbonna is looking to build some consistency in the performance.
“Every game is important from now on, not just games against the [top clubs]” added the centre-back, who also scored versus Spurs at London Stadium in November 2019.
“You have to perform well first. When you perform well, sometimes you are unlucky, but the majority of the time you get results.
“We are looking to get more than one point, but the first thing we need to do on Sunday is to perform well.”
Give him another contract; some of us may recall the club letting Tony Gale leave when he still had a lot to offer. Mind you, he wouldn’t be a Premier League title winner if he’d stayed!
I suggest that when Oggy and the boys take to the pitch, at the start of the game, that they pretend it is the second half and they are 1-0 down. Because everyone knows they never really wake up until the second half and losing. Maybe David Moyes can try that bit of psychology!
He surely must have another contract? He lost a year but he must have one season in him and the guy is quality, love watching him
I’ve continually had to shake my head during the years that Oggy has been with us. I remember him playing through the pain with a persistent injury and being called useless and on his return the following season after his end-of-season operation, the same abuse was dished out whilst he got up to speed again.
I’ve never really understood the nonsense directed at a quality player like Angelo. He’s like a fine Italian wine and he actually loves this club.