Former Hammers manager claims he could have won the Premier League with West Ham
“People always talk about Manchester United producing the class of ’92 but they weren’t any better than the six boys we produced at West Ham,” he told The Athletic.
“If you put those two groups of six against each other, there would be nothing in it.
“Ferdinand went on to win championships, Frank Lampard won everything, Cole won everything and Michael Carrick won everything.
“Then you have Glen Johnson who won Premier League titles and Jermain Defoe who had a terrific career.
“If the kids had stayed at West Ham what a team that would’ve been. That would’ve been six England internationals in one team.
“That was the difference. Manchester United kept their youngsters and that’s what enabled them to become a great team.
“If I kept those six players together I’m certain I would’ve won the Premier League.”
It’s a great headline but those players improved because they moved and had greater expectations. Ferdinand at Leeds then Old Trafford, Carrick probably would have improved wherever but Spuds and Utd gave him the stage, and Cole, Lampard , Johnson under Mourinho when he was at his best and Defoe like Carrick probably would have improved wherever he was.
Personally Mourinho ruined Cole took all the flair away from him stuck him out on the wing he was a born central midfielder
Harry seems to have a selective memory as one time Rio did not have an agent. We had the statement Rio would be sold over his dead body. The next thing we knew he fixed up Rio with an agent and pocketed a cut of the transfer. Harry actually started the rot which would end in a Terry Brown fire sale of who was left from the golden era after relegation. Only John Lyall can have that honour of nearly winning Div One
It’s likely Rednapp was aware of the chairman’s decision to sell Ferdinand. His subsequent failed wheeler dealing led to his and the Lampards’ departures. Not a great time in the history of the club.