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Like the Phoenix, Angelo Ogbonna has risen from the ashes for West Ham

By Jeremiah Carson

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United inspects the pitch prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton FC at London Stadium on May 04, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United inspects the pitch prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton FC at London Stadium on May 04, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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Football has a funny way of changing someone or somethings fortune around for the better. For West Ham United this season one of their own, Angelo Ogbonna, has found a way to do just that. From the depths of the bench to the starting XI, he has found a way to rise back up.

Go back to last season, or better yet just go back to the beginning of this season. From this forum to many others, everyone was all but writing off West Ham center-back Angelo Ogbonna from ever getting a start again in East London. However, all it takes is a little spark and some continued confidence and fortunes can change overnight.

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Ogbonna had lost his form or confidence that was at full force just a few years back, which is why Pellegrini decided to look at Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop last season. When Balbuena and Diop took off, nobody looked back to see where Ogbonna would fit in and just like that, he was gone. But things in football can change overnight and just like that he was brought back into the fold and with just a few matches, he was back to the old him.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Angela Ogbonna of West Ham United clears the ball away from Martin Montoya of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United at American Express Community Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Angela Ogbonna of West Ham United clears the ball away from Martin Montoya of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United at American Express Community Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /

The narrative might’ve just been that the Gaffer wanted to have his center backs playing on their dominant side. Whatever the case since Angelo got the start against Brighton in week 2, West Ham United really haven’t looked back and they haven’t needed too. Since week 2 the Hammers haven’t trailed in a match and have looked more defensively sound each week.

It hasn’t always been pretty for Oggy this season as he has had a few almost unfortunate moments but the good has outweighed the bad and in a few matches, Oggy has been the better center back over the ever-growing Issa Diop.

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As the first sentence stated, football has a funny way of changing someone’s fortune like that. For Angelo Ogbonna, this season has been just that. From being written off to being praised, anyone at any time can change their fortunes and rise from the ashes and it is only a matter of time until someone else gets the same chance.