Green Street Hammers
Fansided

An alternative greatest Hammers team

By Henry Tomlinson

James Collins, West Ham. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
James Collins, West Ham. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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West Ham fans are used to seeing the greatest eleven’s built up of the same old legends like Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, but this side will have a slightly different look.

It is understood that the most excellent West Ham side, combining players of different era’s into a formidable team will always include the apparent legends like Moore, Brooking, Bonds and co. This eleven will be made up of players who are well known by Hammers but miss out in spots for the greatest ever Hammer’s XI.

So to be clear the rules: the team can include any former West Ham player as long as they are not regularly included in previous West Ham Greatest ever line-ups.

Defence

Goalkeeper: Ludek Miklosko

25 NOV 1995: LUDEK MIKLOSKO THE WEST HAM GOAL KEEPER ORGANISES HIS DEFENDERS DURING THE FA PREMIERSHIP MATCH BETWEEN WEST HAM AND QPR AT UPTON PARK, LONDON. WEST HAM WON THE MATCH 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Mike Cooper/ALLSPORT
25 NOV 1995: LUDEK MIKLOSKO THE WEST HAM GOAL KEEPER ORGANISES HIS DEFENDERS DURING THE FA PREMIERSHIP MATCH BETWEEN WEST HAM AND QPR AT UPTON PARK, LONDON. WEST HAM WON THE MATCH 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Mike Cooper/ALLSPORT /

The Tomas Soucek’s fellow Czechoslovakian goalkeeper was signed to West Ham by manager Lou Macari. Ludek Miklosko had the difficult job of replacing legendary keeper Phil Parkes. Many thought that this unknown entity would be able to step up, but Miklosko did.

Making 373 appearances for the Hammers, then Czech goalkeeper was a stable of the Hammers line-up throughout the nineties. Miklosko was vital to promotions in 1991 and 1993, and he also appeared in semi-finals in the League and FA Cup.

West Ham fans to this day adore the Hammer of the Year in 1991, the shot-stopper’s chant can still be heard at most home games.

Left-back: Julian Dicks

13 Aug 2000: Julian Dicks is applauded by the two teams before his Benefit match between West Ham United and Athletic Bilbao at Upton Park in London. Mandatory Credit: Jamie McDonald /Allsport
13 Aug 2000: Julian Dicks is applauded by the two teams before his Benefit match between West Ham United and Athletic Bilbao at Upton Park in London. Mandatory Credit: Jamie McDonald /Allsport /

Julian ‘the Terminator’ Dicks was a fearsome left-back with a rocket launcher of a left-foot. Dicks spent two separate spells with the Hammers. The Englishman originally played for West Ham in 1988-1993, and after a stint with Liverpool, he returned in 1994 and stayed until he retired in 1999.

Dicks was a solid tough-tackling defender. This aggressive nature endeared him to the Hammers fans who loved his passion for the club. The 52-year-old was much more than a defensive unit; he was able to chip in with goals as well. Dicks scored sixty-five goals. Putting him in the top twenty goalscorers for the Hammers, including some venomous penalties.

The legend is also one of the top appearance makers for the Hammers. Dicks made 326 matches for West Ham across his two stints. He added to his status at the club when he returned to coach under Slaven Bilic during the memorable 2015/16 season.

Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand

24 Oct 1999: Rio Ferdinand celebrates West Ham United’s late equaliser against Sunderland in the FA Carling Premiership match at Upton Park in London. The game ended 1-1. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson /Allsport
24 Oct 1999: Rio Ferdinand celebrates West Ham United’s late equaliser against Sunderland in the FA Carling Premiership match at Upton Park in London. The game ended 1-1. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson /Allsport /

Rio Ferdinand is arguably one of the best players to ever come out of the West Ham youth academy. The Englishman had a stellar career at Manchester United after becoming the most expensive defender ever at the time.

Despite having his main success elsewhere, Ferdinand was a brilliant defender for the Hammers. Playing 152 times for the club, Ferdinand also chipped in with two goals along the way. While at the club Ferdinand was part of West Ham’s best-ever Premier League finish, (5th place 1998/99). It was during this time that the club also won the Intertoto Cup in 1999, Ferdinand was a big part of the defence that contributed to the cups win.

Ferdinand also made his England debut while a Hammer as the tender age of 19-years-old, which at the time made him the youngest ever England defender.

Centre-back: James Collins

West Ham United’s Welsh defender James Collins gestures during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Southampton at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, in east London on December 28, 2015. (Photo by IAN KINGTON / AFP) (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United’s Welsh defender James Collins gestures during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Southampton at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, in east London on December 28, 2015. (Photo by IAN KINGTON / AFP) (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images) /

James Collins may not be the most glamorous player in this West Ham eleven but is definitely one of the most passionate. The Welsh defender played 214 times for the Hammers during two different spells with the club. Collins was even part of the squad that took the club to its most recent cup final.

The defender was no-nonsense and was always willing to put his body on the line to defend the West Ham goal. Even though Collins was a robust defender, he was also able to chip in with a goal. Collins scored nine times for the Hammers, including a famous double against Manchester United and volley against Chelsea.

Collins is deserving of his own testimonial; he was at the club for over ten years. Still loved by the fans, the ‘Ginger Pele‘ will always be welcome at the club.

Right-back: Steve Potts

1 Apr 2000: Roy Keane of Manchester United takes on Steve Potts and Steve Lomas of West Ham United during the FA Carling Premiership match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Manchester United won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Michael Steele /Allsport
1 Apr 2000: Roy Keane of Manchester United takes on Steve Potts and Steve Lomas of West Ham United during the FA Carling Premiership match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Manchester United won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Michael Steele /Allsport /

Steve Potts spent an incredibly long time at West Ham. In Potts seventeen years as a Hammer, he played 506 times for the club and was named Hammer of the year on two different occasions. The defender was a regular in Harry Redknapp’s side; Potts was also able to play in the midfield and as a centre-back.

The USA born defender spent pretty much his entire playing career at West Ham. In fact, Potts only played 21 times for a different club, a loan spell with Dagenham and Redbridge. Even though Potts was at the club from 1985-2002, he only ever managed one goal for the club, (in a 7-1 win over Hull City in 1990)

Potts is only one of nine players to play over 500 times for West Ham and is fully deserving of his place in this side.

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