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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Midfield

Left-midfield: Dimitri Payet

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on December 11, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on December 11, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

Many people may disagree with Dimitri Payet’s inclusion in this side because of the manner of his exit. The Frenchman however, is arguably the best player the club has had since Paolo Di Canio if not longer.

The winger was magnificent during his time at West Ham and was the magician that produced so much magic during the final year at the Boleyn Ground. Payet’s form was so good as a Hammer he received a nomination for the Ballon d’Or award.

Payet’s time at West Ham will go down in folklore because of the goals he scored and the rate he created chances. The Frenchman was deadly from free-kicks, he scored memorable ones against Manchester United, Liverpool, Blackburn and of course Crystal Palace.

Centre-midfield: Scott Parker

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Scott Parker of West Ham scores a goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and West Ham United at the Britannia Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Scott Parker of West Ham scores a goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and West Ham United at the Britannia Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

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Three-time Hammer of the Year, Scott Parker must make the line-up. Many fans have put Parker to the back of the minds because he left the club after relegation and joined London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. A season in which Parker won the PFA Player of the Year award, even though the Hammers were relegated.

Despite joining Spurs, Parker was a brilliant player for West Ham and continued to play for the club in the Championship until his transfer was completed. The current Fulham manager is well-deserving of his place in this side though, because of just how good he was at the Hammers.

Parker played 129 times in the Claret and Blue and scored twelve goals and assisted a further eleven, even though he was playing in some disjointed teams. What made Parker’s time more memorable was some of the goals he scored.

The Englishman scored worldies against Chelsea, Liverpool and Middlesborough. Parker was even a role-model in the dressing room. He famously took over a team talk at half-time, West Ham was losing 3-0 to West Brom and came back to draw the match 3-3. Parker may have left a sour taste in some fans mouths, but there is no denying his talent.

Centre-midfield: Mark Noble

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Mark Noble of West Ham United reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Mark Noble of West Ham United reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on November 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Mark Noble is the first name that springs to mind when people think about West Ham and the Premier League. The Englishman is one of the Hammers top ever appearance maker, more than 500 in Claret and Blue of West Ham. Noble is also the first Hammer to make 300 appearances in the Premier League for the club.

The ‘Cockney Pirlo’ has been with West Ham since 2004 and in that time become one of the most deadly penalty takers in the world and the captain of his boyhood club. Noble has stuck by the club through two relegations and has fought to get the club to back in the Premier League each time.

Noble has scored sixty and assisted sixty-one goals in his 502 matches for West Ham. This record has made him the clubs highest scorer in the Premier League, overtaking strikers like Di Canio, Teddy Sheringham and Carlton Cole.

The midfielder’s commitment to the club saw him be awarded his own testimonial in 2016, the final year at the Boleyn Ground.

Right-midfield: Trevor Sinclair

11 Nov 2000: Trevor Sinclair of West Ham United celebrates during the FA Carling Premiership match against Manchester City at Upton Park in London. West Ham United won the match 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport
11 Nov 2000: Trevor Sinclair of West Ham United celebrates during the FA Carling Premiership match against Manchester City at Upton Park in London. West Ham United won the match 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport /

Trevor Sinclair is probably one of West Ham’s best ever wide players but is often put behind Alan Devonshire and Martin Peters. The Englishman was one of the Hammers best attacker during his time at the club.

Playing 206 times for the club Sinclair scored 38 goals and assisted a further eighteen goals, including the memorable cross for Paolo di Canio’s volley against Wimbledon. Sinclair was a fabulous player capable of scoring all sorts of spectacular goals. The best goal scored by Sinclair as a scissor kick against Chalton Atheltic in a 5-0 win in 2000.

Sinclair was part of one the most exciting attacking line-ups the Hammers have had at their disposal. The 47-year-old was able to shine, despite playing in a team that included Frank Lampard Jnr, Palo Di Canio, Frederic Kanoute, Joe Cole and Marc Keller. Sinclair is the perfect man to take up the right-midfield spot in this West Ham XI.

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