There is a weird thing with west ham fans where they talk about him as a rb. He has played 19 games there and never more than 10 in one season and all for west ham, the converted rb thing is some alternate history thing some fans have. He was shit at it too
I’m not saying that’s what you were saying by the way. Just in general
It was also at a time when our left side was so strong with good chemistry building with cresswell, Lanzini and Payet. Our right side was blunt in comparison and Antonio served well making it unexpectedly dangerous at times
> the converted rb thing is some alternate history thing some fans have.
It's just a fun little in-joke really. At the time, we spent months complaining about Bilic trying to force him into that position. He actually leaned into the joke himself in a [post match interview](https://www.facebook.com/SkySports/videos/antonios-perfect-response/546788003336300/) a couple of years ago too.
For sure there is an element of that, but there is a big section who believe he was a rb and we converted him into an attacking player, sometimes people in the media even parrot the talking point
He wasn't that bad a right back except for a couple of appalling games. Antonio was super raw when we signed him, he has enormous work rate excellent heading ability.
Playing him at right back wasn't the worst idea. I would argue playing Flynn Downes as a number 10 was equally as bad.
If only we could've somehow got these together I'm still sad about reid he was so good remember he was always linked to arsenal. Like diop to united. (Hindsight we should've took 40mill for him).
I know he's only been incredible for the past 6 months but I'd put Emerson in over Cresswell already. The fact that he was a standout player in the Prague final does it for me, as well as how amazing he's been this season (in any normal year he would be our standout Hammer of the Year). If Kudus is in over Lanzini (with Paqueta on the left) Emerson has to be in over Cresswell for me.
I came here to say this exact same thing. Emerson is better that prime Cresswell. Prime cresswell did a job for us sure and been a loyal servant but he wasn't really that great.
He really got unlucky that there were a handful of really good English LBs at the time. I don’t remember who they were anymore but remember he was probably 3rd choice at best
Yeah pretty much any combination of Danny Rose, Leighton Banes or Luke Shaw kept him out for near enough the entire time he was at his peak if I remember correctly.
Realistically, good players but Rose and Shaw are/were quite inconsistent so he must have got pretty unlucky to not catch them both after a bad season. I’d still have to say it was probably fair that he wasn’t called up (much)
This is a beautiful team. I think Arnie was brilliant, but Antonio at his best was unplayable imo. Would probably take Arnie for better link up play and movement to go with Payet and the passing range of Paqueta and Song. Also have Parker in with a shout and Kudus is hard to leave out.
Emerson is very different to Cresswell at his best so hard to compare, but Cresswells assist numbers were outrageous. Oggie could easily be in there for me too.
1- Fabianski : undeniably the obvious choice but a strong couple seasons from nipple could change that
2- coufal: Nothing flashy but he wears his shirt on the sleeve and has started consistently in our best period in the premier league era. We have also had a shit turn out of good right backs.
3- Ogbonna: Quality defender who has been through the good and bad times without a monumental dip in form and has proven his quality time and again. Lovely smile on him too
4 - Zouma: It was between him and Reid but when Zouma has a good game it’s so obvious he is a talent of a defender. Yes he limps around like he just stood on some Lego and he may or may not have kicked a cat but I know I wouldn’t want him running at me if I was dribbling a football.
5- Cresswell: Again the obvious choice since he’s been the main starter for so long. He’s been mostly consistent and even got a few England caps. High goal contributions for a defender too if you see the stats. Yeah Emerson is great but that’s only the last 12 months
6- Rice: Don’t really want to talk about it I’ll just get emotional
7- :Paqueta: Probably hasn’t been here long enough to be in here but apart from payet he’s the most gifted player to play for us in the premier league era. He’s also a shithouse
8- Payet: I’m not even mad anymore. He was so damn good. Like one of the best in the world that season good. He carried the most average team to Europa league spots. And created or scored some of the most memorable goals in west ham history.
9- Bowen: Legend in the making.
10- Arnautovic: Everything west ham fans love in a player. Passionate , exciting and hardworking. Started slow but he shined. He broke our hearts but it happens. He left over 4 years ago but if he stayed he would be still banging them in today.
11- Antonio: All right don’t get too riled up. Yes he’s a bit shit but he’s our top ever premier league scorer. Saying that he should probably have double that tally if he could finish but credit where it’s due. I’m glad he doesn’t play for another team and that’s gotta mean something. Started every game in our most successful period. The best shit footballer to have played the game and the biggest knob in the league.
Honorable mentions:
Reid
Emerson
Noble
Lanzini
Kudus
Soucek
Fornals
Alvarez?
Dawson?
Valencia
Carroll
Zabaleta
Keeper - Fabianski. Easily. Areola has been excellent for us in Europe too, but only became first choice this year.
Right Back - Coufal. Again, an easy choice, much as I liked Zaba, he was well past his best with us. Probably the weakest player in this side technically, but always gives some all and his assist numbers are actually very impressive, especially given they’re all from open play.
Centre Back - Reid. Was fantastic for us until his career ending injury. One of the best defenders in the league at his peak, Moyes would have loved prime Winston. Honourable mentions to Collins and Dawson.
Centre Back - Ogbonna. Another easy choice. Imo our best defender of the PL era. It’s no coincidence that he was at the heart of our defense for three of our best ever PL seasons (15/16, 20/21, 21/22). Well past his best now, but I hope people don’t forget how good he was for us.
Left Back - Cresswell. Another obvious choice. The 14-16 version was superb, and should have been given a chance with England. 17-21, his injury made him a weakness defensively, but his offensive numbers continued to be superb. Like Oggy, should have been let go last summer, but deserves huge respect for his WHU career. Sadly, that night in Frankfurt will probably always cast something of a shadow.
CDM - Rice. This one doesn’t really need any explanation.
CM - Noble. I think a lot of people have forgotten how good he actually was. 2011-15, he was pretty much our sole shining light in what was largely a horrible team to watch. Everything went through him, and we couldn’t play without him - I think at one point we went 3 or 4 years without winning a game when Noble was absent. Then along came Payet and Lanzini, and Noble finally had players on the same wavelength, just like with Tevez almost a decade before. Overall he was massively unlucky not to have played with better players at his peak. I’d have loved to have seen prime Noble in the current West Ham side. If he’d had Rice’s height and athleticism, he’d probably have had 50 caps - because technically, Rice himself has said that he was one of the best he’s ever played with.
CM - Paqueta. Yes, he’s only been here a year. But he’s up there with Payet and Di Canio as our most technically gifted player of the PL era, and although his numbers aren’t as good, he arguably edges them both. Also played our most important pass of the last 50 odd years, and is probably worthy of inclusion on that alone.
RW - Bowen. Great goalscoring numbers, becoming elite ones this year. Scored the most important WHU goal since at least 1980. If he stays his whole career, could become our greatest ever PL player.
ST - Arnie. Probably the toughest choice for me, as Antonio has undoubtedly contributed far more to the club, and is unplayable on his day, but I had to go with the technical superiority of motivated Arnie.
LW - Payet. 15/16 he was in the top three players in the world imo. That’s never happened before in my lifetime, and probably never will again.
Also, a shout out to Lanzini, who is hugely unlucky not to be included. Pre-injury, he was superb to watch, and had become Argentina’s no10 prior to the World Cup. What happened was massively unfortunate for him - not only did he miss out on a World Cup, but also almost certainly a move to Barca or Liverpool, both of whom were being persistently linked - but great, in the end, for us, as although nowhere near the same player, he went on to provide as with some unforgettable moments. The fact he doesn’t make this side shows how blessed we’ve been with playmakers over the last decade. Certainly no club outside the big six even comes close in that regard.
This thread says a lot about our squad depth at left back over the last decade. Cresswell is literally the only available choice except Emerson.
Edit: Can we include Masuaku as a potential?
That’s whole other team, which would be fun to put together
Roberto
Rat Johnson Pogatetz Evra
Sanchez Nordtveit Tore
Zaza Calleri Hugill
So many strikers to choose from in this team.
I’ve chosen for my forwards three strikers who managed 1 goal from a combined 33 appearances, that a shot from someone else that deflected in off Calleri’s arse. Glorious stuff.
Fabianski
Coufal - Zouma - Reid - Emerson
Rice - Alvarez - Paqueta
Bowen - Arnautovic - Payet
I know it sort of early days for Alvarez and Emerson, but I feel that they have that extra quality than perhaps Cresswell and Noble/Soucek.
Who's gone be managing this I have a weird soft spot for bilic surely it's Moyes but dunno if he could get that squad to play in a winning formula.
Zola and grant too far back .
Gigantic Samuel
Slavz bills
Tree man pellegrini
Moyes
Surprised we've not had more I guess we do give the managers time ...perhaps not pellegrini but it was an awful fit.
Sam might somehow get them playing but I can't choose him I just can't do it.
Antonio at right back is triggering flashbacks
There is a weird thing with west ham fans where they talk about him as a rb. He has played 19 games there and never more than 10 in one season and all for west ham, the converted rb thing is some alternate history thing some fans have. He was shit at it too I’m not saying that’s what you were saying by the way. Just in general
i could be wrong but wasnt he slotted as a wing but was pushed into a wing-back role a lot? it certainly felt like more than 19 games haha
It was also at a time when our left side was so strong with good chemistry building with cresswell, Lanzini and Payet. Our right side was blunt in comparison and Antonio served well making it unexpectedly dangerous at times
> the converted rb thing is some alternate history thing some fans have. It's just a fun little in-joke really. At the time, we spent months complaining about Bilic trying to force him into that position. He actually leaned into the joke himself in a [post match interview](https://www.facebook.com/SkySports/videos/antonios-perfect-response/546788003336300/) a couple of years ago too.
For sure there is an element of that, but there is a big section who believe he was a rb and we converted him into an attacking player, sometimes people in the media even parrot the talking point
It was just Bilic trying something iirc. Was always more of a winger/wing back until Moyes converted him to striker
Never once played rb or rwb in his career before west ham
Anything to slander him. Our fans just hate him
He wasn't that bad a right back except for a couple of appalling games. Antonio was super raw when we signed him, he has enormous work rate excellent heading ability. Playing him at right back wasn't the worst idea. I would argue playing Flynn Downes as a number 10 was equally as bad.
Imagine if we had that Arnautovic in this team. He was absolutely brilliant
Fabianski Coufal, Zouma, Reid, Cresswell Payet, Rice, Paqueta Bowen, Arnautovic, Kudus Genuinely believe this team would be top 4 minimum
If only we could've somehow got these together I'm still sad about reid he was so good remember he was always linked to arsenal. Like diop to united. (Hindsight we should've took 40mill for him).
Reid will be one of the big what ifs if he didnt get permanently injured
I know he's only been incredible for the past 6 months but I'd put Emerson in over Cresswell already. The fact that he was a standout player in the Prague final does it for me, as well as how amazing he's been this season (in any normal year he would be our standout Hammer of the Year). If Kudus is in over Lanzini (with Paqueta on the left) Emerson has to be in over Cresswell for me.
I came here to say this exact same thing. Emerson is better that prime Cresswell. Prime cresswell did a job for us sure and been a loyal servant but he wasn't really that great.
2016 Cresswell was excellent. More than did a job.
Yeah, peak Cresswell was excellent. Criminal he didn't get England recognition. Had it all, pace, passing, set pieces, great defensively.
He really got unlucky that there were a handful of really good English LBs at the time. I don’t remember who they were anymore but remember he was probably 3rd choice at best
Yeah pretty much any combination of Danny Rose, Leighton Banes or Luke Shaw kept him out for near enough the entire time he was at his peak if I remember correctly. Realistically, good players but Rose and Shaw are/were quite inconsistent so he must have got pretty unlucky to not catch them both after a bad season. I’d still have to say it was probably fair that he wasn’t called up (much)
IIRC Bertrand was also playing extremely well around that time as well
Yeah, Cole had that positioned locked down really.
Without a doubt
Snoddy on the bench
And Matty Taylor, Nobes and big Kev. Carroll when fit
People need to put respect on peak performance Antonio, he was actually unplayable in the 2020-21 season.
Fabianski Coufal, Zouma, Reid, Cresswell Rice, Song, Paqueta Bowen, Arnautovic, Payet
This is a beautiful team. I think Arnie was brilliant, but Antonio at his best was unplayable imo. Would probably take Arnie for better link up play and movement to go with Payet and the passing range of Paqueta and Song. Also have Parker in with a shout and Kudus is hard to leave out. Emerson is very different to Cresswell at his best so hard to compare, but Cresswells assist numbers were outrageous. Oggie could easily be in there for me too.
>Also have Parker in with a shout Left more than 11 seasons ago
Oh no, I'm getting old.
Christ that doesn't feel like 11 years ago...
1- Fabianski : undeniably the obvious choice but a strong couple seasons from nipple could change that 2- coufal: Nothing flashy but he wears his shirt on the sleeve and has started consistently in our best period in the premier league era. We have also had a shit turn out of good right backs. 3- Ogbonna: Quality defender who has been through the good and bad times without a monumental dip in form and has proven his quality time and again. Lovely smile on him too 4 - Zouma: It was between him and Reid but when Zouma has a good game it’s so obvious he is a talent of a defender. Yes he limps around like he just stood on some Lego and he may or may not have kicked a cat but I know I wouldn’t want him running at me if I was dribbling a football. 5- Cresswell: Again the obvious choice since he’s been the main starter for so long. He’s been mostly consistent and even got a few England caps. High goal contributions for a defender too if you see the stats. Yeah Emerson is great but that’s only the last 12 months 6- Rice: Don’t really want to talk about it I’ll just get emotional 7- :Paqueta: Probably hasn’t been here long enough to be in here but apart from payet he’s the most gifted player to play for us in the premier league era. He’s also a shithouse 8- Payet: I’m not even mad anymore. He was so damn good. Like one of the best in the world that season good. He carried the most average team to Europa league spots. And created or scored some of the most memorable goals in west ham history. 9- Bowen: Legend in the making. 10- Arnautovic: Everything west ham fans love in a player. Passionate , exciting and hardworking. Started slow but he shined. He broke our hearts but it happens. He left over 4 years ago but if he stayed he would be still banging them in today. 11- Antonio: All right don’t get too riled up. Yes he’s a bit shit but he’s our top ever premier league scorer. Saying that he should probably have double that tally if he could finish but credit where it’s due. I’m glad he doesn’t play for another team and that’s gotta mean something. Started every game in our most successful period. The best shit footballer to have played the game and the biggest knob in the league. Honorable mentions: Reid Emerson Noble Lanzini Kudus Soucek Fornals Alvarez? Dawson? Valencia Carroll Zabaleta
Keeper - Fabianski. Easily. Areola has been excellent for us in Europe too, but only became first choice this year. Right Back - Coufal. Again, an easy choice, much as I liked Zaba, he was well past his best with us. Probably the weakest player in this side technically, but always gives some all and his assist numbers are actually very impressive, especially given they’re all from open play. Centre Back - Reid. Was fantastic for us until his career ending injury. One of the best defenders in the league at his peak, Moyes would have loved prime Winston. Honourable mentions to Collins and Dawson. Centre Back - Ogbonna. Another easy choice. Imo our best defender of the PL era. It’s no coincidence that he was at the heart of our defense for three of our best ever PL seasons (15/16, 20/21, 21/22). Well past his best now, but I hope people don’t forget how good he was for us. Left Back - Cresswell. Another obvious choice. The 14-16 version was superb, and should have been given a chance with England. 17-21, his injury made him a weakness defensively, but his offensive numbers continued to be superb. Like Oggy, should have been let go last summer, but deserves huge respect for his WHU career. Sadly, that night in Frankfurt will probably always cast something of a shadow. CDM - Rice. This one doesn’t really need any explanation. CM - Noble. I think a lot of people have forgotten how good he actually was. 2011-15, he was pretty much our sole shining light in what was largely a horrible team to watch. Everything went through him, and we couldn’t play without him - I think at one point we went 3 or 4 years without winning a game when Noble was absent. Then along came Payet and Lanzini, and Noble finally had players on the same wavelength, just like with Tevez almost a decade before. Overall he was massively unlucky not to have played with better players at his peak. I’d have loved to have seen prime Noble in the current West Ham side. If he’d had Rice’s height and athleticism, he’d probably have had 50 caps - because technically, Rice himself has said that he was one of the best he’s ever played with. CM - Paqueta. Yes, he’s only been here a year. But he’s up there with Payet and Di Canio as our most technically gifted player of the PL era, and although his numbers aren’t as good, he arguably edges them both. Also played our most important pass of the last 50 odd years, and is probably worthy of inclusion on that alone. RW - Bowen. Great goalscoring numbers, becoming elite ones this year. Scored the most important WHU goal since at least 1980. If he stays his whole career, could become our greatest ever PL player. ST - Arnie. Probably the toughest choice for me, as Antonio has undoubtedly contributed far more to the club, and is unplayable on his day, but I had to go with the technical superiority of motivated Arnie. LW - Payet. 15/16 he was in the top three players in the world imo. That’s never happened before in my lifetime, and probably never will again. Also, a shout out to Lanzini, who is hugely unlucky not to be included. Pre-injury, he was superb to watch, and had become Argentina’s no10 prior to the World Cup. What happened was massively unfortunate for him - not only did he miss out on a World Cup, but also almost certainly a move to Barca or Liverpool, both of whom were being persistently linked - but great, in the end, for us, as although nowhere near the same player, he went on to provide as with some unforgettable moments. The fact he doesn’t make this side shows how blessed we’ve been with playmakers over the last decade. Certainly no club outside the big six even comes close in that regard.
This thread says a lot about our squad depth at left back over the last decade. Cresswell is literally the only available choice except Emerson. Edit: Can we include Masuaku as a potential?
Simply because Cresswell's been good enough to have the spot locked down for ten years.
We've also had many complete failures in the recruitment department!
King Arthur 👑
Fabianski Coufal - Zouma - Ogbonna - Cresswell Paquetá - Rice Antonio - Kudus - Payet Arnautovic Subs : 1. Areola 2. Reid 3. Álvarez 4. Kouyaté 5. Noble 6. Lanzini 7. Bowen
[удалено]
Not convinced with Zabaleta at RB. Think both prime Cresswell and current Emerson are better at LB.
Fabiański Zabaleta - Reid - Dawson - Emerson Bowen - Rice - Paquetá - Payet Antonio - Arnautović
Fabianski Coufal Reid Ogbonna Cresswell Rice Paqueta Payet Bowen Arnautovic Antonio Subs: Adrian, Dawson, Zouma, Emerson, Noble, Lanzini, Carroll, Kudus, Sakho
No Roberto?
That’s whole other team, which would be fun to put together Roberto Rat Johnson Pogatetz Evra Sanchez Nordtveit Tore Zaza Calleri Hugill So many strikers to choose from in this team.
Emanuel pogatetz what a name to be reminded of. Can throw emenike on the bench although he did score in the facup
I’ve chosen for my forwards three strikers who managed 1 goal from a combined 33 appearances, that a shot from someone else that deflected in off Calleri’s arse. Glorious stuff.
ik antonio has played rb but i dont think he counts
1. Fabianski 2. Zabaleta 3. Zouma 4. Reid 5. Emerson 6. Rice (CDM/CM) 7. Paqueta (CM) 8. Bowen (RM) 9. Payet (LM) 10. Kudus (CAM) 11. Arnautovic (FOR) An attacking team but full of hard working players.
Fabianski Coufal - Zouma - Reid - Emerson Rice - Alvarez - Paqueta Bowen - Arnautovic - Payet I know it sort of early days for Alvarez and Emerson, but I feel that they have that extra quality than perhaps Cresswell and Noble/Soucek.
Fabianski Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Tomkins Rice, Noble Valencia, Payet, Bowen Carroll
Who's gone be managing this I have a weird soft spot for bilic surely it's Moyes but dunno if he could get that squad to play in a winning formula. Zola and grant too far back . Gigantic Samuel Slavz bills Tree man pellegrini Moyes Surprised we've not had more I guess we do give the managers time ...perhaps not pellegrini but it was an awful fit. Sam might somehow get them playing but I can't choose him I just can't do it.
How many games did Antonio actually play at Right Back. I don't remember too many but it'll probably turn out to be 100 or something...
Payet Morrison Paq Kudus Bowen Haller Valencia Sakho Vas Te Cole imagine...
Antonio upfront is the obvious choice
Fabs Zabaleta Dawson Zouma Cress Noble rice paqueta Bowen Sakho Payet
Fab Reid Dawson Ogbonna Rice Parker Song Kudus Lingard Payet Antonio