Wednesday 18 January 2012

Great Britton - The One That Got Away!

So, Leon Britton is officially the best passer of a ball in Europe. Better than Xavi. Better than Fabregas. Better even than Scott Parker and Diop!

And Swansea City, who out-passed Arsenal at the weekend, officially have the best pass completion rate in the Premiership, with Britton pulling the strings in the midfield hub of the team.

So what?

Well when we signed him as a 16 year old from Arsenal, it was for a record fee for a 16 year old - a cool £400,000. Clearly the boy had ability, but were we able to harness that talent and turn potential into the real deal? Sadly not.

Ask West Ham fans to name "the one that got away" and most would nominate Bullard, who like Britton was never given the chance to kick a ball in anger for the club. But it is beginning to look as if the real gem dropped down the drain was Leon.

Not that he would get a game under Allardyce of course. Too short. Too talented. Too many passes.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really HF?

Praising Britton for his talent and abillity.

slagging Parker off because he don't score enough and set up goals.

According to the stats Britton hasn't scored 1 single goal and hasn't set up a goal either this season.
Suppose he too could get some stick from you because he doesn't contribute in the goalscoring department.

Sav said...

It is truly sad when one realises how West Ham has changed over the years. We were always producing talent and although we couldn't always keep them, at least they were given a chance to show what they were capable of. Nowdays, they can't even do that!

Hammersfan said...

Is that right 2054? See, Sam is right, get the ball and hoof it as hard and as long as you can in the general direction of the opposition's goal!

Hammersfan said...

By the way, Parker's pass completion rate in Claret & Blue was poor, it wasn't just the paucity of assists and goals. Presumably, somebody assists in the Swansea team. My objection was always that the midfield unit lacked creativity and goal scorers, and to the use of Parker as a midfield general with creative responsibility - a role he is NOT asked to perform at Tottenham or for England.

Anonymous said...

21:49 are you STILL going on about that, you mentalist?

Hammersfan said...

Yep, and apart from Nolan, the problem persists. and the trouble with Nolan is that he is keeping a second striker out of the team, so as welcome as his goals are, we are still short of scorers in the team.

Anonymous said...

and? we're joint first, in January! Hooray!

Anonymous said...

We also had Dalglish, John Terry, and Ray Houghton if memory serves me well.

davefking said...

Bullard? Fackin Bullard???? (In a Peter Kay "garlic bread voice")

Deane said...

Harry also knocked Shevchenko back after a trial with us allowing AC Milan to sign him
Harry's comment "he doesn't pull up any trees for me" I assume those were money trees destined for the ol'brown envelope

dazthehammer said...

i noticed a one scotty parker also made the top 10 of that list of best passers in all of europe