Radoslav Kovac 2009-2011 50 Apps
Kovac signed initially on loan from Spartak Moscow in January 2009, Kovac impressed with his combative style and was signed permanently in August 2009. Unfortunately for both the player and the club this was a time when West Ham were recovering from the Icelandic owners gamble and were between the Zola/ Grant era’s. Kovac was extremely slow in every sense, slow in thought and movement so much so that a group of fans nicknamed him “Ron” after the Tom Cruise character from the film Born on the 4th July.
Kovac had represented the Czech Republic 30 times so did have some pedigree and he would go on to play with some success at Basle and in his home country with Slovan Liberec and Sparta Prague but he didn’t really convince at West Ham any stage. His last game was in February 2010 a 3-1 away win at Blackpool a rare highlight in a dreadful season for the club. West Ham finished bottom of the table and Kovac was sold to Basle.
Nigel Quashie 2007-2010 8 apps
Signed in the 2007 January transfer window by Alan Curbishley to help the battle against relegation, Quashie managed only 8 games for the club and was never on the winning side.
A hard working robust centre midfielder, Quashie experienced some personal problems during his time at the club and a severe foot injury which led to him to missing the entire 2007-2008 season he was loaned out to Wolves and Birmingham the following season and finally left the club for QPR in 2010.
Quashie became the first black player to play for Scotland in over 100 years when he made his debut in 2004. He would subsequently go on to play 14 times for Scotland in his career. Quashie finished his career in Iceland where he gained some coaching experience and now retired he has set up the IPDA academy in the Midlands, a training centre for up and coming young players.
Quashie was a player with talent and promise but a mixture of circumstance both in his personal life and injuries in his sporting life conspired against him in his time with the Hammers.
Ravel Morrison 2012-2015 17 Apps
Ravel Morrison could easily have been one of the best players to have played for West Ham. His talent and ability were/are beyond question but a poor attitude and off the pitch problems led to him falling someway short of his potential for the club.
Signed in 2012 from Manchester United Morrison was highly rated than no other than Sir Alex Fergusson who said of the youngster “A brilliant footballer. Top class ability He needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life”
Sam Allardyce was keen for Morrison to get some first team action and so sent him out on loan for the entire 2012-13 season, after some problems initially the move was a success and Morrison returned to West Ham ready to have an impact on West Ham’s second season back in the Premier League.
Morrison will always have a place in the heart of all West Ham fans for the goal he scored in the 3-0 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane in October 2013, truly one of the great West Ham goals. His talent and skill on the pitch were beguiling at his best but that shame is that he would only score one more goal for the club and would play his last game for West Ham only 10 months later.
There have been various mumblings about his handling by Big Sam, but the truth is Morrison looked like he had everything and had the potential to be a club legend it’s a huge shame he could not fulfil his potential with the club.
Ravel has gone onto to have spells with QPR, Lazio and Cardiff and is yet to settle at any club for any length of time. My hope is that Ravel is young enough to put his problems behind him and he gets to display his undoubted talent at the top level again soon
It probably is harsh including him in this section maybe we should file him as most frustrating rather than worst.
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