Carlos Tevez may have been the posterboy of West Ham United’s ‘Great Escape’ under Alan Curbishley, but do not underestimate the role played by fellow centre-forward Bobby Zamora.
Yes, it was Tevez who made Curbishley’s implausible escape act possible; seven goals in his final 13 Premier League games, including that winner at Old Trafford on the final day.
The Argentine’s powerhouse strike-partner certainly played his part too, though. Carlos Tevez netted the decider away at Manchester United as West Ham United confirmed their survival. A month earlier though, Zamora was the hero when Curbishley masterminded an iconic away win at Arsenal, with some help from an inspired Rob Green.
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Ex-West Ham United boss wishes he could see Carlos Tevez alongside Peter Withe
Speaking opposite Carlton Cole on West Ham’s official YouTube channel, though, Curbishley opted against partnering Tevez with Zamora in a ‘dream team’ of former pupils and teammates.
Curbishley almost gets misty-eyed about the prospect of Tevez leading the line alongside Aston Villa legend, and 1982 European Cup winner, Peter Withe.
“I’m going for the out-and-out striker, which was Peter Withe. I played with Peter Withe at Villa,” Curbishley says. “He just basically had everything. He was big and strong, he was aggressive, he could score a goal, he could make a goal, and he could come back and defend set plays.
“And also, a bit like Bondso [West Ham icon Billy Bonds], he could just give you a look; ‘Liven up.’ You know, like, you ain’t doing it. Not just on the pitch, but in training.”
“The other one [in my attack] is Tevez, because I always like to have an out-and-out striker and someone who could hover around.”
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That is certainly the approach Curbishley took at West Ham. Tevez drifting, from left to right, haring back to help out the defence, and an old-school targetman in Zamora bullying centre-backs up top.
“[Tevez] could either go up front and make a two, or drop off and make a five in midfield. Tevez would be the perfect player for that,” adds the now-68-year-old, who played briefly alongside Withe at Villa Park in 1983/84.
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“Although I only had him for half a season and really for a dozen games or whatever, what [Tevez] went on to achieve afterwards etc… He would be the perfect foil for Peter Withe.
“I would fancy that side on set-plays, on defending set-plays, on scoring goals, and on making it difficult [for the opposition].
“I’ll take that.”
This week, West Ham have been linked with ‘Carlos Tevez 2.0’ in Bologna frontman Santiago Castro. At least, that is how talent scout and Como employee Ben Mattinson describes the £35 million-rated Argentina Under-20 international, via his official X account.
Calciomercato now claim that the Premier League is ‘the most likely destination’ for Castro despite interest from AC Milan.
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