Former England star names West Ham’s £2.5m bargain as his most underrated teammate

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Paul Konchesky, during spells at West Ham United, Liverpool, Charlton Athletic and Roy Hodgson’s Europa League-bothering Fulham, shared a dressing room with some pretty special talent.

Konchesky was there, as bemused as everybody else, when West Ham signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the summer of 2006.

A brief and unsuccessful spell at Liverpool will still be remembered somewhat fondly by the former left-back, due to the fact he was given the chance to play alongside Joe Cole, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard.

On the day of his second and last England cap – a thrilling comeback victory over Argentina – Michael Owen scored a dramatic late brace. Thus, sealing a win for a Three Lions side boasting John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and a Real Madrid-era David Beckham.

Now, while the consensus may be that modern football supporters are often guilty of under-appreciating Beckham’s talents, none of the household names listed above could ever really be described as ‘underrated’.

Konchesky, who spent two years with West Ham United from 2005 to 2007 until Alan Curbishley froze him out at Upton Park, feels the same cannot be said of one Yossi Benayoun though.

Paul Konchesky remembers Yossi Benayoun fondly at West Ham United

This is what people mean when they say the ‘streets won’t forget’.

Maverick, mid-table magicians who never threatened a Golden Boot or found themselves in the drama of a title race. But there is a special place in the heart of all supporters for fleet-footed artistes like ‘The Diamond from Dimona’.

Alan Pardew’s West Ham paid just £2.5 million to sign Benayoun from Racing Santander in 2005. As bargains go, this is surely up there with the best pound-for-pound deals in recent Hammers history.

“If I said to you Yossi Benayoun at West Ham, you probably wouldn’t have picked him!” Konchesky said when asked on the From My Left podcast to name a former teammate who maybe went under the radar amongst the masses.

Konchesky knew Javier Mascherano was special

In terms of a certain Argentinian duo, while Carlos Tevez saved Curbishley’s skin with a flurry of spring-time goals – including that final day winner at Old Trafford – Mascherano barely kicked a ball in claret and blue.

Much to Konchesky’s bemusement.

“Obviously, Mascherano didn’t play a lot for us,” he adds of the future Liverpool and Barcelona stalwart. “But in training, he had stupid ability. He was a tough midfielder, he liked a tackle, but he could play. You could obviously see that from when he goes on and does what he does.”

In terms of his favourite left-wing partners, Konchesky is again spoilt for choice.

“For different reasons, probably Matty Etherington at West Ham,” adds the 44-year-old, who returned to his old stomping ground for a spell in charge of the West Ham women’s side until 2023.

“We had a good relationship, [like with] Simon Davies at Fulham. I played with [Riyad] Mahrez and [Anthony] Knockaert [at Leicester City], but then Joe Cole at Liverpool sometimes played on the left. A variety.

“Coley could beat players from a standstill, Matty was a bit more direct, and Mahrez could take the ball from anywhere and make something happen.”

Matty Etherington could rival Benayoun in the ‘most underrated’ argument

If Benayoun is the most underrated player to wear the West Ham shirt in recent times, then Etherington is surely not too far behind.

Former centre-back James Collins saw similarities with Ryan Giggs in the quicksilver winger, all speed, uber-direct, and his boots always covered in chalk.

“I would say Mark Noble [was West Ham’s most underrated player but] there are a few,” Collins told the club’s official website a few months ago. “I put Matty Etherington in there as well. Probably at a time was the best left-winger in the league behind Giggsy, maybe.

“He probably should have played for England, Matty.”