da leao：
da wazamba： West Ham’s recruitment policy has become a bit of a laughing stock over the years, especially during the David Gold and David Sullivan era.Their biggest struggles have come in their decade long search for a striker capable of scoring consistently. The ones they have found have either been towards the end of the careers or not stayed around for too long before moving on.They are few and far between, though, and the Hammers continue to spend huge amounts of money in a very scatter gun-like approach to recruitment.Last summer they spent a club-record fee on Sebastien Haller, who has managed just seven goals since August, and also brought in Albian Ajeta, who still waits for his first goal in claret and blue.But what about all the other strikers they’ve signed. There are loads of them and the majority have been woeful.Have a flick through and remind yourself of the rubbish Gold and Sullivan have wasted millions on over the last 10 years…
Benni McCarthy – 13 games, 0 goals
To say the South Africa striker struggled to make an impression in east London is an understatement. McCarthy failed to score in 14 games for the Hammers – an abysmal record in a struggling West Ham outfit back in 2010.
Mido – 9 games, 0 goals
Another striker who failed to score during his brief tenure in east London. Nine appearances wasn’t enough for the Egypt forward to get on the scoresheet and moved onto Ajax after one season with the Hammers.
Ilan – 11 games, 4 goals
The first on the list to score for the Hammers. Ilan only made 11 appearances in Claret and Blue but managed to score four times. A conversion rate of 36% is extremely impressive but his time at West Ham was short-lived.
Frederic Piquionne – 62 games, 11 goals
Piquionne signed for the Hammers in 2010 and spent two seasons in east London. Throughout that period, he scored 11 goals in 62 appearances but did not make a meaningful impact on the West Ham faithful. Another ‘average’ striker to add to the collection, but by no means the worst.
Victor Obinna – 32 games, 8 goals
The Nigeria striker accomplished a 25% conversion rate in front of goal, netting eight times in 32 appearances for the Hammers. One season was enough, though, and Obinna swiftly moved on to Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow. Not the best on the list but certainly not the worst.
Demba Ba – 13 games, 7 goals
Possibly the best striker West Ham have had during the Gold and Sullivan reign. The Senegal striker was brought to east London midway through the 2010/11 Premier League campaign in a bid to avoid the drop.
Netting seven times in 13 appearances, Ba did everything he could to help the Hammers, but his goalscoring prowess wasn’t enough to stop them getting relegated. He left the following season for Newcastle United – scoring 16 Premier League goals for the Magpies.
Robbie Keane – 10 games, 2 goals
The Ireland striker made the switch from north to east London from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, but the transfer was not worthwhile. Keane provided two goals in 10 appearances in Claret and Blue, departing the following season for the MLS.
It was a cheap option at the time and he proved to be way past his prime for the Hammers.
John Carew – 21 games, 2 goals
Carew was once a prolific, goalscoring machine during his time at Aston Villa, but by the time he reached West Ham, his best days were behind him.
The Norway target-man made 21 appearances for the Hammers, netting just twice. Perhaps a 10-years younger Carew would have done the trick.
Sam Baldock – 22 games, 5 goals
Baldock spent one season with the Hammers in the Championship during their 2011/12 promotion campaign – scoring five goals in 24 appearances.
Despite his lack of goals, the England forward was young, hungry and displayed great levels of commitment during his time. Unfortunately, the quality was not there, which saw him moved on the following season to Bristol City.
Brian Montenegro – 1 game, 0 goals
To be honest, does anyone even remember this guy? He made one FA Cup appearance for the Hammers in 2011/12 and that was it. And in case your’e wondering, no, he didn’t score.