If West Ham keep up their terrific form, Sam Allardyce will almost certainly be in the running for the Premier League Manager of the Year Award, and perhaps the quiet whispers linking him the England job might gain a bit of vocal confidence. It would prove to be quite a turnaround for a man who was the bookies' favourite for the chop just a few months ago, with West Ham's Premier League beginning to look perilous at the start of the year and having been utterly embarrassed in the cup competitions by Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. This season, he has added to his depleted strike force, drafting in the likes of Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, whilst securing the coup of Alex Song on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona. Former Ipswich Town defender Aaron Cresswell also looks a fine purchase and former Liverpool flop Stewart Downing's return to form has been wonderful to watch. Once Andy Carroll regains full fitness from his long-standing injury problems, the Hammers will be even more of a force to be reckoned with. That's not to say that they couldn't do with a few familiar faces from the past, however. West Ham are notorious for producing some wonderful talent before shipping them on when the big guns come calling - whilst some of them wouldn't be welcome back at Upton Park for personal reasons, their talent is unquestionable. Take a look at the nine former West Ham players that the club could do with within their ranks to boost them in their quest for Europe.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
