Oggy – or Uncle Ang as he’d become affectionately known by most West Ham fans – will forever be remembered as one of the most reliable defenders in our recent history. It’s hard to believe that Oggy’s debut season was our last at Upton Park. Where have those years gone?
When Oggy arrived from Juventus he had a pretty decent CV – Italian International, Serie A winner, Cup winner, and part of the squad that reached the Champions League Final against Barcelona so hopes were high when Slaven signed him.
I don’t think he could have hoped for a better chapter to start his career at West Ham with, the Farewell to The Boleyn season. He was left footed and I can remember his shiny bald head being like a magnet to the ball, he was very good in the air.
I think he was at his best when playing with Winston Reid or James Collins as his defensive partner. Winston and the Ginger Pele were the aggressive players and Oggy was a bit more cultured.
I felt he was always an intelligent player who would commit a foul when required, everything you would expect from an Italian defender, but I don’t remember him ever being sent off. One thing you can say about Oggy is that he got what playing for West Ham was.
He became part of the family and you could see how much winning and losing meant to him. When we won, he would be jumping up and down and joining in the songs on the pitch after the games and in defeat, he would always show his appreciation to the fans for their support.
I was lucky enough to be in the stadium in Lyon and Oggy, who wasn’t in the squad, was on the pitch at the final whistle dancing and singing along with all of us, you could just tell how much of a fan he had become. Unfortunately Father Time caught up with Oggy and his appearances last season were restricted to cup games or coming off the bench.
But Oggy did have one last man of the match appearance in my opinion away at Arsenal when we won 2-0. Captaining the side against the team going for the Premier League title, Oggy was immense at defending and directing his teammates to a famous victory.
My overarching memory of Oggy was his last minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round replay at Upton Park. I had to sit in the Bobby Moore Lower this night as my usual seat in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand had to be given to the Liverpool supporters.
Midweek games under the lights were always so special at our old ground and this one did not disappoint. Antonio put us 1-0 up just before half time which made the atmosphere even more buzzing during the interval.
We were soon brought down to earth just after the break though when Coutinho equalised with a free kick. The game ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends and eventually went to extra time.
With the game destined for penalties we were awarded a free kick which created a crossing opportunity for Payet. Crossing it in, Oggy rose and met the ball with an unbelievable header into the far corner of the net sending us through to the next round.
Before ‘limbs’ became a thing on social media, I found myself on my back on the floor with my Dad and brother sprawling over me celebrating Oggy’s last minute winner. I didn’t even hit the deck when Bowen won us the Europa so this goal will always be a very special memory for me.
Goodbye and good luck to Hammers fan Flynn
Another West Ham fan to have left the club this summer is Flynn Downes. I felt it was a strange signing when he joined, in that I didn’t know much about him, and two seasons later I still don’t know much about him. His chances were always going to be rare in that first season with Rice and Soucek the main men in the middle for us.
Obviously being a West Ham fan and hailing from Essex, everyone wanted it to work out for Flynn. The problem when you’ve played all of your career in the lower leagues is that when the chance comes up to impress you have to take it with both hands – and then some.
He’s a tidy player who can keep possession but this is where I see the problem in trying to take his chance when it was presented. Nine times out of ten, it would be a safe pass sideways / backwards always retaining possession but herein lies the issue of trying to impress.
You’re caught between not wanting to make a mistake but at the same time, what can you do to make the manager think I need to to give this lad a real go? And with the pressure of not losing games in the Premier League and our ‘safe’ manager, it was always going to be a real challenge for Flynn.
After Declan left many people thought he would get his chance but then we signed Alvarez so it wasn’t to be. By all accounts he had a great season on loan at Southampton last season and I wish him well there for this upcoming season.
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