In a season that has largely underwhelmed, it is often difficult to pick a stand-out player worthy of winning an end-of-season award. Do you pick a defender in a season which has seen the club concede the fourth most league goals? Or perhaps you select a creative player in a season which has seen the Irons score the fourth fewest goals in the campaign? Or maybe a striker? Then you remember your top goalscorer for the season has seven goals.
Well, I am going to make a case for four players who could be in the running for Hammer of the Year come May.
1. Jarrod Bowen: The Ever-Reliable Skipper
At one, perhaps the laziest option, Jarrod Bowen. Our skipper is an ever-reliable player for us, regularly offering up seven out of ten performances whether that’s on the wing or through the middle. A willing runner and a deadly finisher in front of goal, it is hardly surprising that the former Hull man is likely to win the our addition of the Golden Boot.
During his spell out through injury, we missed him dearly and his presence back in the squad since his return under Potter has seen a noticeable improvement in results. He has worn the armband well, setting the example on the pitch through his actions rather than his words, which is perhaps something he will look to improve upon in the summer. He will pick up a fair few votes amongst the West Ham faithful when the ballot box is released.
2. Tomas Soucek: The Midfield Engine
At two, another hugely popular and ever-present Hammer, Tomas Soucek. The Czech Republic international is willing to run through brick walls for our club. His lung-busting runs in the midfield are crucial for the team and his uncanny ability to arrive late in the box to score goals is vitally important, especially for a side that has struggled to score goals this season.
Soucek is the club’s second top goal scorer with six goals and his passion for the club makes him loved amongst the Hammers faithful. He has improved his link-up play too under Potter showing a pleasing array of passing, particularly those raking cross-field balls that help to speed up the attack. He is so easy to root for and, for me, he is definitely in the running for Hammer of the Year.
3. Max Kilman: The Calm in the Storm
When a club drops £40 million on a player, there is a level of expectation on that individual and that brings added pressure. I feel my third option has handled that pressure extremely well. It may seem odd putting forward a central defender considering the club’s defensive fragility this season but Max Kilman deserves to be in the conversation. I dread to think how many more goals we’d have conceded and how many points worse off we’d be without the former Wolves captain.
Kilman brings a level of calmness to the back line and is the perfect central defender as part of Graham Potter’s three-at-the-back adopted formation. Whilst Kilman has made some mistakes, which makes him the least likely winner out of the four I will mention, I believe he is criminally underrated by our fanbase. Let’s be fair, you’d be a little shaky if you had Dinos Mavropanos alongside you at the back. However, alongside Jean Clair Todibo and Aaron Cresswell in this new system, he has looked solid as a rock, regularly winning crucial headers and making last-ditch challenges and blocks to help the team.
4. Aaron Wan-Bissaka: The Defensive Maestro
Last but no means least is my favourite for Hammer of the Year, Aaron Wan-Bissaka. How on earth did Manchester United let him go for just £15 million? In my mind, pound-for-pound the best signing of the season and I don’t even think it’s up for debate. The former Crystal Palace man has found his new home and is thriving after exiting the doldrums at Old Trafford.
His recovery runs are second to none and his ball retention skills have become paramount to our style of play. It’s almost laughable that Manchester United fans were telling us that he was awful going forward. You could argue that he is our most creative player down that right wing always offering an option and his speed and close control offer us something they have been craving for seasons.
What he offers going forward is also matched by his defensive work. His recovery pace is a joke and I have lost count of the amount of times he has dug us out of a hole with his long legs just knicking the ball away from the attacker. He has been a superb addition to our defence and is my runaway Hammer of the Year. With eleven games to spare, there some still time for someone to shove their name into the hat but it would have to be something pretty special to knock Aaron Wan-Bissaka off top spot.
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