West Ham Player Ratings (2008-09)

After every game I collect the West Ham player ratings from 13 different newspaper and websites. With 15 games played I thought it might be worth looking at how the players have performed this season:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2007WHsquad.htm

James Collins (6.80)

Jack Collinson (6.79)

Craig Bellamy (6.57)

Freddie Sears (6.64)

Rob Green (6.56)

Dean Ashton (6.46)

Matthew Upson (6.44)

Scott Parker (6.43)

Carlton Cole (6.23)

Herita Ilunga (6.14)

Matthew Etherington (6.12)

Hayden Mullins (6.10)

Lee Bowyer (6.10)

Calum Davenport (6.01)

Lucas Neill (6.01)

David Di Michele (5.97)

Mark Noble (5.96)

Valon Behrami (5.92)

Julien Faubert (5.76)

Luis Boa Morte (5.72)

It is no real surprise to see Collins (6.80) at the top of the list. In my view, the defence has looked so much better since he arrived back in the team. Although he has only scored one goal this season, Bellamy (6.75) is playing well and always seems dangerous when he has the ball. Green (6.56), Upson (6.44) and Parker (6.43) have been consistently good this season and since Collins has joined them they team looks solid down the middle.

Collinson (6.79) and Sears (6.64) have also done well when they have played and one of my main criticisms of Zola is that he seems to prefer playing foreign players past their best than young local players with tremendous potential.

Cole (6.23) started the season well but does not seem the same player since returning from suspension. Noble (5.96) and Behrami (5.93) have been disappointing but I fully expect them to improve as the season goes on.

The main problem with the team is at full-back. Ilunga (6.14) is alright going forward but is poor against a good winger. The same goes for Neill (6.01) although he has been much better over the last three games (maybe Clarke has been spending time with him). I am still not convinced by Neill, who only scored 6.06 last season.

The great puzzle is why Zola continues to play Faubert. His thirteen games comes at an average-rating of 5.76. This follows his 5.37 for last season. Only Boa Morte has a worst record with ratings of 5.72 (this season) and 5.56 (last season).