Swiss.
5:32 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Just a fat Annie Lennox ?
Nah only joking. My son gave me signed framed photo of him for Xmas which I'm looking at right now. Great centre forward. Could score brilliant goals and the scrappy tap ins.
Was gutted by his injury.
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zico
3:38 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Sven Roeder 2:42 Wed Nov 11
Was that the day Harry hung Dicksy out to dry by playing him as a wing back?!
I think Ashton could have been top draw and played for England for quite some time but he wouldn't have been ours for long. Top notch technical attributes for a big man and I think he was nowhere near his peak when he got injured.
Reading a book at the moment - "They played with John Lyall" and it's really sad how many players with great potential have had to retire early. Dev was never quite the same after his injury,and it's quite a compliment from McAvennie when he says Dev was the best he played with and that was "after" the injury.
Not sure if any here remember him, but in the book they interview Mark Smith who had to retire due to an absolutely horrendous health issue which he kept secret, although god only knows how. Some ex players were saying he would have been West Ham's right back for quite some time if not for his health problems. Still suffers now poor bloke.
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Sven Roeder
2:42 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Can remember a few months before he retired he was a sub away at Fulham (1-0, late goal by Nobby Solano) and he was warming up just in front of us doing all those endless slow motion steps he used to do possibly to warm up his ankle.
Sad to watch as he obviously had no flexibility in his joint
Probably as sad as watching Julian Dicks getting run ragged by Danny Fucking Mills away at Charlton as he couldn't change direction with his knee fucked.
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Vexed
2:23 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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You can guarantee we would have sold him for a relative pittance before he hit his prime anyway.
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geoffpikey
2:20 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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MPI.
He's said before he used to jump off his left foot. Post-injury, he had to try and jump off both feet simultaneously and just couldn't get any elevation.
C&B specs definitely on, but I think he COULD have been as good as Kane or Shearer. We've not had a striker like him since.
Retirement at 24. Rotten luck. The West Ham Way.
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Vexed
1:32 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Felt sorry for the bloke when he came back from his injury. It was clear he was totally fucked and you could see his career slipping away when he should have been rising to prominence. Must have been difficult for him to take.
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Moncurs Putting Iron
1:05 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Remember watching him after the return from injury and he just couldn't/wouldn't jump.
He was either in pain or just waiting for that ankle to fail.
Before that, as has already been said.
Great vision.
Great positioning
had no real weaknesses was adequate to good in all key areas for a striker.
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Block
1:00 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Hard to say, as we can't predict the future.
But he was fucking brilliant, such good feet for a big bloke.
THAT overhead kick against Utd, jesus wept.
Replicated it at NOBES testimonial, probably even better considering he's 20 stone heavier and can only run on 1 leg.
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Golden Oldie
12:56 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Interesting to see how highly rated everyone ranked him I remember being impressed and hopeful about Ashton he has some serious class, tragically another West Ham player cursed by the International call up fucking both his and our prospects in one fell swoop.
Whenever fans from clubs not in the top 5/6 call for their favourite player to get a call up, it either results in a bad injury or at best a high enough bid from one of the Top 5 clubs that guarantees he leaves his old club.
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Side of Ham
12:42 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Vexed 11:15 Wed Nov 11
Lets face it Vexty, nothing will get you 'gushing shit' unless your favourite 10" dildo is shoved up you.
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Rossal
12:22 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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He was very good, fantastic finisher with a great touch and movement. For a lump he could create space for himself easily.
But he wasnt near Shearer or Kane.......i dont think he would of reached their heights either. But i do think he would of become 15 goal a season man.....maybe 20 and England caps would of arrived. Got to think he was a better option than Heskey up top for 2010 WC
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ChillTheKeel
12:12 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Iron Duke 12:08
That was one of my top away nights. This pretty much encapsulates the fella.
https://youtu.be/NLfbVIasTmU?t=34
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Iron Duke
12:08 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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He was class in that QF match v Man City. If he had been fit enough to stay on the pitch in the final I have no doubt that we would have won.
He could have had some great partnerships with Tevez and Bellamy, but hardly played with either.
He would probably have been sold but at least we would have got some decent money. Another tragic episode in my life as a long suffering Hammer.
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southbankbornnbred
12:01 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Fuck it, don't know why I'm not just saying it - my friend used to work for Chelsea. They were taking a good look at Ashton and were discussing a bid.
IIRC it was around the time that Scolari took over at Chelsea. Ashton had returned from his initial injury and started the 2008 season in superb form. Scolari had arrived at Chelsea and said he wanted a typical English number 9 as an option to replace Drogba (who was struggling with some injuries) for certain games, because Anelka was doing his sulky thing and they didn't have much depth.
Apparently, it was the second time my friend had been asked to scout Ashton - Mourinho had also asked about him during his first spell.
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Lee Trundle
11:53 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Was that Man Utd, sbb? There was a bit of talk about them putting in a bid in the brief time he was with us and fit.
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goose
11:52 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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the goal away at man united summed him up perfectly - amazing goal but hobbled away after injuring himself scoring.
he scored in his 'comeback' game v Roma but he clearly wasnt the same player.
bit naughty that Roma game, fair bit of handbags afterwards on the tube.
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southbankbornnbred
11:51 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Had he stayed fit (not his fault, of course) then I'm quite sure he'd have played alongside Rooney upfront for England for several years - most likely covering the period up to and beyond the 2010 World Cup.
Superb player, who had everything except pace - but his game didn't rely on pace anyway and he could be reasonably quick over a few using his body strength to muscle players behind him.
Best finisher we've had at the club since Cottee, good in the air, very strong, skilful, could score with both feet, could play as a traditional #9 or come off the line and play in that Sheringham-style #10 role.
At the 2010 World Cup, England's forwards were Rooney, a 32 year-old Heskey, a 30 year-old Crouch and Defoe.
He would have walked into that squad. Which is ironic, because the fella could barely walk at that point thanks to his ankle injury.
Such a huge shame. He could play.
A good friend of mine is a scout who used to work for a very big British club. He told me that this club was 'slathering' over Ashton when he got going at West Ham and were talking, internally, about making a huge bid for him. So had he stayed fit, I'm not 100% sure he would have stayed at West Ham.
But if he had stayed fit and healthy, and here, there's no doubt he'd have broken our Premier League goals record.
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Lee Trundle
11:49 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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I'd followed him a bit sine his Crewe days (as I used to work with a passionate Crewe supporter).
I was really chuffed when he joined us, as I knew he had the potential to be some player. It was such a shame SWP did what he did.
But I have no doubt he wouldn't have been with us long, if he was as good as I hoped he was. I got the impression he was pretty ambitious.
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penners28
11:41 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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His injury was quite pivotal. Dont reckon we'd have signed Tevez, plus England would have qualified for the Euros (Rooney was out injured) with Deano leading the line.
I dont think we'll ever know how good he would have been. One thing for sure, he wouldnt have been with us for much longer...
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WHU(Exeter)
11:35 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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Thought he was excellent, one of those strikers where given half a chance it would come as no surprise that he'd find the net clinically, as opposed to a lot of others we've had where even with simple one on ones it would come as a massive relief to just see a shot on target.
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Fortunes Hiding
11:30 Wed Nov 11
Re: Dean Ashton: how good was he?
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I backed him at 66-1 E/W to be top scorer, thinking if he gets 14, he might get me a return.
He scored two against Wigan, odds came down to 14-1, I thought that I’d need another 12 goals in 37 games and I’m ££££s.
Don’t think he played again that season.
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