Assessing Lucas Neills transfer to West Ham United

Thanks to the 2006 World Cup, Lucas Neill became a household name due to the cultured performances he put in for the Australian team. Such defensive displays led to a host of clubs across Europe being linked with signing the then Blackburn Rovers defender. Barcelona were rumored to be heading the race to sign Neill, but no firm offer ever materialized.

Liverpool were the next big team to express an interest and it became clear soon after that it was more than mere paper talk. Lucas Neill spoke to Liverpool and seemed destined to sign for them. West Ham United expressed a late interest in taking him to London in an effort to bring in experienced cover for a struggling team, facing up to the reality of a relegation battle, West Ham United saw the 28 year old as an ideal signing. Few people considered that a move to a team facing relegation would be more appealing than the prospect of one chasing honors. Neill surprised many when he turned down a move to Anfield , packed his bags and headed south to Upton Park.

Harsh words were thrown at the player from Liverpool who accused Neill of showing a lack of ambition when he signed for West Ham United for a lot more financially than Liverpool were prepared to offer and a greater chance of first team football. At 28 it was no doubt a difficult decision to make; often players in this age bracket will chase trophies saying they wanted to win things knowing their careers were approaching the end, others will chase the big pay day knowing that it may be their last chance of receiving such a lucrative deal.

Whether you brandish Neill a mercenary or not is down to you but consider what you may have done in his shoes and you cannot really blame the player. At the next World Cup he would have been 32 and even if Australia qualified he would not have been considered as much of an appealing addition to a squad as he did at 28. This was his last big pay day, failing the opportunity to move to the MLS in his thirties or head out to the Far East or Dubai for a big pay day when his career in England was finished.

The future will prove whether he has made the correct decision but it may prove that Neill showed great foresight now that West Ham United have deep pockets thanks to their rich Icelandic ownership . With big names arriving at Upton Park since then and more due to follow in the summer, West Ham United could be one of the teams to watch as an outsider heading to the upper echelons of the Premier Division.