West Ham’s worst strikers under GBS ranked – from Benni McCarthy to Mido

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West Ham have just secured themselves one of the biggest deals of the window in Gianluca Scamacca – but their record when it comes to signing strikers under the David Gold, David Sullivan, and Karren Brady regime has left a lot to be desired.

The Hammers have had lots of attackers through the door since they took over 12 years ago, but a running trend has been that a lot of them have not been up to scratch. From unknowns in South America, players joining on loan, and Premier League-proven strikers, the side have had an endless stream of flops.

Here the Daily Star Sport takes you through a ranking of the worst forwards to play in claret and blue in the GSB era, starting with the not-so-bad to the absolute worst…

READ MORE: West Ham spend all day spelling Gianluca Scamacca – only to suffer announcement blunder

Sean Maguire

Arriving from Waterford in Ireland in 2013, Sean Maguire was a bit of a strange move by the Irons. In any case, he never got his chance to shine during his loan spell at the London Stadium.

The Waterford chairman John O'Sullivan didn't help when he said 'Seany' was not dissimilar to Lionel Messi. Though, somehow, that didn't turn out to be quite the case.

The striker failed to make an impact with the Premier League outfit, then made a return to Ireland, signing for Dundalk, before heading back to England once more. He has spent five seasons at Preston North End, but his goal record is a little lacking there, netting 24 in 152 so far.

Wellington Paulista

Coming into the fold in 2013, there was a fair amount of hype surrounding the Brazilian when he arrived in London from Cruzeiro.

Paulista said ahead of his first match: "I think I can do my best here and I am coming to England to prove to everyone that I am one of the best strikers in Brazil and to get better and better."

The attacker was wide of the mark. After being a named substitute for two of West Ham's games, he was released and did not ever make an outing.

The 38-year-old now plays for America Mineiro in his home nation.

Jordan Hugill

Not his fault, given how bizarre his signing was in the first place. Scoring a neat ten goals in all competitions for Preston North End, Jordan Hugill was subject to a reported £10million transfer deal and came in as David Moyes’ second signing for West Ham.

He spent three seasons at the club, starting in 2017 where he was handed just three appearances. But after he played for Moyes he was sent on loans to Middlesbrough and QPR, before moving to Norwich, where he remains to this day.

Marouane Chamakh

There's just something about West Ham loving a flop from their London rivals.

Arsenal could not get a tune out of Marouane Chamakh after he joined from Bordeaux, but West Ham thought that they could turn his fortunes and get a similar player to the one who did so well in Ligue 1.

The Hammers persuaded Arsenal to loan them the striker for the remainder of the season in 2012-13 but the Moroccan featured in only three games for West Ham and didn't score a goal.

He eventually moved to Crystal Palace for three years, before heading to Cardiff City, whereafter he called it a day on his playing career.

Mido

Another star who fell off the wagon at a London rival? West Ham will have you.

Mido has become something of a Premier League cult legend – but his time at West Ham was really one to forget. The attacker had played for Tottenham, Middlesbrough and Wigan before joining up with the London side on loan from Boro in 2010.

The now-retired player failed to find the net in nine league games and then went back to the northeast.

John Carew

John Carew had enjoyed previous success in claret and blue with Aston Villa. In 2011, the Norwegian striker was a free agent and West Ham thought that he would make a good addition to the side in the Championship.

Carew could only muster two goals in 21 appearances in all competitions, before leaving the side and retiring after a failed trial at Inter Milan.

Simone Zaza

Simone Zaza was one of the biggest flops in West Ham’s history. Words cannot do justice to just how poor the Italian was.

Zaza failed to score at West Ham in the 11 games he played for them in the 2015-16 season on loan from Juventus.

At just 31 years old today, Zaza now plays for Torino. He made ten appearances last season in all competitions without finding the net.

Benni McCarthy

Leaving the distinct impression he thought the second part of the club's name had something to do with the buffet, Benni McCarthy instantly sends shivers down the spines of West Ham fans.

Indeed, ranked as our choice of the worst-ever striker to join the Hammers during the GSB era is the South African forward.

He actually was the very first signing of the Gold-Sullivan era after completing a £2.5m move from Blackburn Rovers, where he had earned a reputation as a solid Premier League starter and goal-scorer.

But his form with the Irons was so bad that he was even fined by the club some £200,000 for being overweight.

Avram Grant said: “'He reached the targets but I think that affected his movement. He's a very good player and one of the best finishers in training that I have ever seen, and I have had some good players. But now we need players with movement and the advantage of being quick, and we have others.''

But at West Ham, during his 14 appearances, he failed to find the net and was eventually released in April 2011.

He also had a nasty exchange of words with Brady, who hit back at his criticism, saying: "McCarthy was the striker we sacked because he was overweight and never scored for us.

"He now says women and football do not mix. However, women's football is improving quickly and off the field a growing number are excellent executives.

"My view is that football is lucky to have us. My other view is that McCarthy should stick with his area of expertise, which according to many is… eating."

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