My Club: Kriss Akabusi

JERMAIN MAN ... Akabusi would like Defoe back at West Ham

Which modern-day player was your style most like?

I wanted to be a striker when I was younger but really my style suited a full-back, so someone like Ashley Cole.

If I were advising the young Akabusi, I would have told him to forget about playing centre-forward and focus on full-back. I had a great engine, could use both feet, cross a ball and wasn’t scared of a tackle.

If you were the West Ham chairman, what would you do?

I would bring in Jones and Defoe, then work really hard at getting Joe Cole back. I would say to him, ‘You’re not a striker, son, you’re my midfield wizard – you’re going to play central midfield and you’re going to create the ammunition’.

I would have an upfront, diplomatic conversation with Allardyce and tell him that I wasn’t sure he was the man for us in the long term, but he is the man for now. I would tell him that he will be paid well to make West Ham a top third side, like an Everton. Eventually, I might look elsewhere to get where I want to go, unless he could prove that he deserves to stay.

I would have an honest conversation with the fans and tell them I’m in it for the legacy, not the money, so get behind me.

One thing I wouldn’t do, which our chairmen have a habit of doing, is interfere with the manager. I would not come down and talk to the players and would not make ridiculous statements to the Press on what we’re going to achieve. You have to let people do their jobs.

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