Sam Allardyce has been impressed by the youth system in place at West Ham since he took over in the summer but the use some of them in the loan market has been slightly puzzling for Hammers fans.
No less than eight of Ian Hendon’s development squad have joined football league clubs on loan during the first four months of the season, but Allardyce seems keen to keep players on the move and refuses to let them settle in their new surroundings.
This morning it was confirmed that striker Cristian Montano has joined Dagenham and Redbridge on loan for a month just weeks after he returned to Upton Park from loan spells at Swindon Town with Paulo Di Canio and at Notts County with Martin Allen.
The striker’s third loan spell of the season already suggests Allardyce wants to keep him on the move and help him to develop until he is finally ready to make a first team appearance for the Hammers.
Another player that seems to be dragged from place to place is fellow striker Robert Hall who has been on stunning form for Oxford United this season scoring five goals in nine games helping them to push for promotion in League two. However, Allardyce recalled Hall back to West Ham and was an unused substitute at home to Bristol City two weeks ago and has now returned on loan for a further month at Oxford.
Puzzling decisions from Allardyce continued when he allowed promising goalkeeper Marek Stech join Yeovil Town on loan while number one Rob Green was injured. Manuel Almunia was brought in to replace Green and so Stech enjoyed a successful loan spell where he saved two penalties and received a man of the match award for Yeovil.
However, Green is now fit and Almunia has returned to Arsenal but Stech was last week recalled by West Ham, suggesting he may be required at Upton Park in the near future.
These decisions have puzzled the supporters but I guess we have to trust the man in charge to make the correct decision’s when it comes to the progress of our youngsters and we will hopefully see the reward of their progress soon in the first team squad.
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