The Hammers squad is really starting to look thin ahead of the New Year’s Eve clash against Derby County at Pride Park, which could force boss Sam Allardyce to delve into the superb youth system at West Ham, something Big Sam has been hesitant to do all season.
We all know what fantastic work Tony Carr does for not just West Ham, but for England. Carr has produced such talent as Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Jermaine Defoe and the list continues. So the question is why is Big Sam so slow to give the latest crop of talent a chance?
He has stated he doesn’t think they are ready for the step up just yet, but did he really expect such a quality debut from young Dan Potts? I highly doubt it. Is Sam worried that losing a few games by giving these young players game time could cost the club promotion and his 1 million pound bonus for promotion? Maybe I’m being cynical but in truth this is probably the case. But suspensions to skipper Kevin Nolan, Julien Faubert and defender George McCartney could force the boss take these risks.
It does seem Sam Allardyce is tempted to throw in these young players but decides to go with known experience and class. Allardyce has now twice called back loanees Cristian Montano and Robert Hall only to send them back again after a week’s training. Does this explain his hesitation? Is he not impressed with what he has seen from them in training, maybe he is right maybe they aren’t ready for the big step up from league 2 to Championship, but what’s the harm in trying?
There is no better feeling for West Ham fans to see one of their own come on the pitch and put a shift in for the claret and blue. When the sell-out crowd at Upton Park heard that young Dan Potts was on the pitch the pride in eyes of every Hammer’s supporter at the game was there for all to see, it also led to a rise in atmosphere.
The Hammers are in need of speed and quality finishing up top and there have been rave reports from both Oxford and Dagenham for our loan stars Hall and Montano respectively. The former Hall has been recalled suggesting he is the one with the greatest chance of a call up on Saturday. This would warm the Hammers souls on a cold day up in the Midlands on New Year’s Eve.
To me it seems baffling to why Sam Allardyce hasn’t thrown in a youngster or two, the only way players are going to improve is by gaining match day experience learning from their mistakes and growing stronger from that experience. You only have to look back at history to see what impact young players can have on a squad.
Players often step up to challenge when called upon as they know it could be their only chance. A brief look back in time proves this, a young 17 year Tony Cottee was thrown into the deep end against rivals Tottenham Hotspurs, but the youngster stepped up and scored the winner and is a hero for many Hammers fans.
In recent history Freddie Sears scoring on debut against Blackburn will live long in the memory for the sheer volume of emotion when the ball hit the back of the net. So Sam what are you waiting for, this is my only gripe from what has been a fantastic start to the season, give these young guns a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised again.
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If he was to give any young striker a go I’d rather he gave Hall the nod over Sears.