It is a well-known fact that West Ham are ‘The Academy Of Football’. We’ve produced the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and many more current England internationals. And we now have a good batch of youth, both in the reserves and out on loan and I am surprised that they haven’t been used as much over the past year.
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A simple reason why they haven’t been played is that Big Sam just wants to get us safe and make sure he has a ‘home’ next season. His plan was obviously to bring in experience and make sure they can stabilise us in the Premier League. In my opinion, it has worked a treat. Now we have a squad who know the league and are ready to play for West Ham’s and their sakes. But an issue will appear in the next couple of seasons.
In two years George McCartney will be, 33, Kevin Nolan, 30 and James Collins, 31. It’ll be a fact that in 2016, when we move to the Olympic Stadium, 42% of our senior squad will be over the age of 30. Therefore, it is time to start phase two of “Operation Forget That Icelandic Guy Ever Came”, by bringing and developing our youth. This phase has commenced, with the signing of Sebastian Lletget and Sean Maguire. Also, the Development squad has had a pretty ok season.
They are currently 5th out of 8 in the Under-21 Premier League Elite Group, winning 2, drawing 4 and losing 4. They also topped the Under-21 Premier League Group 1 winning 9 out of the 14 games played. They also have a very impressive +9 goal difference, while conceding the least overall this season. While looking at the Development squad stats, it seems that our attacking issues have deteriorated, as Paul McCallum has scored 6 in 12 games this year and 5 in 10 for Robert Hall before departing to Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers. Our defence for the future is also being built, as Jordan Spence, Dan Potts and Callum Driver have made the most appearances this season.
We also have many a future player out on loan across the Football League. Ravel Morrison was sent out to Birmingham City with one goal set by Sam Allardyce. Get as much game time as possible and game time is what he’s got. Starting and coming on for the Blues, he has made 22 appearances this season. He has been consistently influential on the pitch and this quote from the Daily Mail sums up his potential: “it wasn’t just his elegant, effortless ability on the ball and passing but work rate too”.
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Robert Hall was appointed the same task as Ravel Morrison, and did so for two clubs. I think Robert Hall is one we need to keep. He may not have proven his scoring ability yet (he has failed to convert this season) but has more than made up with his eye for an assist. He has made 7 assists in 13 games for the Blues and has won several penalties by basically being a ‘pain’. I also see him as one on the international team, having scored 8 in 16 for the England U-18.
The position I’m the least concerned about for our future is our back four. We have two experienced defenders in James Collins and George McCartney who are probably willing to die for West Ham. Also, Jordan Spence has burst onto the scene this year, with a man of the match performance in the FA Cup Third Round tie against Manchester United. It is a shame that he has been troubled in position battles with Guy Demel. But I’m sure that in the next 3 years, Jordan Spence would’ve made himself our first choice right back.
Dan Potts put in an amazing performance against Manchester United and I was looking forward to see how he would perform in the Premier League. But sadly, his season was cut short after a horrible clash of heads with Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna. I’m also confident about his development with the likes of George McCartney to assist him. But I fear that he’s going to have a competitive battle with Joey O’Brien, Mr.Unsung Hero, and will have to be on the top of his game for the next three years.
The concern I have about the development of these players is the manager. His negative tactics and style of play may possibly halt the speed of these players development and will possible hamper their approach to future games. Also, Sam Allardyce hasn’t shown much respect to these players potential. All he does is use them as another name on the team sheet. He never brings them on, even when we only had 14 senior players in the team. What’s this going to do to these players confidence? Maybe at the start of the season it would push them to train harder. But after 6 months of the same routine, it could conjure the attitude of “why bother” and all our youth will just crumble and tumble into League One and Two teams and will have to look back at a career that they never had.
Come on Sam! Do something now, before it’s too late!
By Rhys Lloyd
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We do have decent young players and I’ve seen many fans moaniong this season that they haven’t been used. As stated in your piece, this year is about safety. We are still only 6 points above the relegation places so that justifies Sam not throwing these players in to the 1st team; not playing our best team every week this season could have been very costly. I expect the young players (that are good enough) to get more game time next season as we should be more comfortable with a few additions in the summer, but in reality most of our young talent isn’t going to make the grade here and will end up playing at lower levels. This is the same for every team in the premier league.
I trust Sam to make the right call. He knows that first and foremost we must remain in the premier. I think he genuinely rates Potts and a couple of the young midfielders, and they’ll get their opportunities in the first team next season.
Once we are mathematically secure, then would be the time to give the lads some game time. I fully see why SA has played things a bit safe. Some really good young talent waiting in the wings thanks to Tony Carr and the team.