The one that stands out for me is Ravel Morrison. He was loaned out to Birmingham City last season but since he has been there, he’s been one of their best players, if not the best. He received 14 ‘Man of the Match’ awards out of 25 games that he played. I personally believe that he is ready to play in the Premier League and although there have been rumours of him leaving or Birmingham getting him back on loan, I really think West Ham should have a think about what they do regarding Morrison because he certainly deserves a chance next season.
Rob Hall was another player that we loaned to Birmingham City last season and like Morrison, has also done very well whilst he was there. Lee Clark, the Birmingham City manager was constantly praising Hall on his contribution to the games, which he played. Hall has got very good pace and a great delivery on him, which would benefit Carroll (If we sign him) a lot.
Elliot Lee has really impressed this season in the Development Squad and has scored a lot of goals. He’s quick and is good with the ball at his feet. His only problem is that he’s small so it probably won’t suit our main style of play but I think he would be great playing off of Carroll. It’s something that I could see working.
Next we have Jordan Spence. There have been some rumours that we are willing to let Spence leave but I really can’t see why that is. I remember watching him in the FA Cup game against Manchester United at Old Trafford and I thought that he completely held his own. Looked good on the ball and didn’t struggle at all when he had players running at him. Spence also has pace, which is something we lack at right back and left back. Plus he can also play at centre back if we were ever short on players.
Now, I haven’t seen much of him myself but, from what I’ve heard, George Moncur good player. I know someone who went to watch the West Ham U21s play Liverpool’s U21s and he said that Moncur ran the game in the middle of the park. I certainly think he is someone that West Ham should think about playing a few games next season.
The final player that I believe deserves a chance is Dan Potts. He has played a few times and has done well. I also remember watching him against Manchester United in the FA Cup and he looked like he had matured more as a player. The singing of Razvan Rat probably shows that he isn’t going to get much of a looking but I think that he deserves a chance next season.
What about Blair Turgott too, had a good loan spell at Bradford and scored a Damned good Hatrick against Q.P.R
we have released blair turgott….
Dan Potter really deserves a run in the side, he never let us down and gave everything, but sometimes if San can see a 32 year old plus going for a free they will come first, we were always known as The Academy and no one person must be allowed to destroy this reputation as it may take years to achieve to the high standards we have had for years!
Potts never let us down you say?… i urge you to watch the Sunderland game again. He was directly responsible for 1 goal trying to chest the ball to the keeper and indirectly for another when he attempted that tackle on Sessegnon (who got the assist i believe) instead of closing him down and forcing him into a mistake like a seasoned defender would.
You are very quick to speak against Sam on any occasion so …your obvious bias doesnt give your arguments any weight.
Dan Potts and Elliot Lee deserve a chance to play some games in the first team next season. There are both good players
why everyone assuming rat going to be first choice. anyone actually see him play!
Jake – interesting article. You quote Ravel as getting 14 MOM awards at Birmingham. Birmingham fans are mystified by this statement which first appeared to the best of my knowledge on this website in an article by Hugh Bevan – who said 13 MOMs. Can you indicate the source for your statement. I hope it is true but it would be great to have it verified.
Also , what happened to our signing of the Irish Messi ? Haven’t heard much about him since he arrived.
Having seen Ravel Morrison at close quarters playing for our reserves he looks a tidy prospect when judged by his ability alone. But by all accounts his discipline is far from what’s required and he’s fallen out spectacularly with the current coaching staff. I don’t see any future for him at West Ham.
Spence, Hall and Potts all played against Wigan in the league Cup as we lost 4-1 at home and frankly looked out of their depth against the reserves of a relegated club. In addition Potts looked a liability against Sunderland this season and Derby last.
George Moncur is nowhere near a starting place in midfield and Elliott Lee although a good finisher is still very young and would lack the pace for the Premier League. Of the players you mention Rob Hall has probably the best chance but is still some way off.
On a more generalised note I don’t understand the desire among some fans to play homegrown players at the cost of better established pros. What would the team gain except defeat?
Spot on mate. Nice to see someone that doesnt overestimate the value of our youngsters. Just because they have come through our academy doesnt make them the best thing since sliced bread.
As far as i am concerned i could see them used from the bench, as cover and given cup games. Potts, Hall, Lee and Morrison (if he can patch things up with Sam) could be around the first team but they are in no way, shape or form ready to be starters just yet. Give it 2 more years or so and then maybe…if they manage to prove that good enough.
How some of our fans imagine they can rate these players better then the coaching staff that see them every day is beyond me.
I see sense in what everyone is commenting. In my personal opinion, i would like to see these players held onto on long term contracts, possibly send one or two back out on loan again. The others should spend their time in and around the first team squad to gain the experience players like james tomkins and mark noble can show from their passage towards the first team.
We need to slowly introduce these players off the bench instead of putting players such as taylor on when we are loosing knowing full well he adds very little to the attacking game. A player like rob hall with his pace and delivery or ravel morrison with his innate ability could be the spark to change a game. We will never know this without testing them in some capacity first instead of shipping players away on loan and ending up selling them before we know their full potential.
Potts has done very well when asked to step up to the first team. He performed very well for himself against the premiership champions. Everyone is quick to slate his performance against Sunderland. Give the lad some leeway. He had to step up and full first team shoes in a position we have been lacking in for many years. He is a part of the summer international championships for England and i am confident he will impress. I would like to see potts given the chance to work and lean with the first team as i believe he could be an amazing player in a position we lack for many years to come. Rat has a best before date not too long in the future. Let potts learn from him and one day take the shoes fully for himself.
Its not that these young players are good enough now to step straight into the first team, quite frankly they are still shy of that mark. It is the constant loaning out and resulting selling of talented young players which has frustrated me over the years. we need to hang on to our younger players longer, give them time to mature, involve them as much as possible with the first team and see what they bring to the table. We have very few west ham academy graduates involved with the first team. Noble, tomkins and collison being the only few of note.
Birmingham fan here….re Morrison he can look class, good range of passing and glides around the pitch. Has great technique and can be creative, defo one for the future, BUT loses concentration and let’s his man go without tracking back too often. It may be mutually beneficial to let us have him for another season cos we haven’t got a pot to Pisa in and Lee Clark seems to be developing him quite well which you could reap the benefit of.
Cheers and SOTV
Morrison, Spence, and Hall are the ones for me.
The others all have a case but there simply isn’t enough room for them all …I strongly believe that these guys should be in and around the 1st team and be direct replacements for the players who may get injuries or suspensions…example if Demel gets suspended or injured SPENCE comes in and does a job, if Noble, Nolan, Diame get injured or suspended or want to simply rest then Morrison comes in, Vaz te or Jarvis out Hall in ….Simples
COYI