It appears that West Ham academy graduate Robert Hall will be leaving West Ham for Championship side Bolton Wanderers, with much speculation surrounding Halls future how much of a loss could it prove to be?
Robert Hall is a player who is held in high regard within West Ham, he managed to impress Lee Clark whilst on loan at Birmingham City being described as a “Terrific and great lad” and although he joined West Ham as a youth back in 2001 Robert never really had a chance to prove his apparent ability.
With Sam Allardyce coming under constant scrutiny for lack of first team opportunities offered out to youth players, the imminent departure of Hall won’t do him any favours, with rumours also circulating that Hall rejected a new contract offer it could be more than likely that he did remain in some degree, part of Big Sam’s plans for the future.
Now if we evaluate past players who played in similar positions to Hall who have left West Ham to join lower opposition you’ll see that it isn’t always the best possible option. Zavon Hines, Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas all left Upton Park while still young but since leaving they haven’t really proved anything we didn’t already know; with Stanislas arguably being the most successful; being a prominent figure for Burnley. Whereas Zavon dropped down to League 2 with Bradford City, struggling to make any sort of impact. Freddie Sears made an instant impact for West Ham scoring the winner on his debut against Blackburn but failed to capitalise and left for League 1 outfit Colchester-And although playing well it’s still a far stretch from what we all hoped he could achieve.
One main difference between these players I mentioned and Robert Hall is quite simply that they got their opportunity in the first team and Rob didn’t, so ideally I would have liked Hall to of stayed for a while longer but that appears too little too late.
I wish Robert all the best for the future along with Zavon, Junior and Freddie.
Well said its a shame that we have put time and effort to these players and dont give them no game time , don’t forget guys
Its not the name in the player its how good he performes dont leave out what we have put in them
hi guys.
i have a friend that plays with rob hall and can confirm he was offered a new 2 year contract for approx 200 quid a week more than he’s current contract, Bolton offered a lot more and made it clear they really wanted him, plus 1st team football.
people talk about being given a chance, i can tell you rob was rated very highly at west ham but they have big concerns about he’s strength, in and around 6 yard box he can finish, no doubt, but so could freddie sears..!
when training with the first team he just didnt do enough, easily pushed off the ball, no impact at all, the bottom line was he just wasnt ready for the premier league.
i understand his desire to play first team football, so cant blame him for going, PLUS boltons wages are massive compared to what west ham offered him.
i wish him all the best for the future and hope we one day soon see him plying his trade in the premier league..
Good article. I really liked all of the players mentioned in this article and I still think that Stanislas would be a decent squad player for us now. And as for Hall, the few times I’ve seen him play he’s looked lively, full of energy and has pace to burn. I’d have loved to see him stay on for another year and give it one last go at breaking into the first team because we all know we lack pace down the right and he could have been a decent option in that respect. Even if he only plays 10-15 minutes at the end of games, imagine throwing him on against a knackered full back for 15 minutes.
As much as we all love to see players come through the ranks, sometimes they just are not cut of for the premier league. Lee Clark said that he is a terrific and great lad, but never really talked up his ability in the way he did Ravel Morrison. Also Birmingham were not interested in re-signing him on a permanent deal this year, where as they do want Morrison back on loan. Leo Chambers, Dan Potts and Elliot Lee all have a lot more chance of getting a chance in years to come. Them 3 and George Moncur all need to be loaned to gain experience though.
COYI
we wll have loads leaving they will get no chance under fat sam welcome to te academy of hoofball
Do you actually go to any games?
This hoofball claim is invented by lazy journalists, we played some great stuff at home last season.
As Jack Charlton once said, “If I’ve got the best header of a ball in the league, why play it to his feet”
We mix it up very well, in case you haven’t noticed mate, IT WORKS !!
Hear hear… well said
My point exactly on many occasions..
Sibbo has stated this rubbish all season.. let’s hope he / she gets to a game next season…
It really does baffle me how people get on sams back about certain players who simply ain’t good enough. Hall, may turn out to be an exception – only time will tell, but I haven’t heard 1 supporter declare that getting rid of super sammy baldock (who couldn’t get a game for an awful Bristol city side) wasn’t a good move! Also the liked of Maynard, hines, stanislas, sears and even Potts are simply not good enough!! Potts may in time,after perhaps a years loan somewhere prove to be useful, but certainly not yet! Look when our previous talents came on the scene – rio, j cole, Defoe ect, you knew instantly they were proper players, it’s certainly not the case now!! 1 player who clearly has the talent is ravel Morrison, who has had issues off the field, but I think would grow given responsibility on it, do lets see on that one, but the point being as yet with these players, big Sam hasn’t made a single mistake yet! Coyi!!!!!
Carew, Pogatetz – both big sam signings.
Baldock, Maynard – both big sam signings sold at a loss
Wellington, Chamakh, Benayoun – big sam loan signings big wages yet not given a chance
Maiga, Jarvis – £15 million, significant book value loss
Carroll – 100k a week 6 year deal?! …what will happen if he underperforms and big sam leaves in 2 years. We’ll have to forked out millions just to sell him.
I don’t think big sam’s transfer record is as good as some people make out.
Carew, Pogatetz – both big sam signings.
Baldock, Maynard – both big sam signings sold at a loss
Wellington, Chamakh, Benayoun – big sam loan signings big wages yet not given a chance
Maiga, Jarvis – £15 million, significant book value loss
Carroll – 100k a week 6 year deal?! …what will happen if he underperforms and big sam leaves in 2 years. We’ll have to forked out millions just to sell him.
I don’t think big sam’s transfer record is as good as some people make out.
Song… Boogers… Boa Morte… Katan… Mc Carthy… Camara … Breen….
Every manager buys badly from time to time…. not every manager would have got us back in the PL and finished in the top 10 over 2 seasons…
I am looking forwards not backwards…. I am a ST and have enjoyed the last season more than most I can remember… the doomsayers will get their way eventually… and will wear their “told you so t-shirts”.. but we are in a better position now than at any point in the last 5 seasons.. no popular manager shagging his players wives… no tactically inept gaffer in a head bandage… I am quite happy.. COYI
So bad those signings and bi sam’s management that finished 10th in our first season back! You mug!!! Get off his case and get behind big Sam and the team. We are now a club competing for big names in the transfer mkt and I wouldn’t have it any other way. COYI!
1. Jarvis didn’t cost 15 million he cost 11
2.carrolls wages are roughly around 80k not the 100k being posted around, which is still too high but what do you expect for a England international at 24 years old yet to fulfill his full potential
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not totally dissatisfied and asking for BS to get the sack. Oh no. Quite the opposite. I’m really looking forward to the new season. … I’m just saying his transfer record is far from perfect.
Well happy with Diame, Jussi, Obrien, Vaz Te, Joe Cole and Collins as deals go.
Just think players like Carew, Chamakh, were obvious failures from the start. As were Song, Mccarthy, Camera and blots on those manager’s records. Doesn’t make it acceptable. It means we need to cut out hese obvious errors to move the club forward.
I’m happy with Carroll signing, just not the long term deal high wage deal.
I had my doubts like most of us about BS style of management. But there is no doubt he has brought some steel to the team it was not long back west ham could hardly ever hold on to a lead how many times did we see then panic in the last 15 mins or so and let in goals.Now there is a different belief in the team from the fans too and most good managers will say if you want a good team you start from a solid defence. He has won me over I hope he stays with us for a few years yet because it is looking much better for the fans now in my opinion.
Read something written by a Birmingham fan the other day who rated Morrison on loan and would like to keep him but couldn’t care less about hall. Not that I’m suggesting the opinion of one fan … However if a fan doesn’t think hall is good enough for championship Players like carrick joe cole rio ferdinand glen johnson you knew they were good enough for prem right from start. I think dan Potts could be ok in future bit slight needs more strength but I think he’s probably best of latest crop I’d like to think west ham aren’t a selling club anymore though and trust that if young players have genuine potential were not going to get rid of them.