The latest intelligence from various ITK sources is that six players, who are out of contract at the end of the season, are not going to be offered new deals by the club in the summer. So are West Ham correct to do so in each situation, if this is indeed the case?
Joe Cole
It does look almost certain that Cole will be leaving Upton Park in the summer. The latest rumour is that he is likely to join Brighton & Hove Albion for next season. He has had less and less playing time as his stay at the Hammers has gone on, and looks to have lost the necessary fitness and speed that he requires. Therefore, with a heavy heart, I have to say I think it would be in the best interests o the club to release Cole, especially bearing in mind the considerable wages he commands.
Jussi Jaaskelainen
Jaaskelainen has been a good servant for the club since arriving in the summer 2012. He was an ever present in his first season between the sticks and could be relied upon to produce a good performance. However, he must be coming up to retirement now, and the indications were as this campaign went on, that his agility and reactions were declining. He has subsequently been replaced in goal by Adrian who has proved a revelation so far, and I think Jussi’s time is up at West Ham after this season.
Leo Chambers
The academy product had started three of West Ham’s Capital One Cup ties this campaign, winning each of them. The right-back played well in these games by all accounts and, with the Hammers injury crisis, particularly at full back in the latter stages of 2013, it appeared Chambers would have a good chance of breaking into the first team.
This hasn’t materialised however, and it now seems as though his career at West Ham could be coming to an end. If this is the case, then presumably Sam Allardyce dosen’t believe Chambers is good enough at Premier League level.
I have to trust him on this, not being able to see players like Chambers play to often, and Big Sam has been proved correct on previous decisions to release graduate products, such as with Freddie Sears, Zavon Hines, and Junior Stanislas. However, it does seem like a shame that he didn’t get a chance when perhaps injuries earlier in the season justified some sort of inclusion.
Dan Potts
This is quite a surprising one. Dan Potts, son of former West Ham legend Steve, played a few games in the Championship two seasons ago, and did quite well, looking composed and showing that he had a good delivery with his left foot. Since then however, first team appearances have been at a premium. He played against Manchester United home and away in the FA Cup last season, and did a good job considering he had been thrown in against the Champions of that season. The last we have seen of him in the Premier League was when he was stretchered off with a head injury against Arsenal in January of that season.
This campaign has seen his only opportunities come in the cups, and his last appearance at the mauling in this years FA Cup against Nottingham Forest, where a side largely made up of youth team players were clearly out of their depth against the East Midlanders.
Presumably, again, Allardyce does not rate Potts highly enough. This would be a real shame as not so long ago a lot of us saw Potts as a potential left-back for the long term future for the club. But again, I am happy to trust Big Sams judgement on this one.
Jack Collison
I have to say I would hate to see Jack Collison leave the club. If he hadn’t received that knee injury a few years ago, which has continued to hinder the Welshman ever since, then I think Collison may well have turned into a top quality player.
He looked a very good midfielder before that injury, composed on the ball, good at passing and getting himself into scoring positions from midfield. He then came back after over a year on the sidelines, and hasn’t been able to play consistently. However he has always still chipped in at vital times for the Hammers. None more so than in the Play-off campaign two seasons ago, where his two goals against Cardiff City effectively ended the contest in the first leg of the semi-final. Also last season, when he scored a few vital goals in his limited appearances, such as the winner at Stoke.
However this season, Collison’s appearances have been at a premium, even going out on loan to Bournemouth earlier in the season, and has now gone on loan to Wigan Athletic. It would seem that he is no longer part of Sam Allardyce’s plans. I really hope it isn’t but if Collison is to leave then I will remember him as a loyal servant, with a great attitude, who contributed at vital moments for the club.
Abdul Razak
I haven’t seen Razak play, so if he is to be released at the end of his short-term deal, then I can only surmise that he hasn’t impressed the management at West Ham. He looks set to join the list of signings who left before making an appearance for the first team in recent years. Brian Montenegro and Wellington Paulista are two that spring to mind.
There’s really not much to debate here…
As Tony Carr has told us Leo Chambers is the biggest talent we have,I trust him, and think he should be given a true chance. But Sam prefer to get Robert Johnson…
🙁
I don’t trust BFS judgment period, Joe Cole it’s a shame but get it jussi was up there and he isn’t now i get that to, but chambers , potts , and collison can’t all shit surely ? , can’t make a comment on Abdul like your good self i haven’t seen him play to .
Sam Allardyce is not a west ham man and thats why our top class academy will no longer be what it was.He has proved that he will buy in all cases then develop young players so up and coming youngsters will not see the attraction of previous years of coming to us.The financial loss will be huge in the long run
We need to keep and develop youngsters,are we not”The Academy?”no surprise about JJ or J Cole but sad that Collison is going but in football terms he has not been good enough.He gave his all for the club and for that reason alone I would like to see him stay.
I think chambers, collison and potts should be given another year.
look they are not the ones we need to show the door cole maybe jussi getting old so can understand I think potts is going because we are looking to give almero a full contract but at the end of the day we need to sell about ten players and start again .
Disgusted of the way Sam is running our beloved club. His man management abilities are so limited that he could not get best out of our most technically gifted players. Instead he keeps on throwing defensive players in and playing dull long ball game. In his era the Academy of football ha s became something totally different it used to be. Cole, Collison, Morrison, Potts, Chambers all should be along our first team squad and the youngsters should be nurtured carefully to premiership level. What does Sam? He brings in Roger “relegation” Johnston, last season he brought in Pogatetz. His ability nurture young talents to first team is as awful than his ability get the best out of his squad. Only way he knows how to play is defensively, not that big surprise taken account that he was a center half… Joe Cole is just 32, he is one of the most technically talented players in England. His fitness levels should be easy bring that level that he could easily play five years more. Sam just can’t do that. He just thinks that competition for places is enough to bring best away from the squad. I think Zola did better lesser first team so Dave’s should think long who they trow out… Sam out, Morrison, Cole, Collison, Potts, Chambers and other technical players in!
the squad already lacks depth, as this season as shown, these younger players need to be developed, and not thrown out, which makes no sense, and for no fees!!!! this just shows a lack of trust in younger players, and how are we going to encourage future stars to join us when they know they have little chance of making 1st team, all wrong, we are getting away from roots of home grown talent.
Not one youngster Sam has let go has gone on to play at the top level and some have even struggled to hold a contract in the lower levels. People are caring on like he’s been letting go youngsters that have gone on to become top level superstars. As disappointing as it is if they aren’t gona make the grade they need to move on, most youngsters in academy’s in all clubs don’t often make the step up