Every player who pulls on the claret & blue shirt tries their very best, of that I’ve no doubt. Whether the end result is what we want or expect is quite another matter, and the Hammers record books are littered with past names that either bring a smile to your face or illicit a disbelieving shake of the head find it hard to believe they were actually considered good enough for first team action.
Harold Redknapp Esq. had a virtual open door policy during his seven year spell in the hot seat, with players coming and going as if on some bizarre human conveyor belt, here today and gone tomorrow, most to eternal obscurity; Paulo Futre, Marco Boogers, Steve Jones, Javier Margas, Florin Raducioiu, Hayden Foxe……how much time have you got?
Looking back over the years, the player who I wish had really shown us what he could do, but didn’t, was young Freddie Sears, a lad who came from the youth ranks and had a great goal scoring record right up to first team standard.
A local Hornchurch lad, Sears joined us aged 11, and I kept an interested eye on his progress after the 20066/7 season when he scored an amazing 20 goals in just 15 games for the U-18 side. Even Tony Carr, normally a quiet, reserved and taciturn character predicted a bright future for young Freddie if his rate of progress could be maintained. And indeed it was. In the 2007/8 season, Sears scored at a fantastic rate for the youth and reserve teams, netting 25 goals in just 24 starts, a superb strike rate by anyone’s standards.
It was now clearly just a matter of time before first team action was ordered, and sure enough, his debut came in March 2008 when he entered the field of play in the 75th minute against Blackburn Rovers with the score level at 1-1. Five minutes later Freddie had scored the winner and what looked like a great Hammers career…well…just didn’t happen. I was there that day and was very impressed with the bright, lively youngster, but if ever proof were needed that so few actually make the grade, then this is it.
A series of lower league loans took place at Crystal Palace, Coventry City, Scunthorpe United and Colchester United, and despite a few recalls, West Ham and Freddie Sears finally shook hands for the final time in June 2012. Freddie won a total of 8 caps at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels, and it seemed that the final, huge step up to Premier League goal scorer was just too much.
Perhaps if management had just persevered a little more, who knows? I always felt he had shades of Tony Cottee about him, with his stature, pace and movement, and lively demeanour in and around the box. The demands of forward in the Premier League today are immense, and power and bulk are needed to win the physical battles, and perhaps this is where things were just lacking, a real physical presence and ability to compete.
Now scoring goals for Colchester United, and at the ripe old age of 24, I hope Freddie can rediscover his goal touch and show the U’s fans just what he can do.
I don’t think he’d ever have made it as an out-and-out striker in the Premiership, but what isn’t mentioned here is that some of his displays on the right flank under Avram Grant were very impressive at Premiership level.
I’m not a big fan of the loan system, particularly long loans – I don’t think it motivates young players very much to be shipped out of a club for a year. It certainly does nothing for their loyalty. The club should be trusting its coaches to improve young players in-house.
If I remember rightly he was brought in too early to provide all the goals in a team that was struggling desperately to keep its head above water! Too much too soon! But ultimately he didn’t have it, especially physically to compete at the highest level. But the margins as his goal scoring record through the age groups shows, must have been slight. But being thrust into the first team out of sheer desperation, before he was really ready, didn’t do him any favours! Shame as he was a nice lad!
nope
Losing the will to live.
You are absolutely right about the physical side of Freddie’s game but i believe had West ham spent more time developing young Freddie ie, power, strength, and a few trip’s to the green gate pie & mash shop he would have been up there with the best of them, he was certainly lively in the box , i for one like him.
Now scoring goals for Colchester…in League One. Where he belongs to be honest, wouldn’t even cut it in The Championship.
Wouldn’t argue with that assessment Pete.
No, he’s shit