In the past, there has been much said about whether or not the Academy of Football is still churning out future players for the Hammers— so it’s good news that youth defender Dan Potts has signed a new deal, extending his current contract until summer 2015 (also with an option for a further year.) It’s great for West Ham to see players come up from the academy and into first team football, so is it now time for the 20-year-old to become a prominent face in our first team back four?
Last season, Potts made two first team appearances for West Ham – both in cup games. I feel I must mention that one of them was that hideous cup game against Nottingham Forest. Looking away from the team’s collective performance on that date, Potts certainly seems to be a skilful player, is reasonably calm under pressure, and could do well in the West Ham team. At the time of writing, we don’t appear to have a lot of choice of left-backs – it’s either O’Brien, Potts, or… me, I guess, so he should be in with a shout to get some first time experience this season.
Where I worry though is that, physically, he may not yet be up to the challenges in the Premier League. Potts is a rather lithe player and, although he’s got speed on him, he may not come out on top of some of the more physical challenges that he is likely to find himself in. Looking at pictures of him and Guy Demel, well, you know which side you’d push down as an opposing team.
It is possible I worry about this as I still have pictures in my mind of him leaving the pitch “on a stretcher, in a neck brace, receiving gas and covered in an emergency blanket” after a nasty collision with Arsenal’s Sagna (BBC News.)
It’s also not to say I don’t think he has promise. I think he certainly has the potential to join fellow academy graduates Noble and Tomkins in the first team. But if he wants to see some first team football this season, and take ownership of that left-back spot, he’s just got some serious bulking up to do first.
What do you make of Potts’ contract extension? Do you think he will make it as a first team regular this season, or is he still a year or two away from it? Let us know below.
‘Where I worry though is that, physically, he may not yet be up to the challenges in the Premier League.’
Hmm. Remember folk throwing the same jibe at his dad, & he did more than alright!
I remember his father playing and he was a decent player, his lack of stature however stopped him from being a better one however and certainly prevented him from excelling in the middle of defence, so while at left back it isn’t so vital it still has to be a concern.
This happened two weeks ago.
ACE ?????
My sister is dating him and hes always at my house plus hes injured at the moment he had broken is ankle but now he has injured his knee and his manager makes him take notes of the other teams LB