Make no mistake – we are starting to witness the changing of the West Ham guard led by the brilliant Declan Rice!
With the youngster performing superbly at such a tender age in the highest pressure match of the season we have a player with maybe the world at his feet.
With Martin O’Neill watching the man he voted man of the match against Turkey earlier in the week from the London Stadium stands today and Gareth Southgate presumably wondering how the hell England missed him, the Hammers future became its present.
He made not a single mistake throughout the game, set things up and started the forward movement so often missing from the team in the past.
Too often we have seen the ball humped forward which merely invites pressure but with no Winston Reid or James Collins available – something that would have scared us to death a couple of months back – Rice showed what he was all about and boy didn’t it look good.
For me he has to stay in the team now. It would be criminal to drop him – he looks to the manner born with a real touch of Mooro about him.
But there’s more to cheer and enjoy and for that we can thank the admirable Academy boss Terry Westley and his team who have overseen something of a revolution among the youngsters over the past two years.
Springing off the bench for the last couple of minutes came midfielder Josh Cullen (centre right) of whom better and better things are expected over the next season or two.
Nathan Holland would have also been involved had he had more that one match since his hamstring injury late last year but today’s bench contained other great young prospects.
Central defender Josh Pask (bottom right) looks totally outstanding, whilst Grady Diangana can play in a variety of positions across the front line.
There’s plenty of others emerging in the impressive under 23s side raising REAL hope that this club is going back to its roots in producing great young talent.
David Moyes has regularly claimed he will be looking to strengthen central defence next summer but with the emergence of Rice and Pask not far behind he may just be able to keep his money in his pocket.
COYI
I’m actually hoping moyes won’t be around next season as his a ditherer in the transfer market and would prefer a better coach that’s forward looking and can bring in quality players not hugil evra who I believe was just as much his fault than sully. We need defenders for sure and a keeper with our youth coming through as back up. Would sell cresswell as his useless at defending and hope ginge gets a good team to play for too. Huge building program needed as chich sold and Mario sent back and hopefully Carroll gets sold asp too.
You’ve nailed it Razor. Couldn’t agree more.
Declan Rice has made several mistakes during his 1st team career ( normal for a 19 year old ), and was dropped several times for them. Each time he knuckled down to more hard work and came back better and stronger.
Compare him to Oxford who made as many mistakes and got dropped, but sulked because he thought he already had star status.
Josh Pask has come up on the quiet, dealing with several inuries along the way. Which of Rice and Oxford is going to be the example for Pask to follow. I know where my money lies.
Do you remember Oxford, by the way?