For many of West Ham’s young talent, the drop into the Championship represented a heaven-sent opportunity to perform week in, week out. Senior players who blocked their path last year left the club once the side was relegated, leaving gaping squad holes hastily filled with young talent.
Mohamadou Kanté has so far topped the list of youngsters who have grasped the opportunity with both hands, whilst Lewis Orford and Josh Ajala have featured in senior squads this season and look to be well on course to emulate loanee teen Divine Mukasa’s elevation towards becoming first team regulars in the Championship.
Likewise, Ezra Mayers will have had high hopes of following others into senior squad contention.
However, the deadline day signing of surprise package Morato might well have stymied his chances of first team football this season.
The defender, still just nineteen, seems to have been around the senior squad for ever and appears frequently in Nuno’s team sheets yet rarely gets a look-in from the bench. Ollie Scarles, most people’s pre-season favourite to start at left back, had a wobbly first few outings and has now been usurped by surprise package Morato, pushing Mayers down to third in the pecking order.
Not a good place to be for a teenager who has outgrown academy gigs and needs to push on with his career.
Mayers path to first team football being blocked thanks to surprise package Morato
That hasn’t stopped the youngster receiving recognition as one of the top valued under 20’s in the league.
According to the football-observatory.com , West Ham’s utility left-sided defender is already estimated at a cool £10 million.
Not bad for a player who cannot force his way into West Ham’s first team.
Surely another player who needs regular loan football in order to continue his development, Mayers does appear to be one of the few who’s been blocked by deadline day signing Morato : A loan for West Ham’s £10m teen surely looks the best option for January.
Mayers should be used instead of Kilman. If we are truly building a team capable of surviving in the prem, Kilman has proven that he’s not good enough and drags Mavropanus into making mistakes.
They are also blocked by Adama Boiro
Myers is an academy graduate that I do believe has a future with the club
He has always looked sound. He is meant to be quick too (thought caught sight of him sprinting back to cover and make up ground!) which is always a brilliant asset to have – that is the part which makes me surprised have not seen him playing at LB, challenging Scarles freeing up Morato to left CB.
Battrum out on loan has similarly always looked solid, dependable with plenty of promise & ambition (football wise). I’d like to see Mayers playing in the championship, but out on loan if NES does not intend rejigging the backline – although he should.
Totally agree
Must give him some run outs and most importantly must get the youngsters who we feel are going to progress to sign contracts so we do not loose them for nothing
Sign him up on a long term contract.
Dip him into the match day squad here and there, sharing minutes with other left side defenders. Allow him a few short term loan spells from next year.
It could potentiall help along with his development and increase his market value.