We knew he was going to be good. Bur we had no idea just how blooming good Reece Oxford was going to be.
I’d been told towards the end of last season – and reported here – that teenage prodigy, Oxford, would play a part in the new campaign. But his astonishing mature and decisive debut in front of 60,000 fans at the Emirates was unbelievable and caught even the most optimistic Irons fan by surprise.
By any standards, to put Alexis Sanchez in his pocket on such an occasion, is no mean feat. To do it as the youngest Hammers player EVER in the Premier League is astonishing and demonstrates just how much ability and class this youngster has.
Afterwards, new boss Slaven Bilic commented that nothing fazed Reece, declaring that although he (Bilic) might be worried at the prospect of facing Lionel Messi – Oxford wouldn’t be bothered by such an experience.
That may or may not be true. Nonetheless, the comments demonstrate the man-management techniques of Bilic, a man clearly born to lead our great club.
And he said of the lad’s future: ““Reece is still 16 and not 19, but we will try to manage him now and we will keep him away from all the fuss that is going to be created.
“That is part of our job. But the boy has a future and we have to manage him the right way in every aspect.”
For the record, Reece had a 95% completion rate and was voted Man of the Match by the BBC.
By any standards, I’d say that wasn’t a bad start to a Premier League career. I’m now eagerly looking forward to the next instalment…
Last year we slaughtered our past manager for not giving youth a chance,
Already on Sunday we brought on 2 waste of space and left Samulsun,Poyet,Cullen,Burke Lee and Lanzini out of the picture,
If we sign Song and Barton we will not be giving youth a chance again,
Sorry a world class forward is more important
I agree, Barton is likely to be bad for squad morale, Song is brilliant on his day but patchy form and expensive. Like others, I’d rather see the youngsters given a chance and money invested in the likes of Austin
Fair play rules have been relaxed big time.Thats why you hear little about them anymore bubs.As for Songs op,floating bone is bugger all.He can only come back as a better player after clearing it out.Simple op actually.
Trouble is you are going to get
Barton for Nolan or worse both
And no one for Austin because Magia is a changed Player ( don’t think so )
But out debt won’t grow
If we want Song on the bench no problem but it would be a shame to loose Poyet or Obiang when they won’t sit out matches,
And is Song going to be the same after the op ?
Can we afford his wages under fair play rules ?
The aims to have the best 2 players you can get for each position, then you can cope better with injuries, suspension & loss of form much better. Also this helps you have a proper crack at cup competitions. I’d bring in Song & a new striker if it’s possible, Song for Nolan, Austin for Maiga that would be a massive step in the right direction
I would take Song back all day long.He could be superb with the style of play Slav is adapting.Oxford will need to be handled carefully.Just my opinion but i think Song can only be a positve addition to this team/squad.One game against the Arse hasnt changed my opinion about getting Song back 😉
This post about Oxford brings the Song situation up,
With Obiang coming back next week and Poyet as well as Oxford do we need to pay Song £85k per week ?
Kouyate,Obiang,Oxford and Poyet for one place or two at most depending where Noble plays,
Does that free up more money for a top forward ?
A couple of observations. Reece Oxford never had Alexis Sanchez in his pocket. Ozil maybe yes but Sanchez played wide left when he came on.
We don’t play two strikers. We played one striker with 2 attacking midfielders – Zarate and Payet. Andy Carroll is back in training now and will be fit soon enough. Valencia should be back end of October which is 3 strikers plus Maiga… I know, I know but does anyone see Sullivan spending on another striker until someone leaves? I don’t.
Funny how so much changes in a couple of days 😀 after thursday’s game there was sooooo much negativity, i was airing my views on whtid that we have every chance against ********, too many comments saying no chance, we’re going to struggle, one reply to me was “no its a fact” (that we will lose). Of course now mostly complete positive, next 2 home games should cause no problems & we can go up to Liverpool & win.
I would like to piont out that i agree with this change in attitude & the games are winnable, the differance is I thought this before yesterdays fantastic result. We need a new striker as there is nòt much quality on the bench, this was highlighted by sending Maiga on. COYI
Demon that was a silly question.
Did anyone read on one of the other sites about the best starting 11 of orem signings 2015. Petr cech was goalkeeper of choice and payet didnt even get in the team…. somebody obviously didnt watch any football at the weekend!
I just hope as Slav said mission is keeping Reese grounded
Just keeping him might be a bigger issue than keeping him grounded if he continues to develop as he surely will do.Seems like a level-headed lad though 😉
Because Maiga is sh*t
Valencia is injured
Carroll is always injured
Zarate is good one week & sh*t the next
if Sakho get injured we are up sh*t creek without a paddle
we need a 20 goal a season striker.
Oh yes ; and that.
So good to finally see our youth being given a chance. The production line of superb home-grown talent – backed by some great purchases, such as Samuelson and Dobson – show that we’re getting back to being the West Ham we all know and love.
Now, after creaming Arsenal yesterday on their own dung heap, can someone tell me why we apparently need to spend money on another striker?
because we only have two fit ones, and as we play with two, we need at least one decent back-up.
Carroll will never score 20 goals in a season
Valencia will never score 20 goals in a season
Zarate will never score 20 goals in a season
Lanzini if used as a striker will never score 20 goals in a season
Sakho “could” score 20 goals in a season.
We have 4 out of 5 potential strikers that have scoring records similar to that of Carlton Cole i.e. mostly likely 1 goal every 4 games, we need goals to stay at the top of the division and we need two prolific goal scorers preferrably that could combine well together. I am not convinced that Hernandez would be that player or even that he could be expected to play 90 minutes week in week out, the club should bite the bullet and invest in 24 year old Charlie Austin, a player that won’t be going to the COPA America, African Cup of Nations etc or be gaining major air miles during the season but may well be England’s main international striker if he was in our team.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Maiga, if Bilic can get him scoring and playing well, I will begin believing in the second coming of Christ !
‘One in Four’? Were you watching a different Carlton Cole to me?
Well, that’s me told – I now know not to post a semi-facetious comment again, even if it’s posed as an ironic comedic question.
Knuckles rapped, I’ll pitch in again…… I think that Slav has the knack of spotting where a player can be used that unlocks additional value. Just like Wenger spotted Henry as a winger and moved him central to become a great goal scorer, so Mr Bilic has shifted Kouyate from being cover for Song or a stand-in CB to playing twenty yards further up the pitch – first seen at the Norwich friendly. Makes best use of his size and power, as Petr Cech will testify. Likewise, he’s taken Oxford from being a celebrated youth CB for club and country to a holding midfielder of exceptional ability. It’s a rare talent to be able to spot how to develop players like that.
Incidentally, who would any of you displaced yesterday for our mythical second striker?
Barca had the best players in the world and still spent a fortune on Suarez, are you suggesting that we don’t buy players anymore? Bayern, Man U, Real Madrid are all still buying players right ?? I don’t think we are so far ahead of them that we can afford to take our foot of off the gas just yet. Btw we had to bring on Maiga towards the end of the match & he ain’t exactly Pele – of coarse we should try to improve if we can.
What a debut, didn’t ever seem under pressure just took it in his stride. Kept a world class act like Ozil in his pocket the whole game. Fuc*ing well played Reece. Serious things to come in the near future did the whole club and himself proud yesterday. Loved his interview on MOTD2 as well