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Beyond Earthy- Keeping Hold Of The ‘Next-Generation’

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West Ham’s annual ‘Young Hammer of the Year’ award, amongst other indicators, can be a great pointer towards future stardom: Only once in the last ten years has the awarding of the title really lead to a ‘stellar’ breakthrough – in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that award went to one Declan Rice and that turned out pretty well for the club both on and off the pitch. Several promising young players have had successful careers without ever hitting the absolute pinnacle: Freddie Sears (2011), James Tomkins – (2008) and Jack Collison (2009) all had admirable careers until time or injury curtailed them.

The expectation is high for 2024 award winner George Earthy – time will tell whether he is a ‘Declan Rice’ or a ‘Reece Oxford’ of the future.

Coming up behind Earthy’s age group is the next  generation of West Ham youngsters and the Guardian has highlighted the top teen talent around the country and settled on West Ham’s Airidas Golambeckis as a potential ‘prospect’ of the future.

He is seen as being :”Prized because of his elegant defending and his ease in possession [which] should stand him in good stead given the growing importance of playing out from the back. It also makes central midfield an option for the 16-year-old”.

Sixteen and already an England international and goal scorer

Already a debutant at England Under 18 level having represented Lithuania in his younger years, Golambeckis has made such progress that he has featured in West Ham’s Under 21 ‘s Premier League 2 campaign.

At just sixteen years old, the teenager has a big mountain to climb where the failure rate is high: Reece Oxford experienced vast success as a teenager and then failed to fulfil his enormous potential. The West Ham academy now takes centre stage in trying to nurture all of this young talent and keep the best at the club.

As we saw with the Jhon Duran saga, it is not easy to hang on the next generation starlet as they have become an asset to be traded at such a young age: West Ham’s Duran negotiations at one time included £30 million ‘plus Lewis Orford’ – whether that came from Aston Villa or from The Irons we will never know.

Profit and Sustainability Rules and Financial Propriety have become ever more important in this world of football, less a ‘sport’ now and more an entertainment business. The buying and selling of academy players has assumed greater significance as their ‘worth’ to a club – pure profit on the balance sheet – often overrides their natural talent in the way they are seen as ‘disposable assets’.

In an era when teenagers have become big business, it would be wonderful to see another talent like Golambeckis make it all the way through behind George Earthy into the Hammers’ first eleven and to the success beyond.

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970.. 'Football is Life' oh yes. Let it raise your spirit but never darken your mood. Life's too short not to enjoy the journey with our Claret and Blue heroes n' villains.

8 comments

  • Neil Down Under says:

    Not sure where to post this, but just wanted to get something of my chest. And it kind of involves youth.
    My Aunt, Uncle, Cousins have an affliction, they’re Chelsea fans…
    Ugh, excuse me, just little sick into my mouth there.
    My cousins boy was a mascot at the last Chelsea game, was chatting to my folks about it.
    Wrong team, but what a day for him, and hopefully great memories.
    Apparently it was £100 to be mascot, plus you have to provide your own kit? Another £100 if true. Plus costs of travel etc.
    Not a cheap day out by any stretch of the imagination.
    Is this normal for clubs these days?
    Surely they shouldn’t be charging for kids dreams?
    Surely such experiences shouldn’t be only for the fans wealthy enough to afford it?
    Wouldn’t you, as a club, want to encourage and thank your next generation of fans for choosing you?
    Perhaps cover costs and give a VIP experience, it’s not like they can’t afford to.
    Love football, but hate with passion the monetisation of young fans (or pricing out lifelong fans).
    It feels a lot like they’re being taken advantage of.
    Please someone, tell me I’m wrong and restore a little faith.

  • Paul Basnett says:

    Another one for Manchester City to sign for next to nothing, never play, and sell on for a big profit?

  • John Ayris says:

    Beyond Rice the record of those coming through from the academy in recent times is not good. In the main they don’t make premier league starter standard wherever it is that they go. They tend to get wage ideas above their stations and the club lets them go to be proved right when they do nothing where they go. Ashby, Perkins, Ngakia are names that spring to mind, we robbed WBA how much they payed for Diangana. The academy is not a reliable source of first team starters…

    • Martin Treasure says:

      Agreed, John, but it looks as if it will increase ‘net income’ by generating championship-upwards ready players who will be sold for relatively big profit helping PSR bottom-lines. And if one in ten – perhaps – of those youngsters stays at the club and thrives- that’d be a win/win. Man City are already running their own youth development in a much more business-like manner. Looks like we follow.

      • John Ayris says:

        I think that we likely make money on the academy regardless of producing the odd Rice like player, as we’re paid a development fee every time a player moves. If I remember rightly that was £3M with Harrison Ashby and £1.2M with Mubama. If it throws up a first team starter then we’re way in on it. It’s worth the effort even if I don’t quite wear the rose tinted specs that I once did.

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