Playing in front of over 80,000 supporters- in what was the biggest USA audience for a football match this year, could have phased some players who are not used to the atmosphere generated by such a big crowd – especially away from the ‘tepid’ atmosphere recently at London Stadium.
The three late substitutes against Manchester United who cameo’d (if that is a word) in such an impressive manner – Freddie Potts, Luis Guilherme and surprise pick 18 year old Preston Fearon acquitted themselves brilliantly alongside old hand Lucas Paquetá and you’d have to wonder what the outcome would have been if they’d had longer on the pitch.
Potts and Guilherme are well known to Hammers fans but I’ll bet there were a few reaching for their ‘phones to Google the highly ambitious young Fearon upon his introduction in the latter stages. According to whufc.com he’s anticipating going all the way, pretty fast:
“100 per cent [I want more of this],” he confirmed. “I’m hungry to get on that pitch. Obviously it’s pre-season but these games will get you prepared to play in the Premier League and that’s what I want. I’m young and my career’s just starting.”
Having been released by Chelsea four years ago and overcoming a serious back injury in 23/4, Fearon has certainly got the tenacity to succeed. Graham Potter and Mark Noble have now found a way to fast track talented youth through to the cusp of the senior squad and it could well be that having impressed against Manchester, Fearon has more time on the pitch in the next two games ahead of what could be a massive, breakthrough season for the youngster.
West Ham now seem to have – finally- a policy of ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ mimicking Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City who have all brought teenagers through into their starting XI’s. The upside of a poor transfer window for West Ham is that there’ll be shirt numbers available for young talent, unlike last summer.
With Earthy and Orford not mentioned here and both chomping at the bit … we could have the youngest midfield in the prem soon, quite the turnaround. Bring on the youth!
Just hope Potter starts these young lads pre-season and then takes those lessons learnt into the season proper. I fully expect to see the same old guard in the engine room against Sunderland but hey, we live in hope right it’s in our DNA.
Been waiting for this for years get em in they all have something to prove and they are young and hungry lets hope this is the future.
When Mark Noble was appointed sporting director I thought it was just a job for a club legend. However given the number of young players joining West Ham and the number of youngsters now in and around the first team squad this cannot be a coincidence. So well done Mark.
Short term I think we are going to have a miserable season under the hapless Potter and the incompetent owners. But I am hopeful that our longer term future is more optimistic with Mark’s efforts on producing our own players. Something we always used to be know for
If, say,two more youngsters can establish themselves in the match day squad (in addition to Scarles) that would be a great step forward
Graham Potter and Mark Noble have now found a way to fast track talented youth through to the cusp of the senior squad
Is the way, in that Sullivan will not back you with transfers (currently) after you release half the squad and have no choice but to include youngsters
You just can’t please some people