Following on from the news that Hammers youngsters Preston Fearon, Mohamadou Kanté and Josh Landers have all signed new contracts or long extensions, the report this morning from Claret and Hugh detailing George Earthy’s contract and probable extension shows a club in a perplexing state of contradiction.
On one hand, the young talent at the club’s disposal who are all ready, willing and eager to commit their futures to the Hammers is immensely positive, and in stark contrast to the haemorrhaging of talent we’ve grown used to in recent years.
On the other, the continuing conflict between board and supporters shows a club very ill at ease with itself: Normally under such a dark cloud you’d be expecting young talent to be falling over themselves to leave.
U21 captain signs new three year deal
Golambeckis signs a new contract
The latest just today to commit his long term future to West Ham is defender Airidas Golambeckis – the u21’s captain – who has signed a new four-year deal and has real senior squad aspirations:
“It gives me that extra hunger to push towards the first team. I want to stay fit, keep progressing and impress any time I do get the opportunity to go over to the first team”
Probably the timing of all of these deals is no coincidence: since Graham Potter’s sacking and the installation of Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham’s youth has had more opportunity than at any time in recent years.
Ollie Scarles, Freddie Potts and Callum Marshall have all had first team opportunities this season and the hope must be for George Earthy along with Fearon, Kanté, Landers and Golambeckis that their own time to shine is just over the horizon.
Credit behind the scenes to Sporting Director Mark Noble, whose role it is to oversee the transition of academy players and find that pathway to first team football. Unlike Potter, whose lofty words were never matched by activity, Nuno has already show his faith in the up and coming talent at the club. Heady times indeed for supporters hoping to see ‘one of our own’ make it to the top.
I’d like to see Ajala and Adiele get contract offers too, and that would set us up nicely going forward, and let’s not forget Casey and Lewis Orford who could be the best of the lot, although not too happy with his lack of game time at Stevenage. Exciting times ahead
Freddie Potts and George Earthy went out on loan last season and both had good seasons. At the start of the season I said both could break through this season if given minutes.
Potts looks for all the world to have broken through after Newcastle, surely he gets a starting spot against Burnley on merit.
George Earthy has been injured though so while Potts has been given minutes and broken through Earthy hasn’t had that chance. George Earthy needs to be given minutes too as I still say that he can break through this season.
While promising the likes of Golambakis etc are some way behind, they need to have successful seasons on loan yet.
Yes indeed, very good news. Let’s hope the first team has turned the corner now and will climb up the table, but if the worst happens this academy group will get the club back.
If we stay up the future is a lot brighter with them improving all the time.