Josh Cullen’s pre-season is changing the manager’s mind about his future and he may start the season as a part of his squad plans.
There had been doubts publicly expressed – including on CandH – that his career may be a move away from the London Stadium with Charlton a likely destination.
But with Pedro Obiang leaving, we understand things are looking brighter for the home grown Hammer and that he now has a real chance of remaining as part of the squad.
Although he may well remain down the first team pecking order, we understand the manager has seen sufficient in China to believe the 23 year old has a chance of becoming part of the squad.
It’s yet another tribute to the guy that from being told by the boss that his future may well have laid away from the club when being d allowed out on loan to Charlton last season that he has battled his way back into his thinking.
As he proved with Snodgrass, Pelle loves a fighter!
I’d love to see him get a chance, it’s clear he desperately wants to play for West Ham. I’ll mention it yet again that if there is one position we must improve before the summer window closes, it’s left back. If that is the only position we spend money on, that’s fine by me. I think we could probably make do in midfield if we use Cullen, Oxford and Coventry, I think bringing in an extra striker on a free is going to happen, there’s enough quality out there without contracts. Left back is the only area we must spend money this window.
Sorry to combine this with the thread on home grown players. I think that the rule which some people seem to be missing is that we can have at most 17 non home grown players eligible for games. The fact that Rice and Diangana (and Ben Johnson) qualify as under 21 and dont count in the 25 is a bonus – so we dont have to have 8 home grown players – but we need a big enough squad. So there is no point in buying more non home grown players if it takes the number above 17 as only 17 will be eligible to play. Which is a round about way of saying that we probably need Josh Cullen as cover in case of injuries – apart from the possibility of him turning out to be good for the team
For the development of the player himself he needs to go. He is currently no where near the PL level and he will not get there playing mins here and there. He needs to go to a top 10 championship team and prove himself there. Then he will be ready if he will ever be. Cullen has been given enough opportunities in my opinion and has still not made the breakthrough. A real shame that Browne was not given the same opportunities, in my opinion a better player than Cullen and Diangana. We need to give the other young players like Holland and Silva their opportunities. Remember Quina !!
He is better than Sanchez that should be enough of a reason to keep him.