By Hugh Southon in conversation with Terry Westley
West Ham’s academy director Terry Westley is making a pretty fair fist of following the legend that was Tony Carr!
Once dubbed the Academy of Football when Carr was in charge, not many would have backed the likeable and passionate Westley to start challenging for heroic status of his own when succeeding the great man.
There’s a way to go for him but Westley is seeing the fruits of his work start to appear with the arrival of the hugely impressive Declan Rice into the first team.
And at the weekend another academy product, Josh Cullen, was named as “probably our best player” by David Moyes in the less than average FA Cup Tie at Shrewsbury.
Striker Toni Martinez came off the bench to play a part whilst Quina, Martin Samuelsen, Vashon Neufville, Moses Makasi and Sead Haksabanovic were all part of the squad.
All of this follows the team’s rise from Premier League 2 Division 2 to Division One via the play offs at Newcastle last season where they sit in sixth place with 18 points from 13 games despite losing skipper Rice to the first team.
The 58 year old Ipswich-born Westley is slow to take credit for a rebirth in academy fortunes which in reality is entirely down to him and his coaching staff.
But his pride is evident as great kids emerge after the academy entered a 10 year wilderness following Mark Noble and James Tomkins’ first team arrivals.
Speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh he said: “It’s very, very tough following a legend like Tony. That word is thrown around too easily but he really was a legend and we musn’t forget his assistant Paul Heffer who never gets a mention so I am gonna make sure I do – they were an incredible team.”
When one recalls that in England’s 2010 World Cup squad Carr and his team were responsible for the training of no less than six internationals – Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson, Terry can’t be accused of exaggeration.
But he has his own history to carve out and Declan Rice is leading the way with a series of displays that have Hammers fans justifiably boasting of the academy once again.
Westley said: “He’s so level headed and listens to absolutely everything he’s told. He’s a terrific prospect but his mentality is as important as his ability.
“He had to get himself right up for the game against Spurs where he was terrific but then comes Shrewsbury and where some might relax, Declan knew he had to be careful and guard against that.
“The outcome was that he produced a great performance down the left side which certainly isn’t his natural position. He’s a great lad and is a real listener. It’s sometimes easy for youngsters to be forgotten by managers if they give an average performance.
“I have preached at all of them they must be right on it every time the opportunity comes along and Declan has now established himself in the first team squad as a result.”
Twenty-one-year old Southend born midfielder Josh Cullen is another who has listened to the academy boss’ mantra and had no hesitation in returning to the east end from a Bolton loan when manager David Moyes decided he wanted to take a look at him and Reece Burke.
Westley said: “He’s Hammers mad along with all his family and he couldn’t get back fast enough. He did really well against Shrewsbury and is aiming to ensure the manager has a decision to make.”
Cullen lost two teeth to a high boot but after changing his bloodied shorts and returning he continued to show the passion which will have the Irons fans puffing out their “he’s one of ours” chests.
Said Westley: “He can go back to Bolton at the end of the month or stay with us. Personally I hope he gets his chance to stay around the first team here – we’ll see!
“If you remember he was very good in the prestige friendly we played against Juventus to open the London Stadium. He’s a prospect.”
Defender Reece Burke too impressed despite, like Rice, being out of position against Shrews and will no doubt get another chance in the replay next Tuesday.
And injured right winger Nathan Holland is another who was a close to the first team squad as it gets before a training ground injury ruled him out until next month,
Said Westley: “I’m sure he would have had games by now had that not happened. Great young player who has it all before him.”
Westley is transforming the club at the grass roots and should take enormous credit although it remans a work in progress.
No doubt some bright spark somewhere will soon be talking about “Westley’s Wonders.”
Let me be the first !
Of the 3 kids that started, i thought Rice and Cullen had a very good run out. Very brave of Rice to carry on too after that teeth crunching kick in the face.
Burke showed that he is astute enough in the defensive role and looked more comfortable when Moyes changed to a back 4 but in a back 3, once he was over the half way line, it showed his decision making needs improvement and overall didn’t look that comfortable that far up the pitch. I know the RWB is not his position and if he is going to break in to the team and play then it is fair to say that at the moment he should be played as a CB in a back 4 or one of the back 3. Don’t take this the wrong way as i am nit picking here and considering he is still only the same age as Rice, overall he had a good game.
Would like to have seen more time given to Quina & Martinez though as i think they got amongst it when coming on and provided more of the drive we were looking for for most of the game.
Sorry Doc66. It was Cullen who got kicked in the mouth loosing 2 teeth in the process. Yes the 3 outshone the senior players.
Agree Cullen was great hasn’t been starting & outplayed Kouyate & Obiang which I’ve said all season I’d rather Cullen then Kouyate who is best as CB.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Cullen preseason Juve game one was great & at Bradford. He was are best set piece take which is sad bhr he stepped up & took responsibility created our best Chance w cross after corner that Cheik missed then feel right to Ayews feet he missed.
Like a young Noble was good off the ball & on it & wasn’t even in best portion when switched w 20m left even better getting fwd.
Tho I would of liked to see Sead or Sameulsen come on & go for it. Burke looked good but in position he is not used to at RWBish. And Toni should of started instead of 2 poachers made good run at their keeper almost caused mistake.
Can’t wait for Holland to be back.
But Westerly has done great w our Academy & one reason I didn’t want him to be caretaker I bc they usually don’t go back down. And our Academy is best its benn in years.
Hopefully we will keep investing in it & think Quina & Vashom should go on loan.
Cullen is must keep in squad we need that youthful energy passion & commitment
Whilst I agree with positive article and comments about Rice , Cullen and Burke and look forward to more academy players getting a chance in the first team , I have always been sceptical about Westley after he released one of our brightest prospects in Keiron Bywater in favour of his son Sam gaining a full pro contract .
+1 , I have watched westly and u23 a lot , to compare him to tony Carr is a slap in the face against him , Carr nurtured players in the real accadamy using home grown players ! The ones we sold to help other clubs achieve trophy’s lol, this crop are mostly left offs from other clubs or brought in from abroad , if we get rice , Cullen and Burke breaking through then that will be the lot IMO , unless players show more than what they are showing at present then I doubt they will break through , many reasons for my thoughts ,one being having the time to bring them in when its all so different today as it was in Carr’s golden era , two being knowledgeable of Carr’s long standing west ham way coaching methods and techniques! Westly doesn’t have these , Holland should make it but he was brought through evertons youth so another one drafted in , 5 mill for Vic and quina for me is a long way off being a first teamer , talented like Samuelson but has nothing in the locker that really stands out ? You need more than being pretty on the ball but being cought in possession and unable to get it back with aggression when needed , Cullen has that quality unfortunately the games I’ve seen them play lack that grit to make a difference ! The other factor and biggest problem is that the prems demands and successful seasons in it requires instant fixs which severely restricts their inclusion ! Unless you’re stand out they like most will end up in lower leagues and later in their career may have a chance of being snapped up ! Its how it is ! The lad dianganna impresses me with his pace and power and scores goals too !
The whole process of accadamys is to suck it and see who comes through , the rice,s will ! The rest don’t have much time left before they move on ! Its the nature of the beast I’m afraid.
So personally as sad as it seems to me the way forward is cast in stone , the money the sport is generating the only way readable to compete in this div is to buy. Something we have a problem with where money is concerned and how much available but that’s a subject were all lead of about with the current owners , bottom line is clubs hope a gem comes through and if not they get others to have a punt on ? In fact accadamys at ages of 7-12 year olds are a disgrace the way they treat them like cattle which should be classed as child abuse ! I’ve seen it and had one or two scouts throats in my hands in the past and experienced the harm it does to these kids , west ham are not exempt from this as I have experienced it at chadwell heath having done a couple of stints there some years back ! Unacceptable and should be looked into !!😈
Without ‘overcooking it’, there is sufficient evidence to objectively state, that this U-23 side has the potential for true brilliance. No question, that on many occasions, they show all the hallmarks of playing the West Ham Way.
We must invest as much as we can to make it possible for many of these kids to make the smooth, gradual transition into the ‘next West Ham’- a West Ham that can regularly compete for top honors for up to 10 years.
A question of interest, is whether David Moyes can do a Matt Busby, and harness this group of talented kids into something great; far too early for me to pass comment-at least he seems keen on the idea of promoting their progress into top, mature players.