Jeremy Ngakia’s West Ham emergence appears to demonstrate that the decision making process on whether youngsters learn their trade at the club or are allowed out on loan is largely correct.
The 19 year old received the most severe test possible against Sadio Mane on Monday evening and came through with flying colours giving a near faultless performance.
That the lad has made just eight appearances at under 23 level for the club, and remains an extreme PL rookie in real terms – his performances in two games against Liverpool this season his achievements cannot be overstated.
Indeed he was only .26 percentage points behind Angelo Ogbonna as the Hammers man of the match on Monday evening- an extraordinary achievement for the teenager who was also very impressive on his debut appearance for the first team against the PL leaders at the London Stadium on January 29.
Like Declan Rice and Grady Diangana before him Jeremy has been developing d his game at West Ham whilst others like Conor Coventry and Nathan Holland were allowed to get regular football elsewhere.
Hailing from Deptford , Ngakia joined the Hammers at the age of 14. He made 17 appearances for the U18s side during 2016/17 while still a schoolboy and signing his first scholarship papers that summer.
Now he looks set for a highly successful Hammers career and with Ryan Fredericks on the long term injury list could have staked a major claim for his job by the end of the season.
COYI
Outstanding performance give him a run in the team with Zaba on the bench just in case. Impossible to judge after two games but the n those two games he has been excellent and should be rewarded with a few more games at least COYI!!!
He must keep his place now after that performance. If you’re good enough then you’re old enough. COYI.
Absolutely!
That is if Moyes plays him, I think Sullivan should tell Moyes to utilise the under 23’s more we have no pace in our team & need some players with enthusiasm & something to prove.
It highlights Moyes illogical thinking when Bowen, having played regular Championship football, is not deemed ready to start but Ngakia – playing U23 in PL2 – is thrown in. Yes, he has limited options at RB, but give Bowen his chance please!
Games, and points, are in limited supply. Don’t leave it too late. The time is now to make bold team selections & offensive strategies!
It would be criminal now not to play him against Southampton.
Good defending against a top quality team but what impressed me more was his willingness to get forward looking up all the time not head down , stop and pass the ball back or sideways! He’s young so will make mistakes but he deserves a run in the team for those two performances.
Maybe it will be him and Ben Johnson vying for that right back slot, as they both seem good enough. Maybe it’s a quirk of fate that he has got his opportunity because surely it would’ve been Ben Johnson if it were not for long term injury?
I still personally believe that other youngsters at our club could’ve made a similar impact. We had the BEST U23 crop of youngsters that we have had in years and it’s not all about throwing them all in at once. Opportunity BOOSTS player development and the adrenalin of game time supported by first team players around them, would allow them to lift their game ten fold.
Hopefully, alongside Ngakia there will be other former U23 youngsters pushing for the first team next season. Well Done Jeremy COYI
If our academy players get a real chance, it will allow make us more attractive. Build from there and don’t sell our best. That is how we will move up the table.
A great prospect & could tie down that position for years to come. A word of warning though is not to build him up to quickly, just look at Oxford when he broke through. He’s disappeared down the plug hole & last heard of being talked about being binned off to the German 3rd division.
when will Ben Johnson be fit again, isnt he a right back aswell?
Would Moyes have played Trent Alexander Arnold as he is to young. Half the Chelsea team also. IMO Moyes thinking is way out of date. Today’s PL needs young players who can run for 95 minsl.. look at improvements to Declan Rice with Sousack alongside him. That new lad can run his socks off. We will miss him. Bowen has to play from the start to get us on the front foot from the off.
Ajay I am in total agreement to your coments .Mr Moyes decisions and reasoning for such are bordering on mind blowing. .Jeremy has proved his worth IMHO with two performances against the Pool ok yep.he will drop.a clanger somtime but so did Declan at Newcastle a few years ago.but look at him now..bring the youth through
.what’s left😕😕
Sorry don’t see the hype with the young player, I don’t see it with him at all but I hope I am wrong. Saying this I am happier him in the team rather than Fredericks. I would play Zaba in the big games coming up because of his experience.