(Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
West Ham’s midfield problems might soon be solved by another young Hammers starlet in the shape of Joe Powell.
The left sided midfielder has been quietly impressing all season and last but has not shared the same sort of spotlight as Declan Rice, Grady Diangana and Nathan Holland.
Instead he has quietly got on with his job and last night scored a quite magnificent goal against Stoke City – a timely reminder that there are Development team player just bursting to replace under-performing first teamers if given the chance.
And this time around he has been given a huge boost by Under 23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko who went out of his way to ensure that Manuel Pellegrini got the message
Powell opened the scoring in the 4-0 win over Stoke City U23s at the bet365 Stadium last night. It was an audacious attempt from 35 yards out, lobbing Blondy Nna Noukeu from distance.
The 20-year-old racked up his third league goal of the season as he continues to impress. Halajko believes Powell is technically gifted, allowing him to pull off special moments like this.
Halajko told the club’s official website: “That’s his second time this season where he’s lobbed the keeper from well near the halfway line. He did it in pre-season against Anderlecht, a little bit further out actually.
He’s got that technical ability, so it wasn’t too much of a shock really because we know he can do it.”
His form is such that like several others among the Develpent squad he could soon be knocking on Manuel Pellegrini’s first team door.
Powell seems to be the glue that brings the u23s together. He also creates lots of chances and assists for his team mates. When he came on as sub against Macclesfield last year he set up both goals for Grady Diangana. Grady got all the plaudits and a chance in the first team. Powell just got on with his job. I’m not advocating slinging all the u23s in the seniors but to bleed the odd one on the bench now and then cannot be a bad idea. Lots of other Prem sides are starting to do it now. Perhaps in preparation for when the television money starts drying up?
I hope Powell gets a breakthrough. However it’s so hard for these lads these days. I can’t see pellegrini taking out either Pablo Fornals or Anderson for him, hope I’m wrong though.
Fornals has done nothing, so far, to deserve automatic selection in front of anybody. Anderson needs to give some 90 minute performances and not just play when it suits him. Nobody should feel their place is safe. This could be half our trouble. If they dont feel their place is under pressure you get performances like last Saturday. Perhaps a few might improve if some of the youngsters were given chances.
Apart from Diangana last season Pelle has not really given youth a chance – Rice was already established in the team
(At the risk of being pilloried) – it is interesting to see Lampard giving young players a chance at Chelsea
Agree with all the above comments after last weeks performance Pelle needs to drop anyone who is not performing & give the youngsters a go, we can only lose, so it would be no different to the 1st team, but at least we will know if they can survive in the prem.