Sam Byram will be starting his West Ham career in the Development team and is seen as “one for next season.”
Slaven Bilic will stick with James Tomkins in the right back role into the foreseeable future whilst he is making a serious assessment of the 22 year old.
ClaretandHugh was told by a senior Hammers source last night: “In some respects it’s like the Michail Antonio situation. We have had him scouted and we know he’s a fine prospect.
“But we need to see him on the training ground and take a good look at his strengths and weaknesses so I don’t think the fans will be seeing too much of him at first team level this term.
“He could be a squad member and could make the odd appearance as substitute but it is a learning curve for him and the manager will make sure he is developed 100 per cent.”
Byram must be chuffed to bits with the prospect of a guaranteed place in the Dev squad. “Oh joy, oh joy, oh joy” you can hear him chirping! Hope he doesn’t get as ignored as Antonio, who Bilic admitted, didn’t get appreciated because the practice pitches were only 3/4 size. Byram must be feeling like his dreams and good faith have taken a right kicking. Of course he can’t expect to waltz into 1st team football, but the tone of the article gives the impression he is being dumped. Still, one way or another, ‘talent will out’, as they say, but it looks like he will have the same character building heart ache that Antonio went through. Nevertheless, I am delighted he has chosen us.
There is nothing wrong with players learning from the outset that they have to earn their place in the first team. We have moved on from automatic selection and that has to be a good thing. Antonio apparently worked hard, never complained and when he got his chance he took it and that is the attitude we need to foster. If players struggle with that, than they are probably not suited to our new circumstances and competing in a strong squad. Bilic seems, from the outside, to be a fair man who doesn’t have favourites.
Amen to that. I think Antonio is a better player as a result of having to work hard and wait for his opportunity
It’s a good way of deflecting pressure off him. Ease him into the Premier League rather than throwing him in at the deep end!
Put him in the first team as soon as poss,he has learnt in the championship in the last 2 years,we made the same mistake with Antonio,he should have played months earlier but he was for next year if I remember right,
We made a mistake loaning Jenkinson and do not need to hold back Sam now,
Put him on the bench and use him when Jenks needs to be subbed
He is 22 not 17