By Hughie Southon
West Ham’s Emmanuel Longelo is proving a big hit with the Birmingham City faithful following his move to the midlands.
The left wing back looked outstanding on his one and only appearance under Moyes against Dinamo Zagreb in last season’s Europa Cup but then was given no further chances to impress
Instead, the manager went out and bought Emerson as a back-up to Aaron Cresswell when he had the chance to introduce yet another academy prospect groomed under the man responsible for Declan and Ben Johnson’s breakthrough, former academy director Terry Westley
Emmanuel has now made 10 appearances for the Blues and scored one goal with local pundits claiming the St Andrew’s club have “seemingly stuck gold with Emmanuel Longelo at left-wing back rendering Norwich City’s Przemysław Placheta’s possible involvement come January limited.”
By cutting short the Polish player’s loan deal will allow the young Hammer to make a really serious impression with many Hammers fans believing he was a natural to become a first team player at the London Stadium.
He looks great going forward but very suspect defensively. He has been caught too far forward quite a few times. In the championship he may get away with it more times than not but in the premier league they’d have him on toast. I’d love to see him further forward without defensive duties. He does have great energy and passing ability. He is still young with room to improve but he will not play LB or LWB for West Ham.
I feel Manny would make a very promising LWB especially with first team specific coaching. I’ve said a few times recently that I would like us to look to a back three plus wingbacks and one DCM. We need the midfield width that wingbacks give along with midfielders in the middle to play out with options. I do think many fans write off our young players because they are not currently premier players. They are young and we have coaches. Sadly we’ve already lost too many.
I think he’d make a great left winger myself. Maybe as a left forward in a 4231.