West Ham’s pre-season friendlies conclude today with a lunchtime kick off in Germany as Nuno’s men travel for a fixture against second tier opponents FC Magdeburg. With just a week before the Carabao Cup season opener against Portsmouth, West Ham’s manager will have one last chance to shape the formation of his likely line up and take decisions on several key players futures.
This season is make or break for several former academy players who will be sold – as in the case of Callum Marshall – or kept with the email squad hopefully to break through this season in the second tier . Sub-plots galore make this an intriguing encounter as supporters try to see Nuno’s plans evolve ahead of a challenging 2026/7 season.
George Earthy must be hoping for one last chance to impress having missed the Stevenage game through illness. West Ham are crying out for an energetic, forward running midfielder and if he gets a chance to impress expect him to chuck everything at catching Nuno’s eye: It might prove to be his West Ham swan song should his manager remain unimpressed.
last chance to impress Nuno for Kaelan Casey
The same applies to defender Kaelan Casey who has been a bit part player preseason. After spending time at Championship side Swansea last season, the centre back must surely have one foot out of the door if Nuno doesn’t decide to utilise him and it feels as if youngster Airidas Golambeckis has already usurped him as defender ‘most likely to succeed’.
One last tryout for Maxwell Cornet? The West Ham forward who nobody wants might get one last chance to show he’s worth a punt in the Championship. On paper, Cornet is tailor made for West Ham’s squad which needs pace aplenty. However he’s not managed to string more than a handful of games without going AWOL with muscle injuries, so you’d just feel his Hammers career is, like Fullkrug’s, done and dusted bar the shouting.
However, Nuno has shown, as with his apparent reconciliation with James Ward Prowse, that nothing is impossible.
FC Magdeburg v West Ham United: 1.30 kick off, streaming via whufc.com
Well at some stage do have to make that call on individuals, so they can get on with their careers. Hope Noble & academy figure out what is wrong with the academy that it does so well, but fails so badly at the final hurdle. Should have frank discussions with the manager to know what he thinks is lacking in the academy that players do not regularly get into the 1st team and thrive there.
For me a rare Noble or Rice is very poor return, given the lads play from 8 onwards in a perfect setup to become very good footballers. Especially at Championship level.
I’m not sure if we’re any different to any other academy. Looking at every Premier League team last season how many regular first team players came through that teams academy? We had Ben Johnson not too long ago, Scarles, Potts and Mayers now and again last season. Seems to be as much, if not more, than most.
Don’t know really, I just don’t feel the same – Potts never established himself and did not show enough ability to beat players, shoot from outside the box, regularly hit accurate long passes (now we’ve heard he is to be sold), Scarles also is falling short (for me) and could go on loan. Mayers might make it, he is quick has a strong character but hardly plays, Ben Johnson did well but never hit the heights.
I believe our academy should be right up there with the best, but the real test is players representing the club. For me something is not cutting it. Training since 8 years old for 10 years and cannot get a successful loan nor be a success in the 1st team. Maybe Golambeckis, Orford & eventually Fearon will have the all round ability & character needed – I think that really is possible and that would prove you right.
For the moment, I do think the evidence is there, that a review is needed. Perhaps the academy process is too insular, everyone patting themselves on their own backs. Perhaps the style of play of the academy, metronomic give-and-go, is proving successful (and I think is a great basis/structure), but individual skills & dealing with difficulty outside of that environment are not pushed far enough?