West Ham’s u21 side last night travelled to Sunderland for a tough away fixture against the Black Cats, with teenager Mohamadou Kanté promoted to the starting line up for the first time, after a couple of cameo appearances since his arrival back from loan to Paris FC this summer.
On occasion the young midfielder has been spotted training with the senior squad at Rush Green and is clearly highly rated despite his relative youth.
Signed as ‘the tenth man’ – the oft-forgotten tenth signing of the Stediten – Lopetegui – Sullivan £140 million splurge of 2024, Mohamadou Kanté was bought from Paris and immediately loaned back to the French second division side for the whole of last season. Little was heard of him but he has burst on to the scene this season- tonight his second goal for the u21’s was created in typically barnstorming style, winning back possession mid-half and then running on to a return pass and fitting in a left footed shot.
The Hammers number 8 has a certain mix of power and gawkiness that reminds me a little of Chekiyou Kouyate, having both the height and strength but a lack of refinement which hopefully will develop during his season at Rush Green under the watchful eye of Hammers u21 coach Mark Robson. Graham Potter has already identified something in the teenager, as reported by whufc.com:
“He’s had some pre-season time with us. He’s been doing quite well with the Under-21s. I think it’s a bit early to put him in the bracket of Patrick Vieira! He’s got a bit of work to do. [But] he is a young player and there is potential.”
Kanté spotted training with the senior squad
If he carries on firing in goals, we’ll likely be hearing a lot more about the young midfielder. Final score, incidentally, at full time was Sunderland 2, West Ham 4.
Potential in abundance. Raw talent just waiting to be showcased. The last thing this guy needs is refinement by our coaches. That will surely knock out all of the good things about Kante. It was ever thus, though. Dampened dreams.
Really hope that he is allowed to progress with understanding and help and not encouraged to become the next Matthew Upson.
He wasn’t the stand out,lost a few tackles and is very gangly. Fearon was good but the one who caught my I was Myers,great pace and intelligent passing for center back.
Room for many of them, David. We don’t have to do one at a time. lots of positions in a football team and only one ball in play at any one time.
Spot on, David. I agree with your views, as I watched the game also.
Have been looking forward to seeing thiis lad develop.Will have a great championship squad the way we are going
Potter will give youngsters a chance, we’ve just bought two 21 year old midfielders! Do you think they’ll be sitting on the bench?
He wins the ball well, like Magassa, if we put the three of them in central midfield we would certainly see a lot more tackles, pass accuracy could improve but sees progressive passes and passes inside their fullbacks which is a breath of fresh air with the safe passing we have seen from the current first team. Going to be interesting with Paqueta gone who is the number 10 now, will they hold onto Rodriguez or push Fernandes into that position or I suppose if Timber falls into the squad it’s a role he can play, though sadly I suspect it’s more likely to be JWP a role he is not suited too, or we could go 442 and solve the problem by having the number 10 as a player like Wilson
Kante is a prospect with potential, that’s it.
This is in the same vein as the articles back in the day comparing Reece Oxford to Rio Ferdinand.
He’s a prospect, allow him time to develop and get accustomed to the pace of the game over here, before we start putting it out there that we have a Patrick Viera 2.0 on our hands.
He best ask for a transfer or loan as he won’t get first team football at West Ham. For all his words Potter doesn’t give youngsters the opportunity. The. Game against Wolves was a prime time to give Potts Scarles and Marshall opportunities but he didn’t. Indeed he chose a team with no pace and then brought on two 32+ year olds when the game was too late to save.
We have a host of youngster who could be given a chance but it not going to happen.
Hopefully if he keeps doing well for the under21s he will be promoted to the 1st bench like other teams do or maybe not at west ham