The football almost seems to pass by un-noticed with the current speculation surrounding West Ham manager Graham Potter. But scratch the surface and some pretty decent work by the u21 side was broadcast to a SKY audience last night as the Hammers’ youngsters took on – and beat- third tier opposition in the EFL Trophy competition.
That’s boys against men. In case you weren’t sure – West Ham’s under 21 side – ahem – including one very sprightly looking ‘ringer’ in goal – took on MK Dons’ first team away from home and thrashed them 5-1.
Huge credit to the Hammers. And in particular, timely reminders from midfielders Preston Fearon and striker Callum Marshall who both grabbed two goals apiece: In case Graham Potter wasn’t aware of the goal scoring talent available to him, last night the Irons youngsters put on a show to remind the under siege Head Coach of what he is missing by leaving his younger talent out of the senior match day squad.
In addition, midfield ‘monster‘ Mohamadou Kanté put on something of a show himself, having a hand in West Ham’s first and second goals and looking every bit a senior Hammer in waiting. Quite how long he spends this season in the under 21-s especially with the senior side performing so badly – is anyone’s guess.
But Like Freddie Potts and George Earthy, Kanté looked impressive in midfield and the trio were, much like Fearon and Marshall, a sight for sore eyes for beleagured West Ham fans looking for something positive to cheer.
Last night thanks to SKY tv hopefully they found it. This performance and the audience it reached will only add to the clamour for more academy players to be in the match day squad. Simply the energy the young Hammers bring to their side would be a huge improvement on West Ham’s second half performance against Tottenham. Quite how long, I wonder, will Graham Potter have left at the club if he continues to ignore them and play the same old failed plodders.
Check out the assists by Earthy and Kanté along with special goals from Fearon and Marshall late in added time: The link is here:
West Ham United U21s: Fabiański, Golambeckis © (Colau 90+5), Mayers, Clayton, Battrum, Kanté, Potts, Earthy (Caliste 68), Fearon (Medine 90), Marshall
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Oyebade, Akpata, Sowunmi
If Mr Potter is indeed sitting in the last chance saloon downing his last shot of red eye.
What does he have to lose by replacing his overpaid massively under performing stars, with highly talented young players, who for reasons only he will know, have shamefully been left out of the first team picture. And there really is very little risk attached to selecting them, because if they don’t perform, you really couldn’t be any worse off could you? And you never know, they might just save you your job. Cmon you young Irons
Lesson to be learnt. Perhaps we should be playing teams like MK Dons every week. If we carry on as we are then that should only take another season after this one is over.
They will never see the pitch with Potter here. Ferguson was the canary in the mine for how he looks at youth and whether or not he will trust them.
If Potter don’t give some of our Academy lads a chance against Crystal Palace then he should be given the boot immediately there are some excellent lads that must be wondering what they have to do to replace JWP and a couple of the other plodders.
Maybe get Robson to take over the first team ?
get him in, as well as a director of football (Noble?) to work with hierarchy and on Jan recruitment with Macauley, so he concentrates purely on what he is familiar with: coaching and getting right experts alongside him. I did not know he was local – so he’d care too.
Anyway, maybe you were kidding and it is fanciful of course, but prefer this idea to usual journeymen managers being mentioned. it’d be an adventure sure, but he has a lot of experience too.👍
Pretty impressive scoreline considering we only had 10 players (according to the teamsheet above)!
I hope Potter has the sense to put some of these youngsters on the bench at the least
They could save his job???
Let’s have some pace and enthusiasm in the team to help Bowen,Fernandes,Douf,Paqatta,Summerville and shake up the midfield and forward line.Let’s get everyone hungry to win their place, not just take for granted their place is safe.
No one is indispensable
Let’s see a totally different line up for the Crystal Palace game, put some youth in
Potter has one foot in the grave slightest of pushes and he’s gone.
He’s portrayed his support for academy players but has only played Scarles.
Seems unlikely any will be used at Crystal Palace as most played yesterday (Tuesday).
If possible Potter needs to throw caution to the wind.
Ward Prowse/Rodriguez dropped or benched, Soucek already banned, goalkeeper changed, Bowen on right wing.
Bring in Kante/Potts/Marshall/(maybe) Earthy. All will bring pace and possibly goals.
Already lost potential of Mubarma.
Speculation on new manager is vague as Sullivan attitude is putting them off (wonder why?)
The noose is tightening.
Get the “monster ‘ on the.bench for starters – we’ve got enough fairies….
Ya well Potter’s decision making is in the boards mold. Wait until the last minute to change or when it’s too late, which ever way you want to look at it.
Also, these youngsters are the future for the club. Times have changed, with huge salaries, agent fees and the millions needed to buy good players along with PSR restrictions, the importance of the Academy to clubs has grown. The fact they never get a look in when they could outperform some of our 1st team players, or could be subbed on as part of a tactical switch (to implement a higher press for example) is criminal because some of them cannot do more – they have shined at the Academy and in the Championship and we have a team at the bottom of the league. Soon because of Potter & Lopetegui before him, they will have no choice but to leave and for peanuts.
Modern managers seem to lie as casually as politicians, in whom none of us have any faith either.
Any manager who never plays these talented youngsters, cannot see real talent and are playing with the future of the club. There will come a time with all the insincerity of these managers, that it will need to become a contractual obligation. Which is sad, because there is nothing better than home grown talent, they are bursting to get on the pitch to represent the club and all the time they are treated as if they were a liability instead of adding energy, skill & talent to a team, which is what they actually do.
Noble started when he was 17, so did Cottee. How old was Rice? I feel sorry for them having to deal with cynical, insincere 50+ year old so-called managers and their fakery.
There’s none so blind as those that don’t want to see
spot on
Thanks mate for putting this on here, we need some positivity and watching them live at the game yesterday was special and lifted my mood.
I was so impressed with them.
Good to watch some confident young players taking chances. Was that really the MKDons first team? They looked really poor, a bit like watching our first team currently but worse.