The behind closed doors game at Rush Green was notable for the return of Tomas Soucek after injury. Both the Czech and Joel Piroe were on the score sheet as West Ham ran out two goal winners against their opponents Wycombe Wanderers with the game time being more important than the scoreline.
International absentees gave rise to opportunity as nineteen year old Jethro Medine became the latest in a long line of teen talent called in to plug the gaps in Nuno’s senior squad. The difference with Nuno is that his mind is clearly open to offering youngsters a pathway into senior football.
Medine has been causing waves in academy football along with his brother Jepthah and there are high hopes behind the scenes that the duo could go on to become the first Hammers brothers to represent the club – in the same side – in several generations.
Jethro, at nineteen, playing for the seniors in a behind closed doors friendly may seem nothing extraordinary in these days when West Ham Championship match day squads regularly feature Josh Ajala, Lewis Orford, Fin Herrick, Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers and Ollie Scarles.
Youngsters – at last – have a pathway through to the senior squad
But it is a sign of how far the club has come since the days when Graham Potter refused to play the youngsters, of course partly through necessity this season with the lack of options in the squad whilst senior players like Solomon and Autsbö are away.
This Championship season the ‘relegation bonus’ is that there are opportunities galore for academy stars to make an impression on Nuno; players who would not be getting a whiff of senior football had the club have clung on to its Premier League status.
Already something of an ‘assist machine’ this season with 4 in 8 games, Jethro Medine by all accounts acquitted himself well: Remember the name. Seen in West Ham’s ‘training’ images this week, it will be intriguing to see if the young man features again in with the squad at Rush Green once the break is over and seniors return again.
He has stood out, but all comments have said this – everybody has same opinion, which is a great sign. So much natural talent.
If could get like minded players (quick thinking, good passers, sharp movement off the ball) such as Engels, Austo, Orford, Mukasa, Bowen, Ajala, Solomon… combining on a pitch to play U21 style football, could be playing an attractive, effective, quick passing style of football. A nice option for a manager to have – a plan C?
Plus obviously, ex-academy will fit right in which helps given our squad.
Just a theory, but U21s seem able to punch above their weight with this style, proving tough for more senior teams to beat and when a majority of U21s beat Soton in the Carabao cup, again it seemed to show that it can withstand pressure applied by a senior team and then overcome them – Soton could not handle in the end.
Quite impressive – round of applause for Mark Robson and sorry for repeating myself.