Yesterday’s Claret and Hugh’s article voiced concerns over the best way to nurture ‘fringe’ talent – or ‘players in limbo’ – like Alvarez, Magassa and Cornet , all of whom seem to fall off Nuno’s radar but represent millions of pounds of talent and clearly need developing, whether that be to play, simply sell on or, in one case, just pay off.
Matt’s opinion was to consider using the u21’s games as a stepping stone for match fitness, much as Michail Antonio used when he was finishing his broken femur rehab.
Cornet – another West Ham squad member that just needs to be shown the door – whatever the cost.
I seem to remember Tomas Soucek turning out for the u21’s to keep physical sharpness when he couldn’t get into the match day squad.
Simply ignoring players who the manager chooses not to play – as James Ward Prowse suggested in our article from the weekend – surely should not be an option. Several fans have made their own thoughts clear and here we feature one response with a different opinion:
Guest post [edited] by Peter WHU:
….NES is paid millions to look after the whole 1st team squad, which ought to include elite/advanced coaching for young players such as Magassa, Mayers, Golambeckis,… who are all still developing and are supposed to be learning how to be Championship and later PL players.
This very obviously is not being done so these players are in limbo, wondering what they need to do, given the silent treatment NES apparently doles out. Magassa is a talented player. If coach does not rate him then show him, teach him, as he is 23 and again, manager is supposed to look after his squad, not leave them dawdling on bench after bench.
He is supposed to ensure that everything possible is done so that he feels Magassa, Mayers, Golambeckis,… become ready for some 1st team action because they have been helped in getting up to speed.
U21s is to develop youngsters not a warm-up for failed 1st teamers. Mark Robson has an U21 team playing quick, one-touch, progressive football. The complete opposite to Alvarez who would be a stumbling block for the U21s, who then would start losing matches because of him.
Time to ship some of them out then, Peter? I’d agree with that.
Can’t get in the senior squad, unsuitable for the u21’s: I suspect West Ham will take exactly that view with Edson Alvarez who cannot get a game for love nor money. Time to wave him good bye, much as they did with Fullkrug. And Cornet? Just pay him off and have done with him.