At the end of the August window, several West Ham players were summarily dispatched out on loan as being surplus to Julen Lopetegui’s requirements in a first team that turned out to be woefully short of pace in midfield; The loaning out of two of West Ham’s young success stories always puzzled hundreds of our readers from the comments made at the time and ever since.
George Earthy has had a mixed season – he has spent the 24-5 season at Bristol City and has failed to hold down a starting place and has in fact found himself playing most often as a right wing – back – Vlad Coufal replacement in the making, methinks. Of the young hammer, Bristol City manager Liam Manning says in the Bristol Post :”He’s terrific to work with,” Manning said. “He’s someone who’s going to have a bright future in the game and he’s just got to keep his head down, and keep working, which he does every single day. He pesters people to do extras constantly. You saw it at the weekend, we’ve played him eight, we’ve played him wing-back and we’ve played him higher. He’s just a really intelligent footballer.”
Despite being the subject of considerable popularity in his season long loan, West Ham’s promising midfielder Freddie Potts has no desire to stay at Portsmouth and is, if anything, more eager than ever tho get back to East London. There’s a great video on whufc entitled ‘life on loan’ which details Potts’ year at Fratton Park.
Whilst he admits to have learned masses from his season in the Championship, what is clear from Potts is his burning desire to get back to Stratford:”I want to be a West Ham player. I want to start in the West Ham first team – that’s always been the dream of mine. However it happens that’s the mission I want to try and achieve.’
Wheres I bet Potts wasn’t half so eager to get back to London before the arrival of Hammers’ head coach, with the shambles of the first half of the season, what is clear now is that the summer cannot come fast enough: There’s a starting spot in the midfield with his name on it.
Quite right Martin. These ‘boys’ can’t all be fielded in our first team every week. If they were, we would need to change our name to 80s 90s Crewe Alexandra and play in the third tier whilst developing young talent.
These youngsters need to gain experience by playing competitive football week in and week out. They won’t get that on the bench at London Stadium. Loans are an integral part of growing most footballers.
There will come a time when they will competently play their part in our first team.
Patience is a virtue and something we need in spades to ensure a bright future for The West Ham Way and The Academy of Football.
COYI
It’s not necessarily a bad thing for George to play in/learn from, working in different roles and positions?
As he gains an understanding of what is required to win his 1-on-1s, positioning and how/when to cover/hold/close etc. it will hopefully develop into a more rounded and consistent player.
Yeah Earthy isn’t a future Coufal replacement, was played there because of injuries.