Sonny Perkins has shown just how good he is once again with a sensational showing for England U19s, that will leave a horrible taste in the mouth of Hammers fans!
Perkins left the club in the summer to join Leeds United, after he refused to sign a new contract at the London Stadium.
England’s youth side played Georgia on Saturday and won 6-0.
There’s nothing really unusual here but Perkins managed to score an absolutely sensational hat-trick.
He scored his first goal on nine minutes, netted a penalty 10 minutes later, and later scored his third in the 42nd minute.
Still just 18, Perkins only played three times for the Irons’ first-team.
He has yet to make his full Leeds debut but he has played five times for the U21s, scoring six goals, primarily from the right wing.
It seems as though the Irons have let a genuine diamond slip through their fingers here.
Yes Dave and a wake up to those who claim we lost nothing – these youngsters not yet 20 were a potential gold mine – Perkins, Alese, Longelo, and now we worry about Chester’s and Ashby, and all because David Moyes’ adversity to giving them a chance. He won’t even play his established signings.
If Perkins gets to Declans standards,then is the time to reflect on what could have been.Jeremy Ngakia was another who left and is not playing for their club.
A hatrick (well 2 and a pen that shouldn’t count in stats as far as i’m concerned )at u19 level, . There have been plenty before him that have shone in that sort of age group and never made it, so time will tell .
The lad did not want to play for us, so move on and good luck to him.
Scoring a hat trick at any level is an accomplishment, but against Georgia’s u20 hardly qualifies as star potential in my opinion. If he can play regularly at prem level then evaluate.
If Perkins does well for Leeds in the Premier league then it’s a first! In last few years I cannot think of any academy player who has left us managing to make a career in Premier league. Freddie Sears had a great debut for us, now playing for Colchester near bottom of league 2! Diangana is another one.
My worry is that our Academy seems to be producing players not of sufficient standard for top league. Even those going out on loan are not making much impression in lower leagues.
I don’t blame the youngsters for wanting to leave. It’s clear to them that Moyes is never going to give them a chance, so why would they stick around? I really believe that it’s time to say thanks for all you’ve done, but now it’s time to move on to Moyes. He has taken us as far as he is capable of. It’s quite telling that he’s never won anything, so why should that change in charge of West Ham?
I’m struggling to think of any youngsters we’ve let go in the last 15 years who have turned in to major players with other clubs. Mistakes will be made but you have to have confidence in the coaches to make a balanced judgment.