‘Man of The Match Ollie Scarles”. Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it. Thoroughly deserved, too. For one making his starting debut yesterday, Scarles at (just) 19 looked combative, composed and well worth his starting spot. Now Potter has options without having to take Wan-Bissaka way from the right side and ‘risk’ the jaded Vlad Coufal. Injuries permitting! The irony is that Lopetegui could have called on Ollie Scarles at any stage but kept his blinkered vision focussed solely on the so-called senior players that weren’t delivering, even using Mavropanos instead of Coufal as an emergency right back against Brentford.
In one match Graham Potter blew away the total time on the pitch for young, club-trained players amassed by Lopetegui in 6 months.(Which was zero minutes, in case you forgot).
Now under Graham Potter’s gaze, West Ham fans can look forward to the smooth transition into first team football of other youngsters – those that haven’t been banished away by Lopetegui on loan for the season.
Mark Noble famously stated as Sporting Director he wanted to ensure a pathway into first team football for his academy players – he must be delighted just now and excited for the future under West Ham’s new head coach. Time for a quiet celebration: The ‘blocked pathway’ described succinctly by Roshane Thomas in the athletic.com just six weeks ago would seem officially ‘unblocked’.
Kaelan Casey – Next youngster in line?
Yesterday Martin Allen told westhamzone.com that Graham Potter had ‘fast tracked four youngsters‘ into first team training. Which can only be a good thing: One was goalkeeper Finlay Herrick, if memory serves me right from the ‘inside Rush Green’ video, and presumably Lewis Orford and Kaelan Casey who are still with the main squad. Over the coming days Graham Potter will be better able to assess the talent on offer.
With the injury to Mavropanos, If it is deemed a concussion then he’ll be missing for twenty-one days according to Premier League rules. Very likely Kaelan Casey will be the next youngster ‘upgraded’ to the first team shortly.
“Fast tracked” they’ve been training with the first team and sat in the bench since Moyes was in charge.
One other point on Scarles. He looks as though he takes a mean dead ball. His corners and free kick into the box looked very dangerous
Absolutely great to see Ollie Scarles perform so well. Even when Villa’s Bailey was giving the youngster stick, pushing and verbals off the ball.
Just 19. We have players at 21 & 22 who have been too young and inexperienced to get a game in the first team. Experience only comes with exposure and inclusion. Amazing that Jude Bellingham is just 21. Wayne Rooney, a sensation in the Everton team at 16. These boys and boys like them would have been wasted if they had come through the Academy of Football. Let’s hope that the old approach is now changed. Not wholesale youth just for the sake of it, but opportunities nevertheless.
We should have plenty of chances to grow our team this season as we are going to finish mid-table without breaking sweat and do not have any added pressures by way of European leagues or any cup competitions.
Also, if Fullkrug is going to have problems with hamstring injuries, maybe worthwhile copying Antonio’s diet and exercise regime which solved his hamstring injury problems a few years ago. Michail used to be very injury prone until he discovered how he could look after himself better.
COYI
Poor old Fullkrug has listened to people saying he’s too slow for premier league and was sprinting as fast as he could when he did his hamstring. Big man running that fast in icy conditions is a recipe for disaster.
Oh yes academy players .. Potts already taking notice … great to see the work Allan and Noble have been putting in is already being noticed…
Coufal is to slow unfortunately .. great warrior but it’s his time .. Mavraparnos isn’t a premiership player … obvious now … So keep pushing forward … WHU already looking better then a week ago ago ⚒️⚒️⚒️
Now West Ham’s season is virtually over, things could go one of two ways. Either youngsters can be blended in and some sort of team spirit can be built, or the senior players who were brought in during the summer may down tools and look to move on.
This will be a massive test of Potters coaching and motivational skills between now and the end of the season.
This has been badly needed for so long, even David Moyse was not good at this. Look with injuries, and the lack of money then it now seems the opportunities will come, but remember mistakes will be made by the young players as they learn and the they must get support just as Olly did last night. Remember this also keeps the senior players on their toes, not wanting to loose their place in the team!
Last night proved we don’t need Rashford or Chilwell as our best 2 players were Scarles & Summerville.
Summerville helps out massively defensively and tracks back unlike Rashford. Scarles has youth, pace, strength and looked solid.
Summerville and Scarles don’t deserve to have their places taken by overrated and overpaid players looking to reignite their careers.
From what I seen, that boys ready for the Premier League. Maybe not as the go to starter just yet (don’t think it wi be long) but certainly as in cups and as the first in line off the bench. Really, really impressed with what I seen at Villa from him and we’ve seen just the start of this lad. Get around him. Warmed my heart on the broadcast to hear our away supporters signing about gown ‘Ollie Scarrrrrrrles! He’s one of our own!’ Onwards and upwards me ‘ammers
Cups? If only…………
Casey and Scarles have both been used as subs so that’s more minutes than zero.
Also concussion is 10 days missing but good try Martin.