I am not pretending to have seen West Ham’s 16-year-old Chinaza Nwosu play football, nor do I claim to know too much about him.
Everything I have heard about this talented youngster is third-party information, but from what I can gather, he’s an incredibly exciting prospect. Not just at West Ham, where he plays for teams well above his age group, but also for England, where he is one of the country’s most highly regarded talents.
In many respects, I don’t need to know much more than that because the fact that West Ham has had to fend off almost every big club in the country for his signature tells its own story.
What I am particularly pleased about is the news that both Mark Noble and Tim Steidten were instrumental in convincing Nwosu to remain at West Ham. Only last summer, the Hammers lost Amara Nallo to Liverpool, which was a blow to the academy that held the youngster in such high regard.
But what a difference a year makes because West Ham now has a figurehead and director of football who is able to confidently guarantee a pathway through the age groups, because he is creating that path himself. Only last week, it was revealed that Steidten had been given a complete mandate to overhaul and run all football operations at West Ham, including the Academy.
A stronger bond has been created between the head coach, sporting director [Noble], and director of football, with all three main protagonists pulling in the same direction to the benefit of West Ham.
Chinaza Nwosu may or may not go on to be an outstanding footballer at the professional level, but the fact that West Ham are now holding on to the brightest young players in the country is incredibly promising.
Gonzo,
“But what a difference a year makes”
More like 1 month! I truly believe that Moyes WAS the reason that so many of our academy prospects left over the last 3 years because they knew they had No Chance of realistically breaking into the first team.
Deathblow,
“to letting the Academy be run by idiots”
The only Idiot I believe who was involved with the Academy was again Moyes, too stubborn and set in his ways to allow the players who were banging on the door of the first team locker room to be let in and allowed to show their worth.
In the words of Buzz “To infinity and beyond”
COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
We shall see very soon how well that pathway exists, when our first team squad is announced. At least George Earthy should be included, and also possibly Freddy Potts and Louis Orford. More likely is that some will go out on loan, like Casey, Marshal, Kodua and Kelly.
They all need to be tied down to new contracts so we don’t lose any of them.
Just agreeing with the above comments. The over, over, over cautious approach of the last administration was appalling and we need to start giving these kids a chance rather than just farming them out to Notts county for two years and then they just disappear or warm the bench on a match day. Just think what United did years ago with their youngsters. It’s one of these things where we need to see it actually happen, but it’s so positive to hear.
Totally agree, I’m sure most of us are desperate for our own youngsters to do well. I would much rather see our youths playing than some journeyman (like ings) coming along for a big pay day. Plenty of other teams large and small have given opportunities to youngsters over the past few years and we need to do the same
I feel way more positive about us than I have done for years COYI
PS thoroughly enjoyed watching our ladies beat gunners last season with my daughter
Even if these youth players don’t make it into the big time the fact that they may be given a chance in the first team from the bench should showcase their talents and perhaps if they don’t get to the levels of PL football will encourage them to stay with the club and sign new contracts, ultimately providing a decent sell on value to reinvest in the team.
If all this is true, and I don’t doubt you, this is what I’ve been crying out for.
As much as I despise our owner and his dreadful Dame, he seems to have finally realized that what West Ham love more than anything is ‘one of their own’, and after years of selling our very best, to letting the Academy be run by idiots, over the last couple of years things are starting to change.
Please God let’s hope it lasts. No, very few really make it, but most top players have been part of somebody’s youth system, so why can’t it be ours?
So Proud of our kids when I went to see them win the FA Youth Cup, one of the best nights of my long time being a supporter of West Ham. Another was seeing our previous win at Upton Park in the 90s, sitting in the upper tier of the Bobby Moore stand with my mate who I still go to football with.
Hope you’ve not been too badly affected by my positive comment! I love West Ham and know I’m guilty of going way over the top in most comments. They have sent me crazy over the years.
Positivity – I’m in shock. Can it last, I wonder?
This news can only be good for the club otherwise having an academy is rather pointless….yes 99% will not make it at the elite level but an occassional diamond can be found and that makes it worth it….but so refreshing it seems to have all areas of the club pulling in the same direction for once
Sensible or not, we have to start using youth talent in senior cup games this season.
We need to be able to prove that we give these talents a chance. Not everyone (hardly anyone in fact) will be a Mainoo or a Yamal, but the best talent we have will not stay if they don’t see the door is open.