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The truth about Jeremy Ngakia

Jeremy Ngakia was never part of Chelsea’s Academy despite his Wikipedia page claiming he was.

Claret and Hugh can reveal that Ngakia did had a trial with Chelsea but was never on their books sources close to West Ham has confirmed.

It was also claimed he was born in Brockley when in fact he was born in Deptford.

The 19 year old right back joined the West Ham Academy as a fourteen year old.

He made 17 appearances for the Hammers U18s side during 2016/17 while still a schoolboy and signing his first scholarship papers that summer.

He broke through to the U23 setup in 2017/18, debuting against Spurs in February 2018. Ngakia has spent the first half of the 2018/19 campaign recovering from a foot injury sustained during an August friendly against Brentford , but returned for the 3-3 Premier League 2 Division 2 draw with Fulham. He made a total of eight appearances  for the U23’s before he got his Premier League debut against Liverpool.

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter

13 comments on “The truth about Jeremy Ngakia

  1. Highly impressive player and possesses the raw attributes to be a success at the club. For all Moyes faults, we have to credit him with firstly playing Rice in his first spell with the club, and now Ngakia. Appreciate it’s more so through necessity and lack of options, but he could have played Zaba and chose not to.

    As fans we’ve got to keep Ngakia’s confidence up for the rest of the season – he’s going to make mistakes, but let’s not get on top of him. Himself and Ben Johnson could be the long term answer to our right back situation. I also hope Moyes trusts him as a first team player, and doesn’t send him on loan next season. Loans can work, but if he can handle the Prem now, then I can see no benefit in a season long loan in the championship.

    • fully agree with your thoughts, mate. Well said.

    • If Jeremy’s impressive performances continue, and I sincerely believe they will, then the Manager’s first and only obstacle is whether or not he keeps His starting place when Fredericks is fit again ? Then onwards it’s a no brainer that We have the necessary resources at right back. IMO, We have a more serious problem with the left back position and indeed defensive midfield to partner Rice, We seriously need to drop Noble and replace him with Soucec (when fit) and the LB situation should be addressed as a priority in the summer

  2. A great prospect and it is wonderful to see our Academy lads break through – absolute credit to David Moyes for his willingness to trust young players and give them a chance. It was so good to see us playing with pace on Saturday. As an ‘old school’ supporter from the 60’s I have proudly watched our own come through plus young signings – happy days again.

  3. Good little player maybe a bit better at right back than Johnson as a defender but Johnson better going forward. Give him time and he will turn into a very good player in 2-3 years if he is kept in the first team/squad. Who’s cares if he came from Chelsea youth which he didn’t anyway. The future looks bright for us bringing in young players like rice, Johnson, Coventry, Kemp,Ngakia,Holland and also 3-4 more pushing for starts next season. Scully the centre forward also could stake a claim in the squad.

  4. it will depend if we manage to stay up, if we do, I would let Fredericks go, we know Zaba is going anyway,
    I would then sign a first choice RB and have Ngakia as cover.

    If the worst was to happen, I would keep Fredericks and let him fight it out with Ngakia.

  5. You have to be so careful when using Wikipedia. Never use it as a primary source.
    The kid done good, let’s hope he can progress to be a regular first team player.
    He played a blinder again Saturday. For a U23 recently promoted to the first team he didn’t appear to be phased at all. Let’s hope we can keep him and Ben Johnson up to speed, they could just what the Doctor ordered in the fight against the drop.

  6. I like him, BUT he really needs to practice THROW-INS! He seems to give ball away almost every time. It’s a basic skill but one he definitely needs help with.

    • It’s not just him, our entire team is terrible at throw-ins, have been for years. It’s a running joke in our section of the crowd that we will lose the ball within two touches from a throw-in – we’re not often wrong. The lad is doing well, I hope he gets a good run in the team.

      • Ngakia deserves a good run. Good positional sense and passes intelligently. He and Rice have been taught well. Maybe our players can practice throw-ins during VAR reviews….

    • Throw-ins are not just about the player throwing the ball in, the players nearby waiting for the throw-in have to play their part too and create space to accept the throw-in, all too often our players waiting for the throw-in a too static and don’t give the thrower any good options for a decent throw-in!!

  7. Agree our throw in always go to opposition? Why do the coaches not see what fans do every match?

    However, Ngakia’s throws take time to release because correctly he is awaiting team mates lack of movement? So instead he throws them as they should be down the line in expectation our opponents under pressure ofeten head them out again in a further advanced position for hammers.

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