There was a buzz around the club and its fan base after August’s Carabao Cup victory against Southampton shone a light on West Ham’s crop of young talent. Seeing the likes of Josh Ajala, Lewis Orford and co shine, together with the 4-1 scoreline, fans and the coaching team alike suddenly experienced a little of the feel good factor that had been missing early season, and which has developed into a six game unbeaten run across all competitions.
As the club web site put it that night, “Joshua Ajala took the headlines with two goals, Lewis Orford had two assists, goalkeeper Finlay Herrick made important saves, Airidas Golambeckis and Ezra Mayers were solid and Divine Mukasa ran the midfield.”
However, for another young West Ham player who started that night- but unlike his colleagues- didn’t receive recognition, there’s been little to celebrate as he has virtually vanished without trace since, leading to consternation in his home country that his West Ham career has hit the buffers.
Keiber Lamadrid, last season’s surprise loanee who joined West Ham permanently in the summer for a modest £1m transfer fee, has failed to force his way into Nuno’s reckoning since being subbed off after an hour in that Carabao Cup win over the Saints.
Lamadrid – consternation over his career
This has caused consternation in his native homeland, with Venezuelan journalist Richard Mendez sounding the alarm bells over one of his countries’ bright young prospects:
Speaking to a TV audience on 4-3-3 Television, Venezuelan reporter Mendez claimed, in his video entitled:
“Everyone should be concerned about the situation [regarding] Keiber…We were saying that it was good that the club who signed him were relegated, that it would have been better if [Crysencio] Summerville left.
Summerville left, and Keiber has not been able to secure the position!”
One of several sub-plots in the team selection story tonight, if Lamadrid doesn’t make it onto the pitch for what is a low-priority fixture then there’s the very real danger of his Hammers career grinding to a halt.
If he can’t do it in the Cup games, he’ll not be making it into Nuno’s plans for the Championship – unless some dreadful injury crisis hits West Ham’s trio of wide players.
He’s injured. Went for a scan today.
I still not sure why we signed him. Clearly not good enough (still can’t believe we wrangled a work permit). Just because we were able to do it for £1m doesn’t make a poor player a good gamble. Expect to see us quietly release him next summer and join a long list of young players we’ve paid peanuts for who fail to develop into worthwhile players.
Think Lamadrid brings with him a different style of play and this is useful in the make up of a team & manner in which team plays. Tends to want to spin and beat the nearest defender progressing forward with ball at his feet. I like how he plays and I think he is good for the team and he’ll improve (if coaches work with him – same old).
Going to be hard for a number of players to get into the squad because of competition for places, style of play.
Separate comment: Don’t see this as a low-priority fixture (probably manager does) for several reasons, but hey-ho, each to his own. If can’t challenge for top of the league and participate meaningfully in a cup with such a strong squad, then you’re really not up to much.
Youngsters against Soton took manager by surprise, just my take on it. NES suddenly saw there was something to play for after all and threw on experienced players to secure the result. Perhaps he has realised there is more depth to his squad than he originally thought (Golambeckis for example) and that ex-academy could be trusted to play with a few experienced heads around them.
Rest Bowen as Dagenham Dave says, but add a few key players, such as Piroe to bring a bit of calm and purpose up front. A lot of attacking play can pass through him – it suits his game. Same way a Sheringham would be able to do? Anyway, see what the manager does.
In fact after Soton, to be fair to him, NES will know there is something to play for against Fulham. Be interesting to see what he comes up with.
COYI
Play him on the right tonight which apparently is his favoured position and give Bowen a rest.
In fact play an entire youth team this evening and save our legs for Saturday