Hammers 1st team might be short on players who can make a difference, but the U-23's seem to have them a plenty as they brushed aside Exeter City 3-0 at St James'Park this evening. Harrison Ashby, Thierry Nevers and Alexander Okoflex all chipped in with goals.
We know it sounds like a broken record harping on about the youth players, and to his credit David Moyes DOES as much as he can to utilise them. It is a difficult situation given the pressure cooker environment of the Premier League, a player needs time on the pitch, but there is little or no time available.
Ironically if Hammers were just battling for mid table security, the club could risk using more youth players, but given the club's Champions League or at least Europa League aspirations that option is not tenable. However the quality of the youth players is SO good, that in itself it gives David Moyes another conundrum to solve. If players being touted by agents during the January window aren't as good as the youth players coming through, why buy them?
A short term throwing money at players with little or no sell on value is NOT the way forward for a club with the limited resources of West Ham, despite Daniel Kretinsky's additional funding the club still operates on a shoe string compared to the 'septic six'.
Moyes has plenty to ponder on during the next 12 days, he can take some comfort in the fact that there are some very decent players coming through, it is just a pity it is a little too soon for some of them. - ED
