News that Dan Chesters has joined Salford from West Ham will come as a bit of a blow to those who are hoping that Hammers excellent youth players might be given a chance to step up to the plate under the club's new regime, however all is not lost as two 'mature' youth players have been offered new 'realistic' deals that may tempt them to stay at the club when it seemed that they were both off to pastures new!
Divin Mubama and Ben Johnson have both been offered new no-nonsense deals since the arrival of Julen Lopetigui and it is hoped that they will BOTH accept the deals put on the table. Their signings would help Hammers homegrown quota and also save the club an awful lot of money in the process.
If Lopetigui and Tim Steidten can repair the 'damage' caused by David Moyes' eclectic usage of these young players talent then it will be a win win situation for all parties concerned because it is quite frankly ludicrous to see talent nurtured and financed by the club for so many years just evaporate into the ether!
Both players are not short of suitors, but the opportunity of a fresh start under a head coach who believes in them just sway the deals on offer. It is not as if the club doesn't desperately need to 'bump up' the number of squad players while bringing the average age of the squad down is it?
There are several other 'gems' just champing at the bit to be given a fair crack of the whip and their promotion to the main squad could be a breath of fresh air as they mix with the senior players who have been round the block and back!
It is only by blending experience and fresh talent that Hammers will be able to afford the total rebuild of the ageing and imbalanced squad left by David Moyes. - Ed
Comments
I would not be too bothered
I would not be too bothered if Johnson is sold or released. For me he is not Premier League standard. Has more off games than on. As for Mubama I've not been impressed with what I've seen in the first team. Though happy to take others words if they know better.
One thing for sure. We need to get a few over the line soon rather being held to ransom later.
Would Pep swap Grealish for Paqueta?
Enfield speaks for me
Re Mubama and Johnson.
AS for Chesters. Salford? Really? Is that the best the "cream" of our Academy has reached? Not a Championship club or League One?
I must say that the Acadamy
I must say that the Acadamy hasnt been the same since Tony Carr left.When he was there we were churning out class,and painfully we had to watch them all leave and acheive else where.
I don't think Grealish will
I don't think Grealish will be going anywhere. Image rights alone means unless he goes abroad. Nobody could afford him. He will be integral for city next season. As for pacqueta, we could not give him away at present. Johnson just needs some confidence, there is a player in there for sure. Unfortunately Moyes has sucked the life out of him. Not so sure on Mubama though?
Yes Nev i agree,ludicrous not
Yes Nev i agree,ludicrous not to bring the youngsters through,cannot see the sense in it.
moyes and young talent.
I know moyes has moved on now but he has left the club with calactural damage and aging squad.I was looking at players that have been wasted and have lost quite a considerable amount of money,and also not trying to use some of the young talent i know a few have left over the last few years and must agree they haven't done much since leaving.Even though moyes did win us silverware i think he has left us worse off financially.Hugill,Zouma,Ings,cornet,Downes,Aguerd,vlasic,scamacca,haller,benrahma,kehrer,on loan kral,and yes philips a vast amount wasted losing money that's is why steinden and Lopi have to get this window right because moyes has given Lopi a real challenge here but for some reason i feel he and steinden will pull something off because if steinden doesn't come up with the goods he will be under the microscope with the media they have already started with him.
Playing the youngsters
It seems to me that with young players who reach 18 a Club can identify the best relatively quickly as well as those that won’t make it. It’s those on the bubble that I think need to be given minutes to find themselves. But the fear of relegation in modern football is so strong that managers like Moyes won’t risk their job on some kid effing up. It’s really only clubs like Liverpool and City et al who can risk it as they have top tier youngsters from around the world.
But I think it’s incumbent on the club to put to use the talent they have nurtured. In a well-balanced, well coached team, one or two inexperienced but talented players should not be a problem.
The Academy
I really feel that lopi will use some of the youth this season more so than what moyes ever done.We have seen over the last 2 seasons a few academy players leaving for not getting any chances but in reality none of them really have blossomed.That in itself questions is our academy really that good as they say because if lopi doesn't use any academy players this season then what is the whole point of having a academy because under Carr we were a conveyor belt for top players i know in reality they were sold on but at least we were producing special talent.