West Ham Online

I don’t know about you, but I love it when a player makes it through the ranks to become a first team regular. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen often these days. This is a shame because giving young players a chance is an area where we could have an edge over the traditional top 6.

The current crop give me some cause for optimism, having won the FA Youth Cup and U18 League South a couple of seasons back. Maybe two or three can make it. No fewer than eight U21 players have gone out on a season loan to lower league clubs. Meanwhile, Casey, Scarles and Orford remain at the club. Hopefully, they will get a few minutes on the pitch, but I’m not holding my breath. Mubama had a few chances last season but mostly disappointed with his lack of technique. Inexplicably, he has now joined Man City to give Haaland competition.

So, to the eight who are currently out on loan. How are they getting on?

1. Callum Marshall - Huddersfield (League One). After a disappointing loan spell at West Brom last season, Marshall has dropped down to League One. So far, he has done quite well and already found the net. Yesterday, he played for 67 minutes before being replaced.

2. George Earthy - Bristol City (Championship). A lot of great things expected of Earthy. He didn’t make the squad yesterday. Is he injured?

3. Michael Forbes - Bristol Rovers (League One). Did not make the squad.

4. Freddie Potts - Portsmouth (Championship). Player of the season at Wycombe last year, but unused sub yesterday.

5. Krisztian Hegyi - Motherwell (Scottish Premier). Unused sub.

6. Patrick Kelly - Doncaster (League Two). Came on in the 78th minute.

7. Levi Laing - Cheltenham (League Two). Unused sub.

8. Gideon Kodua - Wycombe (League One). Came on in the 88th minute.

I make that 81 minutes of football between 8 players yesterday. Early days but a bit worrying. I’ll keep this updated throughout the season (if I can be bothered).

The Pompey fans love him, the kid is doing brilliantly 

Iron Duke" wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:43 3-1 to Portsmouth as they climb away from the relegation places. Another assist for Potts.

Earthy came on after 63 minutes with Bristol City 2-1 down. They finished 2-2. I have no idea if he played well or not.

3-1 to Portsmouth as they climb away from the relegation places. Another assist for Potts.

Earthy came on after 63 minutes with Bristol City 2-1 down. They finished 2-2. I have no idea if he played well or not.

Superb first half from Potts, he looks like the real deal. 

Oops big mistake by Potts and Stoke score.

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑18 Jan 2025, 13:30

twoleftfeet wrote: ↑18 Jan 2025, 13:29 Marshall benched and Huddersfield 2 down.

Bring him on.

Benched for a reason mate.

If we aren’t bringing Earthy back I’d recall him & send him out to another team that will use him
Have said I’d bring Potts back … after shifting Rodriquez 

A win for a Potts inspired Portsmouth.

Earthy didn’t get on the pitch. Manning really is a cսnt.

Marshall came on in the second half. Huddersfield had already clawed the game back to 2-2 and that is how it stayed.

Kelly not in the squad for Doncaster. Perhaps injured.

An assist for Potts. Suck on that, Ferret.

Latte Lath scored for Boro. He is the sort of player we should be going for. Available at only £16m, only just turned 26, and actually scores goals.

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑18 Jan 2025, 13:30

twoleftfeet wrote: ↑18 Jan 2025, 13:29 Marshall benched and Huddersfield 2 down.

Bring him on.

Benched for a reason mate.

twoleftfeet wrote: ↑18 Jan 2025, 13:29 Marshall benched and Huddersfield 2 down.

Bring him on.

Benched for a reason mate.

Marshall benched and Huddersfield 2 down.

Bring him on.

Full 90 minutes from Potts, clearly the manager realised that the 3-0 defeat wasn’t down to him.

Great player, going to be huge for us.

Was he HAULED off?

Just the 3-0 in the end at Ewood.

Shocker.

Oh dear, Potts at fault as Blackburn go 1 up.

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑15 Jan 2025, 20:27 Watching the Blackburn/Pompey game and Potts is sadly way off the pace. 

Already booked, so expect him to be HAULED OFF again.

Watching the Blackburn/Pompey game and Potts is sadly way off the pace. 

Already booked, so expect him to be HAULED OFF again.

Nice work Feet.

Putting a “fishing” warning on certain posts is helpful just to ensure we dont waste too much time before we realise its a wind up

But credit to Ladysmith and co for their stamina and dedication to relentlessly attempt winding people up.  The need for attention and power is apparently insatiable for some  

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑12 Jan 2025, 19:58 Yeah I was watching the game, and Kodua was superb.

He ran rings around Potts, which prompted the Pompey manager to haul him off at HT.

Yeah I was watching the game, and Kodua was superb.

He ran rings around Potts, which prompted the Pompey manager to haul him off at HT.

London World

West Ham loan star 'brilliant' in Portsmouth giant-killing.

Graham Potter could have a future star on his hands as Gideon Kodua impresses at Wycombe Wanderers.

West Ham star Gideon Kodua turned heads with his role in an FA Cup underdog victory for League One side Wycombe Wanderers on Friday evening as the Chairboys beat Championship opposition Portsmouth 2-0.

The 20-year-old is on loan at Adams Park this season, having returned to the side following a successful stint over the back end of the 2023/24 campaign. Wycombe sit second in the League One table, eyeing promotion, and look to be putting together a little cup run too.

After the victory over Pompey, Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield singled out Hammers talent Kodua for his performance. The winger came through the West Ham youth academy but is yet to make a first team appearance, working with the under-18s and under-21s.
West Ham loan star hailed as ‘great character’

A natural right winger, Kodua was moved to right-back against Portsmouth and performed that role with aplomb. Bloomfield said: “Yes, I love Gids, I think he is brilliant.

“He is just a great character; always lively, always smiling, always winding someone up. We could have put him right-back on Tuesday evening, decided to go, change his shape. Tonight he had a little slip early on and it could have put him off, but he is just brilliant.

“He just does everything you ask, he just gets on with his game, does the possibly best he can and then he had an imprint at the top end of the pitch as well from right-back, which is just fantastic.”

Kodua has largely been used as a substitute during Wycombe's impressive League One campaign so far but is taking his chances where possible. The player scored against York City in the FA Cup first round this season and was also on target against Burton Albion in his only start of the league season.

It’s almost as if Mad Ferret and Ladysmith are the same people.

Ladysmith wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 12:22 Folk on here have a real problem with the truthful fact that Potts is not and never will be god enough for the premier league.

Ladysmith wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 12:22 Folk on here have a real problem with the truthful fact that Potts is not and never will be god enough for the premier league.