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).

Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑14 May 2025, 15:01 Potts just isn't good enough IMHO.

You should have mentioned it before.

Potts just isn't good enough IMHO.

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑13 May 2025, 19:32 Bristol City were always a long way the 4th best of four
Earthy needs to go on holiday for a couple of weeks and then put some work in ahead of preseason starting in July 
Same with Potts

Agree, and with the amount of players left and rumoured to be leaving, I really hope there is a plan to use the youngsters.  It's the perfect opportunity. 

Much rather give them a run-in than an average ageing player.  

 

Bristol City were always a long way the 4th best of four
Earthy needs to go on holiday for a couple of weeks and then put some work in ahead of preseason starting in July 
Same with Potts

3-0 thumping to Sheffield United. Earthy binned off after an hour. A sad way to end his loan at Bristol City.

Earthy’s on. Replacement in the 40th minute due to injury.

Sounds like Manning doesn’t want promotion.

Earthy on the bench for Bristol City’s first leg at home to Sheffield Utd

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑05 May 2025, 06:14 The u21’s play away at Man U in the quarter final today
Scarles has been given a break I expect after getting a chasing by Salah but if the u21’s go out today you’d hope Orford, Casey, Scarles & maybe Ajala would be involved against Man U & the last two
What is the point of having Ings or Rodriguez on the bench?

Earthy won young player of the year for the Robins. He now has the play off semi final v Sheffield United to look forward to.

Patrick Kelly gets a League Two winners medal with Doncaster.

Mahamadou Kante came off the bench and played 30 minutes as Paris FC won promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time.

Potts finished the season with 37 appearances, 35 of which were starts, scored once and made four assists.

The u21’s play away at Man U in the quarter final today
Scarles has been given a break I expect after getting a chasing by Salah but if the u21’s go out today you’d hope Orford, Casey, Scarles & maybe Ajala would be involved against Man U & the last two
What is the point of having Ings or Rodriguez on the bench?

Where have all the Academy lads gone, completely AWOL and excluded in the last 2 matchday Squads now by Potter? I thought he was someone who believes in our youth players and yet whilst there's no pressure games left, he's totally discarded them and missed a perfect opportunity to bed some in and see how they go. At best now 1 or 2 might get a token run out but it's been a wasted opportunity to see what some could do with the pressure off.

And apart from Scarles, the last time he selected another youth player for the bench it was 12 games ago against Chelsea.



Believes in youth players my arse.

Potts played 90 minutes as Pompey secured a 1-0 win at home to Watford. I would think they are now mathematically safe with teams below them having to play each other, but can’t be bothered to check.

Bristol City stay in the playoff positions, but suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at relegation threatened Luton. Earthy came off the bench at 2-1. This really is a crazy league.

In League One, a bad day for Marshall. Huddersfield lost again and now cannot reach the playoffs. To cap it off, Marshall got sent off in injury time for violent conduct, so may have played his last game for them.

Better news for Patrick Kelly. He came off the bench to score in a win that puts Doncaster top of League Two with two games left.

Portsmouth score an injury time equaliser v Derby. It is too close at the bottom but that was a much needed point.

Bristol City in the playoffs.

Earthy equalises for Bristol City at QPR

Good to see Earthy starting games and Bristol City hitting form. It could really set him up for next season.

Yes good to see Earthy getting 90 minutes again and BC winning.
All but captain Knight from the front 7 were substituted.
Show's Earthy is very fit and love's the pressing game.
No coincidence that since he's been starting more BC have been the top form team in Championship.
Bodes well for us next year.

 

96th min winner for Bristol City v West Brom
In 5th place now, full game for G Earthy

Nice words from Leroy about George Earthy at Bristol Cityin their win this week when referring to the relentless pressing he thought helped wim the game against Watford:

“Max Bird and Earthy do that absolutely brilliantly; they run back towards the ball, and it allows you to win possession of the ball.“I thought that was big difference for City out of possession with Bird and Earthy.”

I think players should only do one loan season 
I know Potts has done two but he and Earthy need to come back in the summer and push to be in next seasons squad
Cant be any worse that Soler & Rodriguez 

See Earthy has been getting all the plaudits on Bristol City's forum. Played the full 90 and made crowd warming tackles at the end of the game. Many want him to stay next year. I feel he'll be crucial to them getting in the play off's. He seems to be getting better and better as the season goes on. For me he'll work well under Potter and being a fan will run himself into the ground. A better option than Soler or any of the midfield 3 that played yesterday,though he played as a 2 behind a striker. I feel he could easily fit into different systems next season.
Orford should have and would have benefitted from going out on loan in January,he's played great for the U21's but his game would have been better for being involved in a tougher faster environment.
 

Will he be off to Barnum Castle on his way down to check his eyesight out ?

That’s Daniel Cummings
Was reading an article that said Potter & Noble have promised him a role in the first team squad
There is also 18yo Josh Landers from Hibs who has scored a couple of goals already 
The Hibs sporting director is Malky Mackay. About time he did something positive for us

Hopefully one of them , Ajala & Marshall breaks through 

twoleftfeet wrote: ↑16 Mar 2025, 16:35 Marshall is going to be so important to us next season.