West Ham U23s / Premier League 2

[steveyrockstar]

I know we've got our "Kids are alright" thread but I figured the U23s season needed its own dedicated, more obvious thread given how well their season is going.

After beating Blackburn Rovers yesterday 1-0, our U23s are now top of the Premier League 2 table after 13 matches with a record of W9 D1 L3. Second-placed Arsenal we actually beat 6-1 at the start of the season.

For the first time in what seems like an absolute age, we seem to have a lot of very promising youngsters threatening to break through. I know it's always near-impossible to predict who'll make it at that age, but thus far the likes of Sonny Perkins, Dan Chesters, Harrison Ashby, Alese and Jamal Baptiste all seem to be very highly rated and already being involved with the first-team.

Anyone else been following it closely? And anyone else got any thoughts on who might break through? I often find it's the unexpected that make the leap. Rice and Ben Johnson both appeared from nowhere, and so has Perkins really.

https://www.flashscore.co.uk/football/e ... standings/

[Ozza]

How’s the French kid we got from Chelsea doing?

[steveyrockstar]

How’s the French kid we got from Chelsea doing?

No idea, there's not been much noise/publicity around him like a few of the others. I think he may have been injured for a short while but seems to be starting regularly for them now.

[only1post]

Alese scored a great goal against Swansea yesterday. (worth a visit to whufc.com)

Hope with our cb issues he gets a start on Thursday.

[PrinceHisback]

Yes, Alese should have a go. Mature, a leader, strong for his age. Baptiste has had more attention, as he is younger and very talented too, but from the games I’ve seen on stream, around four this season, Alese has always impressed.

[westlondonhammer]

Alese and Baptiste have a great opportunity over the coming weeks to get a go and put down a marker that they're ready

It's times like these that kids sometimes need to show what they can do it.

[Sir_Trevor]

I see that the u23s beat Palace 4-2 away this afternoon in PL2. Oko-Flex hat-trick (2 pens)..

All with no Alese, Baptiste or Perkins.

[Bubbles Fortuna]

I see that the u23s beat Palace 4-2 away this afternoon in PL2. Oko-Flex hat-trick (2 pens)..

All with no Alese, Baptiste or Perkins.

No Ashby or Longelo either.

[honkytonk]

Chesters also only played 50 mins

Nevers missing again which is a shame

[Georgee Paris]

Got to imagine some of those missing will feature on Thursday

[steveyrockstar]

Has our club sorted out our Academy behind the scenes in a really massive way? 4pts clear at the top of the league with multiple youngsters knocking on the first-team door, and a few picking up England youth caps again. It wasn't long ago when Gold said something on twitter, pretty much along the lines of the academy being a waste of time.

[hammerman11]

We need the academy more than ever now

Alese hopefully will be ready fir these next few weeks

[Bubbles Fortuna]

It's interesting looking back at players who have had a decent spell as first team players with us and how that came about. Is loaning players out at all helpful?

Noble - Loaned out, returned and broke into the first team.

Tomkins - loaned out, returned and given a chance in the team through injury

Collison - No Loan, straight into the first team when deemed ready.

Stanislas - Loaned out, returned and eventually broke into the team somewhat.

Sears - lots of loan spells after a fantastic first team debut

Rice - No Loans, too good for that.

Johnson - No loans, straight in after an injury crisis away to Man City.

Perkins, Ashby, Longelo, Baptiste, Perkins and Chesters have not been loaned out.

Holland, Alese, Trott, Anang and Alves have all been loaned out, only Holland and Trott seem to be having decent spells this season.

Are players benefiting from loan spells? Of late it doesn't seem to be helping us produce first team players.

[Ozza]

Bubbs it’s an interesting point, im wondering if the standard has improved by using the premier league format that clubs are bridging the gap?

[funky chicken]

I personally think we are over thinking it too much. The reason the likes of Rice, Johnson, Tomkins, Noble, Collison etc. made it was because they were simply good enough. They all played so well for the u18s-u23s they made it impossible for the first team managers to ignore. And when given the chance they took it.

You of course have to be good players to make it to the top. But you also need to work extremely hard to get there. And all those players I mentioned did just that.

[LeonRivers]

Collison - No Loan, straight into the first team when deemed ready.

His debut was 100% forced through injury. IIRC, we had 13 senior players out injured at the time.

[Bubbles Fortuna]

His debut was 100% forced through injury. IIRC, we had 13 senior players out injured at the time.

Oh wow.

So it seems our most recent youth breakthroughs have been through injury? Noble, Tomkins, Collison, Rice, Johnson.

I'm now expecting Alese or Baptiste to breakthrough.

[LeonRivers]

Again, IIRC he was about to be sold to Peterborough!

[e-20]

Has our club sorted out our Academy behind the scenes in a really massive way? 4pts clear at the top of the league with multiple youngsters knocking on the first-team door, and a few picking up England youth caps again. It wasn't long ago when Gold said something on twitter, pretty much along the lines of the academy being a waste of time.

Yeah about 5 years ago he also said we had the best youth players he had ever seen… don’t think any got more than an odd brief appearance at best. He’s worse than Lawro in his predictions.

[norse]

Carlton Cole works in the Academy now.