Tony Cottee baffled by Julen Lopetegui decision at West Ham United
Tony Cottee has slammed the decision not to bring any West Ham academy graduates through to the first team.
Chadwell Heath has birthed some of the most gifted Premier League footballers, ranging from the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry to Mark Noble and Declan Rice.
However, few of the club’s academy stars have been able to assert themselves in the first team over the past few seasons, with George Earthy and Freddie Potts being sent out on loan this summer.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Monday (21 October, 8:57am), Cottee said: “Last year, West Ham won the Europa Conference League and the FA Youth Cup. There’s not one of those Youth Cup winners in the squad. 20 players, yet not one of them in the squad.
“They paid £25million for an 18-year-old Brazilian. If you’re one of those young players, what are you thinking? West Ham are supposed to be giving young players a chance, come through the academy, and get them involved.
“They’ve always done it, historically. I don’t understand it.”
Julen Lopetegui told to promote West Ham United academy stars
With the Hammers struggling to get out of first gear under Julen Lopetegui, with just two wins from the first eight Premier League matches, the squad look to be lacking an identity.
So many different players were added to the squad during the summer transfer window, many of whom will be unaware of how prestigious a club West Ham is and has been over the years.
Jarrod Bowen, who now captains the side, knows exactly what it means to play in Claret and Blue, which is why he continues to carry the team on his shoulders during every performance.
Youngsters such as Earthy and Potts, albeit neither part of the FA Youth Cup winning team, have been at the club since they were kids, and for them, making their debuts will have been a dream come true.
This is the exact kind of sentiment that Lopetegui needs to drill into his current players, who continue to falter in the Premier League, most recently being hammered 4-1 by Tottenham on Saturday 19 October.
In other West Ham news, Jeff Stelling hit back at what a Hammers fan said about Julen Lopetegui live on air.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.