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Potter drops major hint on Earthy’s West Ham future with bizarre decision
Damien Charles Lucas
4 – 6 minutes
Graham Potter may have just dropped a big hint about George Earthy’s West Ham future — with a decision which left fans scratching their heads.
One thing was made perfectly clear by Graham Potter when he first arrived at West Ham, young Academy players will be given their chance.
Potter has already proved that by making Ollie Scarles a Hammers starter ahead of established international star Emerson Palmieri. Albeit with mixed results so far as part of Scarles’ invaluable learning curve.
Joe Cole says West Ham have a new golden generation emerging in the Academy ranks.
“There’s a group of young players (coming through) underneath in the bracket of (under) 15s/16s to Under 20,” Cole said recently when suggesting West Ham can rebuild around top talent.
“You’ve got a manager who can nurture players as well now.”
Hammers have new golden generation emerging
Along with Scarles, Kaelan Casey, Lewis Orford, Freddie Potts and George Earthy are players West Ham fans have high hopes for in the immediate future.
Potts signed a new long-term deal recently, suggesting Potter may integrate him into the first team next season.
But in interviews since, it is clear that is far from decided yet.
Neither Potter or Potts have given any guarantees beyond pre-season, with the midfielder stating he wants to be a starter wherever he plays next term.
Like Potts at Portsmouth, tricky midfielder Earthy has been enjoying a loan spell with Bristol City.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
And he has really started to come into his own for The Robins of late, being the key player in their surprise late push for promotion to the Premier League.
Earthy – who is highly rated in the England setup – has been dipped in and out of the side under former West Ham coach Liam Manning.
But he been awarded man of the match three games in a row, scoring in the 1-1 draw with QPR last time out.
Earthy’s influence on the team is growing at just the right time.
Footage of the Hammers youngster receiving a standing ovation for insatiably chasing, harrying and pressing the opposition has caught the eye on social media too.
Potter drops major hint on Earthy’s West Ham future
It has all served to heighten excitement among West Ham fans that he will be ready to play for them in the Premier League.
And Potter dropped a major hint on Earthy’s West Ham future with bizarre decision at Liverpool.
It is widely accepted the Hammers midfield needs to be completely rebuilt this summer.
The middle of the park is ageing, slow and immobile compared to other Premier League sides.
It is sorely lacking in dynamism, power, pace, trickery and guile.
So there is a lot of interest in how Earthy is getting on at Bristol City.
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Especially as many West Ham fans believe George Earthy can be their answer to David Silva, noting similarities in their diminutive build and style of play.
Well something Potter did at Anfield suggests he ran a big Earthy experiment during the 2-1 defeat.
When the West Ham teamsheet came out, many supporters were not happy.
There were a number of shocks, namely Tomas Soucek being dropped in favour of Carlos Soler.
Hammers fans questioned the point of playing Soler given he is only on loan for another few weeks with West Ham having no intention of doing a permanent deal for the Spaniard – who has a £240k per week contract at PSG until 2027.
On the face of it, starting Soler at Liverpool was a bemusing call from the manager.
Potter’s bizarre Soler decision was Earthy experiment
But reading between the lines, it looks to be Potter very much experimenting with the possibility of having Earthy at the club next season.
Potter has made it clear he wants to play a different style, where West Ham build attacks through the pitch.
Hence leaving out Soucek and opting for the smaller, more technical Soler.
The former Valencia man’s performance was nothing to write home about.
But the actual setup of the West Ham side, and the way Soler was deployed as the man trying to knit things together between the lines, screamed of Earthy having a future in the first team next season.
It should be noted Soler was also tasked with pressing Liverpool as much as possible, something Earthy has become known for.
Potter will be well aware of the progress Earthy is making.
He turns 21 at the start of next season so this could be the perfect storm for the skilful ace to make his name in the claret and blue.
