25 May 2026 18:16:10
Clearly we will now be shopping in a very different market. I actually don't think many of our players will be in demand.

I think Taty, Mavropanos, Areola, Todibo will be out the door. The others I think it's a flip of a coin. That is inclusive of Wan Bissaka, Bowen, Summerville.

It worries me some are keen to just chuck the youngsters in. Other than Potts, Earthy, who are closer than the rest, and by some distance - the others are way off senior football, particularly in the Championship.

We were linked with Hackney before, that would be a serious statement of intent from the club. Although I accept there may well be bigger clubs now in for him this summer.

1.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 19:12:10
Scarles, Kante, Marshall, Magassa are all good enough for the Championship, and others can play a role too. There's literally no point in having an academy if we block their progress and never use them.

2.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 19:47:18
Totally agree, Robbo. When is the best time to blood them, if not in the Championship? We need to bring them through gradually, as we used to do.

3.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 20:23:44
I would have thought a Prem team would have been in for Hackney, as we should have been previously. If we had started with a midfield of Fernandes, Hackney, Paqueta, we probably would not have gone down. Instead, we started with JWP, Soucek and Irving as our midfield options.

4.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 21:05:00
I think there is plenty of talent in the youth side. Many said Kante wasn't good enough, but apart from when we played a lower-league side in the cup (can't remember who), he has given a good account of himself. When he first played for West Ham, I was massively impressed with Potts, but if anything he has regressed, but hopefully a new manager can get the best out of him.

Scarles is better than Diouf. Don't know much about Earthy and Marshall.

5.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 21:53:26
I have my doubts on Scarles. No doubt the fans want him to do well, but I see him playing lower down the pyramid in a few years.

I only single out Earthy and Potts, as both have won awards whilst out on loan with other clubs, Young / Player of the Year with their respective clubs. Lewis Orford is the other worth a mention.

Marshall might have a breakout season, but I would worry if it were him and another as the main forward options. I agree we should be looking to offer opportunities to the youngsters, but to say Kante, Fearon etc. is the midfield is a no from me. I don't see any of those, other than those I've specified, being West Ham players in the long run.