22 squad numbers have been allocated so far to West Ham players but one notable name absence is Elliot Lee. The Academy striker scored 9 goals in the Development squad pre-fixture fixtures which was two more than the whole of the first team in their pre season campaign. He was rewarded with a first team bench spot in the final pre season friendly and came on to setup the goal which fellow Academy youngster Reece Burke scored late in the game but he is yet to receive a first team squad number.
Lee scored three doubles, his first brace came against Havant and WaterlooVille on the 15th July earning the U21’s a 2-1 win, this was quickly followed 5 days later by another brace during a 4-2 win over RCD Espanyol. Just 9 days later he netted two again against Braintree to win the game 2-0 He completed his pre season with a hat trick against Woking in a match I attended and he was by far the best man on the pitch to enable the youngsters to win 3-2. In contrast I witnessed a unconfident awkward Maiga relegated to the development squad warm up at Woking, he missed shot after shot against 16 year old keeper Sam Howes. His team mates were laughing at him and it must be humiliating for him to sit on the bench to watch Lee bang in the goals while he remained an un-used sub at £30,000 per week.
I understand Sam Allardyce believes players need to earn their squad numbers, my question is what has the boy got to do more to earn his? Diego Poyet who has been bought in mainly as a development squad player this season and he immediately was given the number 23 without seemingly earning his spurs.
All Premier League clubs must submit a squad of up to 25 players, by 5pm on Monday, September 1st. 20 squad numbers already allocated to players over 21 and two allocated to players under 21 (Morrison and Poyet), the 23rd number is about to allocated to Diafra Sakho subject to his international clearance.
Each 25-man Premier League squad must include at least eight ‘home-grown’ players. The ‘home-grown’ players do not have to be English. According to the Premier League: “A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).”
West Ham have the luxury of 14 of their current 22 man named squad being classed under this home grown rule. Nolan, Poyet, Cresswell, O’Brien, Collins, Carroll Tomkins, Jarvis, Downing, Morrison, Noble, Jenkinson, Vaz. Te and Cole are all classed as home grown talent.
In addition to the 25-man named squad, clubs can use an unlimited number of players aged 21 or under.
This means the likes of Reece Burke (17), Josh Cullen (18) Elliot Lee and Diego Poyet (19) plus Danny Potts, Blair Turgott, Matthias Fanimo (all 20) and Ravel Morrison (21) but under 21 on 1st January) can be included in the squad without taking up a place a valuable place in the squad of 25.
What harm can it do to give the promising under 21’s a first team squad number?