When West Ham signed Diego Poyet on a Bosman deal it was widely lauded as something of a coup. He won Charlton’s player of the year award for 2013-14, his debut season, despite only making his first appearance for the Addicks, in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, in January 2014 and making a total of 20 league appearances. With his existing Charlton deal expiring on 1 July 2014, he subsequently signed a four year contract with the Hammers on 8 July 2014. Poyet had established a reputation as a top prospect and it was widely anticipated that he would continue his progress with the Hammers and go on to become a first team regular.
Yet, the reality of his time at West Ham has proven somewhat different from that anticipated. He has made a mere three appearances for the club, over two seasons, (one in each of the PL, League Cup and Europa Cup), and has spent the vast majority of his time out on loan. Over that period, he spent time at Huddersfield Town, Milton Keynes Dons and Charlton Athletic, making a grand total of 26 appearances for all three clubs. There is nothing unusual in young prospects spending time out on loan, just look at the successful loans enjoyed by Burke, Cullen and Samuelson last season. However, Poyet’s loan experience has sharply contrasted with that of the aforementioned youngsters. He made 2 appearances for Huddersfield, had his loan to MK Dons cut short after 18 appearances and made little impact at Charlton, where he appeared only 6 times.
Those statistics are disappointing for such a talented young player. Charlton were relegated from the Championship at the end of the last campaign, and the situation at the club was undoubtedly problematic, but surely Poyet should still have featured more prominently for his former club? When a young player consistently fails to perform whilst out on loan it does inevitably raise alarm bells about their development and ability to succeed in the top tier of English football. Alternatively, perhaps Poyet has been exceptionally unlucky with the clubs that he has joined on loan and this record has given somewhat of a false impression? Is it not premature to write off Poyet’s potential just yet, considering that youngsters can develop at different rates and often suffer dips in form as part of the developmental process?
It does pose an interesting question that Slaven Bilic will need to address over the summer. Arguably, there are three options. The club can decide to cut their losses and put Poyet up for sale; they can determine to put him out on loan again, to a decent Championship side, and closely monitor his progress; or (and this is the bravest option) they can retain him in the first team squad next season and utilise him in the demanding PL, domestic cup and Europa League programme that we face. With Alex Song exiting the club, there is probably a need for another out and out defensive midfielder to cover for Nordtvelt and Obiang. But the problem for Poyet is that he has an outstanding prospect like Reece Oxford ahead of him for that role. If it did, indeed, boil down to a straight choice between Oxford or Poyet, which would you choose?
So I guess the key proposition offered for discussion is: which of the three options, outlined above, do you consider most likely with regard to Poyet next season?
SJ. Chandos.