West Ham youngsters Toni Martinez and Nathan Holland continue to impress. How long before Bilic gives them a chance in the first team?
West Ham have a long history of getting youth talent to the top level. But recently that’s faltered. Some fans are frustrated at the lack of activity shown on this front, especially given the talent in the lower levels. After recent performances, the manager is facing new calls to have Toni Martinez back in the first team.
Some will say they are unproven talent and as such it’s hard to just promote them. But you can only beat who is in front of you. And with a hattrick against a Manchester United team containing England international Luke Shaw, Toni Martinez is running out of opponents to beat at this level. When will his chance come?
More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham
- Brighton vs West Ham predictions: Can James Ward-Prowse help end the curse?
- West Ham and two Premier League rivals made huge transfer stand
- Lucas Paqueta bet allegations discussed in West Ham and Man City transfer talks
- Bournemouth vs West Ham predictions: Premier League opener amid transfer chaos
- West Ham near Denis Zakaria transfer after final James Ward-Prowse bid
Potential vs. Results
I think the biggest issue Bilic has is that to put someone in the team, someone has to be dropped. Given Martinez is a striker, that would mean Hernandez getting dropped. That’s unlikely after he became arguably our highest profile signing since Tevez and Mascherano. Holland, a creative left winger, is in a similar predicament. With the club spending a record amount on Arnautovic, can Bilic really drop him from the team already?
I think Bilic missed his chance with Holland when Arnautovic was suspended for three games. Holland, by trade, is a left winger. Instead of forcing Hernandez out wide and out of position the youngster could have helped the side keep the shape it had been in. By doing so it would have helped the side’s continuity and given Holland first team experience.
For Martinez it’s a tough wait. With Hernandez still fit, and Carroll and Sakho also in the first team squad opportunities will be limited. A striker is a pivotal role and he can hope that potential bad form of the Carabao cup could be his chance. Unless Bilic continues to play two strikers regularly it could be a tough slog for the Spaniard.
Next: The struggle of West Ham's loan players
If it was my decision, I would sell Sakho and promote both Holland and Martinez to the first team. They are good enough players and need to be around the squad. Holland will get his chance before Martinez, but they both have the talent to go a long way in the game.