Playing in front of over 80,000 supporters- in what was the biggest USA audience for a football match this year, could have phased some players who are not used to the atmosphere generated by such a big crowd – especially away from the ‘tepid’ atmosphere recently at London Stadium.
The three late substitutes against Manchester United who cameo’d (if that is a word) in such an impressive manner – Freddie Potts, Luis Guilherme and surprise pick 18 year old Preston Fearon acquitted themselves brilliantly alongside old hand Lucas Paquetá and you’d have to wonder what the outcome would have been if they’d had longer on the pitch.
Potts and Guilherme are well known to Hammers fans but I’ll bet there were a few reaching for their ‘phones to Google the highly ambitious young Fearon upon his introduction in the latter stages. According to whufc.com he’s anticipating going all the way, pretty fast:
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“100 per cent [I want more of this],” he confirmed. “I’m hungry to get on that pitch. Obviously it’s pre-season but these games will get you prepared to play in the Premier League and that’s what I want. I’m young and my career’s just starting.”
Having been released by Chelsea four years ago and overcoming a serious back injury in 23/4, Fearon has certainly got the tenacity to succeed. Graham Potter and Mark Noble have now found a way to fast track talented youth through to the cusp of the senior squad and it could well be that having impressed against Manchester, Fearon has more time on the pitch in the next two games ahead of what could be a massive, breakthrough season for the youngster.
West Ham now seem to have – finally- a policy of ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ mimicking Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City who have all brought teenagers through into their starting XI’s. The upside of a poor transfer window for West Ham is that there’ll be shirt numbers available for young talent, unlike last summer.