Rewatching the Vokes goal again. The Potts dummy was outstanding. The speed of analysis to dummy that from such a short distance away whilst not knowing what was behind him. Whether he’s reacted quickly listening to a team mate or if he just had great intuition, either way it was top quality and gave us that extra bit of cutting edge in the build up play that resulted in a goal. Sums up his most complete performance for us and I cannot wait to see how good he will be in a few months.
Vokes tried something very similar last week but got no credit as it didn't come off, he's very clever at these sort of things as are a number of the squad, we seem to be coming together well. Not the finished article at all but better than anyone could have hoped two games in.
Agreed. I've said it before but our competition for families is the likes of Odds Farm (which has oodles for kids to do once they've fed the goats).
Soft play, bubbles, magicians, animal petting, bouncy castles, face painting, table football...there's an endless list of stuff we could be putting on before/after games to keep things interesting for kids and (this is the key point) give their parents/grandparents a 5 minute break!
I think this is a key issue that social media, smart phones, multiple TV channels etc has created in the last 20 years.
I hate the change from a society that would be bored and then needed to find something to do. To one, that now has to be constantly entertained.
Yes, there should be a balance but let's just be bored as well because sometimes being bored actually means you may enjoy some things more when you get to do them.
Agreed @Commoner . Being bored was a key part of childhood (grandparents house on a Sunday afternoon!) back in the day. It made for imagination and making up something from nothing. A lost skill to the developmental upbringing sadly.
I kinda know what you mean. To some extent kids need to learn to entertain themselves.
But that doesn't change the fact that if we want to attract families then we need to offer this sort of thing. 'Come to WWFC and let your kids enjoy being bored' isn't a great pitch. They can be bored on a Sunday afternoon, but on a Saturday we need them excited to come to AP!
It’s a tough balance. It can’t be all pigs and teacups every week but there used to be a semi-permanent inflatable penalty shoot out in the car park IIRC? Or maybe that was a fever dream.
I hate parking chaos so when I go with my eldest (7) we do get down around 1pm and after a quick mooch in the club shop and game of ‘guess the players’ car’ we are kicking our heels. It is what it is in some ways. He often wants to get in the ground early anyway but that’s where the real clock watching starts. There’s barely any build up anymore until teams are announced at about 2.50pm. Sometimes they’ll have Wanderers TV snippets on the screen but they’re barely audible. This has got to be an area where they are some quick wins?
As parody as he might’ve been at times, Hutch always had a lot to say and do pre-match.
No need to fear recall everytime anyone plays well, they knew what they wanted to achieve by sending him here and him doing well confirms that decision was the right one.
They could recall him but they have a squad of full internationals so he won't march in as a starter on the back of few decent games in League one. If he does go back it adds to our reputation as a talent destination.
They wouldn't recall him for the first team, but very possibly would recall him to send him to a Championship club if they think he's playing below his level.
It's possible but doesn't happen too often when a player is settled and happy, there's no guarantee he'd get off to a flyer at a new championship club and that he'd get enough games if he didn't.
Hopefully we'd be first in the queue for someone else, we'll need these strong links for the end of the season when it's highly likely that the players would go back.
I think it’s unlikely Potts gets redistributed to a Championship club in January. It’s his first season in professional football and I think West Ham will be extremely pleased with his progress out of possession - he looked lost off the ball in his opening few games. Now he looks like he’s got a bit of bite to him and wins second balls. The Josh Scowen effect. Still think he’s a bit shy of Championship level as things stand.
Moyes has a bit of a blind spot on young talent. They have seen some great prospects leave recently quite simply because they know they will not be getting a chance. When West Ham had such a great reputation for youth development it is a strange state of affairs. So I doubt if Moyes even knows how well Potts is doing. Whether their loan managers see it differently only time will tell. A lot of West Ham fans think they dropped a bollock letting him leave the first team set up in the first place.
Comments
Rewatching the Vokes goal again. The Potts dummy was outstanding. The speed of analysis to dummy that from such a short distance away whilst not knowing what was behind him. Whether he’s reacted quickly listening to a team mate or if he just had great intuition, either way it was top quality and gave us that extra bit of cutting edge in the build up play that resulted in a goal. Sums up his most complete performance for us and I cannot wait to see how good he will be in a few months.
The ball retention, movement and eventual finish for the Vokes goal was fantastic. Potts has the potential to be frighteningly good at this level.
Vokes tried something very similar last week but got no credit as it didn't come off, he's very clever at these sort of things as are a number of the squad, we seem to be coming together well. Not the finished article at all but better than anyone could have hoped two games in.
Agreed. I've said it before but our competition for families is the likes of Odds Farm (which has oodles for kids to do once they've fed the goats).
Soft play, bubbles, magicians, animal petting, bouncy castles, face painting, table football...there's an endless list of stuff we could be putting on before/after games to keep things interesting for kids and (this is the key point) give their parents/grandparents a 5 minute break!
The video from behind the goal. Potts played the ball to Sam as a 1-2, Sam had another idea.
https://twitter.com/wwfcofficial/status/1708388301474840609?t=qB3-zUtX9pc-lTeACOKbRg&s=19
I think this is a key issue that social media, smart phones, multiple TV channels etc has created in the last 20 years.
I hate the change from a society that would be bored and then needed to find something to do. To one, that now has to be constantly entertained.
Yes, there should be a balance but let's just be bored as well because sometimes being bored actually means you may enjoy some things more when you get to do them.
We've got to enjoy him while we can - strong chance we lose him in Jan, I reckon.
Agreed @Commoner . Being bored was a key part of childhood (grandparents house on a Sunday afternoon!) back in the day. It made for imagination and making up something from nothing. A lost skill to the developmental upbringing sadly.
I kinda know what you mean. To some extent kids need to learn to entertain themselves.
But that doesn't change the fact that if we want to attract families then we need to offer this sort of thing. 'Come to WWFC and let your kids enjoy being bored' isn't a great pitch. They can be bored on a Sunday afternoon, but on a Saturday we need them excited to come to AP!
It’s a tough balance. It can’t be all pigs and teacups every week but there used to be a semi-permanent inflatable penalty shoot out in the car park IIRC? Or maybe that was a fever dream.
I hate parking chaos so when I go with my eldest (7) we do get down around 1pm and after a quick mooch in the club shop and game of ‘guess the players’ car’ we are kicking our heels. It is what it is in some ways. He often wants to get in the ground early anyway but that’s where the real clock watching starts. There’s barely any build up anymore until teams are announced at about 2.50pm. Sometimes they’ll have Wanderers TV snippets on the screen but they’re barely audible. This has got to be an area where they are some quick wins?
As parody as he might’ve been at times, Hutch always had a lot to say and do pre-match.
There's a thing called a recall clause...
No need to fear recall everytime anyone plays well, they knew what they wanted to achieve by sending him here and him doing well confirms that decision was the right one.
They could recall him but they have a squad of full internationals so he won't march in as a starter on the back of few decent games in League one. If he does go back it adds to our reputation as a talent destination.
They wouldn't recall him for the first team, but very possibly would recall him to send him to a Championship club if they think he's playing below his level.
Exactly
I hope it doesn't happen - I just know from experience not to get attached to a loan player!
It's possible but doesn't happen too often when a player is settled and happy, there's no guarantee he'd get off to a flyer at a new championship club and that he'd get enough games if he didn't.
Hopefully we'd be first in the queue for someone else, we'll need these strong links for the end of the season when it's highly likely that the players would go back.
I think it’s unlikely Potts gets redistributed to a Championship club in January. It’s his first season in professional football and I think West Ham will be extremely pleased with his progress out of possession - he looked lost off the ball in his opening few games. Now he looks like he’s got a bit of bite to him and wins second balls. The Josh Scowen effect. Still think he’s a bit shy of Championship level as things stand.
I was just thinking he will be a great signing next summer for a season of championship football. With us of course😀
Moyes has a bit of a blind spot on young talent. They have seen some great prospects leave recently quite simply because they know they will not be getting a chance. When West Ham had such a great reputation for youth development it is a strange state of affairs. So I doubt if Moyes even knows how well Potts is doing. Whether their loan managers see it differently only time will tell. A lot of West Ham fans think they dropped a bollock letting him leave the first team set up in the first place.
Anyone worrying about a loanee getting recalled in January, in the first week of October seriously needs to relax a bit 🤣
We won't sign anyone > We will but they'll be rubbish > We won't be able to keep them > We won't be able to replace them
A year round concern, no idea how we ever get a starting XI out let alone get promoted
Scenes when West Ham take Potts back to loan him to Bristol City, who promptly don't play him.
Where he replaces Anis as a benchwarmer who is loaned out to Reading
Don't even
Never heard of him followed by he'll be gone in January is a Gasroom staple.