West Ham could live to regret exit of player David Moyes called 'really talented' | OneFootball

George Earthy has made the move from West Ham to Reading, despite many hoping he'd be given a chance in the Championship

Nobody relishes relegation, but if there's one small positive that comes from it, it's the opportunity to give academy prospects who otherwise wouldn't be at the level a chance in the first team.

West Ham United are back in the Championship for the first time since the 2011/12 campaign. During their 14-year stay in the top flight, they consistently flirted with the top half and had the odd European run, including winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023.

With that comes the need to bring top-level senior players to the club, which can sometimes lead to exciting young players in the academy finding their pathways to the squad slightly obscured.

The drop in level means that those European-level stars aren't attainable anymore, but it does mean that some of those youngsters in what has, historically, been a very good academy could get some game time.

West Ham United's sale of George Earthy felt premature

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There have been academy players utilised in squads so far this season, whether that be due to transfer activity not being as swift as Nuno Espírito Santo possibly would have wanted it to be, or whether he actually sees those youngsters as regular first-teamers.

Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford have been the main examples thus far, while Mohamadou Kante was brought in as an academy prospect in 2024 from Paris FC and has also started both league games this year.

However, the sales of Freddie Potts and George Earthy have seemed a little premature, as this year could have seen both of those academy graduates break into regular first-team football.

Earthy especially, who has played in the Championship over the last two years with Bristol City and was a useful part of their play-off-finishing side in the 2024/25 campaign, could have easily broken into the side, but he was an unused substitute in the first two games of the year before his move to Reading.

David Moyes gave George Earthy a Premier League challenge before departing in 2024

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A lot of people point at David Moyes as West Ham's last good manager. The Scotsman helped the Hammers lift the Conference League and would leave following a ninth-placed finish and a Europa League quarter-final the following season.

His final home game as Hammers boss saw his side come from behind to beat Luton Town 3-1, and the scorer of the third goal was none other than Earthy — his first and only senior goal for the side.

Moyes wasn't going to be sticking around to help oversee his development, but challenged him, as a slighter player, to find a way to develop into a Premier League-level player, using former Manchester City legend and Spanish international David Silva as an example.

"George is a really, really talented player," he said. “What George will need to do is build up and improve his strength and his power. His football ability is not in question one bit, but it will be more about how he can handle and come into the Premier League.

"You think of the likes of David Silva, players like that who might have been slight in stature but they still found a way. George’s challenge now will be to find a way of developing that to the point where he can become an established Premier League player.”

West Ham fans were divided when George Earthy departed the club this summer

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Earthy's talents were there to see in the odd minutes he got off the bench under David Moyes, and those who followed the academy a few years ago would have been blown away by the attacking midfielder's performances and goal return.

The 21-year-old was never a regular starter at Bristol City in either of his two loan spells at Ashton Gate, so perhaps he wouldn't be at the level required to be part of a West Ham side with title aspirations.

But football supporters have an affinity towards home-grown talents, and the decision to sell Earthy did divide the West Ham fanbase.

"Hate this. Potts and now Earthy. This was the moment to give them a chance. Both proven to be effective in this league at the club they love. Poor," one fan commented as the Hammers announced his departure on X.

"Never got a chance," another said, while a third added, "Shame he wasn’t given the chance to prove himself this season, hope there’s a sell-on clause as hopefully he smashes it in L1 and gets a chance to showcase his talent in a higher division."

West Ham will hope they've made the right decision to let George Earthy leave this summer

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The reaction from the West Ham fans to Earthy's departure mainly stems from the fact that the 21-year-old wasn't given a chance to prove himself at the level.

Now, at Reading, you'd assume that the Hammers academy graduate will finally be given regular senior minutes, albeit in League One. But that may be exactly what he needs to kickstart his career.

West Ham will hope that even if the Royals push on and win promotion this season, they won't be sticking around in the Championship to face them, but if Earthy can be the driving force for Leam Richardson's side, he'd be right back where he was this summer.

Then, you'd imagine he'd be given time in the second tier to showcase his talents, and ultimately that will be when West Ham would find out if their "really talented" academy man can cut it at the level.