David Gold makes big claim about West Ham youngsters
By Danny Wright
West Ham co-owner David Gold has boldly claimed that the current crop of youngsters are the “best group” the club has had in the past decade.
The Under-23 side secured promotion to Division One of Premier League 2 last season with a play-off final victory over Newcastle at St. James’ Park.
Gold, 80, has previously come under fire from the Hammers supporters for the lack of youngsters that appear in the first-team as he said that it is “extremely unlikely” that a teenager could force an international out of Slaven Bilic’s squad.
However despite the very honest assessment of the club’s academy players in the past, the Irons chief is still certain that the club can be very proud of their current Under-23 side.
“I think we now have the best group of talented young players at the club for over a decade,” said Gold on his personal Twitter account on Sunday night.
West Ham’s development side have recently learned that they will open their Divison One Premier League 2 campaign with a very tough clash with current champions Everton next Friday.
Although the Hammers’ youth set-up is known as the ‘Academy of Football’, Mark Noble is the only regular senior player currently at the London Stadium who has graduated from it.
Reece Oxford and Reece Burke are among some of the more highly-rated young players in the Hammers squad, with Oxford recently securing a season-loan loan move to Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga.
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