A week is a long time in football, and West Ham United are the perfect example of this.
Following their loss to Crystal Palace, it felt like everything was crashing down and that the club could even be relegated from the Premier League.
Yet now, Nuno Espírito Santo has replaced Graham Potter, the team fought back to earn a point away to Everton, and there is a sense that things could be on the up and up for the Hammers.
Moreover, while the club’s options up top are a problem, the academy might just be brewing the perfect solution.
West Ham's dire striker options
For his first game in charge of the club, Nuno opted to start Niclas Füllkrug up top, and it’s easy to understand why, as the German was one of the club’s big signings last summer and looked good during his stint with Borussia Dortmund.
However, as he has in most games for the club, the 32-year-old failed to deliver, and instead of cementing his place as a starter in the new manager’s mind, he probably made it clear that he needs to be moved on as soon as possible.
For example, during his 89 minutes of action, the centre-forward managed a single shot on target, lost possession nine times and lost 11 of his 16 duels.
Such a display is hardly a surprise, though, as since his move to the club, the Hanover-born poacher has made 26 appearances, in which he’s scored just three goals and provided two assists.
Unfortunately, the manager’s other senior number nine, Callum Wilson, isn’t much of an alternative either.
Appearances
28
Minutes
1201′
Goals
3
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.17
Minutes per Goal Involvement
240.2′
The Englishman has opened his account for the East Londoners, but last season, in 22 appearances for Newcastle United, he scored just a single goal – and the less said about his injury record, the better.
At the end of the day, West Ham desperately need to shift both Wilson and Füllkrug as soon as possible, but it’s not all doom and gloom, as the academy might have the perfect prospect to replace them.
The academy gem who could replace Füllkrug & Wilson
West Ham have a proud history of developing and promoting talented youth players, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Declan Rice all getting their first taste of senior football at the club.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
While he’s already had a small taste of senior football and might not quite live up to those names, a youngster who looks destined to make it into the Hammers’ first team at some point, and potentially replace Füllkrug, is Josh Landers.
The 18-year-old Scotsman joined the East Londoners’ academy from Hibernian in February of this year, Academy Manager Kenny Brown saying that his mentality and desire to improve “impressed everyone.”
Fortunately, the teenager has demonstrated the ability and qualities needed to accompany that mentality.
For example, in 15 appearances across the U18 and U21 sides last season, totalling 1047 minutes, the Innerleithen-born gem managed to put the ball in the back of the net nine times.
Appearances
12
7
Goals
9
5
Assists
0
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.75
0.71
That works out to an impressive average of a goal every 1.66 games, or every 116.33 minutes, and as one analyst points out, the youngster has “hit the ground running.”
This season, the young prodigy has taken another step forward, playing exclusively with the U21s and already scoring five goals in just four games, suggesting he could be in for a massive season.
Ultimately, while it’ll take some time for him to get anywhere near the peak of his powers, Landers looks like a striker who could solve a big problem for West Ham, and potentially replace Füllkrug.