Reece Oxford

[Pogue Mahone]

This lad is captain of the West Ham U-21s aged just 15. Which is kind of amazing.

Being linked with all the usual suspects, including United. Is he as good as his precocious captaincy suggests?

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

I wanted to start a thread about him last night but then i was too tired.

He was already on the bench for the first team this season. It's always easy to say "Oh he's a massive talent" with boys like him but he's really a massive talent.

It would be a shame if West Ham are losing him but i think it would be a miracle in long-term. We should deffo have both eyes on him.

I haven't seen any of his West Ham youth games. But he was so impressive in his England youth games.
He's calm, can read the game (like Rio), great on the ball and his leadership is amazing (Captain of the U17 team too).

He had a red-card against Cyprus a few weeks ago (U17) but he'll learn a lot from this moment (There was a good smart interview with him on The FA website after the match).

 

[khoazany]

West Ham is known for playing some of their youngsters well ahead of their age groups to convince them to sign new contract though.Even Oscar Borg played for their U21s last season so hardly anything surprising.

Don't think he's that outstanding in England youth games either but the whole team last year is a bit of a mess.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

West Ham is known for playing some of their youngsters well ahead of their age groups to convince them to sign new contract though.Even Oscar Borg played for their U21s last season so hardly anything surprising.

Don't think he's that outstanding in England youth games either but the whole team last year is a bit of a mess.

It's not so much the playing in an older age group, as the fact he's captain that strikes me as unusual/impressive.

 

[TwoSheds]

Nigel Reo-Coker was Wimbledon captain aged 19. All it meant was that he was a gobby twat.

 

[Brightonian]

Being played in the U21s at 15 is meaningful, being the captain not so much. Captaincy at that level is even less relevant than it is for the first team.

As Khoazany says though, giving better youngsters an early glimpse of the higher age-groups is something West Ham have done before to encourage them to stay. I've seen Oxford a couple of times and he looks good but not earth-shatteringly so. Not compared to, for example, our own Andreas Pereira who was starting games for the U21s at 16.

Definitely wouldn't say no if we got the opportunity to sign him, though.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Being played in the U21s at 15 is meaningful, being the captain not so much. Captaincy at that level is even less relevant than it is for the first team.

As Khoazany says though, giving better youngsters an early glimpse of the higher age-groups is something West Ham have done before to encourage them to stay. I've seen Oxford a couple of times and he looks good but not earth-shatteringly so. Not compared to, for example, our own Andreas Pereira who was starting games for the U21s at 16.

Definitely wouldn't say no if we got the opportunity to sign him, though.

Was he? So its not unthinkable that some one like Gribbin, Fosu-Mensah will play in u21 soon? (If they perform)

 

[Brightonian]

Was he? So its not unthinkable that some one like Gribbin, Fosu-Mensah will play in u21 soon? (If they perform)

I'd say it's highly unlikely. Pereira got that shot because he was so exceptionally gifted, and at that stage was way ahead of the rest of his age group. He was already a regular in the U18s by that point. There are some gifted U16/17/18s at the moment but none quite that special.

 

[TwoSheds]

I dunno, Jack Rudge played for Ole in the U21s at a very young age and I couldn't tell you what he's up to these days. Depends very much on the opportunities in the squad e.g. if suddenly there's a loan exodus etc.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Getting rave reviews for his performance last night. Started off playing in central midfield before moving to his preferred position in defence.

The youngest player ever to start a first team game for West Ham United.

 

[sincher]

He looked a bit special in the clips I've seen.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Watched some clips of him due to the hype and he looks excellent and stands out at U21 level despite being 16. Thought the WH game might have been on last night but they showed the Aberdeen one instead.

 

[sincher]

She really does.

 

[Ramshock]

I'd say it's highly unlikely. Pereira got that shot because he was so exceptionally gifted, and at that stage was way ahead of the rest of his age group. He was already a regular in the U18s by that point. There are some gifted U16/17/18s at the moment but none quite that special.

Mensah has a good chance...Gribbin maybe if he knuckles down and stops flirting with the scousers

 

[Brightonian]

Mensah has a good chance...Gribbin maybe if he knuckles down and stops flirting with the scousers

He was talking about it happening the season just gone. I agree both might get some U21 minutes at some point in the coming season.

 

[LitterBug]

@RedSky said he needs to bulk up. Wonder what @Damien thinks?

 

[RedSky]

Defo needs to bulk up.

 

[Damien]

This is football forum, don't post gibberish in here please.

 

[RedSky]

Good job Litterbug 10/10.

 

[Gerald G]

He's only 16? He's got a lot of time to bulk up. He looks a special talent. I hope we're in the queue for him when he inevitably wants to leave West Ham.

 

[Cassidy]

Apparently making his full debut today!

 

[Orton]

Starting him? That could turn out to be a big mistake in such a big game for them, or it could be the making of the next wonderkid.

 

[Charlie Foley]

Good luck to him.

England's academy and all that

 

[FromTheBench]

He started their Europa league game as well Iirc.

 

[Damien]

He started their Europa league game as well Iirc.

He wasn't in the squad for the game they got knocked out in, which was the biggest indicator that he was going to be involved in this one in some way.

 

[Pexbo]

Christ I feel old.

 

[Ballache]

Seriously impressed with him and was absolutely shocked to hear he's only 16. Very mature and composed performance away at Arsenal.

 

[Mister_Stubbs]

He certainly won't be at West Ham for long.

 

[littlepeasoup]

Christ I feel old.

We're almost at that point where we'll start seeing first team players that were born in a completely different century.

 

[Penna]

He's already 6ft 3, according to Wiki! At 16 - amazing.

 

[JB08]

Sign him up.

 

[Hellboy]

Born to play for us.

 

[Lentwood]

Has played well today. Compare him to the awkward, gangly and unpredictable Paul Pogba we were seeing loping around the pitch at 19 and how good could this lad go on to be if he keeps improving?

 

[Lawman]

Did well today

 

[Moriarty]

I remember his father, Morris.

 

[Red Dreams]

if he is that good...surely he needs to be playing for us.

 

[Tarrou]

Perhaps more importantly, he's 4.0 and classed as a defender in FPL!

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Stats were 3 tackles, 3 interceptions and a 95.2% pass completion rate. Only made 21 passes though. Arsenal had a lot of the ball. Spoke well after the game too.

if he is that good...surely he needs to be playing for us.

We tried to sign him last year I think.

@Tarrou

He was a centre back I believe.

 

[Ramshock]

I remember his father, Morris.

I think we will be keeping an eye on him for the next few years.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

Impressive debut. Definitely one to watch.