Right back Jordan Spence joined West Ham back in 2004 at the young age of 14.
Since arriving Spence seems to have been forgotten by many West Ham fans, still only 23; you’d think that Jordan has plenty of time to make the West Ham first team but the question has to be asked, if he was good enough would he of made the team by now?
Jordan has seen a few managers come and go from West Ham, Alan Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant and Current manager Sam Allardyce.
In Pardew’s tenure it could be argued that Spence was far too young to be considered for the first team but the 4 managers that have come after obviously feel that Spence isn’t up to the task, yet anyway.
Predominantly played as a right back; Spence can also perform in the centre back position, our current RB’s consist of Guy Demel and Joey O’Brien-and although both have proved to be very competent, they’re not irreplaceable.
In recent years we have let youth players go who we hoped could make the first team, but they haven’t; proving that they are not good enough, unless Jordan shows remarkable improvements; I can see him sharing the same fate.
Some may say that he hasn’t been giving a fair enough chance, but if 5 experienced managers deem him not to be ready, then who am I to argue with that?
Should Spence move on for the good of his career?
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About Stevo
I watched him against Crewe in last years Capital/Carling/coca cola/milk/Worthington/or whatever its called now cup, and he was skinned and caught out of position a few times. I thought then he wasn’t up to the standard required, like Freddie Sears, Stanislas and others they’ll find they’re level once released. So set him free…… run along little one, you’re services are no longer required, you’re work here is done. Onwards and upwards with Big Sam’s Claret’n’blue army!
That fact that the last few managers haven’t played him I think is because we as a club have been through some very crazy years in terms of stability and I think those managers were going for the tried and tested players as they couldn’t take the risk basically. A bit like BFS last season.
Ive seen JS play a few times and I think he is a good player especially down the right and he should definitely stick around …once one of regular RB decides to leave or (knock on wood get an injury) then spence could well find his opportunity …he just needs to take it …
COYI
@essexiron
Completely see your point…but it’s a tough one with Spence. 5 managers haven’t seen enough to play him as a regular in the first team but all 5 have kept him around, so he must be a good voice in the dressing room and is also seen as a very capable and reliable backup…and we need that sort of player around, especially a home-grown one.
I think part of the reason for us not buying a centre back this summer must be that Sam sees Spence as a back up to Reid, Collins and Tomkins, therefore giving us the usual 4 centre backs in the squad.
I’d keep him around and see how he does this year, play him in all the cups etc. I like having home grown players around the squad, whether they are regulars or not and I think he’s showing an awful lot of loyalty to us, something that a lot of players could learn from.