These can be exciting times at West Ham United. It feels as if a new coach’s slightly scattergun selections of the first games are about to settle down into a more structured, less ‘whac-a-mole’ knee-jerk picks. After two months of the Premier League campaign, Lopetegui must know his best eleven now.
The progress of one rising star who joined in the summer has been highlighted in The Athletic (nytimes.com) today entitled ‘How Crysencio Summerville became Premier League ready: ‘He’s grown from a skinny teenager into a man’.
Roshane Thomas maps out the young Dutchman’s progress both before and since joining The Hammers.
I’d noticed how he’s got bulked under the shirt (waved around his head after the Manchester United goal) – shortish he may be, small or skinny he is not. Looks like a lot of dedication has gone into his gym sessions this summer.
The Athletic report quotes former coach Claudio Braga who worked with Summerville at Dutch side Dordrecht in the 2018-19 season. “West Ham fans are going to love him. He can do extraordinary things, that’s what makes him unique. Opposition defenders will hate marking him. Give him the ball, it doesn’t matter if there are two or three opponents, he will find a way to get past them. He is on the path to becoming a world-class talent.”
And of his development :”He’s grown from a skinny teenager into a man and a top player. Even when there are moments he’s not in the game, his mind is always thinking of how to find space. Top teams have this kind of player “.
Clearly Lopetegui needs to start him and give him the opportunity to relax, develop and grow his confidence as a regular starter alongside Bowen, Kudus (played centrally – please) and a striker.
Kudus’ three game suspension can be the catalyst – the start of the progression at West Ham. Amen to that.
