Terry Westley said Thursday’s 3-0 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg win over FC Lusitans represented a hugely positive night for West Ham United
Terry Westley said Thursday’s 3-0 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg win over FC Lusitans represented a hugely positive night for West Ham United.
A sold-out Boleyn Ground witnessed a comfortable victory, attractive passing football, five debuts, seven Academy graduates, a youngest-ever player in Reece Oxford, two goals for Diafra Sakho and a rapturous welcome for new manager Slaven Bilic.
With Bilic watching on intently from the stands – but not before presenting Oxford and Lewis Page with their debut match shirts – Academy Manager Westley was a happy man when he spoke to West Ham TV.
“The crowd, the game, playing some young players, the senior players scoring goals and no real major injuries made for a positive night,” he began. “Sakho scored two goals and if we had got one more goal it would have been the perfect score.
“We had senior players who came through the game and ended up getting seven Academy players on the pitch, including James Tomkins, so it was very close to a perfect night.
“We have had ten days to prepare and nobody has gone through the motions. Everyone has been professional, the manager came to Cork and flew over today and came in the dressing room and presented shirts to the two players making their debuts.
“He was there again at half-time and came down again after the game and you can’t ask for much more than that from the new manager with his busy schedule. It was a real positive for everyone to play in front of the new manager.
“James led the team and was terrific and Diaf’s goals will really boost his confidence. We got 70 minutes out of him, so they’re all positives.
“I looked at Burke and he looked good again and is starting to get established and Josh Cullen came on in the second half and had a real spring in his step. He gave us some real purpose going forward and Diego Poyet kept the ball ticking over for us.
“There were so many positives and not really a negative for me. Everything was on the front foot and I’m well-pleased.”
A sold-out Boleyn Ground witnessed a comfortable victory, attractive passing football, five debuts, seven Academy graduates, a youngest-ever player in Reece Oxford, two goals for Diafra Sakho and a rapturous welcome for new manager Slaven Bilic.
With Bilic watching on intently from the stands – but not before presenting Oxford and Lewis Page with their debut match shirts – Academy Manager Westley was a happy man when he spoke to West Ham TV.
“The crowd, the game, playing some young players, the senior players scoring goals and no real major injuries made for a positive night,” he began. “Sakho scored two goals and if we had got one more goal it would have been the perfect score.
“We had senior players who came through the game and ended up getting seven Academy players on the pitch, including James Tomkins, so it was very close to a perfect night.
“We have had ten days to prepare and nobody has gone through the motions. Everyone has been professional, the manager came to Cork and flew over today and came in the dressing room and presented shirts to the two players making their debuts.
“He was there again at half-time and came down again after the game and you can’t ask for much more than that from the new manager with his busy schedule. It was a real positive for everyone to play in front of the new manager.
“James led the team and was terrific and Diaf’s goals will really boost his confidence. We got 70 minutes out of him, so they’re all positives.
“I looked at Burke and he looked good again and is starting to get established and Josh Cullen came on in the second half and had a real spring in his step. He gave us some real purpose going forward and Diego Poyet kept the ball ticking over for us.
“There were so many positives and not really a negative for me. Everything was on the front foot and I’m well-pleased.”
There were so many positives and not really a negative for me. Everything was on the front foot and I’m well-pleased
For Westley, it was a real feather in the Academy Manager’s cap to have given the England U18 captain Oxford his debut at the age of 16 years 198 days – breaking a 93-year-old club record.
“He has done well and it gets that out of the way. It was the ideal night to play him and to play him in midfield to quicken his feet up. Then, when he stepped back towards the end, he was in control of the game and getting the ball and punching it to the wide men.
“He looks a prospect and now he knows he still has a lot to do, a lot to learn and a lot to work for. That was the other reason to put him in. He’s not the finished article, but we’ve got a real prospect on our hands.”
With a three-goal advantage to take to Andorra next week, Westley said the Hammers will take a similarly-composed squad to the Pyrenees.
“I think it’ll be the same squad, barring any injuries. Mauro Zarate got a slight groin and if he isn’t fit, we’ll bring someone else in.
“We’ll show respect to the Andorran team and also to the opposition. If we can score some goals, keep a clean sheet and get some more minutes out of the senior players again, that’s what we’re after.”
“He has done well and it gets that out of the way. It was the ideal night to play him and to play him in midfield to quicken his feet up. Then, when he stepped back towards the end, he was in control of the game and getting the ball and punching it to the wide men.
“He looks a prospect and now he knows he still has a lot to do, a lot to learn and a lot to work for. That was the other reason to put him in. He’s not the finished article, but we’ve got a real prospect on our hands.”
With a three-goal advantage to take to Andorra next week, Westley said the Hammers will take a similarly-composed squad to the Pyrenees.
“I think it’ll be the same squad, barring any injuries. Mauro Zarate got a slight groin and if he isn’t fit, we’ll bring someone else in.
“We’ll show respect to the Andorran team and also to the opposition. If we can score some goals, keep a clean sheet and get some more minutes out of the senior players again, that’s what we’re after.”