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John scores, stars for West Ham reserves, eyes first-team debut

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

George John has yet to make his debut with West Ham United, but he soon could after putting together a strong showing in his first match since joining the club.

John, on loan from FC Dallas until the beginning of March, starred in his first game for West Ham's developmental squad on Tuesday, putting together a strong defensive outing while scoring a goal in the Hammers' 1-1 draw with Gillingham. John opened the scoring off a powerful volley 17 minutes into the match following a corner kick.

Playing next to U.S. youth prospect Daniel Potts, John was considered the best player in the game for the Hammers. Reports say he looked calm on the ball, was good positionally and delivered some strong tackles.

Having joined the club just a couple weeks ago and working his way into full match fitness, John's comments after the match indicate that he is hoping the move turns into a full transfer.

"I'm excited about the opportunity," John told West Ham's website. "England has the best football league in the world and I'm always up for a new challenge. The only way to get better is to play with better players.

"This opportunity presented itself and I said 'Why not?' I'd like to take my career as far as I can take it and I would like to continue that career with a fantastic club like West Ham United."

John's next chance to make his first-team debut with West Ham will be on Jan. 31, when they hit the road to play Ipswich Town.

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What do you think of John showing well with the developmental squad? Think he will make his first-team debut soon? Hoping he gets a full transfer?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “I see the ongoing saga as self-centered, and the likely impact of blowing off Klinsi for this camp is that he might as well have blown out his ACL like Gonzo for all the USA good this will do him. In theory, some run of EPL form fights his way into the picture, but practically speaking, Klinsi seems very much a “continuity” type and this was an unusual Camp Cupcake opportunity to force his way into the mix.”

    Mr. Voice,

    That is a pretty narrow way of looking at it.

    John and Gonzo being invited to this camp tells you they were not high on the depth chart. None of the invitees were going to displace an A team starter based on what happened in this camp. This camp was more about weeding out people. Those left standing earn, at best, the chance to be considered further.

    Who are the A team starters?

    Mostly guys who play and do well at top level European teams. So for John and Gonzo the sooner they get started being one of those guys the better the prospects for their long term international futures, and their bank accounts, for whatever country they play for.

    JK should have no problem with this since he has clearly been advocating his guys playing at the highest level possible. Gonzo and John are paying attention to him. Very obviously, doing really well in MLS did not seem to make JK like them very much so maybe they needed to take the next step.

    As for John playing for Greece, how hot are they to have him? They did not cap him last September when they had a pair of Euro Qualifiers that would have tied him to them permanently. If he does really well with the Hammers and then gets promoted with them and does well in the EPL, then everyone will want him. If he is a bust then no one will care what happens to him.

    All of this tells me that John,at least, was better off taking WestHam’s offer and not going to camp.

    Reply
  2. Maybe from a “club” perspective but from a “country” perspective you’re talking about a player who has trained with Greece, and went and got his Greek passport.

    I grant that EU citizenship gets you around the UK work permit but as I understand John and his Mr. 10% (Philipakos), the premise is he is not in any way committed here, even if we capped him in a friendly. He’s not given allegiance here to then switch.

    I see the ongoing saga as self-centered, and the likely impact of blowing off Klinsi for this camp is that he might as well have blown out his ACL like Gonzo for all the USA good this will do him. In theory, some run of EPL form fights his way into the picture, but practically speaking, Klinsi seems very much a “continuity” type and this was an unusual Camp Cupcake opportunity to force his way into the mix. Unless the dude blows up, what’s his argument? Put me ahead of Boca/ Gooch/ Cameron/ Goodson/ Ream who have actually shown up? We have qualifiers starting soon. I think his marginal opportunities in this cycle are running out….maybe next Camp Cupcake if the loan fails — but not if it doesn’t — maybe next Gold Cup.

    Otherwise I expect Klinsi to line up serious 11s from the start of qualifying to prove his system is starting to work.

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  3. analysis fail..
    I mean the fail is so strong and thorough in your post that I wouldn’t even know where to start if it was in fact worthy of being refuted

    ….c’mon man

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  4. No indication that John has switched allegiances. He was set to come to camp, but left to further his career. This is the exact same move Gonzo made. Much better to get his situation sorted out in England, than to play in an offseason US camp exclusively for MLS players.

    Rossi always dreamed about playing for Italy. For John it seems like he considered Greece more as a strategic move.

    He’ll get the call for the Italy match.

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  5. Let’s be real if a MLS team signs you and you’re not some fitness guru or just out of season we probably first run you out either with the reserves or for 10 first team minutes just the same. He’s on loan and they’re kicking the tires. I’d be more concerned if he’s not dressing with the first team on into February.

    But I’m not quite sure why so many care because this is moving towards a Lochhead/Soumare/Nelson situation where the player is planted both professionally and internationally elsewhere. With his CV not spilling over with MLS Cups, I’m not sure why I’m supposed to care.

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  6. Depends. Am I at the beginning of my career? The end? What are my aspirations? How much money have I made? Do I want to make a world cup? Which country am I going to play in while in Europe? Do I have a family?

    As always, each individual player’s answers to questions like these are different and will, therefore, result in different preferences for where to play.

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  7. My two cents the CB pool is (fair or unfair, trying to channel Klinsi not give my opinion): Boca, Gooch, Goodson, Ream. Cameron is starting to edge in, Orozco was getting looks but probably won’t keep getting them. Gonzo might have been starting to edge in as well, but he’s now a ligament short of being a pool guy. He might get one more short at Camp Cupcake 2013 or the next Gold Cup but play starts in earnest in a few months. He’s arguably blown this cycle by getting cute.

    John is all but Greek now so the continued US talk, particularly for a merely OK player, irks. Face it he’s pulled a Rossi, and it’s not even that big a deal.

    Cameron re-upped with the Dynamo in December 2010 (last offseason) for a 4 year deal through the end of the 2014 season. This will be season 2. That contract took him over $200K. Houston has worked with players who want to be elsewhere before, but I doubt they’d release him in Year 2.

    For that matter, every time Kinnear plays him in the right spot (CB) and doesn’t use him to muddle through as a CM, his stock rises, and he gets recognition and callups? Why mess with your own take-off? John wants out because he probably doesn’t even expect to play for the US, it’s like a Bakary Soumare thing.

    Considering what injuries have done to some careers, Gonzo probably needs to come back and show basic fitness/health/competence before worrying about his next step. Personally I find it amusing that people are arguing that a player who has botched his domestic pro career as well as blown off his potential international chance, by going on loan, will fix his problems by looking abroad ASAP. Wasn’t that what got him into this in the first place?

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  8. I think the difference is nothing more than semantics. WH now calls it the Developmental team but at the bottom of the team list for this year, you can look at the WH “Reserve” teams for previous years. The team they just played was Gillingham’s Reserves. Most teams probably call it their reserves. It’s just a word choice.

    Potts is listed with the first team but has made reserve appearances. Lletget is on the Developmental squad list (and not the first team list). That you are listed as on one or the other is probably indicative of a general assessment of standing, but it sounds as fluid as MLS’ reserve league just the same.

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  9. Id put it at 95%. Coach Sam was put up $2-3M to get John when he was at Blackburn (relatively) sight unseen. This short loan is only for John to prove he is who he thought he was. Being that we know who John is no FC Dallas fan expects to see him back

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  10. “plying his trade in the developmental league”
    It is you that’s on the hyperbole tip not vic

    John has been on the team all of maybe 2 weeks. He hasn’t played a game since October. He has reportedly immediately done well with the team in training and now puts a MOTM performance in his first game in a West Ham uniform with their reserve squad.

    What is there to hate about that?

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  11. Its not confirmed but anyone with any intelligence knows how much more EPL pays compared to MLS. John and other players need to try to earn a decent salary for their family and their future. Impressing internet soccer posters isnt their main concern.

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  12. I think Cameron is the brightest addition to the CB position.

    It’s too bad he’s already 26 but hopefully we could see a really solid 4-6 year run from him with the Nats.

    He’s got size, athleticism and the smarts to play the position. Large credit to Dom Kinnear for developing his talent too.

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  13. That’s confirmed what he’s making whilst plying his trade in their Developmental League?

    I’m highly doubtful but your hyperbole is well taken.

    Money is nice but obscurity kinda sucks.

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  14. Any positive news out of our young, promising CBs is music to my ears. This could wind up being a great situation for him if he impresses with the Hammers and helps them to promotion. Cameron, Parkhurst, Ream, John all doing well at our weakest position. If only Omar didn’t get hurt 🙁

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  15. Developmental league.

    Well, good luck to ya John. Hope you make the most of it and I’d hate to see you lost in the sea of Americans who made the leap and are never heard from again.

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  16. how much is John making at West Ham?

    and any news on Gonzalez? He needs to within time, get healthy and be playing overseas. Same with Geoff Cameron. Those are the front runners for the 2014/2018 WC

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  17. John will leave FC Dallas in December regardless of if its to West Ham or some other team. He’s got an EU passport and enough skill to play at a Championship or Lower level EPL type club.

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  18. It’s an audition any way you look at it because he will have an opportunity to leave in December even if he does not stay at the club after the loan finishes.

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  19. I wouldn’t be disappointed just yet. West Ham have the option to buy John at the end of his loan, which they probably will do if he impresses. I would say he has greater than a 60% chance of staying in England come March.

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  20. great that he had a good game, but disappointed that he only has about 5-6 weeks left to play there. Seems like this news went through a while ago, yet he is now just getting started.

    I know its a different situation, but what a contrast to LD, who pretty much steps off the plane and is going 90 every week.

    Reply
  21. Can someone explain the difference between developmental squad and reserves? Is Lleget playing for the developmental squad now?

    Reply

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