English Premier League side West Ham United was linked with American defender Antonee Robinson earlier this summer and took the next step in scouting the left back this weekend.
Hammers boss David Moyes was in attendance on Saturday at Charlton Athletic to see Robinson play. Wigan Athletic earned a 2-2 draw at The Valley with Robinson registering one assist in a 90-minute performance.
West Ham is reportedly hoping to acquire two full backs this summer with the club all but safe in the Premier League. After a 3-1 win over Watford on Friday, the Hammers sit six points from the relegation zone with two matches remaining.
Robinson is in his first full permanent season at Wigan Athletic after spending the 2018-19 season on-loan from Everton. The 22-year-old is also being watched by fellow Premier League club Leicester City, as well as EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion and Serie A side AC Milan.
The U.S. Men’s National Team defender missed eight matches this season due to a groin injury, but has been a star performer for the Latics since resuming league play. Robinson was named to the EFL Championship Team of the Week two times and in total has made 37 league appearances.
Robinson’s also earned seven caps for the USMNT, last appearing in a July 2019 friendly defeat to Jamaica.
Wigan Athletic are set to be deducted 12 points by the EFL due to the club going into administration in early July. Paul Cook’s side are currently 13th in the league table on 58 points, but a deduction of 12 points would see them dropped into the relegation zone with one match remaining.
The Latics play host to Fulham on Wednesday knowing a win paired with other results would see them fight off relegation to League One. Should the club suffer relegation, Robinson could be on the move elsewhere in order to avoid falling into England’s third tier.
If he could play regularly, I think it would be best if he goes to Milan. The Italians really know how to play defense and that could really help his development. He will probably prefer to stay in England, though, and if he makes an EPL team, that would certainly be good. With him, Dest, Yedlin, Brooks and either Long, CCV or Miazga to pair with Brooks, our defense could be special.
Not sure what you’re on about Gary: Dest is 18, Yedlin has failed to make any discernible progress since 2014, Long is exceptionally mediocre and lacking nuance, CCV has never played a minute of top flight soccer, and Miazga has arguably regressed since his days at Nantes, where he struggled there as well on an occasion or two with his mentality. Brooks is the only, yes only, proven intl level commodity. Despite his occasional setbacks.
The only thing you touched on rooted in reality is that we’d prefer not to have Robinson stuck with Moyes – however, if he can start and contribute in the prem, then yes, I’d take that for a year or two over a lack of guarantee at Milan for the time being. Cmon Gar.
I don’t know how you can say Yedlin hadn’t made any progress since ’14 when he went from a player that signed for Tottenham but unfortunately couldn’t get on the field for them, which is nothing to scold him for considering players of higher pedigree have gone to the same club and have had to transfer because it’s a huge club, to being thee starting RB at Newcastle. He had been the clubs starting RB since then until last year, when injuries started to hit.
What I’m on about is performance. Before Steve Bruce took over at Newcastle, Yedlin was almost an every game player for Newcastle in the EPL. Dest is being sought by a number of top clubs according to press reports and was a regular starter for a Ajax team that does well in the CL. His age is an asset as he stands to get better. Miazga was a regular starter in Holland. He actually had a bad deal at Nantes and seems to be doing well in the Championship. CCV has been getting a lot of praise at Luton. My judgment of Long is based on what I saw of him in previous international games and the fact that he was supposed to be a possible target for European teams (West Ham for one). I’m not comparing us to the top half dozen national teams, but to CONCACAF and not even Mexico has players at the same level as our defenders. Almost all of the Mexican defenders play in Liga MX which is still not at the level of many European leagues.
Don’t discount Chris Richards. He may be ready. CB pairing could be Brooks and Long though.