West Ham academy talent Aji Alese nets wonder goal vs Swansea
Alese nets wonder goal for U23-side
West Ham could have another bright talent on the cusp of emerging from their vaunted academy set-up after a stunning solo goal by England U20 international center-back Aji Alese.
Take a bow, @AjiAlese 👏
An incredible solo goal against Swansea U23s today… 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VcLbRMoJCG
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 3, 2021
The London-born Hammer went on an 80-yard run while beating multiple Swansea players before sliding his effort home; not your typical goal from a stout defender!
Twitter reactions by West Ham supporters were expectedly full of astonishment, humor, and the hope that the club will make him a part of the first-team in the not too distant future and with good reason after a goal of such quality.
Definitely quicker
— Marek Kaczmarski (@MarekKaczmarski) December 3, 2021
Blimey, he’s a unit isn’t he and how great to see a Hammer wearing a number 6 shirt! Class goal fella, keep going! 👏⚒
— Steve Brown (@Steve_Brown01) December 3, 2021
Left sided CB. What we’re lacking right now! Brilliant goal though.
— Dave Brown (@dave_ghanabrown) December 3, 2021
West Ham youngster tipped for first-team chance
There are some that think Aji Alese should be given a chance to make a jump into the first-team set up at West Ham under manager David Moyes this season, and perhaps that theory does have merit to it.
Despite his brilliant solo effort against Swansea for the U23’s, Alese has shown well for the youth side and could follow fellow academy product Ben Johnson into the fold at the London Stadium.
Alese cuts an imposing figure at the back as well, standing 6’4 and coming with a valuable left-foot; something that West Ham could do with in the heart of the backline. Quick on his feet and strong in the air, Alese could offer an in-house solution for the current injury crisis crippling Moyes after Angelo Ogbonna went down with a ruptured cruciate ligament that is set to keep him out for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Europa League group H match between West Ham United and KRC Genk at London Stadium on October 21, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The injury has left the Hammers with just Kurt Zouma, Issa Diop, and Craig Dawson as their only options at center-back which is expected to force West Ham to dip into the market in January as they look to continue their push for a top-four finish in conjunction with their jaunt on the continent in Europa League as they reached the knockout stages.
But Alese being promoted into the first team for the rest of the season would mean the club could save a heavy – and risky – January outlay and opt for the academy route before moving forward in their recruitment next summer. After all; if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 14 | 27 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 14 | 21 | 32 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 14 | 31 | 31 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 14 | 8 | 24 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 14 | -3 | 23 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | -4 | 22 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 14 | -2 | 19 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 14 | -3 | 19 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 14 | -1 | 16 |
| 12 | Brentford FC | 14 | -2 | 16 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 14 | -4 | 16 |
| 14 | Everton FC | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Southampton FC | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 14 | -7 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 13 | -6 | 10 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 14 | -20 | 10 |
| 20 | Newcastle United | 14 | -14 | 7 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 5 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 5 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 5 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 5 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 5 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 5 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 6 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 5 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 5 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 5 |
| Lascelles, Jamaal | Newcastle United | 0 | 5 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 5 |
| Ward, Joel | Crystal Palace | 0 | 5 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 4 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 4 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 0 | 4 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 4 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 4 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 0 | 4 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 4 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Lowton, Matthew | Burnley FC | 3 |
| Reguilon, Sergio | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 3 |
