**You have to feel sorry for top West Ham youth prospect Ollie Scarles.**
Ollie Scarles once looked set to lock down the left back position as his own. After Emerson’s form dropped, he stepped up when he was needed. However, one bad game against arguably the best right winger in Premier League history, led to his downfall.
His game time became limited and the signing of Diouf was made in the Summer, who has turned out to be one of the Hammers’ best players this season.
Scarles first big opportunity of the campaign came against Brentford on Monday. Frustratingly, despite Diouf being on the bench, Nuno decided to (for some unknown reason) play him at right-back and Kyle Walker-Peters at left-back.
Played out of position after a lengthy time out of the starting XI, and in a side destined to be battling relegation, it’s no surprise that his performance wasn’t the greatest.
However, what confuses me the most is the reaction of the fans. Instead of encouraging one our own to do their very best, the East Londoners have – for the most part – been beyond eager to jump on his back.
Unless we get behind our youth players, accept they’re going to make mistakes, and give them the game time they need, then we’re never going to have any youngsters break through.