Ollie Scarles has been fully integrated into the West Ham first-team squad this season.
And rightly so. Ollie Scarles is a very talented young player, and if he continues to work hard, there’s every chance that he will have a long and successful Premier League career ahead of him with West Ham.
The 19-year-old has made five Premier League starts for the Hammers this season, and Graham Potter clearly rates him very highly.
Ollie Scarles has admitted that he must improve his defending for West Ham, and the fact that he’s aware of that fact is a very encouraging sign.
David Moyes told the West Ham owners that Ollie Scarles would become a Premier League player back in 2023.
And it seems like the Scot has already been proven right.
The Hammers fans are very excited about Scarles, and that’s completely understandable.
However, that excitement needs to be tempered slightly for the teenager’s own good.
West Ham fans need to take a chill pill with Ollie Scarles
There is a real argument to be made that Emerson Palmieri is actually a better player than Scarles.
The Italy international is proven at the very highest level of the game.
And some Hammers fans are calling for the 30-year-old to be given more game-time.
The thing with Scarles is that he is a very solid performer. He offers real energy and pace down West Ham’s left-hand flank.
However, it has been noticeable that the 19-year-old often chooses to pass backwards or sideways.
The feeling is that Scarles needs to become more progressive in his passing and the way that he carries the ball, if he really is to reach the top level.
It just seems like the youngster is more focused on not making mistakes than he is making a difference for the Hammers during the build-up play.
And that’s why Potter should consider giving him a break from starting for the first-team.
Ollie Scarles’ development could be hindered at West Ham
It’s clear to see why Potter is giving Scarles so many starts.
The West Ham fans love seeing talented young players come through the ranks and on into the first-team starting XI.
Giving the left-back regular action was, and still is, a sure-fire way for Potter to get the Hammers fans onside.
However, and this is a delicate matter to broach, the 19-year-old has looked out of his depth at times when he has played this season.
Forcing the narrative that Scarles is a world beater this early on in his career could prove to be detrimental to his development.
The West Ham fans need to give Ollie Scarles time to develop into the player he undoubtedly has the potential to become.
The teenager isn’t quite there yet, and everyone needs to be a little more patient when it comes to Scarles, Potter included.
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