Gerhard Struber felt ‘sad’ for George Earthy after leaving the West Ham United loanee out of the Bristol City squad for the 2-2 midweek draw with Wrexham.
A couple of days later, as the Robins’ wings were clipped by the Swans of South Wales, Struber was not the only one of a Bristol City persuasion expressing sympathy for the struggling England Under-21 international.
George Earthy’s return to Ashton Gate, where the West Ham United starlet won the Young Player of the Year award in 2024/25, was not supposed to go like this.
What would YOU tell George Earthy as he struggles at Bristol City? 🔴 🐦
Struber could not wait to work with Earthy, once a loan deal was agreed in January. It would quickly become apparent, though, that there is not a natural spot for Earthy in this Bristol City side.
Scott Twine and fellow January signing Tomi Horvat had nailed down the starting spots behind the lone striker. So, when Earthy was finally handed his first Championship start since January 24th during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Swansea, it came not in an attacking midfield role, but on the right-hand side of a five-man defence.
- Sign up here to tell us your view!
West Ham United loanee George Earthy plays at wing-back in Bristol City loss
What is it with West Ham players and being forced into unfamiliar, ill-fitting full-back roles? At least, at the London Stadium, that strange Ollie Scarles, Aaron Wan-Bissaka experiment, when Nuno fielded the duo on their opposite flanks, ended pretty quickly. Albeit only after blowing up in the head coach’s face.
On the banks of the Severn, Struber might not be in a rush to field Earthy at right wing-back again any time soon. The 21-year-old started on the flank due to the ongoing absence of usual starter Ross McCrorie.
An afternoon which started with a neat little nutmeg but would end, some 65 minutes later, as Earthy made way.
“So we’ve gone back to playing Earthy in his best position I see,” one irate Bristol City supporter wrote on X, his comments dripping with sarcasm and no little confusion.
“[Sam] Bell should be playing on this right-hand side. Has a great record in this fixture and is fit/on form. Earthy is being played instead, in a position which clearly doesn’t suit him,” another snaps.
No Todibo or Magassa? 🤔
What is your take on who should START for West Ham today?
Gerhard Struber is struggling to find a role for Earthy
Presuming Twine and Horvat keep their place, and McCrorie returns, there may be a real chance that Earthy does not start another match until the rearranged FA Cup fourth round tie with Port Vale on March 3rd.
“I feel, for him, sad,” Struber said before a defeat which leaves Bristol City at risk of falling four points adrift of the play-off positions, via Bristol Live. “He is a big, ambitious boy and he creates [a good impression] in the training good performances and in the games also.
“But in the end, I have a really big competition at the moment in some positions. And then it’s sometimes also a topic of the competition that someone is not in the roster.”
“I think, of course, right now he has to be a little bit patient, but also he should work further on a good level.
“[In training this week] he was great. His personality, his character, is top, and I like George Earthy. The time for game time will also come for him, and he deserves it.”
He also deserves the chance to show what he can do in a role which best suits his talents.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
