Tottenham have stolen the mantle of being the Academy of Football from bitter rivals West Ham
West Ham were without any academy graduates at White Hart Lane where as Spurs could boast three in their ranks when they beat the Hammers 3-2
WEST HAM have handed over their reputation as the so-called Academy of football to bitter rivals Tottenham as well as three points.
The suspension of skipper Mark Noble on Saturday meant they did not have a single home-grown player in their matchday squad.
Remarkable for a club which produced three English World Cup winners in Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
In stark comparison on Saturday, Tottenham had Harry Kane and Harry Winks in their starting 11 and blossoming midfielder Josh Onomah sitting on the bench soaking up the experience.
All three came through the Spurs’ ranks and have the club’s DNA running through them.
West Ham had 11 off-the-peg purchases comprising nine different nationalities with just two Englishmen.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino revealed even he was surprised by the reaction of young midfielder Harry Winks from Hemel Hempstead, who scored on his first start in the Premier League.
Pochettino said: “I liked it a lot when he came up afterwards in the changing room to say thank you to all the coaches.
“The show was fantastic for all, for the people who work in the academy. He said to us that it is only the start. I said, ‘Come on, now, this is a big challenge’.
“He said, ‘Yes, now I need to work hard but to try to show that I deserve to play’.
“That is the mentality we want. He needs to enjoy the moment but he needs to know that all that comes in the future will be difficult. Now it is up to him. It is very difficult to get in the first team.”
West Ham were a few minutes away from a precious win.
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It would have eased the pressure ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United and the visit of Arsenal the following week.
Boss Slaven Bilic said: “We can take a lot of positives from his game.
“But the three points were there for us. OK, they put on some quality from the bench and lifted their game but we played so well and we looked really good.
“For all that they were dangerous, we were also dangerous.
“We were attacking, yes, but we were playing an attacking side and closing them down.
“And that is the best way to stop them — to defend with the ball.
“We were really good at that and that is why we hurt them.
“And some of my players were really great today. But for only 88 minutes, unfortunately.”