Is It Boomerang Time For The Striker That Got Away?

With the arrival of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez we are reminded just how 'unlucky' Messrs Sullivan and Gold have been with previous strikers - with more than 90% of their previous three dozen or so acquisitions failing to get anywhere close to reaching even double figures in their periods at the club.

During that time, the Hammers signed a young Irish talent to their development squad - Sean Maguire. Arriving from Waterford United in 2013, he was tipped as a potential Cottee-Defoe type striker, but never quite made the grade and returned to Ireland in 2015. Since then he has topped the League of Ireland goal scoring for two consecutive seasons netting an incredible 52 goals in 68 appearances for Cork City.

Still only 23 years old, Maguire has just returned to England, having signed for Preston North End and last night signalled his intentions by scoring an excellent individual goal on his debut against Burnley. Picking the ball up some 40 yards from goal, Maguire carved open the Burnley defence before coolly slotting home from just inside the penalty area - classy!

Maguire looks set to get a call up for the Republic of Ireland senior squad in the near future which will give him an opportunity to demonstrate his talents even further. Who knows. perhaps a return to the Hammers at some point in the coming seasons is on the cards?   

Ex Hammer to get another chance in England

Ex-Hammer Sean Maguire's goalscoring exploits over the past two seasons in the Aitricity League of Ireland have really caught the eye and now have earned him a return to England. During the week he netted a hat trick in Cork City's Europa League game against Estonian outfit Levadia Talinn thus bringing his season's haul to 22 goals in 22 games!

This follows on from a prolific season last year when Maguire was top scorer in the Airtricity Premier League with 18 goals.

Maguire spent two years at West Ham between 2013 and 2015. He was hoped to be the next Tony Cottee, but things stalled at the Hammers and was let go at the end of 2015 after loan periods at Colchester, Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

Now, at 23 and after two season's where he looks to he has signed for Preston North End and will get to ply his wares in the Championship next season and will leave Cork City at the end of July (note the League of Ireland runs over the spring and Summer.

We wish him the very best.

 

Hammers To Re-sign Striker Who Can't Stop Scoring?

Ex-Hammer Sean Maguire's goalscoring exploits continue as the 22 year old has netted 9 times in 9 games this season and Cork City have gone on a record breaking run of straight victories to start the League of Ireland season.

This follows on from a prolific season last year when Maguire was top scorer in the Airtricity Premier League with 18 goals and a total of 28 goals in 43 appearances for Cork City last year, not surprisingly making the Premier League team of the year.

Maguire joined the West Ham youth squad from Waterford United in 2013 and was considered to be the next Tony Cottee, even being likened to Lionel Messi by his youth coach at Waterford!

However, things stalled at the Hammers and he struggled with the physicality of the English game ultimately being let go at the end of 2015 after loan periods at Colchester, Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley. Maguire's shot at the limelight looked to have slipped away.

Now, with his continued goalscoring antics, the talk amongst Cork City fans has turned to a possible return to England. Perhaps instead of trying to lure 35 year old Jermain Defoe back to the club, West Ham should be looking at Maguire?

 

Twenty-Plus Goal Per Season Striker To Return to Hammers?

Back in 2013 a young 18 year old forward joined the West Ham youth squad from Waterford United in the League of Ireland. Sean Maguire was considered to be a major prospect after a series of prolific seasons in Irish football and was snapped up by the Hammers. With a style reminiscent of Tony Cottee, Maguire was even likened to Lionel Messi by his youth coach at Waterford!

However, it never quite worked out at West Ham and he was let go at the end of 2015 after loan periods at Colchester, Sligo Rovers and Accrington. Maguire's shoot at the limelight looked to have slipped away.

However, after a bedding in season at Dundalk in 2015 he moved to Cork City at the start of last season and finally at 22 years of age found his stride. Maguire was top scorer in the Airtricity Premier League last year with 18 goals and managed a total of 28 goals in 43 appearances for the club last year, not surprisingly making the Premier League team of the year. Maguire has also become a regular in the Republic of Ireland's under 21 team and talk is of a return to England.

Who knows, maybe he might make a triumphant return to the Hammers? Either way, as an Ex-Hammer we wish him the very best for the coming season.

 

Another Hammers Striker Slips Through the Net

Maguire nets again in front of a sell out crowd in Ireland

One of the lingering gripes amongst Hammers fans about the Allardyce era was the reluctance to give youth an airing. Allardyce apologists may well point to the infamous FA Cup thumping up at Notts Forest, but in reality there were very few chances for upcoming talent under Big Sam.

Sean Maguire was brought to the club in 2013 after a prolific season as a striker for Waterford United in the League of Ireland first division. After two years in the development squad, during which he went on loans to Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley, 21 year old Maguire was let go in 2015 after a sum total on zero appearances for the first team.

Now he's back in the spotlight. After a stint with Dundalk - last year's winners of the Airtricity Premier League, he is now banging in the goals for high flying Cork City. with an impressive 16 goals in 23 games so far this season, Maguire is now 22 and starting to reach his potential. So much so that a host of clubs in Europe are monitoring his situation, including Sint Truidense and Genk.

Which brings us back to the Hammers. Despite all the talk about the Reece's and Josh Cullen, they have not contributed so far to this season's endeavours and must be getting itchy. Cullen is enjoying first team football at Bradford where he has been compared to Zinedine Zidane, while the Reece's occasionally make the bench even though our defence has been seriously underperforming.

It's hard to feel that we have found the right balance between youth and experience, but if anything we appear to be still much too cautious.

Good luck to Sean Maguire. Once a hammer, always a Hammer!

 

 

Hammers Starlet Impresses at Bit O' Red

The increasing pressure to capture every possible point in the Premiership brings with it the considerable problem that younger players struggle to get any game time at top clubs. As a consequence, loan periods at lesser clubs provide the most effective outlet for developing stars to strut their stuff.

Unfortunately, for many youngsters the period away from the mother ship presents the beginning of the end of their shot at the big time. Often they find themselves just transporting the problem of game time to a lower league as the likes of Charlton and Peterborough also find themselves unable to take risks with less experienced pros in their hunt for league points.

Happily, Jaanai Gordon's loan period at League of Ireland outfit Sligo Rovers has started well, with the youngster scoring the only goal in a preseason friendly against big local rivals Derry City. Playing alongside ex-Hammer Kieran Sadlier, his pace and growing physical strength proved a real challenge for the Candystripes defence. Gordon rattled the bar in the first ha;lf before breaking free to score the winner on the hour mark. Gordon looks to be in good hands with Sligo manager Dave Robertson who previously worked with Jaanai as he progressed through Peterborough's youth ranks.

Meanwhile, ex-Hammer and previous Sligo loanee Sean Maguire is now at Cork City and thus will be hoping to meet up with Gordon when the clubs play eachother on Saturday 2nd April coming.