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Eggbert Nobacon 11:10 Fri Nov 4
Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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just when may have got a chance too http://www.essexlive.news/yet-another-injury-blow-for-west-ham-as-oxford-is-ruled-out-for-a-month/story-29867946-detail/story.html
OS (16-12-16)
West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly-rated defender Reece Oxford has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the east London Club.
Despite strong interest from some of the biggest teams in the country including Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, Oxford was thrilled to pledge his long-term future to the Hammers.
Oxford is rated one of the best young talents in the English game and has already shown his potential when he became the second youngest-ever player in the Premier League last season.
The tall, ball-playing defender or midfielder made his competitive debut against Arsenal, aged just 16, and produced an outstanding display in a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.
Manager Slaven Bilic has already shown that he is willing to give his youngsters a run in the team if they are good enough and Oxford says that played a major role in his decision to stay with the east London Club.
West Ham have been renowned for bringing through some of the best young talent in the country and Oxford says he would love to follow in the footsteps of former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole and become a major star over the next few years.
Oxford said: “I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now.
“I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season.
“I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps.
“Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved.”
Bilic was thrilled to see Oxford put pen to paper and feels he has the potential to become a world-class player.
The manager, who had similar qualities to Oxford as a player, has no doubts that the teenager has everything in his game to go right to the very top and feels this is a major coup for the Club.
Bilic said: “I am delighted and it is major news for both the Club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United.
“I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it.
“We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him. The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is.
“It is the right decision for him because we are a great Club where he can become a top player.
“He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players.”
Oxford said the prospect of playing at London Stadium in front of nearly 57,000 Hammers fans also played a big part in his decision to stay and feels the Club can achieve big things over the next few years.
The 18-year-old has been forced to miss the last six weeks with an ankle injury, but is expected to resume training next week.
He admitted his biggest dream is to follow in the footsteps of Mark Noble and becoming a future captain of West Ham United.
Oxford added: “This is a great Stadium. We want to pack it out every week and get the fans behind us, like they always are.
“I was fortunate enough to play at London Stadium in the opening game [against NK Domzale in the UEFA Europa League] and it was sold out and that was one of the best days I have had at this Club.
“The fans really get behind you and hopefully we can continue that, as I have always said the West Ham fans are the best in the country because home and away they are always there for you.
“I want to be a part of the squad and help the Club challenge for silverware by winning the FA Cup or Europa League – winning a trophy would be great. My long-term ambitions are to be captain of West Ham United one day.
“I look up to someone like Mark Noble and he has been fantastic towards me. Every day in training he will be getting into me and telling me the right information.
“He wants to make sure that my head is in the game and I am training well. He also wants to ensure I am doing everything right off the pitch and he is a big influence.”
Oxford joined West Ham when he was just 13 and quickly showed his talents as he became one of the best young players in the Hammers Academy.
He was named among the substitutes for the League Cup second-round defeat by Sheffield United on 27 August 2014, aged just 15.
The all-round defender, who strong in the tackle and in the air, as well as being comfortable bringing the ball out from the back, made his U18 debut for the Hammers in a Premier Academy League game at Norwich – even though he was still an U15 schoolboy.
Oxford continued to impress as he made his way up to the Development Squad and was thenhanded a call-up to the first-team in July 2015, when he became West Ham's youngest-ever player when he featured at the Boleyn Ground against Andorrans FC Lusitans in the Europa League.
Bilic was certainly impressed and shocked a number of people in the game when he named Oxford in the starting line-up for the opening game of the season at Arsenal, but the move paid off as the youngster kept Mesut Ozil at bay and showed he could be a major star in the top flight.
Oxford also started against Leicester and went on to make more appearances as a substitute, helping the Club record Premier League wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
He also managed to end last season with silverware by leading the Development Squad to a memorable win over Hull City in the U21 Premier League Cup.
To complete an amazing 2015/16, the teenager also won the Young Hammer of the Year award in recognition of a terrific breakthrough season.
And after playing for England at every level from U16s to U19s, Oxford now has set his sights on making his breakthrough into the senior squad.
“I have been representing England since the U16s and have been captain of the side. I have progressed through to the U19s and was then pushed up to the U20s last year when we got to the Euros last summer and reached the semi-finals.
“I want to push on again, and with the U20s and U21s being involved in major tournaments next summer I would love to be a part of either team. I just want to get playing again.
“Gareth Southgate has shown he is prepared to put the youngsters into the team and hopefully I can catch his attention.”
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
kylay
6:34 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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Chigwell 4:58 Fri Dec 16
I think they mean he can take it out of the back and pick a pass, something we desperately need on our back line. agree with others though that he may need some time to develop.
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Eggbert Nobacon
5:02 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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nonsense
remember Rio marking a peak of his powers Alan Shearer out of a game at a similar age
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Willtell
5:00 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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I think it will happen but he's too young to handle PL CF's like Costa, Lukaku, Vardy and Kane at the moment I think...
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Chigwell
4:58 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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He's described as a "ball-playing" defender. I would expect they are all ball-playing - with the odd exception like Ryan Shawcross. Let's hope that Oxford is not ball-playing in the way that John Stones is.
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jools268
4:18 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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Dont expect to see him starting a game until he only has one year left on this contract.
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Lily Hammer
3:02 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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, 2:50 Fri Dec 16
Ha ha! No, I think he chose to keep that card close to his chest. He can't give away all his secrets.
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Sven Roeder
2:55 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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SirFerg Point 12
NEVER hire people with double (DOUBLE) names ... see Djemba-Djemba , Be-be
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,
2:50 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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Lily Hammer, did SirFerg also say let your young talent go, before giving it a real chance, then buy it back for a world record amount?
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claret on my shirt
2:48 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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I heard he signed a new deal so he could get on the bench because he could not see the game sitting in the stands!
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franksfat&slow&wank
2:47 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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great news, think he will soon become part of the first team line up
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stoneman
2:02 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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I thought Bilic had lost the dressing room according to some on here?
Would you sign a 4 year contract with a manager who had no respect from the players?
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Alex V
1:56 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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>>> He's probably taken some unfair stick over some stuff that may not have even been true.
Probably?
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Sven Roeder
1:48 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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If we are going to persist with a back 3 he should play as the central one stepping out from the back if only to stop this pointless rolling of the ball across 3 men in a line that we indulge in at the moment.
I'd like to see him and Fernandes in our team by the end of the season to liven us up a bit.
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Lily Hammer
1:35 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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*Garbo news!
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Lily Hammer
1:34 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - Signed new deal
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Greta news!
I had Sir Alex in where i work recently, talking to business students about leadership etc. He managed to give all the key basics in 15 minutes, and it all made perfect sense.
Point 2, and there weren't many points, was "Use Your Quality Young Talent." Reason being, if you don't, they will leave and you'll lose them.
Take note, Slav, son.
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Grumpster
12:01 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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Let's start supporting the lad more and hope he's as good as the hype.
He's probably taken some unfair stick over some stuff that may not have even been true.
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Takashi Miike
12:00 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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good news, hopefully ginge will move on in the summer and the two Reece's will get more of a chance of game time. a lot depends on what system slaven persists with. I could also see oggy on his way
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overbyyer
11:52 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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He's already fulfilled his potential by getting one over the owners with a long contract based on a few cameo appearances.
He's played a blinder, as has his parents/agents
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gph
11:27 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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I've a feeling fordstar won't like him, his obvious admiration of Mark Noble and desire to follow in his footsteps.
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Eddie B
10:59 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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Great news!
Maybe when he's back from injury, Bilic might actually give him a chance.
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Josh
10:55 Fri Dec 16
Re: Oxford injured - new deal close?
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Stick him in! Back to near full fitness - better option than Collins now IMO.
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