West Ham United made a mistake letting James Tomkins leave in the summer but are they also regretting letting Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas go too?
West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini celebrates scoring at Palace
The Hammers have struggled this season and got off to their worst ever start to a Premier League season before Saturday’s morale-boosting 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
The Hammers were also embarrassingly dumped out of the Europa League by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu for the second season running.
It is a far cry from last season when West Ham enjoyed their best ever points total of the Premier League era, recorded a first positive goal difference since 1986 and finished just four points off the Champions League places in their emotional farewell campaign at Upton Park.
Since then a huge turnaround of nearly 20 players has seen the squad transformed with 13 new signings and the likes of James Tomkins leaving to join Alan Pardew‘s Eagles.
Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas celebrates scoring
And to add insult to injury fans are watching another Hammers Academy graduate excelling on the Premier League stage in the shape of Cherries midfielder Junior Stanislas.
In-form Stanislas weighed in with two goals and two assists as Eddie Howe’s side stormed to a 6-1 thrashing of Hull City last time out to continue his fine form this season.
His manager, who originally signed him from West Ham for former side Burnley back in 2011 before then taking him to Bournemouth, says it won’t be long until Stanislas receives England recognition after developing his all-important end product.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has applauded Stanislas development
“Junior has done very well this season. The most important thing is he has developed an end product to his work,” Howe told the Bournemouth Echo.
“I think he’s always been an outstanding footballer and technically very good. But now we are seeing the goals and assists, which I think every wide player is judged on.
“He’s got great delivery. It’s one of the first things I noticed about him as a player. He manages to get that whip on his deliveries which is very difficult to defend against. He’s going the right way towards (England) recognition.”
Stanislas that night against Millwall’s in West Ham days
High praise indeed and as most West Ham fans follow the progress of their academy graduates with interest, many might feel it was a mistake to let him go in the first place.
The winger had established himself as a first team squad member and managed a few goals and assists, including a famous brace in a win over hated rivals Millwall.
Some would argue he would not have developed in the way he has without leaving West Ham and learning under Howe’s guidance at a smaller club with less pressure.
But at the moment the 26-year-old is playing like Hammers hero Dimitri Payet and if he continues along those lines West Ham boss Slaven Bilic could well be tempted to try and bring their former player back to East London.
West Ham United’s Gokhan Tore looks dejected
West Ham have ended up with flop foreign imports this summer like Gokhan Tore and Sofiane Feghouli, neither of whom could hold a candle to Stanislas on current form and are undoubtedly costing considerably more.
The Hammers do keep a keen eye on developments on the coast. After all the club was linked with a £25 million double swoop on Dean Court in the summer to try and sign Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie so re-signing Stanislas is certainly not be beyond the realms of possibility.
And the player would no doubt relish the chance to finally prove himself at his boyhood club, now playing in front of 60,000 every home game at the Olympic Stadium.
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