When you think of West Ham, one thing that comes to mind more often than not is the ‘Academy of Football.’

Certainly, our Hammers fans here in the Transfer Tavern like to tell anyone that’ll listen about the young players they have brought through in recent memory and, to be fair, you can’t really argue with some of the names.

The likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand have all gone on to have stellar careers from their early days with the Irons and so, naturally, the Hammers fans want to see more of the same in the future.

That huge expectation combined with the already high-pressure environment of becoming a Premier League football can cause many young players to shrink away, though, and so only the best of the best are going to make it.

It’s a tough process for sure on the players and our landlord has been looking at who the club have on their books at the moment to compile this list of two players that simply aren’t going to make it with the men from east London…

Luka Belic

Belic is currently on loan with Motherwell, with them currently sixth in the Scottish Premiership.

He’s not really made much of an impression north of the border either and so you get the feeling he may not make it in the Premier League.

If he was good enough for the top flight in this country he’d be tearing it up for his loan club yet he isn’t. He may have to find a new lower level on his return with that in mind.

George Dobson

West Ham signed Dobson from Arsenal and may have thought that they were getting a bit of a coup, but it doesn’t appear to be like that as much now.

The midfielder is currently on loan with League 1 side Walsall and seems a fair bit off of making it with a Premier League side.

He may still prove our landlord wrong but, for now, it’s looking like he’ll have to ply his trade in the lower leagues of English football.

Agree Hammers fans? Let us know below…