West Ham should not need to look over their shoulder at this stage of the season, but sixteenth spot now – below Everton on goal difference- and ten points above the drop zone is hardly a comfortable position to be in, heading in to the last 14 games. Thank heaven for Leicester (17 points) Ipswich Town (16 points) and Southampton (9).
Only time will tell how much of the team’s early season malaise was down to Lopetegui’s toxic coaching environment, but the ‘new-era’ style of play has already uplifted supporters and attracted warm fuzzy comments from pundits. But talk doesn’t put points on the board and West Ham need them. In theory, the rubbish form of the three bottom clubs means the Hammers are safe but from a supporter’s point of view we will all feel much happier getting another 12 or 15 points. At least.
Amongst the players, Lucas Paquetá certainly attributes all to Graham Potter’s influence. His goal nine minutes into Potter’s regime, according to Paq- man: “was the start of me getting back to my old self on the pitch. So, I think that confidence, between him making things very clear to me, what I can do, what I should do, has given me a lot of confidence to do my best. (whufc.com) .
Quite how much player morale and confidence was deflated by Lopetegui is only really now becoming clear. We will probably never know the full story. But the leaks, the bust ups, the want-away payers – all is vanished inside six weeks.
Now we just need some points on the board to show for all the fine words, growth of confidence, better coaching. Brentford go into the game tomorrow with the same well-rested squad having suffered the same early exit from the FA cup as did West Ham – in their case being booted out by Plymouth.
However one major doubt is goal keeper Mark Flekken who missed the last game with a side strain. The Bees have a lively new right wing back with pace and power: Should he get his Premier League debut, Michael Kayode – on loan from Fiorentina- is definitely one to watch for if he gets on the pitch. Especially since the Hammers aren’t awash with pacy left sided defenders!
I hope Graham Potter’s coaching team have done their homework, apparently, with a ‘killer’ long throw he could turn out to be Thomas Frank’s secret weapon, well able to match anything meted out by Stoke City’s Rory Delap in years gone by. Don’t say we haven’t been warned!
It has been obvious that there are many contributing to this site, including Martin, that either could not or would not read the signs for what they were, but thankfully, there are also many of us who had Lopetegui pegged from September onwards. If the in-fighting, arguing and drop in form of over half the team was not enough of a pointer as to player morale and confidence, the demeanor and general behavior of the coach was enough to confirm that nothing much was going right out of the public view. How anyone could have misread the obvious baffles me, so I can only assume that today’s belief that criticism can only be negative and personal, is the real problem. If anyone thinks Potter is not criticizing any of his squad, you are wrong, it is just about how you do it that is the difference between a real coach and a failure.
I think the effects of Lopetegui were in all likelihood worse rather than better, he wasted the benefits of a relatively injury free period into the bargain…
Ironically the injuries hit along with Potters arrival, it will be interesting to see how he gets on now that he has a few returning. Not just stronger starting elevens but more options from the bench too.
Lopetegui was an out and out disaster.
“I hope Graham Potter’s coaching team have done their homework”
Nah, they’ve not bothered, they know fans on the internet know far more than they do.
Dude, really? You’re obviously a little frustrated if you feel the need to waste server storage space with such a sarcastic, toxic reply. Have a word with Mrs Barry – perhaps she can help relieve some of that angst. 😉
Alternatively, if you don’t like the article, set up your own site or don’t visit this one. The world is negative enough as it is.
🙂 🙂
We have enough cushion so need to worry about relegation.
What needs to improve is to be ready and alert from the starting whistle and not caught napping as so often happens
That’s a very fair assessment, Darkhorse. It is frustrating that we seem so lethargic out of the blocks at a moment in time when we should be raring to go. I don’t know if that’s something GP has observed yet, but it’s definitely a pattern we’ve noticed…