The fact that Graham Potter has now achieved something even his predecessor at West Ham failed to achieve is a damning indictment of the current manager’s negative set up: Six games without a win is not something West Ham’s supporters had to endure under Lopetegui.
Summed up and skewered by journalist Katherine Lucas in the inews.co.uk, this afternoon, her article headed ”
“Graham Potter has been quietly getting away with dross at West Ham : Is an eyewitness account of feeling the mood music at London stadium today:
“Like all relationships built on the rebound, the widening cracks between Graham Potter and West Ham fans are starting to creak. Discontent is brewing at West Ham – and that usually only means one thing”.
Lucas sounds the alarm bells that the emperor’s new clothes have been well and truly revealed for what they really are, as the realities of West Ham’s predicament are reeled off.
“The enormity of the rebuild was obvious when Potter got here but it is now looking more urgent than ever. He has largely been thrown under the bus by a recruitment policy that led to the premature departure of director of football Tim Steidten, with no replacement forthcoming. The consequence: a vacuum of power in east London filled occasionally with hot air from the board about a vision for which there is no real evidence.”
“The danger is that Potter – whose side are averaging fewer goals per game than they were under Lopetegui – is never going to be given the tools he needs to succeed where his predecessors failed. Ever the diplomat, he is towing the party line, insisting they do not need a major overhaul. That is frankly not true.”
The report may point the finger at the very top at West Ham but the current failings on the pitch are of Potter’s creation. That expensively assembled group of players might not be world-beaters but they should not be languishing just above the relegation zone.
Many Hammers fans -along with the board -will now be concerned about giving Potter carte blanche to spend in the summer if he cannot get a tune out of the current crop: If they play like that, the next six games are going to be an endurance challenge for us all.
I am a 40 year supporter and i can see the down fall of the team in every match. If you watch Liverpool or Machester City When the the opposing team has the ball they close them down in there owen area. West ham fall back in there area. every time. On ever game you.witch they always gives the opposing team time to pass the ball around and get there forwards in the right place. Whereas if you don’t give time to move up the pitch and close them down ever time.
I wonder what has happened to Alvarez – I remember he also fell out of favour with Moyes towards the end of last season and he had a well publicized falling out with Lopetegui
So it seems that he was another Steidten buy who didn’t work out in the end – hopefully we get a good price for him
Interesting piece Martin – the good news is that there are only 5 games left this season and we are just about safe with the point yesterday – at least Potter didn’t say “Respect the point”
The bad news is that we are in a mess with managers – a bit like Spurs, Man U and Everton recently – remember that Everton even had Ancelotti for a season and he couldn’t get them to qualify for Europe
Sullivan has never been very good at appointing managers – so we can only hope that we are not in a relegation fight next season
No Martin I don’t agree Potter is not the reason we’re not winning . Too many players with poor attitude that need moving on . It needs more then a few players and needs Sullivan to step up and back Potter
Potter now knows who isn’t up 4 it and who is, bowen, bissaka and kilman IMO are the only players I’d keep (and scarles) all the rest can piss off and mug off another club. There is one thing I don’t like is that bowen is not a captain, give it to kilman as he sees the whole game in front of him, let bowen frighten defenders without that burden
Kilman? Proper fearful centre back that doesn’t put his head where it hurts.
A lot of players aren’t going to be at West Ham next season and it shows. If you know you’re likely on the move or you’ll be trying to find a new contract somewhere else you aren’t going to risk injury. Some of them probably know from their agents what their likely destinations are. You can see it in several players just lacking that yard of commitment that you need in the PL. Some players were underperforming and needed to come off, but the bench is hardly full of obvious replacements. AWB was a huge miss and Summerville’s ongoing injury woes have had a big impact. There will be tears and cries at the end of the season when some well known names move on. Remembering their performances in this game might be wise when that moment comes.
I’ve been very much of the view that I wouldn’t judge Potter this season. But it is becoming difficult.
That said not sure what to suggest if we did roll the dice. Ultimately its still the same bloke picking the next manager that picked Lopetegui. Who is he picking this time if the job was vacant?
Potter has always been notorious for pottering around slowly to avoid losing possession which then allows the opposition to set themselves defensively . NOTE that Westham scored from an old fashioned fast break . Ironically Potter needs to watch some of Moyes’s best matches at Westham in the early years and focus on the rapidity that Moyes achieved with break away goals . Westham are likely to replace Paqueta and Kudus with mediocre players and so unless Potter dramatically alters his tactics Westham are going to be relegated . If Potter can’t get 6 or more points from the last 5 games stylishly he should be sacked . Rumor has it Conceicao will be available after he’s sacked by AC Milan in the summer or maybe Sir Trevor Brooking .
I’ve been backing Potter as he has had to deal with a number of issues, which we all know about, which I can only hope he will address in the next transfer window, but I have to say he has had an absolute howler today, with some bloody awful tactical decisions and substitutions that I still cannot get my head around. What I can’t understand is how he cannot get to grips with why we are so slow in our build up play and deal with the complete lack of movement from our players! What the hell are they doing all week. These are basic things we should be doing and he needs to address this pronto!
One light at the end of the tunnel for next year is George Earthy, he’s just what we need, he is bright, and his movement is first class, always looking to play between the lines, finding pockets of space and quick to find a pass. Get Orford and Potts in too, and hopefully things will look brighter. COYI
With the last manager the players we had wanted to leave, and as a manager you can set up how you like but if the players aren’t good enough then there’s only one outcome. We are still suffering from the poor transfer decisions of the last two mangers and Sulivan poor choice of who did the transfers. Sorry Mr Sulivan you cocked up and now should be getting your wallet out to put it right!
Today was appalling because Southampton are dire. We’re far too slow in our build ups is Potters fault as he should give the players a rocket if that’s not his gameplan.
What were we doing taking off three offensive players at the end, with the exception of Fullkrug who was likely dead on his feet that was wrong.
We brought Mavropanos and Soucek and sat back against the least offensive team in the league, gave them the chance to equalise which they did.
We’re relegation candidates for next season as things stand make no mistake, next seasons promoted three are unlikely to be as weak as this seasons three.
So glad that Fulkrig was honest and open , rebuild around the players that want to be here , the others ????? @@@@ them off . We move on COYIS
Tired of hearing “give him time etc etc” football is a result driven business which potter is clearly not capable of doing, week in and week out complete dross, and decisions made by him which all of us see are wrong , like today, and tired of hearing the same thing in every interview he gives, stop talking a good show and prove it we will go down next season if we play like this
Other than the owners need replacing, the stadium needs replacing, the manager needs replacing and half the playing squad need replacing I think we are in good shape for next season.
Lots of work to be done. Hopefully sooner rather than too late.
Potter is not the problem. He came in with player’s who don’t want to be here. And he can’t motivate player’s who aren’t going to be here next season. Let’s sit tight until next season. Have fairh
Can’t see why he’s playing players who won’t be here next season, get them out of the team now.
We are seriously looking at 8 players needed.
Players are on holiday, none of them are scared about there places.
Absolute shambles, again.
It all comes from the top.
i wanted Earthy to be full time this year, he looked good for us!
Sullivan is the common factor in the club’s latest period of serial underachievement. He is not a good enough club chairman at PL level, and certainly not a competent self appointed de facto director of football. He doesn’t know how to pick good managers or players, and allegedly tries to haggle late on deals so we often lose out. He does not show adequate leadership in terms of promoting a confident, progressive winning mentality and teamwork. In today’s highly competitive PL you have to do better. Sullivan is clearly not the right man for the job as effectively the CEO, and until and unless there is a change for the better at the very top it’s difficult too see the club coming out the current mire and malaise.
I just want to say last week I called our side a championship side at best and everyone was crying like girls here. The squad is rubbish. Listen to Fulkurgs interview. The club is run by morons who have no patience. We didn’t look better than a legit Championship side, we are lucky we are not going down this year.