Fans will not easily forgive Graham Potter for the undue haste with which he dispatched four of West Ham’s Europa Conference League trophy winners to the transfer wilderness and cut out a big chunk of the Hammers leaders at the same time: Michail Antonio, Lucas Fabianski, Vlad Coufal and Aaron Cresswell were all ‘let go’ in an unceremonious clearout of some of the strongest voices in the dressing room.
Former vice captain and fan favourite Aaron Cresswell has showed true class and a never-ending affection for the club at which he spent eleven years, despite his now lining up for opponents Stoke City who will be serious rivals for promotion next season.
“Aaron Cresswell has set his sights on returning Stoke City to the Premier League this season and hopes former club West Ham will join them…
“I spent 11 years at West Ham, and it was obviously a massive part of my footballing career and life,” he told the Sentinel.
Now at stoke: Former vice captain Aaron Cresswell
“My two kids were born down there, but I’m at Stoke now. My focus has got to be here, and it certainly is.
“There’s a professional element, and do I want Stoke finishing first? Of course.
Do I want West Ham to go up? Definitely. But my main aim is to get this club back in the Premier League. As I say, my focus is on Stoke, not on West Ham” (stokesentinel.com)
Cressie handled the banana-skin interview perfectly and proved the point: Once a Hammer, always a Hammer.
Dare we suggest it, West Ham first, Stoke City second, sounds a perfect end to next season.