Graham Potter made team more than the sum of their parts; West Ham 3-2 Fulham
It cannot be overstated how miraculous a job Graham Potter has done in reinvigorating morale at West Ham.
Whilst the Hammers’ 3-2 victory against Fulham at the London Stadium had elements of fortune, the win was firmly rooted in hard work and team spirit.
Far too often during Julen Lopetegui’s short reign as West Ham head coach, it felt like goals came from individual brilliance rather than cohesive team efforts. However, in Graham Potter’s first game against the Cottagers, the determination and collective ethic from the entire squad were unmistakable.
No doubt, Potter’s ultimate ambition is to implement technical and attacking football, but there’s no question that he is also a pragmatist. He would have fully recognised that his first two tasks in the Hammers’ hot seat were to shore up a leaky defence and unify a dressing room that had too often been fractured this season.
While the Irons’ victory over Fulham wasn’t a masterclass in technical skill, it was a display of a manager making the most of his resources and bringing the squad along with him.
Under Lopetegui, it often felt like no one truly understood the team’s identity. In stark contrast, West Ham’s performance against Marco Silva’s side had clarity and purpose from the very outset. Potter’s game plan was clear, and the players never wavered from their task
yeah, true Gonzo. i was worried when i saw the line-up (Rodriguez!? 😬) and formation. but hey what do i know? to have everyone on board and at it in the last 2 outings has been nothing more than a revelation. more, and better, to come. bring it on!
This is like something out of Hogwarts, had a magical effect on the players, boy oh boy Hughie RIP would be buzzing. Add the first half against Villa which was sublime, thanks gaffer,
I discovered today that the character ‘Harry Potter’ is actually a West Ham fan!!!
it’s obviously in the family 😁
Gonzo please stop saying Potterball…..it’s naff!
Probably easier for you to write your own blog and send it in mate.
Everyone has one irritation of another and I really can’t construct a piece that will suit everyone.
The list of words people don’t like is extensive.
Cheers mate
In just a couple of days Potter has not only gained the trust of the players but also shown what an absolute disgrace Lopetegui was in every aspect of his approach to coaching a football team. Every bad performance during the last 6 months was directly attributable to him, he did nothing right, and the players are showing it. With a decimated team, Potter has been able to provide a glimpse of what this squad is capable of with a little bit of trust, encouragement and positive direction. I hope they all buy in to it and decide to stay and show that we were very careful what we asked for.
Have a feeling that Hughie Rip is chuffed, at last a manager who in a ridiculously short time makes you feel good, many thanks gaffer.
Yes indeed my friend ❤️
Graham Potter is a shrewd coach. Once he’s signed the players he needs, and the injured players are available for selection again, we’ll start seeing what Potter can really do.
Spot on mate, I reckon you could probably smell that team spirit in the stadium, it was certainly visible on the screen I watched from afar. Got a really good feeling about this manager and just hope it all comes together for our club.
Yes Frank, really exciting mate, Can’t wait to get a few players back from injury and a transfer or two.