The coaching qualities of West Ham’s manager were shown out for what they really are, live in front of millions of Sky sports viewers last night. Whilst neutrals would have smiled and shaken their heads, fans of the three newly promoted sides, Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley must have been celebrating.
Like the tale of the emperor’s new clothes, Potter’s coaching and management skills have been found out. A load of puff and hype and fancy management-speak of “positivity”but naked and hollow behind the words.
Five wins in twenty one games: Potter now has a worse Premier League record than when he was fired from Chelsea. And I write as one who was ‘pro’ his appointment believing that he couldn’t be worse than Julen Lopetegui.
Wrong. As a coach he’s taken several overpriced, overpaid, bang-average players (with a few exceptions) and made them muddled, disjointed, un-coordinated and clueless. He’s sold one of the side’s talented mavericks more than likely because he couldn’t control him and the ownership needed the cash because they couldn’t run their affairs better.
After five wins in twenty games and a thrashing at the hands of local rivals, in days gone past we’d have woken up to news that Potter had done the decent thing and resigned and at least kept his dignity intact. News would have come from the club simply that a caretaker had been installed whilst a new Manager was found.
It doesn’t work like that now because Managers have such vast sums of money on the line by waiting to be sacked -and getting a multi-million payoff -that they will cling to the job every bit as ferociously as Kate Winslet’s character clung to the wreckage as the Titanic sank.
And sink the SS West Ham United will. Without action.
Sullivan can do one of two things – double down on his decision to back Potter with new signings in the next seven days, or fire him today, bring in midfield reinforcements and focus on finding someone to dig the club out of the mire. Again.
Do nothing, Mr Sullivan, and you’ll be playing into the hands of your co-investor across the Channel. Should he choose, Daniel Kretinksy can wait a year and pick up the rest of the shares for a controlling interest in this club for less than half their current value as the Irons slip into the Championship. Your call.
Will you send Potter’s mate Karren Brady out on another mission to pretend everything is ok and claim that ‘West Ham back their managers’ as if that is something to be proud of? Last night’s evidence is staring everybody in the face, much like a driver who ignores the red engine management light flashing wildly and then being the only one shocked when the car disintegrates two miles down the road.
Or look beyond the short term implications of the ‘cost’ of paying Potter off and see the danger of ignoring the signs. Because much like the Emperor’s new clothes, everyone who watched that game last night saw the naked truth.
You are absolutely right Martin in saying that managers, and even players today, have every incentive to hang on and pick up a few more millions. Their pay should be an agreed basic plus a results based bonus system that does not reward failure.
It’s hard to understand what Potter is trying to achieve.
It seemed to be relying on the academy and developing young players. Buying young prospects.
Now he’s playing the same players that failed last season and tactics that don’t seem to suit them. Why are all three centre backs so bad? The midfield he keeps picking we know is the worst in the league. Maybe that combination excuses the front players but they aren’t playing well.
The whole team isn’t performing and he keeps doing the same team pretty much.
Hard to understand how getting rid of Kudus and Alvarez helps.
The club seems lost and confused.
The only way to solve this is get rid of SULLIVAN!!!!
The managers we have had over the years all have good accolade or better previous employment. They come here and their career is ruined. If we had Guardiola he would fail!!
Football cannot be run by expecting a manager to work miracles or that one player makes a team.
The boards inability to buy players that improve the club, or to invest in the facilities to improve the players is what this is all about. Potter may be seen as poor but, like a ship that sinks because of holes in its bow, you can’t blame him.
The board do not know how to run a football club, and that’s it, nothing else.
The players also need to take responsibility and I would start by removing Bowen as Captain. He may be the best performer on the pitch, but he isn’t Captain material regardless of what his father in law thinks.
Well said and spot-on Sir! We can all see through it!
Personally, I think it would have been better to wait before replacing Areola with Hermansen. The backline needs time to adjust to a new goalkeeper. Football is a game of fine margins, and West Ham could just as easily have come away with two wins. The calls for quick changes to the lineup that are often made on this forum are, in my opinion, not very well thought through. I’ve personally felt that Areola’s goalkeeping has developed really well.
Good points Martin. How have we sunk so bloody low in such a short time and completely wasted £105 million from Dec’s sale? I suspect he was watching on last night with his fingers covering his eyes wondering why he stayed so long out of sheer loyalty to West Ham, and if it could get even worse. Potter is an absolute disaster, good on management and sports science theory but it’s all talk and no delivery. Lopetegui’s record was 20 games, 6 wins, 5 draws, 9 defeats total 23 points before being sacked. Potter 20 games, 5 wins, 5 draws, 10 defeats and 20 points, the worse record since Avram Grant. 2 goals from crosses against Sunderland and another 5 against Chelsea, so much for concentrating on the basics after last week’s humiliating defeat against a newly promoted team with 7 players making their debut. An embarrassing 8 goals conceded in our first 2 games for the first time in our top flight campaign. He is the first West Ham manager in PL history to fail to get into double figures for points in his first 10 home games with just 9 points after just 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats. What the hell were they doing in close season when they had time to work on team formation, tactics and identifying players for the transfer window knowing how many players were leaving? What coach continues to pick a midfield who cannot run and defenders who cost over £100 million but none except for WBS would even make the starting 11 in any other PL team? Bowen must wonder if his England career is threatened if he stays at the club, without him we are screwed.
One week left in the transfer window, Sullivan should act today and sack Potter and dust the cobwebs from his wallet, but the question remains what decent players in Europe would want to join us after that s—- show even if transfer funds were available?
No sorry I’m not having it. Potters a good manager but he had average players playing against world class players. That was the difference.
We must bring in new manager today or we are going down
Give a new manager the chance to pick a couple of players he wants to buy
The whole set up of the team was so open
My god I could not watch, it was so sad seeing the fans walk out after all their efforts to turn up
We are back to where we were no improvement only 5 wins.
Not on Potter needs to go
Brady and Sullivan too
From a very upset fan, who can not bare to watch
I was at the game in my new seat an eternal optimist as most HAMMERS are hoping for a new start! When I saw potters line up my heart sank.He kept the same 3 centre backs that were so poor against sunderland and also ward prowse and soucek who are so slow.I thought the first 1t minutes we played wel on the counter attack and paquetas goal was sublime.We were unlucky when fulkrug goal was chalked off due to todibo being offside.Then it was one way traffic the rest of the 70mins that remained.I have never felt so low as a west ham fan of over 50 years! Sullivan and Brady are the real problem as he just asset strips our club through player sales and loans against the training ground.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
We are sick of feeling so depressed by the mismanagement of west ham united by Sullivan and Brady.When you look around the premier league and Bournemouth Brentford Brighton crystal palace and Fulham are all run on less profit and smaller crowds etc And they have all improved considerably why we have fallen like a rock being thrown into a pond.WEST HAM UNITED will definitely be relegated with this manager and players and SULLIVAN and BRADY in charge.The writing was on the wall 3 years ago and nothing has been done since!
What a @@@@ article. Bang average players? It’s worse than that. We have an entire defence of wishy washy cowards that can’t head the ball, we have the premier leagues most uninspiring and insipid midfield, and a couple of slow old strikers. Good luck to any other manager who has to take over this squad. It needs proper squad building and a plan, not constant managerial changes. We’ve allowed it to get into such a mess that this is now not going to get done in 1 summer. The problem at the club is at the top. It starts and ends there.
Nope… I cant see anything in a better light this morning than I did last evening either – That was truly hopeless, we’re miles away from picking up points.
I think Sullivan needs to do both things, he needs to bring in the two midfielders because all of ours are too slow with the exception of Potts who cannot do it all while trying to break through too.
And he needs to look to replace Potter who has made no positive impact at all, not even a temporary new manager bounce. Potters going anyway isn’t he, it’s only a matter of time so the time may as well be shorter rather than longer. But that’s two duff managers one after another, poor appointments, which is Sullivans own. Christ we’d be better off drawing straws than allowing Sullivan to make the decision.
The coming weeks aint going to be pretty.
Brilliant. Well said sir!
Changing manager? What good would that do they would still need backing from the board.
That’s obviously not going to happen judging by current situation.
Bid £57m_Duran / Sold kudus_£55m / Saving over £0.5m per week wages plus Alvarez wages_£117,000 per week.
How can there be no money to bring players in?
Words cannot describe the way the club is run . Last nights effort was possibly the worst display by a Prem team of all time . Potter does not have a clue but marginally in his defence is the fact that Sullivan has created a situation that no manager in the world can resolve . The club is run like a badly stocked corner shop and is the laughing stock of the football community . He let Moyes run the squad into the ground and then wasted all of the momentum and monies raised from Rice sale with free transfers and over the hill ex internationals . Zero development from within and a possee of unsaleable veterans with no hunger , pace and love of the club .
Potter continues to make awful selection decisions . W.P. is not a Prem player and apart from a stunning ability with set plays which has long since passed never was . Kilman is the worse centre back in the league . Others around him get the blame and he hides . Last night WdS was made the scape goat but in all reality if each goal is analysed where was Kilman ? First goal ,static in front and in the way of the keeper ( another great purchase !!?? ) loses the ball to Delap way outside the area and leaves a gaping hole for 3 chelsea players to run into . etc etc . He did not contest a header at any of the set piece goals (at either end of the pitch) and then Potter takes off Tolibo and leaves Kilman on . Not enough time or energy to write about the midfield .. WHAT midfield ?????????covers it all .
Sullivan is about to learn that selling seats is not as easy as selling porn which actually takes no business acumen whatsoever . Him and the “Lady” ruined Birmingham and are now doing the same to our wonwerful club .Relegated before the Xmas decorations come down . So sad .
This guy has always been a dreadful manager and it’s only now that all those who were lauding him when he replaced Loppy are beginning to see it. Loppy was a dreadful appointment but think he was better than potter. The problem is with this bunch in the boardroom we are destined to repeat this doom loop cycle with someone like Cooper or Dyche or even Jose. They should have given Will Still a try or even try someone within the club. McKenna had a bad season last term with Ipswich but threw away so many games from a winning position, if they hadn’t we would be playing in the championship now. I would get shot of potter asap and go for McKenna
Sullivan needs to eat humble pie and buy a GOOD manager out of contract.
His “Car Boot Sale” of appointing managers will get us relegated.
Employ a good manager and the rest will follow – we could have got Frank, last season.
Iraola, Marco Silva, are good managers who know their stuff.
Potter is totally clueless, don’t blame him blame who appointed him and the rest before.
Problem is, I can see Gary O’Neil, Michael Carrick or some other out of work second rate choice coming in. If that happens, then turn the light off and lock the door …..
Look at the picture above young Freddie Potts is telling Max Killman
Why did we bought you for nearly 40 quid,sorry 40 million!!!!
The picture says it all.
Potter couldn’t manage a p1ss up at a brewery . Sack him now and employ a chimp or a rabbit if need be as the coaching couldn’t be any worse .
Well said Martin and you are spot on .
My son and Couldn’t remember a game against Chelsea when the atmosphere was so dour .
Potter’s football and his dour presence has turned the whole club into a downward spiral .
Potter has to be sacked simple as that .
We need a manager to make us all smile again.
Oh for a young Harry to come in ,make a couple of jokes , telus we are down to the bare bones but find a couple of transfer mavericks to rally the team .
I know the board has been poor but surely not one fan can say Potter has improved the side . His style of football , or lack of it , has been sideways football .
He knew how poor the midfield and defence were last year but played the same old players preseason rather then fully unleashing our young players .
He has no sympathy from me and will struggle to find another job in the UK leagues .
You are completely missing he point it’s SULLIVAN that is the main culprit and no manager even klopp could work within his constraints.Potter hasn’t been backed so can’t build a team that works! We can’t keep getting a new manager in every couple of years we need stability. Sullivan should paid Marko Silva or Thomas franks buyout clause would’ve saved all this trouble
This is true but there is no aspect of the team that works except maybe the full backs.
We were never going to get much against Chelsea but basic competence should be expected.
Centre backs that can’t lead, defend or head a cross at the goal! Slow not defensive not creative midfielders – same every game.
The score line and manner of the defeat hurt, but not as much as the overall performance.
Coming after the poor effort at Sunderland all the noises from West Ham were we were going to see a reaction. We did, for 6 minutes.
As soon as we scored, we sat back and swiftly folded as mistakes followed mistake leading to dropped heads, reduced effort and a total lack of cohesion.
I still want to give Potter time but that is becoming very hard to argue. He wanted a preseason to imprint himself and his standards on a smaller squad. He’s had the time and certainly has the smaller squad!
Why the club haven’t brought in the young, fast energetic midfielders is beyond me. Sullivan’s incompetence? Potter asking for the defenders/keeper to be prioritised as he wanted to sort the defence out?
Potter is showing signs of already being under pressure and stress (which I feel for him) but he is not helping himself by not getting a team on the pitch which can do the basics of defending solidly.
If we are as short of cash &/or restricted by PSR as much as the club claims and thus cannot afford to sack Potter or get in the midfielders we need then finishing 17th will be an achievement ………and season ticket renewals will be the lowest yet given the conversations I’m hearing around me at the ground and on the train.
Martin there is no PSR issue, it is an utter lie the club has put out, we would need to post PL record breaking losses of over £200million to get close to a PSR issue and we are not close to that.
Fortune does always seem to be hiding, and dreams do always seem to fade and die, but we live in hope…
Well, this is nothing new. It goes all the way back the Pellegrini days where we regularly got stuffed. For some reason it doesn’t matter which manager or players we have the Hammers have leaked too many goals. I have said in the past we have a good season or two and then we have about 10 seasons of mediocrity and possibly relegation.
Another gripe… the game is now ruined because clubs have spend millions each transfer window on mainly average players just to be competitive in the league or to try avoid relegation. Absolutely crazy!
At 69 my following the Hammers has waned. 😏
Moyes started the erosion we were at Brighton needing a point to qualify for champions league! Leading 1- 0 at halftime and he takes off Antonio and another and brings on 2 more defenders we lost the impetus and lost 3-1.Then he doesn’t buy a striker ie gyncores from Coventry who was available for £19m.The guy was a coward when asked why didn’t you buy a striker said as if you get the wrong one it will cost you your job!!! Then he wouldn’t bring in any younger players to reinforce the team and he left us with a bunch of older players
Why do you think he sold kudus, because he wanted to or had to to bail out the poor decisions of others to raise some money?
Nothing will change all the time Sullivan is in charge-the constant problem,more so without David Golds influence. I am not sure any manager could get a tune out of this squad. We needed a decent start but as ever we have penny pinched on a couple of months salary and here we are- under pressure, know one will want to join and we will be left to overpay either now or in j@nuary. A shambles
You have summed it up nicely Martin.I stayed until the end last night probably because i wanted to give my chorus of disproval to the team,Potter but mostly to Sullivan and the board.
If we don’t bring in a couple of decent midfielders we are f****d.because you can’t keep polishing a turd!
Great article Martin. Very considered when no doubt like most of us it’s either anger or comfortably numb to it all.
We all know the answer. We’ll give him time, get in a couple of last minute loans, and then sack Potter at Christmas.
Pointless as it is given the guy running the circus will pick the next guy.
We were on a downward trajectory with Moyes but we wouldn’t be in this mess had they kept him on.
Utter madness on my part but I’m wondering if you do give it to Noble until the end of the season. You can see one uninspiring appointment a mile of with a certain ex Burnley manager out of work who like to work on a budget.
Rinse and repeat.
While I understand it takes time the reality is that his system is not suited to the players we have and he seems to stunned to change or is club! Same shape week in week out demonstrate a lack of game / opposition strategy. Yes it’s 2 games but can anyone actually see any difference on the previous 20 or so?old saying, keep doing the same thing and expect a different result is first sign of madness.
If you state you want young fast players in midfield and then leave exact that on the bench you have lost the plot but of course he won’t do the decent thing will he
The ‘naked truth’?
Is that truth that Chelsea have spent over £billion on the squad, while West Ham have spent maybe a fifth of that.
Forget the money spent, that is another story but one most definitely to be laid at the door of our utterly useless Chairman. The fact is Potter has chosen a system his players are not good enough to play, they get pulled all over the place as a result leaving gaps all too easily exploited by the opposition. That is on Potter, he needs to go back to 442, banks of players leaving no gaps and move forward from there. He chose to start poor Hermansen, who hadnt played a competitive match since Apr due to injury and no he has his confidence challenged, when it was not necessary, Areola should have started as No1. He won’t be fired as he is Sullivan’s patsy and if he were gone then all the ire would be focused on Sullivan and he’d have to pay compensation. If this is togetherness I’d rather not have it thx. Difficult to see where a point is coming from if Potter persists with this system, and why would you leave a club to come to us as is.
Lots of well run premier league teams have spent small amounts of money ie palace Brighton brentford Fulham etc and can compete with chelsea it’s SULLIVANS fault and nobody else! He asset strips the club sells our only decent players and takes loans out on any assets we have! He needs to resign with Brady now!!!