Graham Potter

Potter Transforming West Ham’s Stars After Lopetegui’s Struggles

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It’s difficult to think of a West Ham player who wasn’t performing below their usual standard under the guidance of Julen Lopetegui.

Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá, and Edson Álvarez were all performing well below par when the Spaniard was Hammers boss. It could also be argued that, even though captain Jarrod Bowen was still scoring and creating goals, he too was below his best.

Therefore, it’s probably fair to suggest that Lopetegui was making players worse—a big issue when it affects a team’s big-name performers.

Whilst it’s early days under the stewardship of Graham Potter, there are indications he is making West Ham players better. This is clearly demonstrated by the recent form of Lucas Paquetá, who is beginning to resemble the Brazilian with a £50 million swagger we signed from Olympique Lyonnais.

Álvarez had become a shadow of himself earlier this season, but despite his obvious disciplinary problems, the Mexican is beginning to find his best form again.

Kudus is yet to hit full stride, but the green shoots of recovery are there for all to see. He now looks more interested and is working hard for the team.

It will certainly be interesting to see how Potter deploys Bowen, but I suspect he already has a cunning plan for the Irons’ captain.

Summerville could well be another who benefits from the new gaffer’s style of football. The 45 minutes we saw from the Dutchman in the FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa was the best he’s played in a West Ham shirt, which is encouraging.

It’s early days, of course, but the fact that so many players who were in the doldrums under the former regime now appear to be liberated and moving towards their best form is a positive sign for the club

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10 comments

  • Gray says:

    200% right

    Lopetegui managed to devalue our top players. Under Potter it’s like chalk and cheese. Sullivan is the big problem with our club. There will be a big party when he kicks the bucket! He is the root of all our issues at the club.

  • Roland Austin says:

    It’s lovely to see our team starting to play good football, I think that at last we have a very good manager.
    It will be very interesting to see what players we have coming in.
    Then we will start climbing up the league table.
    Exciting times ahead.
    COYI

  • kamir bouchareb st says:

    whay is it this

  • John Ayris says:

    Lopetegui was the mother of all bad decisions. He negatively affected just about everything.

  • Ray says:

    My God, how many times do you need telling? Potter is not making players better, he is simply replacing the childish stupidity of his predecessor with courtesy, respect and a whole lot of knowledge that the other guy did not have (despite the pleas to give him a year to find it). There was never anything wrong with the players, just the management of them.

  • Chet says:

    It’s fair to say Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá, and Edson Álvarez were all performing well below par when the Spaniard was Hammers boss but to suggest that Lopetegui was making players worse is making excuses for the selfish petulence that surfaces when certain players are unhappy with their boss. I didn’t see Bowen give less than 100% despite the ‘under performance’ of some of his colleagues, who were still happy to
    pick up their astronomical wages after strolling around the pitch and having tantrums when substituted, or felt they were not being played in their best position. I was not a fan of Lopetegui but I’m sure he was doing his best, which can’t be said of some of the players, for which there is no excuse. It makes me sick to see the praise now being lavished on Paqueta when he has contributed so little for so long but now seems to be trying a bit harder now he has a manager who will give him a hug. His diving and feigning injury against Villa was absolutely pitiful.

    • Essexiron42 says:

      Well said Chet.

    • jb says:

      Spot on Chet

      Im sure going forward Potter knows who he wants in and out of this current squad..He is well aware of the drop in standards that happened under Loppy..Thats why hopefully we will see some youth players intergrated next season..Players that want to play for the club.

    • Hammersmiff says:

      Well said mate, you’re absolutely spot on.

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