The transfer window just gone appeared on the face of it to be another opportunity spurned by West Ham after so many seasoned professionals left the club at the end of the season. Sensibly waking up and smelling the coffee, the Hammers management hastily re-signed 40 year old Lucas Fabianski in both an admission of Potter’s mistake in letting him go and the desperate position of the goal keeping department at West Ham. ‘Fab’s experience is certainly going to be needed in the next few months as neither Hermansen nor Areola look top-league quality.
However there is a big positive from yesterday’s Tottenham thrashing, admittedly sitting under piles of rubble from the roof caving in against Spurs. Soungoutou Magassa’s thirty minute debut was significant, inasmuch as he showed enough promise to show that he can become the missing ‘third piece’ of a new -look West Ham midfield.
Fast, athletic and 21 years old, Magassa is just about everything James Ward Prowse is not and should certainly get a start against Crystal Palace alongside Fernandes and a repositioned Paquetá, for whom yesterday’s false 9 starting position looked a big ask.
Potter should be booted out of the door if he even thinks of jotting down’ Guido Rodriguez’ on the starting XI team sheet.
That trio of Paquetá, Fernandes and Magassa makes for a decent ‘spine’ – along with three good full backs and a couple of excellent wingers. West Ham now have a nucleus of a side with which most managers would want to work, compared with the terrible midfield of last season. Potter alluded to it yesterday:
“Cry’s [Summerville] performance I think was good considering it was his first game. I think him and Malik [Diouf] had a really good combination down the left. I thought Kyle [Walker-Peters] and Jaz [Bowen] combined well on the right. Mateus [Fernandes] and Lucas [Paqueta] linked well in the first half.”(standard.co.uk)
And now with debutant Magassa proving a worthy Soucek replacement, the Hammers have no choice but to keep using the France u21 international as ‘Tornado Tom’ has a three game ban. Shame it wasn’t Ward-Prowse.
However, with the right coach in place, West Ham do have a far more capable squad – with shortcomings, of course – than this time last year. Which makes Potter’s mismanagement even more frustrating. But it makes an incoming coach’s job that bit less daunting.
Totally agree, but couldn’t we replace JWP with young Potts?
Soucek being banned for three games is the best thing to come out of that game. He is awful. JWP has run his course and needs to be dropped too for Magassa who looks promising.
Nobody can see what Potter sees in either player. He’s either a misunderstood genius who is playing for something other than premier league points, or he is a misguided lunatic.
As things stand, sadly, I fear it is the latter. I hope he proves me wrong, but neither Soucek nor JWP should be anywhere near our starting 11.
couldn’t agree more JWP just not good enough but start with your best team take them off when they’re tired
I’d like Potter to state why he keeps picking JWP, he sees something that the rest of humanity don’t, which in itself is worrying.
We have a good group of players we are a bit weak central defensively and we are poorly organised in all facets of play. Looking at how Burnley performed against Liverpool have to wonder whether Scott Parker should be on the managerial shortlist ?
He has the fight as a character that shows in his teams and given that’s what’s missing could he be an option if the club dispense with Potter ?
It feels like a fresh start is needed McCauley has identified good players off the field he is worth keeping.
The biggest problem is that there is no backbone in the team.
When Max Kilman arrived I thought that he was the one, following on from where Craig Dawson left off, but the confidence that he showed soon left him.
Every time we concede a corner I shudder because the chance of a goal are better than evens that we will concede, invariably we do.
Admittedly that Potter must go is a fact. Why do the club management insist on bringing in out of work managers. Cheapskates!!!
With Mr Sullivan and co still there we can only hope that one day soon, he’ll discover some other club to ruin (Millwall perhaps).
I agree Martin, there is a team there if it is selected. Drop Hermandsen, Fabianski was turning in good performances at the end of last season. Magassa for JWP who to my mind has not been starting quality for a good time. Fullkrug or Wilson whoever is fit in for Soucek and for hold up play so as the ball doesn’t come straight back at us. That we can’t get out is a major issue as it magnifies defensive shortcomings.
We immediately look a lot less slow, more robust and more ball retentive. No premiership team should be mugs at defending corners which we are, that has to be a coaching issue so more managerial stuff. It’s no mystery most of us here can see it.
John. A leader at the back would also be a terrific help. Bring back Kevin Nolan just to stand and direct. No mystery and not rocket science. The need for someone to voice the manager’s words on the pitch and keep everyone awake and involved is essential.
We need a vocal driver. And sooner the better.
For Potter playing Ward prowse and Soucek together shows he has no idea, Potter out.
What a pity the first name on team sheet is James ward prowse Martin as the three you mention would be head and shoulders better than the ward prowse soucek pivot of doom Potter seems determined to play every game. God knows how he’ll cope in the next 3 games without second touch is a tackle soucek!