Matt Law of The Telegraph has reported that senior West Ham players have given their manager Graham Potter a huge vote of confidence.
Quoting sources inside the club, Law confirmed that Potter still has the backing of his senior players.
The squad are said to believe their gaffer can turn things around, despite a miserable start to the season which has left the Hammers rooted in the Premier League relegation zone.
Senior West Ham players have backed Potter
This revelation begs the question: where exactly are the players getting this belief from? On the pitch, Potter’s West Ham look completely directionless and still appear to have little grasp of whatever tactical plan he is trying to implement.
Senior players are part of the problem
There is also a clear contradiction in the supposed backing from senior players – because, Jarrod Bowen aside, many of them have been among the worst performers. Presumably Max Kilman, James Ward-Prowse, Niclas Fullkrug and Lucas Paquetá would consider themselves senior figures, yet all were poor in Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace.
Where this confidence is coming from is anyone’s guess, because West Ham are getting worse, not better. If anything, it has been Malick Diouf, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville who look most capable of making a difference in Potter’s side.
Perhaps the manager should consider axing a few of his trusted senior pros and instead give the likes of Callum Marshall and Freddie Potts a chance – it may be his last throw of the dice to save his job.
He backs his players the players should back him. The fans should back the players and the manager. In an ideal world that’s how it would be.
I would imagine JWP is one of the senior pros giving his backing to Potter. Let’s face it, the first thing a new manager would do is drop JWP. No wonder he’s probably backing Potter.
Potter has a blockage, no matter what he says, on academy/younger players.
Liverpool introduced Ngumaha,16.5 years bringing him on in Fa Cup and Champions League games.
Man City played 6 young players plus Heskey brothers (17 & 19 yrs) in Carabao cup games .
Players mentioned in article need to be given a chance, Potter needs to change his outlook.
What has he got to lose_nothing and everything to gain_his job and reputation.
Take the bull by the horns.
Why be so obstinate?
It’s a good thing he has their backing, they should start repaying him with performances, Bowen is and Soucek was trying his best, the others if they are trying it’s not translating into results so that might be a problem as you suggest Gonzo and agree, players like Magassa, Potts, Marshall, should be given a shot as should Fabianski in goal he is our best chance at corners and in general to keep the ball out if the net.
Gonzo, although I would love to see 3 or four young guns get on the pitch Monday night with some meaningful time to show what they can do I can’t see it happening. Can you?
I agree Rob, I just can’t see it mate. No reason for him not to really. He might as well try something different
Of course players like Kilman & JWP will back Potter, its the only way they’d ever play football again!!
I bet if they ask the youth, they would NOT back Potter.
The reason they’ve backed him, is they know as soon as Potter is out the door
most of them will follow ! They are all in it together ( few exceptions) but a Championship club will only pay £2m for Ward -Prowse, which is about market value
This fool is totally out of his depth. How can anyone take over from Loppy and make us an even worse side and by some distance.
I remember coming on this site at that time warning of how bad he would be. But many were lauding him (Potter) as the new messiah. And still he has some who still think he knows what he is doing. Hang your heads in shame as many of us warned at the time. Nuff said
So JWP and Guido (and Soucek after the break) will continue to lead the charge into oblivion. If there is any truth in this story, I would question the value of loyalty. If it only applies to the players while the long suffering fans are ignored.
They’re like a cabal, Potter and his ‘senior’ cronies…
Of course they back their manager, because they know they’re playing poorly and will still get picked regardless.
They can all leave together, for all I care. Ridiculous from the players. Keep your mouths shut and do your talking on the pitch, else your word means nothing.
Off course there backing Potter They have got it to easy To lazy and not good enough when the new manager comes in MAKE THEM WORK JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO TO PAY AND COME AND WATCH THIS RUBBISH WEEK IN WEEK OUT
So the players are saying potter isn’t the problem, they are.
Are these senior players JWP and Kilman amongst others, because if so, their word is about as useful as a chocolate teapot!