West Ham Discussions For Potter Backup But Lamps Wouldn’t Have Been One

West Ham linked with Frank Lampard

I’ve never been a fan of the international break so soon after the beginning of the Premier League season. As football fans, you just start to get into the rhythm of club football again, the transfer window closes, and then suddenly everything stops.

For West Ham, the timing has been unfavourable once again, with the club forced to pause momentum after a good win against Nottingham Forest. Then there’s the injury to Niclas Füllkrug, his second while on international duty for Germany.

But there’s another indicator that always accompanies the September international break—and that’s the headline-grabbing, ridiculous rumour. I suppose it’s a natural result of websites and newspapers scrambling around for stories, but even by usual standards, reports linking Frank Lampard with Graham Potter’s job are ludicrous.

Even Sullivan wouldn’t appoint Lampard . . . would he?

Let’s be honest: David Sullivan and Karren Brady are more than capable of making underwhelming appointments. However, even by their standards, Lampard would be madness.

Lampard has currently taken Coventry City to the dizzy heights of fifth in the Championship with two wins and two draws.

The former West Ham midfielder did an okay job at Derby County but ultimately failed to deliver promotion. He was tasked with steering Chelsea through a transfer embargo during his first stint at the club and, to be fair, steadied the ship without being exceptional.

His next two forays into management were failures—first as Everton boss and then as caretaker manager at Chelsea in his second stint. To sugar-coat it slightly, Lampard is an average coach who has achieved nothing of note.

I’ve little doubt the story linking him with Potter’s job was fabricated, but it was a strange one to invent. Perhaps it was designed to rile Hammers fans—but it failed because the report was so unbelievable.

That said, I’m certain conversations have been had at West Ham regarding Graham Potter’s future, and no doubt names have been discussed behind the scenes. I just doubt Lampard’s was ever one of them.