The statistics for West Ham make grim reading: bottom three, joint-worst goals conceded, most corners given away, and an inability to defend them. In short, the Hammers are easy pickings right now, and most opposition managers will be licking their lips at the thought of playing us.
The board remain silent on the future of Graham Potter, but make no mistake—quiet from club sources doesn’t mean the manager isn’t in serious trouble. Normally, at times like this, we’d hear the familiar line about a boss having “three games left.”
Potter can’t afford to lose against Palace
There was a meeting yesterday to discuss the team’s performance—something that happens regardless of the result—but Potter will have been left in little doubt that results must improve immediately. This time, though, there will be a sense of greater urgency.
West Ham in great peril this time
Ordinarily, the Hammers board only get spooked when the team hovers just above the relegation zone. The difference now is stark: the metrics suggest West Ham aren’t simply struggling, we’re possibly the worst team in the league.
I’d be surprised if Potter survives a heavy defeat to Crystal Palace. Outside sources have confirmed the club have discussed replacements, and there is genuine concern inside the London Stadium over whether he can turn it around.
The West Ham boss tried to point to positives in the Tottenham defeat, and while there were some, time and patience has run out. His record is among the worst in the club’s history, and with protests ramping up the pressure on the board, Potter could soon become the sacrificial lamb used to deflect media attention from David Sullivan and Karren Brady.
Get Kevin Nolan in quickly. Working alongside Potter with a view to eventual takeover. Nolan in charge of first team playing and Potter there to deal with the other stuff.
I’d normally say give the manager ten games into a new season after a bad start, but I just can’t see the necessary changes to team selection or tactics coming from Potter.
It’s time to look to make a bold decision, Mr Sullivan, even before the weekend….Surely you’ve learned something in all these years? Nuno and Keiran are my candidates of choice, both very different and will require patience with their tinkering of our squad. I’d expect to see the visual changes in the first couple of games.
Potter shows no aggression just a look of shock and dismay at the performance of a badly structured team. I bet he will play Rodriguez next now Soucek is banned instead of giving Potts a go or Orford who was deemed good enough to train with the England squad. Don’t know if Mark Noble has the required documentation to manage but if he has then get rid of Potter now and give Mark a try as interim manager until they can get a full time one Maybe he would do a Brooking ? But of course it would mean Sullivan would have to open his pocket and pay Potter off so I suppose we will have to wait until we are so deep in the brown stuff he will have to open the combination to the said pocket
No, Mark N hasn’t done coaching badges ( and anecdotally doesn’t want to)
Great shout but don’t look like it will happen for Mr West Ham . At least Nobes had passion & would call other players to step up
Gonzo , I don’t think we should wait for the Palce game. Potters tactics are not working, the defence are like a sieve . Why Marshall-was not on the bench Saturday beggars belief if Wilson & Fulkrug can’t play . Plus Magassa on the bench when he looks promising. Would like your view on why JWP is being picked ahead of others when he’s too slow and not up to it . Potter has To go now IMO . His record is shocking worse than flopetegui. If I’m right .
Why do people keep mentioning stieden. He’s the one who recommended all the crap players we have and got rid of. 25 million for a n eighteen year old when we have players better than him already in the academy. Absolutel clown
West ham are dead , deceased , no more ,it’s too late even for a defibrillator , although some of the body parts could be donated. 60 years supporting my team and i have experienced good, bad and indifferent times but can honestly say with my hand on my heart ( and I never thought I would say this ) I couldn’t care less if we were relegated, we have a bunch of self serving owners a manager who is totally clueless and players who are almost apathetic at best, zero entertainment value, easy to beat , btw Forest was one off, just watched a re run of a game in the 70s, proper football, just my opinion…..
why not let Sullivans Mrs make the call to get rid of potter am sure she has bigger bol*cks!
The second half against Tottenham was an abject embarrassment. They gave up taking the game and therefore us seriously and swapped half their team out with view to midweek.
What did Potter do, wrong players off, JWP stuck with until the bitter end and look clueless.
I started off in thinking that if the correct eleven were chosen we had a fair chance, and I still think that’s the case. I think we’re underperforming due to the managers decisions not deadbeats.
On that basis Potter needs to go as I believe there are managers who can make a lot more of what we’ve got, some amount of that very quickly.
O what a mess Sullivan and Brady have led us into.
Sullivan has a poor record in appointing managers and has the added negative of thinking he is a competent sporting director, able to identify young talent and negotiate great contracts – deluded.
Our biggest issue at the moment is what ability does the club have to fund change – it appears that the answer is none. Certainly not without selling players.
We only have Bowen and Paqueta who could raise sufficient funds to make a difference at the moment.
Diouf, Magassa and Fernandes may become players of value, albeit the latter cost so much that is debatable, particularly if he has another relegation on his CV!
If I thought Potter would play Magassa alongside Paqueta and Fernandes for a run of games, I would say give him a few more weeks. I appreciate that doesn’t solve the weakness at the back in defending from crosses but may mean we can keep the opposition away from the area to reduce the number of corners and may give the attack more opportunities of scoring. If it means we win 3-2 I’m happy!
However, if we still play JWP, it is difficult to see our form improving sufficiently, particularly if Paqueta is being asked to play centre forward. Or Bowen for that matter.
Potter needs to be ‘brave’ or be ready to be sacked soon.
Needs to watch a few Burnley games to pick up a some tips.
Soucek is out of it next 3 games plus drop JWP play new signings and academy players (Potts/Earthy/Marshall}.
Conceding goals and not scoring terrible combination
Spurs_first half was ok but remainder just run out of ideas and energy need more pace.
Even if Potter can’t fix it he should listen to others who can see problems_the fans/media.
… and finding positives, is such a consolation vs a 0-3 hiding by a relatively ok Spurs team?
Clearly Potter was not the right choice to take West Ham into a bright future. With him thus far, the lights went out.
Please WH board, do the right thing all round. Thank you.
Apart from goalkeeper/ striker I think we have as good a squad as any we have had for many years…Unfortunately for us potter is spent and should go …I believe a firm experienced manager could really do something with this squad,So we need to be very careful who is his successor and the type of football he plays. I hear a lot of names but most seem to play more of the same football. My choice would be Marco Silva at Fulham as far as I can see his contract only runs until the end of this seaso plus he is already settled in London ….Surely Mr Sullivan could appease us all and break the mould….
We have more emergency meetings than the United Nations Security Council!
The problem is that they result in nothing to solve the cause of the problem, and to be fair I’m saying that about the WHU board and the UNSC.
Change the manager will be the answer from the board and in truth he has been poor, but then so have the recruitment, investment and direction from the top.
Removing Potter, removes any commitment to a plan. With Potter there was hope in growing the youth players to inject some semblance of energy, but in truth he hasn’t done that with recent games as it is clear that all managers who would like to apply that approach can’t, as they are under pressure to get a winning result. The risk of a loss is too great so Potter cannot be the manager he wants to be. He doesn’t have a player who can carry a team. We could argue that Bowen is that player but as Captain he has that responsibility over the focus on his skills as a direct attacking winger.
If West Ham wants to build, and they really need to, then they need to go down a league. A Potter type of manager can then focus on growth and re-establish a premier league outfit. The relegation would plough more pressure on Sullivan to leave and hopefully a takeover to happen.
If we want to stay in the league then we need a survival manager, one to keep up above the bottom 3. After that then a massive injection of funds in rebuilding an ageing infrastructure, team and mentality in growing the club. What that will mean is the removal of Sullivan and that doesn’t look like it will happen any time soon.
This “Three Games to save your job” lark is the most ridiculous, stupid scenario I’ve ever heard of. So if Potter doesn’t lose in three games he suddenly turns into Pep ? Then he loses his next six ??? The man is out of his depth.
We have hired another clueless manager.
Well done, Sullivan, takes a lot to be as incompetent as you, mate, do the right thing and step aside from all football related issues or see this club relegated.
Depressing even if they get rid of him as they’ll replace him with another crap defensive manager no one wants. Haven’t had anyone decent since Bilic. Him with Stieden would’ve been a dream team/.
Pete
Agree with you 100%
I can’t see a way forward until Potter and Sullivan have gone