English Premier League manager Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui as the new West Ham head coach on January 9, 2025, after Lopetegui was sacked the previous day.
West Ham are currently just above the relegation zone and look safe for now to remain in the Premier League to fight another season with just a handful of games still to play.
The question being asked here is, what can we expect from Potter’s first full season in charge of West Ham in the 2025/26 EPL campaign? Let’s dive straight in to find out.
What can we expect from Graham Potter next season?
Being appointed as the West Ham head coach mid-season could be a blessing in disguise. For example, he has had plenty of time first-hand to see how his team responds to his direction and how they work as individuals and as a team unit.
Some say that it will give him a head-start to build a strong team with a clearer vision of what’s achievable heading into the new 2025/26 EPL campaign. His first few months as the head coach have given him a much clearer picture of how the club operates, which can help him formulate his plan during the summer break.
He is expected to restore the club’s identity, devise a clear playing style, strategy, and formation, and help to create a cohesive unit that gets the results the supporters can be proud of in one of the world’s most competitive top-flight domestic football leagues.
Potter is known for being flexible in his formation, structure, and tactical approach, depending on the opponent, and he has an attacking/possession-based style that focuses on trying to control the game and remain the dominant team.
One thing that can be said about Potter is that he doesn’t stick to a rigid system and is always willing to try new things.
Could West Ham get relegated?
It’s looking highly unlikely that West Ham will get relegated this season. For example, the average online sportsbook with EPL betting odds currently has West Ham priced at around 150/1 to get relegated at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, meaning the implied probability rate of this happening is just 0.70%.
The three teams that will most likely go down this year are Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich Town.
Upcoming fixtures
The end of the season is fast approaching. On Sunday, April 13, The Hammers play Liverpool away (Liverpool are currently top of the league and look set to win their second Premier League title).
Their next game is at home to Southampton on April 19, and then on April 26, they are away to Brighton. Other upcoming fixtures are against Tottenham (home), Manchester United (away), Nottingham Forest (home), and Ipswich Town (away).
What are the chances of West Ham finishing in the top 10?
For West Ham to finish in the top 10 at the end of the season, you are currently looking at average odds of around 25/1, meaning there’s only a 3.80% chance of this happening.
A more realistic finish would be to end up in 12th place at best, but we will just have to wait and see what happens.
Final thoughts
It will be interesting to see how Graham Potter does in his first full season in charge. He is one of the best Premier League managers out there, and he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that will potentially keep him at the club until the end of the 26/27 season.
His contract could get extended if he manages to secure European football (either the UEFA Europa League or Champions League) for West Ham or a top 5 finish. However, he could have a terrible start to the upcoming 2025/26 season and end up getting sacked long before his contract is due to expire.
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