I’ve watched a few press conferences at West Ham through the years. Most recently the Julen Lopetegui teeth-gratingly awkward sessions where there was, amazingly, a feeling of sympathy from hard-bitten sports journalists for the Spaniard who was clearly out of his depth and – two months too late – was put out of his (and our) misery.
Watching Lopetegui’s successor perform yesterday there was a sense of confidence and competence oozing from Graham Potter that will work its way in to every corner of the club. We are already starting to see better performances on the pitch. Changing the ethos at a club is like turning a supertanker – applying ‘maximum turn’ up on the bridge can take forever to yield results.
But Potter exudes self belief and the way he took the lead in discussions about incoming transfers yesterday made it clear that here was somebody who wasn’t afraid of speaking up.
Clearly fed up with answering the same old transfer questions every few days, Potter summed up:” Signing a player in January is easy: Signing the right player – that’s the hard bit. It’s a matter of finding a player who fits the culture, fits how you want to play, and is available for the right price. It’s complicated to find the right players and that’s important.”
Admitting, as widely reported that it is Graham Potter himself who is being so demanding with the board apparently readily prepared to back new players, he just continues to elbow himself closer and closer to full control. Steidten is history. Here is someone who may be called a ‘head coach’ but make no mistake, in all but name, West Ham have a ‘Manager’ who is most definitely calling the shots.
Remember in August we were told to ‘wait until Christmas’ as ‘change will take time’? Not any more. Change has already taken place at West Ham. Most certainly for the better. And it feels good.
Potter has made a steady start and comes across well. Jlo was employed on the understanding that Steidten would have full control of transfers, but that was never going to work with Potter anymore than it would with Moyes. Steidten’s “goose was cooked” as soon as Potter got the job.
Be fair he’s only been here a couple of weeks and the football already looks better.
Enjoyed watching the behind the scenes training with Summerville running around juggling balks all over the place with Kudus and taking part in training then watching Potter tell the press that he wasn’t fit to play. Hope to see him against Chelsea.
Martin apologises but this article could have been a lot shorter.
Question
Who is really in control at ‘New Era’ West Ham United
Answer
David Sullivan
We now have a good manager who is much more competent than his predecessor and doing a much better job. But that won’t have any bearing on our fortunes whilst DS is still pulling the strings, especially in regards to transfers
To be fair Graham was very clear in the press conference that everyone has given him full backing, and it is Potter himself that has waited for the right players to become available.
I totally get the DS comments based on what we have seen before. But with all his experience I would be amazed if he hadn’t got written guarantees on transfer budgets etc before accepting the job.
Evening All,
I like Potter a lot and definitely believe that he is the best man to carry us forward, not as a stop gap but as a long term proposition. The team is very sparse but he is right in what he says about making sure players brought in are right for the club, the style etc. We have all seen the state of the panic transfers we have had in recent years that dont go on to perform. If we are honest, the season is a write off, we wont go down and likely limp across the finish line but I reckon Potter and his backroom staff will have plans going forward for the squad.
Not too fussed if we dont get anyone in the window. Less panic buys more planning I say. It will take time but be well worth it.
As always COYI!
Very good assessment and I fully agree that the season is a write off but we now have a Head Coach capable of a long overdue more long term aspirations and the challenge to start building a team of young, talented individuals for the long term. Not a succession of short term, panic buys under Moyes and Lopetegui so if we don’t have the player’s with the right profile we should wait and make no signings in this window. Hopefully, once the season is over the club can target the type of players Potter needs for the future and challenge for European football in the future.
Has it? I don’t see any evidence? It’s all very well being confident and bullish at press conferences, but all I see in the press is ‘player A is ready to sign, but West Ham are holding him in reserve’, player B “is Potters number one target and ready to sign” yet 2 weeks later the narrative hasn’t changed. West Ham make last gasp attempt to sign players C, D & E and let’s not forget all the claims we’ve bid for players F,G,H, I,J & K.
It’s a typical Sullivan transfer window, lots of noise and hype and zero results. Steiden must looking at the football news and laughing his head off at the circus we have become.
Like the way Potter comes across – proof is in the pudding, though !
The appointment of Lopetegui was an appalling decision. A deal of improvement was due to no more than the removal of his chaotic influence.
The appointment of Lopetegui screwed the complete season, hopefully the noses he put out of joint are soothed and his negative influence is now completely in the past.
However, this is a post regarding Potter and early days, but I personally am enjoying watching and listening to him.
I don’t really know what my expectations of him were, but I like the way he’s conducted himself so far.
Lopetegui is in the past. We all know how it ended and should let it go. Nobody benefits by the negative constant referencing.
No change in new players though..