Graham Potter’s West Ham Struggles Continue: Four Months On, Can He Turn It Around?
It was only January when Graham Potter was unveiled as the new manager of West Ham United, declaring that the opportunity was like “Christmas for adults”. However, nearly four months into his tenure, the London Stadium outfit is yet to see a significant bounce under his leadership.
The Daily Mail has learned that despite the understandable frustration among fans, there is still a sense of calm behind the scenes, with Potter’s bosses knowing that he inherited a mess and needs time, at least until the summer, to implement his plans.
Potter spoke with excitement when he first took over, but his demeanor changed dramatically after West Ham’s defeat at Brighton last weekend, which was their eighth loss in his 15 games in charge. The statistics make grim reading: Potter has taken 13 points from a possible 42, with a win percentage of 21 per cent, compared to his predecessor Julen Lopetegui’s 32 per cent.
The former Brighton and Chelsea manager always knew he had a tough task on his hands, having inherited a team that conceded over 80 goals in 40 matches before his arrival. However, fans are yet to see an instant turnaround, unlike Vitor Pereira at Wolves or David Moyes at Everton.
According to a senior West Ham source, who spoke to the Daily Mail, “With a few changes and a better pre-season, we expect a much better campaign next year. Potter will 100 per cent be the manager [next season].”
In his first few weeks in charge, Potter made a strong impression on players and staff with his clear communication, which was lacking under Lopetegui. One of his first acts was to call a full team meeting to discuss the side’s struggles, with club captain Jarrod Bowen taking the lead.
Despite the current struggles, dressing-room sources insist that the mood is not as bad as the form and league position might suggest. Sources close to Bowen insist that the forward remains happy at the club and is proud to be captain.
Potter has been fortunate that the promoted sides have been poor and that fellow struggling teams Manchester United and Tottenham have garnered more attention. However, with the summer approaching, the real work will start, and Potter wants to make significant changes.
The Daily Mail understands that Potter has spoken of the “baggage” his players are carrying, dropping points late in games and failing to live up to the mental and physical demands to win matches. He also highlighted the team’s inability to control games with attacking football.
Statistics back up Potter’s claims, with West Ham scoring fewer goals than any team outside the bottom three since his first Premier League game in charge. They also average fewer shots per game than any team apart from Everton.
The club’s recruitment shambles have also been highlighted, with the situation surrounding French defender Jean-Clair Todibo exemplifying this. West Ham is obligated to turn his loan from Nice into a £36.3m permanent deal, a move that Potter may not have sanctioned.
West Ham are prepared for a summer overhaul, with several players out of contract, including Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Lukasz Fabianski, and Aaron Cresswell. Michail Antonio is also expected to leave, while loanees Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson will return to Paris Saint-Germain and Brighton.
Potter wants to cut the average age of one of the oldest squads in the Premier League and trim the number of senior players to make room for youth to blossom. He plans to bring young midfielders Freddie Potts and George Earthy into the fold next season.
Selling winger Mohammed Kudus will be West Ham’s most likely way to drum up cash, with a £85m release clause for Premier League clubs. The Daily Mail revealed that Kudus is keen to move on, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr one of the clubs interested.
The last four matches, starting with Sunday’s game against Tottenham, will be crucial for Potter as he decides who he wants to keep and who he wants to let go. As he said, “We have to make decisions that make sure the club are in a better place going forward. There’s a saying, isn’t there? If you can’t change people, change people.”
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