With the same players minus a big chunk of elder statesmen, starting preseason with several who didn’t expect to be there this summer must be a challenge for both the individuals and the Manager. The traditional first-day back video made for interesting watching with [Maxwel Cornet](https://www.claretandhugh.info/cornet-makes-heartfelt-plea-to-david-moyes/) declaring ‘its been a looong time’ as he arrived back. Not many would have put money on the Ivorian returning to the Hammers this time last year.
Potter’s task – without the ability (yet!) to integrate new blood- is to use the resources available and start to make this group his own. A challenge when it has been assembled by three other managers and one technical director before him. However according to the [telegraph.co.uk](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/08/how-graham-potter-is-attacking-the-west-ham-overhaul/) today, there is a fundamental shift that Potter has already begun. In their article:
_“How Graham Potter is attacking the West Ham overhaul”_ Author Matt Law describes the priority, even before new transfers take place:
_“At the top of Potter’s summer to-do list will be to start lowering the age of a squad that was the oldest in the Premier League last season, as well as creating a culture that can unite players and staff.”_
One look at the line up in the main image, above, paying their respects to Diogo Jota, shows the startling youth of the age of the squad potter is starting to pull together.
Integrating academy players Orford, Scarles Marshall Cummings and Casey and bringing through the impressive George Earthy and Freddie Potts means there’s a buzz around training that was missing last season. Both managers who worked in the Championship with Potts and Earthy fully expect this season to be their break through year at West Ham.
Captain Jarrod Bowen, speaking to whufc.com, remarked on the potential for the new blood to bring new energy to the side:
_A lot of positive thoughts. We’re definitely excited because we’ve got some younger guys coming back from loans who did really well last year at different clubs that they had….Seeing them integrated into the group will be brilliant.”_
Orford and Potts will be looking to impress in the first summer friendly against FC Copenhagen in just twelve days time. The duo can certainly inject pace into what was the lethargic midfield of last season and simply using twenty year-old rising starlets instead of thirty-something warhorses can make West Ham more mobile and effective in the middle of the park.
Which is a start.