West Ham’s crisis continues whilst [Graham Potter](https://www.claretandhugh.info/picking-players-because-of-their-price-tag-potter-needs-to-face-facts/) seems hell bent on sticking to his own picks and favourites: James Ward -Prowse being a classic example of a starter in the squad whom everyone else – apart form the Hammers manager – sees as five years past his Premier League sell by date.
Yet there his is, week in, week out, seemingly first name on the team sheet. Perplexing.
However, when common knowledge and reports galore pipe up and trumpet the primary Achilles heel of the side – another Graham Potter ‘pick’ and an expensive addition to the side this summer – then surely action is required.
Tottenham focused on West Ham’s useless zonal marking, questionable defending and goal keeper crisis: [_Footballinsider.co.uk’s_](https://www.footballinsider247.com/generational-tottenham-fans-wowed-by-player-who-was-world-class-vs-west-ham/) objective analysis of the Tottenham fixture makes it very plain:
_“Thomas Frank was looking to attack West Ham’s weak shot stopper Mads Hermansen, as Tottenham travelled to the London Stadium on Saturday evening.”_
Now Hermansen is a lovely guy. He also seems to have some excellent attributes. But at present he is not up to Premier League standard and when the opponents brand him as ‘weak’ and target him with crosses and corners – with predictable results – then Potter needs to ignore his own ego and pride and drop the Dane for his own good.
Hermansen must be in some kind of confidence crisis private hell just now. Having been one who was genuinely excited at his signing, admitting the evidence of my own eyes is not easy but clearly the Dane is not fit for purpose _at present._
If Potter brings back Areola then Hermansen’s West Ham career can recover – maybe this season, maybe next- when he’s out of the spotlight and the Irons cure their terminal weakness from corners and crosses.
_If Potter stands by his ‘pick’ there’s a real danger that Hermansen’s career could be blighted and the Hammers season will be over before it has even begun._