Potter needs to get a tune out of his sideplaceholder image
Potter needs to get a tune out of his side | Getty Images
Graham Potter is already seeing pressure build on his position as he struggles to get his West Ham side into a run of form.
Graham Potter has been backed to turn things around at West Ham, but he must correct an issue that has baffled many. It has been a disappointing start to the season for the Hammers, continuing on from a disappointing finish to last term.
Potter struggled to get his side into any sort of form after taking over in January, and it hasn’t gone any better this season, even after a summer of business, with the Iron now having suffered four defeats in five games across all competitions.
The big Nottingham Forest win aside, West Ham have looked hapless at the back, and the situation has not been helped by the lack of clarity between the sticks. Summer signing Mads Hermansen looks to be the new number one despite having not really earned it, while Alphonse Areola has been relegated to the bench.
That’s something the Hammers need to fix, according to former keeper David James, who exclusively told LondonWorld: “I think there is a massive work in progress here. My question is, why hasn't Areola been playing? I think Hermansen was a late signing and it's kind of, I don't want to create drama, but the question is, if Areola is not the number one, why is he on the bench?
“Having this late signing, and yes there was a 3 -0 victory in there, but there's been a lot of goals conceded. I don't want to suggest a falling out with the manager, but it can't be just down to lack of form. Yeah, it just something doesn't feel right to me, which is frustrating. If I'm Alfonse Areola, if it's knock on the door and apologising, or if it's going and doing extra training sessions to get yourself back in the team, do that, because I think he, like David Raya perhaps, in a slightly different context, is a very capable goalkeeper who people don't give the credit for.”
James does, however, believe Potter will be able to eventually turn things around at the London Stadium should he get the time to do so. He said: “With regards to Graham Potter, I think he'll get it right. I mean, I think corresponding fixtures from last season, I don't think West Ham are actually that bad in comparison. Not that last season was a great season by any stretch, but it's not like they were flying in the games that they've played.
“I think they're somewhere equal in that sense. So I think Graham will turn it around. They have lost the likes of Kudus, haven't they, which is important. Getting players sent off is not helpful. Losing Michail Antonio was not good. So there's a lot of things that Graham has to overcome, but I think he's capable of doing it.”
West Ham face an unbeaten Crystal Palace on Saturday before equally tricky clashes with Everton and Arsenal after that. Potter is going to have to make sure his men give a much better account of themselves if he wants to avoid pressure building rapidly.
Continue Reading