West Ham’s owners have been delighted with Graham Potter’s impact on squad morale but it won’t last if he does not take action.
Julen Lopetegui hit out at West Ham’s decision to sack him recently.
The club’s response was telling as West Ham stated Lopetegui left them little choice given team morale was so low.
That was indeed one of the features of Lopetegui’s ill-fated and brief spell as Hammers boss.
The Spaniard had a number of high-profile bust-ups with star players.
One negative story after another leaked from the training ground.
A number of Hammers stars also exhibited public dissent towards the manager including Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.
On more than one occasion during West Ham games too.
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Kudus and Alvarez were two of five West Ham stars demanding to leave in January if Lopetegui was not sacked.
So it is no surprise the Hammers acted early in the new year to replace Lopetegui with Graham Potter.
Two days after the change, West Ham stated they want a 10-year Potter dynasty.
Earlier this month, it emerged the Hammers’ board are now ‘convinced’ Potter was the right choice.
Chiefly because he has completely transformed the morale of the squad and intensity of training.
Potter has admitted there is still a lot more work to do for West Ham to play as he ultimately wants them to.
The Englishman even apologised to fans for the time it is taking to see progress after the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Potter must act over West Ham star’s poor attitude
Potter has been making a real point to emphasise how crucial it is that West Ham’s players become like family.
He wants every player in the squad pulling in the same direction.
There have been no negative stories leaking from training and no dissenting voices since his arrival at the London Stadium.
So Potter must act as one West Ham star’s poor attitude rears its ugly head again.
The Hammers have little to play for between now and May. Especially after Monday’s dull defeat.
Potter has already had nine games at the Hammers helm to assess his squad.
But he now essentially has the last 10 games to be sure about who he wants to keep at the club and who can be shipped out.
With sales vital to raising any funds for signings, some big decisions will have to be made.
None more so than that regarding the future of Alvarez.
Potter has already admitted midfield is where West Ham need an overhaul most this summer.
Hammers midfield a problem in more ways than one
That was clear for all to see against Newcastle.
It lacks power, pace, dynamism, technical ability and guile.
‘Immobile’ Alvarez was singled out as West Ham’s biggest problem by pundits on Match of the Day this season.
Alvarez was the best thing since sliced bread when he first arrived as one of the replacements for Declan Rice.
But it has become clear he lacks the physicality to cope with English football.
Alvarez picked up two brainless red cards earlier in the season. He and Lopetegui blanked done another when he was needlessly dismissed in a 3-0 defeat at Forest.
The Mexican midfielder was labelled a ‘faux hardman’ by a former Hammers legend after ducking out of a challenge which led to a goal at Man City in Lopetegui’s last game.
The £34m signing from Ajax has improved under Potter, albeit from a low base.
But his performances still flatter to deceive.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Sulky Alvarez angers Hammers fans by sauntering off
Alvarez saw a lot of the ball against Newcastle but struggled to have any tangible impact on the game.
By contrast Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes were poles apart.
He was becoming increasingly leggy in the match and was unsurprisingly subbed off on 65 minutes with West Ham 1-0 down.
Alvarez showed public dissent towards Lopetegui when subbed previously.
And his attitude on this occasion was not much better.
When Alvarez saw his number go up he sauntered slowly off the pitch, clearly angry at Potter’s decision.
No manager wants his players to be happy to come off.
But to purposely walk slowly off the pitch with the team 1-0 down and chasing the game is not on.
West Ham fans let Alvarez know about it too, shouting at the midfielder to hurry up.
Potter has big decision to make on Alvarez’s West Ham future
It was poor from the 27-year-old who should be setting a better example and being more of a team player.
Potter has made it clear from day one he won’t stand for this kind of attitude.
He wants his players to be all about the team.
Alvarez should have been sprinting off the London Stadium pitch and encouraging his replacement Carlos Soler.
Not plodding off in a sulk feeling sorry for himself.
There is a good player somewhere in Alvarez. But some players simply aren’t suited to the pace and power of the Premier League.
West Ham may have to make a big call on Alvarez this summer.
And his attitude may help dictate Potter’s decision.