It has been over three months since Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
In the nine games Potter has been in the dugout, West Ham have won three, lost five and drawn one.
Performances have been inconsistent since the coach’s arrival, with wins over Arsenal and Fulham showcasing the team’s ability to play well against top sides, while also suffering losses to Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Newcastle at home, failing to score in the process.
One of the key areas of concern under Julen Lopetegui was the number of goals West Ham were conceding. The Hammers conceded 39 goals prior to Potter’s appointment, making it the fourth-worst defence in the league.
Since the 49-year-old has joined the club, the Hammers have conceded just nine goals in eight league games, highlighting a major improvement at the back.
Despite this, it’s fair to say there’s been an element of frustration among West Ham supporters with the lack of threat in the final third, having the worst shot-per-game ratio in the league since the manager’s arrival.
With Potter usually associated with an attractive style of football, which was particularly prevalent during his time at Brighton, the somewhat reserved football the Hammers have been playing may come as a bit of a surprise to West Ham fans.
However, could this be part of Potter’s long-term project at London Stadium?
Potter’s focus on steadying the back line
Potter highlighted in his pre-match press conference before this weekend’s trip to Everton how much he and his coaching staff have looked to improve West Ham’s shaky defence.
He said: “Over the last year or so, West Ham have conceded a lot of goals in the Premier League, and I think we’ve managed to change that dynamic a little bit.
“You can’t rely on having to score two goals in the Premier League. You can talk all you like about attacking football, but if you’re not stable defensively it’s very difficult.”
This was an interesting comment from the manager and one that feels like it’s a deliberate approach for long-term success.
I would say this shows a clear vision of what Potter wants to do at West Ham, and it’s hard to argue that improving the defence is a good place to start.
It’s obvious there’s a need for a change of personnel in the squad, with some players showing they’re not quite Premier League level this season, and if Potter is able to maintain a pretty solid record in terms of goals conceded, this could give him a bit more of a license to build a team he wants in the summer due to a more stable back line.