It has already been something of a rollercoaster for Graham Potter in his first two months at West Ham and pressure is being applied.
A whirlwind start to life as West Ham boss saw Graham Potter take charge of his first game just 24 hours after meeting his players.
Potter instantly showed his talent as a coach and communicator.
The Hammers produced their best half of football for some time as they led 1-0 at Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Injuries to Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug – who remain out until after the international break – spoiled a brilliant performance as Villa came back to win 2-1.
That match has actually become the pattern for Potter at West Ham so far.
Plenty of promise but a failure to really deliver and push home a performance or result.
There have been just three wins in the new manager’s first 10 games.
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An away victory at Arsenal, followed up by a victory over Leicester, looked like it may give West Ham lift off to salvage something from the second half of the season.
Especially as the European spots could very well end up going down as far as 11th place.
But a dull performance in defeat to Newcastle and the late surrender to draw 1-1 at Everton has likely condemned the Hammers to a finish no better than 13th.
As far as most West Ham fans are concerned, Potter won’t be judged until next season.
The manager’s tenure until then is being viewed as a giant pre-season.
That is a rare luxury in the modern game. And it will also result in raised expectations when the new campaign rolls around.
But it seems the Hammers’ hierarchy expect and want more than what they are seeing so far.
General view of London Stadium. Inset, co-owners David Sullivan, left, and Daniel Kretinsky, right. Centre, Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady.
General view of London Stadium. Inset, co-owners David Sullivan, left, and Daniel Kretinsky, right. Centre, Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady. Credit: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill/Glyn Kirk/Joel Saget/AMA/AFP.
Frustrated West Ham pressure Potter for improvements
Because frustrated West Ham are putting pressure on Potter for improvements two months in.
When the club had Potter on standby to take over from the hapless Julen Lopetegui, it was on the basis he would join on an initial six-month deal.
David Sullivan did not want to commit to any longer than that with Potter having been out of the game for almost two years after being chewed up and spat out by Chelsea.
When it came to the crunch, though, Potter had reservations about signing a short-term deal.
And when Everton came in for him with the offer of a two-and-a-half year contract, it gave him leverage in talks with the Hammers.
With the fact they had decided to sack Lopetegui being leaked, West Ham backed themselves into a corner and bowed to Potter’s demands.
In reality that was probably for the best.
Even the top managers around would struggle to make an impact on this squad, in this situation knowing they might only be here for six months.
But Potter is already under no illusions of the task at hand.
There have already been some boos and jeers from fans.
After the defeat to Newcastle, which saw fans complaining about being bored watching his team, Potter apologised.
The Englishman said he was sorry progress was not being made more quickly on how West Ham play as an attacking unit.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Owners demand to see more from Potter’s West Ham
Potter blamed Lopetegui for West Ham’s boring displays, saying he had to focus on sorting the defensive mess the Spaniard left behind.
Now the West Ham board has made it clear to their manager they expect better from the team going forward.
The owners have been impressed with the work done to improve defensively.
But they’re underwhelmed by the team’s attack.
“It’s a work in progress,” a senior West Ham source told Sean Whetstone.
“We’ve tightened up at the back, – just two goals conceded in the last four games.
“But we have to score more!”
West Ham have scored a goal a game so far under Potter.
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Over the course of a season that would be just 38 goals.
Clearly Potter cannot be judged properly until he has his own players and team in place.
But with clear struggles as an attacking unit, it begs the obvious question why the one player he has signed – striker Evan Ferguson – isn’t playing more.
That too has been addressed by the senior source on the West Ham board.
“He’s not injured – he’s just not being picked,” Whetstone was told about Ferguson.
Most of West Ham’s attackers are now away on international duty for two weeks including Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Ferguson.
A big difference maker in Potter’s system would be Summerville.
But it remains to be seen whether he can get himself back to play a part in the run-in.