West Ham didn’t give us much to cheer about following last night’s 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers—but Niclas Fullkrug’s performance was a rare bright spot in an otherwise frustrating evening.
In stark contrast to Evan Ferguson’s anonymous first half, Fullkrug made an immediate impact after coming on for the second 45 minutes.
Yes, Wolves sat back and looked to protect their lead, which naturally handed West Ham more of the ball—but credit where it’s due, the Hammers made a marginal improvement. That was largely down to Graham Potter’s tactical switch and the German striker’s presence up top.
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Even Potter, who usually chooses his words carefully, couldn’t hide his delight:
“Having Niclas back helps the team attack, I think, because it just gives you an option, a more vertical option, a more direct option. It gives defenders a bit more to think about. I was really pleased for him, really pleased that he can play 45 minutes, and he’ll get better and better the more time he gets.”
That’s about as gushing as Potter gets—and he’s absolutely right. Fullkrug made a massive difference.
Given the disparity in performances—and in Potter’s own post-match comments—it’s hard to see Ferguson starting another game for West Ham anytime soon. If we’re honest, it doesn’t really feel like Potter ever fancied the Brighton loanee, which raises a separate question: why push so hard to sign him in the first place?
Still, that’s a conversation for another day. What matters now is that Fullkrug looks like he can offer a solution to West Ham’s blunt attack.
True, the team still only managed a single shot on target in 95 minutes—but at least Fullkrug gave us something to build on.
Perhaps the most telling moment came in Potter’s admission that Fullkrug “helps the team attack”—a subtle but clear acknowledgement that the final third is a problem area.
No doubt Potter will bristle at the criticism that’s now becoming familiar—the same accusations of “boring football” and a “toothless attack” that followed him at Brighton. But he’ll know the best way to silence those critics isn’t with soundbites—it’s with goals.
And by both his own and my estimation, Niclas Fullkrug might just be the man to help deliver them.