With the jury still massively out on Graham Potter at West Ham, a manager dubbed ‘Jose Mourinho mark 2’ has given David Sullivan a major decision to make.
Whatever way you dress it up, Graham Potter has not made a compelling case for himself so far at West Ham.
When Potter succeeded Julen Lopetegui in January, opinion was split among Hammers fans.
Some were excited that the club may finally have appointed the young, modern manager they felt was needed to transform the way West Ham play.
Others cited the fact Potter had been out of work for nearly two years after being chewed up and spat out by Chelsea as cause for concern.
Jury still out on Potter at West Ham
One of the big criticisms of Lopetegui was that he did not get anything like the best out of a talented – on paper at least – Hammers squad.
The Spaniard became West Ham’s shortest serving permanent manager in history when he was replaced by Potter midway through the season.
In the aftermath stories started to emerge that players did not like his taskmaster approach which saw them afforded very few days off.
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Potter changed that immediately in a bid to foster a better team spirit and atmosphere.
But results have got worse, not better.
West Ham boss Graham Potter in the dugout. Inset, former Hammers manager Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham boss Graham Potter in the dugout. Inset, former Hammers manager Julen Lopetegui. Credit: Getty Images/Kevin Hodgson/Oli Scarff/MI News/NurPhoto/AFP
West Ham have won just four of the 50-year-old’s 18 games in charge and many fans are totally unconvinced heading into the summer.
The Englishman has been given grace having taken over mid-season.
But many have argued that he would not have been retained this summer had majority owner David Sullivan got his way and appointed him on an initial six-month deal.
Some Hammers fans believe it is futile letting Potter oversee this summer’s critical rebuild as he could be first out of the London Stadium exit if the team don’t hit the ground running next season.
‘Mourinho mark 2’ now gives Sullivan a major decision to make
It seems unlikely West Ham will change manager again this summer.
Although defeat to already relegated Ipswich on the final day may force the owners to take a long, hard look at the situation.
Now a manager dubbed Jose Mourinho ‘mark 2’, who many West Ham fans wanted to replace Lopetegui, has given Sullivan a major decision to make.
As they dithered over sacking Lopetegui, West Ham were reportedly playing a high stakes game of managerial brinkmanship with Everton behind the scenes.
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
The Hammers were said to be increasingly keen on appointing ‘new Mourinho’ Sergio Conceicao.
It was claimed the Hammers were in a face-off with Everton’s new owners for Conceicao.
In the end Conceicao, who at that point had only been courted by Nantes, got tired of waiting. And when AC Milan came calling, it was a no-brainer for the Portuguese.
It was just a week after Conceicao joined Milan that the Hammers elected to sack Lopetegui. And Everton immediately responded as Sean Dyche was moved on the very next day.
Sullivan looked to have dropped a clanger when Conceicao won a trophy in his first few days at Milan.
But now, just five months on, Conceicao is set to leave the San Siro and will be a free agent by Monday morning.
West Ham have a second chance at Conceicao
That’s according to La Gazzetta dello Sport who have described Conceiçao’s final Milan match as a ‘sad farewell’ given he will serve a one-game ban against Monza on Saturday.
As a result he won’t talk to the media before or after the match.
Conceiçao signed a contract until June 2026. But similar to Sullivan’s original plan with Potter, Milan had the option to review the agreement after six months.
And review it they have, sending the cigar-chomping serial winner packing.
Conceicao won 15 games from 30 at Milan, drawing five and losing 10.
Many Hammers fans felt his charisma and winning mentality was just what West Ham needed.
Potter has been accused of being too soft and a ‘yes man’ for the owners.
If Sullivan is having doubts over whether Potter is the right man to lead the club into next season, the Conceicao situation has certainly given him food for thought.